#25 Introduction to Ecclesiastes:

Major Messages and Worldview Implications

 

Worldview Options

  • Closed System:
    - No external information or forces
    - Human life is accidental and holds no more meaning than any other object
    - Bible is a purely human product
  • Impersonal Intelligent Design:
    - “Life” & “Time” are the creative edge that shape existence in a closed system
    - Human life is meaningful insofar as it plays out its role and obeys “designed” purposes
    - Bible is a record and reflection upon that design
  • Creator/Creation Open System:
    - Existence is planned and intended by God
    - Human life is honored, compromised, and redeemable
    - Bible is part of the divine/human redemptive link

 

Ecclesiastes in Outline

  • Prologue: Theme (“Meaninglessness”) & Brief Explanation (1:1-11)
  • Meaningless Things: Wisdom, Pleasures, Folly, Toil (1:12-2:26)
  • Interlude: The Bondage of Time (3)
  • Other Meaningless Things: Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness, Political Advancement, Unfulfilled Vows to God, Amassing Wealth (4:1-6:12)
  • In order to stay sane, get practical wisdom (7:1-8:6)
  • Reflections on all the Teacher’s Observations: (8:7-12:7)
    - The meaning of life must be found beyond life—in God alone
    - All of life is progressing toward a common end
    - So enjoy life while you have it
    - And be wise
    In summary—Live Boldly! Live Joyfully! Live Godly!
  • Epilogue: The Theme and Its Value, Plus Final Reminders (12:8-14)

Worldview Assumptions

  • This universe is the Kingdom of God
    - Interpretive Choice over against:
      • Evolutionary Naturalism
      • Panentheistic Historicism
  • Earth is the specially-prepared domain for humanity, made in God’s image to share creative stewardship and relational love
  • Humanity is in rebellion against its Creator
  • At least in part because of the unique characteristics of humankind (divine imagers), the Creator has chosen not to annihilate this world, but rather to redeem this world
  • This redemptive initiative is the divine mission explained and interpreted in the Bible, the authoritative handbook formed in partnership between the Creator and a community uniquely commissioned to serve as the earthly vanguard of the mission
  • This redemptive mission has one purpose (reconcile all back to full communion with the Creator), but is expressed in two related strategies:
    - Through ancient Israel, to place a covenantally-shaped community at the center of the world, on stage before all nations, in an effort to draw them back to their Creator
    - Through the Church of Jesus Christ, to place covenantally-shaped communities into every expression of human society as a missional witness, in an effort to draw all back to their Creator

 

Reflecting on Ecclesiastes

  • At face value, this book is rather dark & depressing (especially the opening sections)
  • Its Screaming Message (on first reading) seems to be: “All we do and everything that happens to us is ultimately meaningless and has no lasting value!”
  • Its Moderate Message (on second reflections) appears to be: “Yet life goes on, so let’s make the best of it and be more wise than foolish about it.”
  • Its Subtle Message (underlying the others) is: “Life can only mean something if there is a God who sets the values (e.g., time & morality) and gives us a link to eternity which confirms our right to exist.”

Last modified: Thursday, August 9, 2018, 9:32 AM