Time for the contrary, curmudgeonly, grumpy old man of the Bible - the preacher of Ecclesiastes. This is Victor Meldrew writ large!
Wisdom is vain
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
Emptiness of pleasure
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3
Vanity of material wealth
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
Result of wisdom and folly
Ecclesiastes 2:12-26
A time for everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Weariness of life
Ecclesiastes 3:9-22
The foolishness of trusting in riches
Psalm 49:1-20
Oppressions and inequalities of life
Ecclesiastes 4:1-16
Warning against rash promises
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
The mood of “the preacher” who wrote Ecclesiastes is the absolute opposite to that of the Chronicler who wrote in loving detail about the splendour of Solomon’s temple. Pouring out wealth in extravagant worship to God filled the Chronicler with delight, but the world weary preacher describes it all as meaningless and pointless.
Everything seems meaningless without God, which makes this book chime with the godless attitude of many in the world today. But the preacher is more subtle than that - he has a self-deprecating style that doesn’t ignore God, but sees through the blandishments of wealth.
He has a sense of justice and truth, he has a wisdom that is worth listening to, but take his words out of context and you could easily make him say the opposite of so much else that the Bible proclaims.
Read with care!
Psalm 49 is a perfect foil for this, speaking of “the fate of those who trust in themselves.” As it says in its conclusion: “People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.”
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