Eccles. 7:20-29, The Purpose of Ecclesiastes (3)

Again, we ask, what is the purpose of Ecclesiastes?  Similarly, we might ask, what is Solomon trying to do?  What we have tried to do is define “under the sun” thinking.  He is thinking about God and about life in the way that any human can do if he is willing to think seriously. 

In theology, there is a distinction between “general” and “special” revelation.  General Revelation is God’s word to mankind, through creation, conscience and history.  It is truth about God available to all men.  Special Revelation is God’s word to mankind through His Son and the Scriptures.  The latter includes the message of the gospel; the former is not sufficient to bring a man into a relationship with God, but it is sufficient to point out the man’s sin and guilt so that he is “without excuse” (Rom. 1:20).   Solomon is trying to find meaning in life on the basis of General Revelation. 

But then we ask, why is Solomon doing this?  Some might have the idea (I have heard this before) that this is Solomon’s “song of repentance.”  We cannot say that is the case.  Today’s reading doesn’t fit with a confession.  And there is no confession by Solomon in Ecclesiastes.  We have no reference in the historical books that Solomon did this before his death.  Furthermore, in my view, while Solomon’s conclusion in Eccl. 12:9-14 is a fitting ending of the book (fear God and obey Him), it is far from the conclusions of David (e.g. in his song of repentance in Psalm 51) or the magnificent conclusion of Asaph in Psalm 73:23-28: “Whom have I in heaven but You? … it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.” 

Now we return to the highlighted statements in our first post on Ecclesiastes.  Solomon describes, or better, makes an attempt to be happy without God.  By “happy” we are thinking of the “satisfaction of the soul.”  Solomon makes it clear that nothing “under the sun” can bring this satisfaction.  Soul-satisfaction requires a connection with the Creator (thus, “remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come,” 12:1).  But more than that, soul-satisfaction requires a connection with the Creator’s commandments (12:13-14).  It requires “Special Revelation,” the Scriptures.

Why is this book in the Bible?  Our second statement was that Ecclesiastes describes the futility of the common way of thinking by humans.  For that reason, Ecclesiastes is a great “pre-evangelism” book.  It is useful in any culture.  People will be able to connect with Ecclesiastes if the reader is serious and honest.  A person needs to come to the end of themselves before they can trust Christ fully for the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  Ecclesiastes is designed to do just that: to bring us to the end of ourselves.