In the 1960’s the English rock group, The Rolling Stones had a big hit titled “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”. The book of Ecclesiastes seems to echo that very same theme. Words such a vanity, futile, meaningless and chasing the wind permeate the philosophy of the preacher. The preacher is believed to be King Solomon, son of David. He looks at nearly every aspect of life and concludes that it is all in vain. Solomon expresses a deep pessimism about life apart from God.
Among the many pertinent points in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon focuses on the many injustices of life. “Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sum. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless” Ecc. 4:1 NLT. To the non-believer such injustice adds to the view that life makes little sense. It caused Solomon to despair life itself. For believers this view is tempered by the example of Jesus and the truth of God’s Word. The Bible tells us that Jesus suffered oppression and that He is a sympathetic advocate for us with the heavenly Father. Furthermore in due season, God will judge everyone fairly. Justice will prevail. There will be ultimate satisfaction.
The issues dealt with in the book of Ecclesiastes paint a picture of despair about life lived apart from God. The author does end all his pondering on a positive note of truth. “That’s the whole story, Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” Ecc. 12:13 NLT.
In our world today we see the same woes that Solomon saw. We see communities hurting, people divided, and fear and uncertainty abounding. May we find hope and meaning in the person of Christ and the power of his gospel. Join us for such a gathering on September 26, 2020 at 10:00 AM on South Main Street in Harrodsburg.
– Terry Morrison