Ecclesiastes
A guide to Joy and True Enjoyment of Life
Ecclesiastes is enigmatic. It is embraced by philosophers and artists because of its gritty approach to the brevity of life.
On the surface, its tone and questions seem rather gloomy. One commentator says, “Think of Ecclesiastes as the only book of the Bible written on Monday morning.” (Philip Graham Ryken, Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, p. 14.)
But isn’t that when we need realistic faith the most? Monday mornings? Sunday faith is great. Monday faith is the real test. The day when life feels like pure drudgery. When the grind of work, home, sleep; work, home, sleep; work, home, sleep numbs us from the big question, what is the point of all this?
Ecclesiastes addresses this in the most indirect and satirical way. It isn’t until the end in chapter 12 that the author unveils fully the answers to life’s questions. For 11 chapters he teases us by pointing out life’s absurdities only hinting that there might be a solution at all.
Before you think, a series about the absurdity of life? How can this be helpful to me? Besides it being Scripture (and all revelation is helpful), Ecclesiastes is actually a guide to joy and true enjoyment of life.
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The Journey operates by the generous support of Bethel Church located in Northwest Indiana where Steve DeWitt is the senior pastor, and listeners like you. With the Summer months upon us and the push to get outdoors after many weeks of isolation, we could really use your financial gifts during August.
As a thank you for your financial support during the I Met Jesus Series, we are offering the ESV Scripture Journal for the Book of Ecclesiastes as our special gift to you.
Dig Deeper into the Book of Ecclesiastes
At The Journey, we want to help you continue to grow spiritually every day. Along with the sermon series from Pastor Steve, we wish to connect you with resources and guides to help strengthen your walk.
The book of Ecclesiastes is not an easy part of the Bible – largely because it plumbs depths to our souls and experience that are not easy either. Strap in for an unflinching, possibly uncomfortable, but ultimately hopeful encounter with a very ancient and also very contemporary anguish about what it’s like to be human in God’s marvellous, broken world.