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Reflections on Ecclesiastes Part Two

By Faith Marsalli, August 22, 2004

During the summer months we've been looking at some Old Testament Wisdom literature, focusing on two books in particular, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Several weeks ago I shared an overview of Ecclesiastes and I challenged you to go home and read this provocative wisdom book for yourself. I suggested you consider what the author might be saying to you personally. We had the opportunity to hear how Ecclesiastes has impacted Doug Bakke and that it actually became an awakening of sorts for him on his spiritual journey.

If you'll remember, there are two central metaphors in Ecclesiastes. The first one, which begins and ends the book, is this. "Smoke, nothing but smoke. There's nothing to anything-it's all smoke." The second metaphor used in Ecclesiastes is the notion that ceaseless striving for more knowledge, more money, more pleasure, more whatever…is like spitting in the wind, or trying to chase after the wind. It's implies a sense of absolute futility.

The author, Qoheleth is actually the Greek word for Ecclesiastes, the title of the book. The Message translates this name rather nicely as the Quester. The Quester describes for us the person who has seen it all, experienced it all, has everything that one could ever desire, but who has come to a place of utter disillusionment. He tells us,

"It's all smoke, and spitting in the wind."

The Quester speaks of the failure of pleasure, recognition, money, accumulating possessions to satisfy the longing of the human heart.

He writes in 6:7, "We work to feed our appetites; meanwhile our souls go hungry."

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, there is no consensus among Bible scholars regarding how to hear the Quester's message. To some, his pessimism and gloom seem to speak of a world where God is absent. His criticism of the common goals of the masses suggests a pointless existence.

I had someone say to me after my last reflection, "Boy, this guy sounds clinically depressed to me."

Is the writer a cynic? Is this wisdom teacher a person who once had hope but has grown weary of disappointment?

Even at first glance, the Quester's only positive advice might sound somewhat difficult to distinguish between, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die." Could any of what this teacher says be wisdom, or is this the way the world looks when someone has given up?

Well, while I have a captive audience, I'm going to share my take on Ecclesiastes. You may have come to a different conclusion but here is where I have ended up as I ponder this ancient book…

I have to tell you, I think there is great wisdom and even consolation in the words of the Quester. His words give me hope. This morning, I'd like to concentrate on three things I take away from this insightful book.

First, what the Quester says to me about contentment. Second, what the Quester says to me about death. And thirdly, what the Quester says to me about God.

First, what does the Quester say to me about contentment?

Chapter 3, that very familiar passage.

"For everything there is a season. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to plant and a time to reap. A time to embrace and a time to part."

And so on…

Contentment comes with my willingness to accept things as they are. Contentment comes when I cease striving for what I don't have. I live fully, when I am fully present to what is. Grasping and searching for happiness is like trying to herd the wind; it is like spitting in the wind. It is absolutely futile. It only leads to suffering.

Chapter 9:7-9. - "Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes-God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse that you love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift."

The wisdom of the Quester is this…Be grateful for what is right in front of you. Don't wish you had a bigger house, or that you lived somewhere besides Klamath Falls, or had a more captivating spouse. Don't miss the present joy; don't let it slip by unnoticed; don't live it in a fog; don't waste it chasing the wind. The good life is in the living of it.

What does the Quester say to me about death?

I mentioned several weeks ago how the writer of Ecclesiastes seems to be preoccupied with death - how random death is - how inevitable it is.

Chapter 7:2 - "You learn more at a funeral than at a feast - After all, that's where we'll all end up. We might discover something from it."

I have yet to find someone who has avoided his or her death. Everyone on this earth faces a physical death. I'm sorry, there is no way to live in reality and be in denial about this.

At the end of the book, in Chapter 12 there is an incredible poem that makes this point. Filled with these images of aging and decline, it includes the line,

"Remember your grave in the days of your youth."

Interestingly, in my recent study, I learned that the word that is commonly used in most translations is, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth." But several commentators note that the Hebrew word "creator" more likely means, "grave," or "cistern" as a metaphor for a grave. Regardless of nit picking original language, the gist of the passage still is this; youth is great, but you won't be young forever.

So what exactly does death teach me about life?

My life is a vapor. The older I get the more I realize how true this is. Where have the last 10 years gone? The reality of death helps me see that each day is an incredible gift to be cherished. Why spend my energy on ceaseless striving? In essence, Ecclesiastes is telling me that life is short, why waste it chasing after the wind. I want to simply relish being alive right now in this moment with each one of you. Because who knows what tomorrow may bring for any of us?

Thirdly, what does the Quester say to me about God?

I don't know about you, but I think the Quester gets it. "God is not absent; God is simply beyond all my attempts to domesticate the Divine." The Quester reminds me of the Mystery. He reminds me that I am incapable of putting all the pieces of my life puzzle together. No matter how hard I try, I will fail. No matter how brilliant I might be I will never be able to find answers to all my questions. The world is filled with paradox and mystery. Accepting this leads to freedom and the ability to live my life fully.

Chapter 8:16,17 - "When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking, you'll still never figure out the meaning of what God is doing on this earth. Search as hard as you like, you're not going to make any sense of it. No matter how smart you are, you won't get to the bottom of it."

The Quester's wisdom tells me that the accumulation of knowledge and trying to comprehend mystery shouldn't be my driving force. Rather, true wisdom lies in recognizing the limits of human knowledge and power. I find serenity only in coming to terms with the absolute mystery of God; I find peace only as I rest in the God beyond words.

Chapter 7:23,24 - "I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep - oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom-the meaning of life."

This resonates with my own experience. The longer I live the more I realize I don't know, or fathom, or understand. Perhaps this is one of the benefits of growing older.

I just finished a book where the author articulates beautifully what the Quester is saying to me about the Mystery of God and the value of being in the moment and embracing my life as it is. I'd like to close with these words this morning.

"The whole Christian message becomes for me less an outline of information and more a wonderful song. It is less a thesis to be argued and proved and more a mystery to celebrate and sing and dance. Whenever we converse about God, we must remember we are merely trembling little human beings beholding mysteries too wonderful for words, too wonderful for minds, so wonderful they make our hearts explode with wonder. The wonder is so great that all our conversations about God must be touched with humility, maybe even a certain sadness, (in recognition of how far short our best words fall) but yet with joy that we little humans can speak of the wonder at all!

'And so, we dance. We dance in service, in gratitude, in hard work well done, in prayer, in game, in tilling the soil, and crafting the poem, in hiking and sailing and flying, in hanging out, in sharing a drink of coffee or beer or wine or cold water, in joy, in sorrow, in hope, in disappointment. We dance. Sometimes we dance with our eyes closed, dizzy, spinning, with tears streaming down our faces. Sometimes we dance with such joy that we feel like our hearts are going to explode!

'And when we open our eyes, we see that we do not dance alone, but that others have joined us, and the dance we share is beautiful, because the music that moves us resounds with the holiest mystery of all."

Amen.

Reflections on Ecclesiastes, Part 1