[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during October 2023]
In preparation for this month’s preaching series I have read through the book of Ecclesiastes. What a waste of time and effort!
Of course, I am not suggesting that reading the book was a futile exercise; rather, that wasted ambition, wasted effort and wasted time are the central themes of a large proportion of its content. So what can we learn from studying this book, when so much of it we already know from our own personal experiences? That is the challenge for our preachers this month.
In the Orthodox and Protestant traditions the book is classified as ‘Poetry’; the Catholic tradition classifies it as ‘Wisdom’. The source of its content is subject to some debate but it is commonly ascribed to King Solomon around 937BC. Some scholars have argued against this on the basis that the text contains idioms and figures of speech that were not common in Solomon’s day; others have countered with the possibility that the text was updated by Hezekiah, in around 710BC. Another suggestion is that the author was king Josiah in around 620BC but he was king of only Judah, after Israel ceased to be one nation.
Despite the controversy, two verses in the opening chapter of the book are very convincing:
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king of Jerusalem
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. Ecclesiastes 1 v1, 12 [NIVUK]
It is interesting to compare the experiences of Solomon with those of Job. God allowed Job to be tested by the removal of his earthly possessions; he tested Solomon by giving him an abundance of worldly wealth. Job retained his faith in God during his adversity, Solomon lost his devotion to God through his prosperity.
Probably the best-known section in Ecclesiastes is the passage about times; a series of couplets beginning with:
To everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven Ecclesiastes 3 v1 [BSB]
What does this passage teach us about timing? There is a time when a certain action may be appropriate and there is a time when that action might not be appropriate. How do we decide? The Teacher does not have a satisfactory answer to that question but Job offers a suggestion:
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12 v12 [NIVUK]
Job recognised that there is a treasury of accumulated wisdom acquired through the experiences of those who have faced similar situations before us. In our own search for wisdom we should not neglect this resource. An elder in the early church took this suggestion to a higher level:
But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. James 1 v5 [GNT]
There is a time to pray, is there ever a time to refrain from praying?
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Last week’s reflection: A Reflection on Reflection
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys
Just read this, Steve. Thanks again for an insightful article.