Ecclesiastes Intro & Chapter 1

About Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes belongs to the Old Testament’s Books of Poetry, along with Psalms and Proverbs, and is classified as wisdom literature. The Hebrew title of the book is Qoheleth. The word Qoheleth means “one who assembles,” and it is commonly translated as “the Teacher” or “the Preacher.” The English Bible uses the relatively unfamiliar title Ecclesiastes, which comes from a Greek word meaning “preacher.” This Teacher is introduced as Solomon (1:12–2:26).

While Proverbs records a wide range of sayings and words of wisdom, Ecclesiastes develops its thoughts around a clear and consistent theme. Proverbs is grounded in an essentially optimistic view of life. It teaches that those who live honestly and righteously will enjoy blessings in this world, while those who live wickedly in sin will eventually face misfortune. Ecclesiastes, on the other hand, is neither particularly optimistic nor hopeful. Yet it does not promote a pessimistic worldview either.

The author believes in God and trusts in His providence. However, he does not claim that “if you believe well, you will surely be blessed,” nor is he fully convinced that living a blessed life is the greatest good. As seen in the fact that the word “meaningless” (the Hebrew word hebel) appears thirty-six times throughout the book, the author finds little lasting meaning in all human effort, achievement, and pleasure. Even so, the Teacher does not drift into atheistic pessimism or nihilism, because he believes that behind all human affairs stands God the Creator. The Teacher suggests that we entrust everything to the unfathomable providence of the Creator God and live with a contemplative posture toward life, which at times may seem empty and at other times unproductive.

Then, which view of life is correct—the perspective of Proverbs or that of Ecclesiastes? Based on what I have observed throughout life, about seventy percent of life aligns with Proverbs, and about thirty percent aligns with Ecclesiastes. We are not meant to choose one over the other. The fact that both books stand together within Scripture is deeply significant. We should strive to live actively and positively, trusting the worldview of Proverbs, while also acknowledging that life does not always work that way—and learning to accept reality with humility when it does not.

Ecclesiastes 1:1–11 “Living Under the Sun”

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:      

• Be Still (Psalm 46) – The Worship Initiative
• Goodness Of God – Bethel Music
• All Things New – Elevation Worship

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Creation (Genesis 1-2) – Lesson for Younger Kids
• You Have a Purpose | God can use you! – Lesson for Kids
• Made For This | Maker Fun Factory VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Count Your Blessings | Scuba VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• No Matter What I’m Facing | Roar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

From the phrase “son of David, king in Jerusalem” (v. 1), the reader naturally thinks of Solomon. “The Teacher” is a translation of Qoheleth. The Teacher repeats the word “meaningless” five times (v. 2). The Hebrew word hebel, translated as “meaningless,” means “breath,” “wind,” or “vapor.” It refers to something that appears to exist but has no substance, something one wants to grasp but cannot hold onto, or something that seems meaningful but turns out to be meaningless when grasped.

In verse 3, it is better to translate the phrase as “under the sun,” as in the Revised Version, rather than “in the world.” In Hebrew, the phrase is tahat ha-shemesh, and it appears twenty-nine times in Ecclesiastes. The expression “under the sun” symbolizes the limits of human existence. Within the limits of three-dimensional space and one-dimensional time, all labor and effort ultimately prove to be futile. No matter how hard humans try, the world always remains the same. Even as time passes and generations change, the world does not change (v. 4), and the cycles of the seasons and the phenomena of life repeat themselves indifferently (vv. 5–7).

That is why the Teacher says, “All things are wearisome” (v. 8). Humans and all living things strive to change the world, yet nothing truly changes (v. 9). There is nothing that can truly be called “new” (v. 10), because everything will surely be forgotten (v. 11).

Meditation:

Verse 2 seems to echo a Buddhist view of life. The Buddha’s primary teaching is known as jehaeng musang (諸行無常), meaning “all things are impermanent.” Whether visible or invisible, all existence is constantly changing; therefore, all human effort is futile, and nothing eternal exists. From verse 2 through verse 11, the Teacher’s confession sounds so similar that it would not feel strange even if one were told it was quoted from a Buddhist scripture.

That is the nature of life “under the sun.” The phrase “under the sun” symbolizes the limits of human existence. No matter how vast the universe may be, it is still three-dimensional physical space. All beings are confined within the limits of one-dimensional time. Within those limits, everything arises and disappears according to given principles. Human beings strive to create something new, but once it is made, it turns out someone else had already made it, and in the end, everything disappears and is forgotten.

The statement “All things are wearisome” (v. 8) is the Teacher’s confession. He spent his entire life striving to accomplish something new and to experience meaning and fulfillment. Yet, everything passed away, leaving behind only a deep sense of emptiness, doubt, and helplessness. Viewing the world with such a heart, everything appeared to him as weary and exhausted. The world itself remains the same, but depending on the condition of one’s heart, it can appear full of the dance of life, or as if everything were lifeless and dead.

Seen in this way, the Buddhist teaching of jehaeng musang can be considered an accurate description of the phenomenal world. However, it is an observation limited to the world “under the sun.” Because Buddhism does not fundamentally presuppose the existence of God, it stops there. The Teacher, however, ultimately looks “above the sun” and overcomes this heavy stagnation and doubt. Observation of what is “under the sun” leads one to look “above the sun,” and those who have seen “above the sun” live differently “under the sun.”

Prayer:

At times, we too fall into the same doubt, helplessness, and despair as the Teacher. It is because we forget the Lord who is at work unseen “above the sun.” So today, we close the eyes of the body and open the eyes of the heart. We meditate on Your hand, Lord, governing the movement of the universe and the history of humanity from “above the sun.” We imprint on our hearts the truth that for those who remain in the Lord, everything is made new, and every moment is new. Grant us to live today as a new day, in a new world. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Life “under the sun” can feel empty and tiring, but when we learn to trust God who is at work “above the sun,” our days gain new meaning, hope, and purpose.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • Have you ever felt tired of doing the same thing again and again? What helped you feel better?
  • What is something God made that changes every day (like the sun, seasons, or plants)? What do you like about that?
  • When you feel sad or bored, who can you talk to or pray to? How do you think God listens to you?
    
• Youth:
  • Ecclesiastes says that without God, even success and effort can feel empty. Have you ever achieved something but still felt unsatisfied? Why do you think that happens?
  • The world stays the same, but our hearts change. How does your mindset affect how you see school, family, or church?
  • The devotional says: Those who see “above the sun” live differently “under the sun.” What might change in your daily life if you truly trusted God’s unseen work?