Ecclesiastes

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

In the twelve chapters of Ecclesiastes, the "Teacher," who has tried everything under the sun finds everything, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" Toiling away at a hard job is just chasing after wind. Seeking wisdom just brings much sorrow. Laughter - foolishness. Projects - foolishness. Great wealth - foolishness. Both the wise and the fool end up in the same place. 3:11 says, "He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what god ha done from beginning to end." There are warnings on how to approach God in awe and with little words, "Do not let your mouth lead to sin" (4:6a)! Those that love money never have enough, and this too is meaningless. Chapters 7, 10, 11, and 12 are various proverbs about life like "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." 12:8 again says, "'Meaningless! Meaningless!' says the Teacher, 'Everything is meaningless.'" Then verse 13-14 draws the conclusion, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."