The Meaning and Message of Ecclesiastes
The closing day of the week begins a new book, that of Ecclesiastes. The title in the Hebrew is "Koheleth." Our word "Ecclesiastes" comes from the Greek, meaning one who speaks in the ecclesia, or public assembly. There are two things set forth in the book: the one, human life from a human view-point, or its emptiness and vanity, striving after the wind; the other, God's hand is recognized over all His works. And despite all that men can do, God will carry on His purpose. God has given to man the power to enjoy life. The book was evidently written by Solomon who has expressed here his own opinion. He had sought by power and riches and wisdom, and all things influential which wealth could give, to obtain happiness, but he found it all vanity and vexation of spirit. But he concludes in bringing the reader to God as the only source of light and happiness, the only One who can solve the complex problem of life. That is stated in the last chapter: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." And this he must do in the light of the judgment. If it was written by Solomon, and the internal evidence goes clearly to show that it was, for he calls himself the son of David, it would clearly show that after all his wanderings, led away as he was by his idolatrous wives, he repented of this wickedness and returned to the Lord.