The alternative title of this book is “The Preacher”, and the opening verse identifies the writer as “the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem”. It was probably King Solomon.
“All Go to One Place”
Solomon was famous for his riches, wisdom and exploits. He had everything the world could offer, so he was well qualified to talk about the meaning of life. In this book he underlines the emptiness of life without God. Without God’s word, and our response to it, all would be pointless. We would all end up, like animals, in the dust of death; for in the grave all life and consciousness ceases (Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20; 9:4–6). This is the consistent teaching of the whole Bible, but in Ecclesiastes it is repeated time after time.
“Remember Now Your Creator”
Chapter 12 describes in vivid poetic language old age, and the deterioration of the different parts of the body and the senses. The Divine advice is to remember our Creator while we have life, vigour and opportunity (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
The Only True Hope
The whole purpose of life is to glorify God (12:13). There is a day of judgement to come (verse 14). In other parts of His word, God offers us hope of eternal life in a glorified body, following resurrection and judgement at the return of Christ. This will enable us to live for ever on a renewed and perfect planet Earth. This great promise rests on our belief and obedience now!
Norman Owen
By kind permission of ‘The Christadelphian’
Some interesting links with other parts of the Bible
Ecclesiastes 3:20—see Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12.
Ecclesiastes 7:20—see Romans 3:23;
1 John 1:8.
Ecclesiastes 12:8—see Psalm 62:9;
1 Corinthians 15:14, 58.