Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18, Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, 1 Kings 3:5-9, Proverbs 2:1-15, Ephesians 5:15-17
We’re halfway through This Is the Old Testament, our thematic overview of the Old Testament. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll finish our look at the books of Wisdom Literature and begin the last sections of the Old Testament, the Major and Minor Prophets.
The Book of Ecclesiastes: The book of Ecclesiastes, likely written by Solomon, examines practical and philosophical questions, observing that following wisdom doesn’t guarantee a positive outcome. Ecclesiastes wrestles with the tension and difficulties of life.
How Ecclesiastes Fits Into the Story: Ecclesiastes awakens us to our own mortality, begging us to seriously consider how we should live with the time we’ve been given. It removes the façades we use to disguise the fact that life is short and all our accomplishments in this world will pass away. In this way, Ecclesiastes anticipates the New Testament teaching that only God’s grace, and not our zeal, saves us.
Reflection Questions:
1. How might reflecting on eternity influence how you live in the present?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
Leave a Reply
60 thoughts on "Ecclesiastes"
How might reflecting on eternity influence how you live in the present?
It humbles me. It shows me that there is something bigger than my immediate reality and so, because of this, it is foolish and futile to rely on my own perception of things. It also tells me that to put my hope in anything besides God is devastating. I need to lift my eyes to the only one who can save and bring understanding and stillness to a situation by bringing peace to my heart.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. It is vain for me to think that anything I can achieve or gain from the earth will satisfy; only God through the gift of His Son. Ecclesiastes warns me that the wisest man on earth has ‘been there done that’ when it comes to what can be accessed on earth, and he has left empty.
Oh Lord, thank you for your goodness. Thank you that satisfaction can only be found in you. God, please help me to accept your words and treasure up your commandments, keeping them locked and safe in my heart. You alone are good! May your name be praised. In Jesus’s name, Amen
❤️
One thing this lesson reminds me of is that so many of the things I worry about won’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Like when I want to throw my phone or computer out the window because I can’t get the technology to do what I want it to do, and it makes me feel stupid. But even if I *do* figure it out, I have not obtained true wisdom; I have only mastered a skill that will be obsolete in a few years, if not sooner. True wisdom comes from only one source, and the rest is all vanity. It helps me to focus on what really matters. I’ve spent a week with small children at Vacation Bible School this week, and it has reminded me that Jesus spent a great deal of time trying to convince people of the importance of children and how they often had more wisdom than we do.
I remember after Tanner died I felt like what is all this for. We collect things we enjoy, but one day they are left here for someone to dispose of. It all felt so futile. I kept saying to my husband, “what is the point of it all?”
It shows us that the things from God are what’s worth keeping our focus on. It truly makes sense. This all will be like a vapor. Nothing here matters as much as ending up sitting with the Lord, Jesus Christ.
So good! I remember reading Ecclesiastes during Covid and it was so grounding!
I have been focusing a lot on eternity since my last sibling died last September. I think about all my family celebrating in heaven and what it must be like. I now have a 90 year old aunt, who is a dear friend, that is most likely in her final days on earth. She is refusing further treatment and wants to go home and be with Jesus. Today, my 6-year old granddaughter broke her wrist. It makes me conscious of how fragile life is. A vapor!!
Proverbs 2:11-15 is such a good description of our present day. There are days when you have to wonder who is telling the truth. Sadly it can also be in our churches. Thank goodness for the plumbline of God’s Word!
Hello shes,
Ecclesiastes is a great philosophical book, with a raw sadness as this wise and wealthy figure realizes that all the things he labored for, success, wealth, pleasure, collections, wisdom and legacy, all are ultimately just chasing the wind. Bottom line: live in the fear of God, and keep our perspective on things above.
.
In this book, something else got my attention: the GOAD. “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings, they are given by one Shepherd” (Ecclesiastes 12:11). What exactly is a goad? It’s a long wooden pole (about 8 to 10 feet) with a sharp piece of iron at the end. Farmers used it to prod their oxen near their hind legs to keep them moving in the right direction or to get them back on track when they started to wander. This verse reminds us that wisdom isn’t always supposed to make us feel cozy. Far from it. Sometimes, wisdom stings. It pricks our conscience, makes us so uncomfortable, and forces us out of spiritual or mental laziness. And because they are given by one Shepherd, we can trust that He uses both comfort and discipline to protect and guide the flock. We see this goad in Acts 26:14, when Jesus confronted Saul (who later became apostle Paul) on the road to Damascus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads”. What happens when we kick back the goad of God? It will drive the sharp metal deeper into the flesh. The journey will be incredibly painful. The rebellion is entirely futile, and will cost a massive amount of emotional and spiritual energy. But the metaphor of the goad shows it isn’t there to destroy the creature, but to guide it toward a transformative purpose.
.
Now, how do we discern between a goad and a weapon? I used to be so confused about how to distinguish between a goad from God and a weapon from satan. It took walking closely with Him, and unfortunately, experiencing deception from wolves in sheep’s clothing, to finally discern the difference. The Good Shepherd’s Goad: Wise words that expose a hard truth about ourselves or the world. The pain is meant for movement, protection and transformation. Its ultimate goal is to keep us from walking off a cliff. The Enemy’s Weapon: satan likes to bring pain (think trauma) that paralyzes, disorients, and inflicts shame, despair, and deep rejection. It will bring a great confusion. This weapon thrives on lukewarmness (where they say one thing but do another, causing several spiritual stumbling blocks, tripping the faith of many, driving many away from the spiritual healing and community). If a teaching makes you feel completely unlovable or hopeless, it has twisted from a guiding tool into a weapon. If a leader preaches love and humility but practices control and indulgence, followers are forced to doubt their own perception of reality (like I was) just to keep respecting the leader. It is ultimately gaslighting, being lied to about the very nature of God. This dynamic mimics psychological abuse, where the flock is made to feel morally inadequate, and very convinced they will never be good enough by the “shepherd” who is actively bypassing the rules. This is not a goad that corrects and transforms, but a weapon designed to break us. Please be very careful and be aware of satan’s tactics. Knowledge matters. Ignorance is costly.
.
How to discern? Always always always remember the core character of the True Shepherd, protector and provider, not an executioner. Taking up one’s cross is to deny ourselves (a spiritual surrender), never meant to leave ourselves empty, depleted, destroyed and dead (“A living dog is better than a dead lion” Ecclesiastes 9:4). God wants us healed and well, alive and empowered, one way before and now another, living an abundant life in daily fellowship with Him, full of blessings to proclaim His goodness on the land of the living, on earth as in heaven.
.
How does today’s reading shape my understanding of the story of redemption? Fear God and obey His commandments, and we are on the right path of redemption.
.
Be blessed dear sisters.
I so appreciate the wisdom you have gleaned from experience and seeking Truth!
Thank you for sharing.
Godspeed as you continue on…..for His Glory and your( ours to as you share) good!
Thank you K:) you as well.
I’m so thankful for all of your insights and comments that helped me with today’s questions. I don’t reflect on eternity really, I’m always too caught up in the here and now. But I really like what Heidi said: “Every time we demonstrate justice, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, etc, we are weaving threads of the fabric of eternity into our present day existence.” This really hit it home for me. Thank you.
Q2 – We have been redeemed from a worthless existence because of eternal life in Christ. I went to a funeral service for one of our 7th grade students years ago. The family is Jewish. I remember leaving feeling so sad for them because they lacked the hope we have as Christians. I do not know how I would get by day to day without my faith.
I feel that way too Tami when I attend a non Christian service. Lately, I have attended Celebrations of Life and it can be joyful in a bittersweet way sometimes because we know how peaceful the person is with Jesus and how glorious heaven is even though we grieve they are no longer with us here on earth.
I do reflect on eternity – a lot. I try to imagine what heaven is like, but my finite, mortal brain can’t come up with much!
I strive to live for Christ now so that when I see Him I will be unashamed, but I feel like I mess up every day. Praise God for His grace and His mercy that is new every morning. I want my days to count for Christ and for eternity, but I have to work at “getting out of my own way”.
.
I hope that reflecting on eternity will stir up in me an urgency to share the gospel with others so that they too can have opportunity for salvation.
.
That I might say, “For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.”
—
@Mary Penn – Thank you for the update on your son, continued prayers for his recovery.
@Darby Byrd – praying God gives you the wisdom you need in the midst of your family conflict/
@Melm – praying God’s wisdom and discernment as you teach and nurture your kids and for decisions that need to be made. Also for God to move in the heart of your oldest.
—
Blessings to you my dear sisters. Enjoy your day.
Every time we demonstrate justice, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, etc, we are weaving threads of the fabric of eternity into our present day existence. These very things ARE eternal and the effects of them will last long after we are gone. I believe that this is the way we’re called to be reflecting on eternity— it’s more than just pondering “what will it be like”, it’s taking what will exist in that time and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, living it out now. What my heart craves, however, is the extinction of evil that constantly threatens our attempts. When all is said and done and this current life is over, love, justice, peace—all of it will be celebrated and multiplied, not attacked by a ruthless enemy.
This is why it is SO important that we live out these Spiritual Fruits of love, joy, patience, gentleness, etc HERE while we can. We have an entire planet of people God loves who need to experience His goodness through us if we ever hope for them to get to experience it in the perfection of eternity.
Wow this is so good!!
Love this, Heidi! THIS is the Kingdom Jesus brought, bringing Heaven to our temporal lives.
So good Heidi! Thank you for sharing this with us.❤️
“What my heart craves, however, is the extinction of evil that constantly threatens our attempts” ❤️
Reflection Questions:
1. How might reflecting on eternity influence how you live in the present?
I don’t think I’ve ever truly reflected on eternity other than knowing that the door to our eternity has been opened by Jesus and I hope and wish that I will have the opportunity to walk through it to live out that eternity in Heaven.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
That even the pessimistic side of me was hurting reading about the futility of it all . But even with the knowledge that what has been done will be done again and etc., the Lord is good and we’ll be in His arms are some point in time.
Reflecting on eternity is less my concern than being in the here and now and treating others with love and kindness. I wish to follow Jesus’s example and make a place at the table for every person, understanding that while we are all made in the image of God, we are diverse and beautiful and all worthy of understanding, kindness, love, and respect. ❤️
“Ecclesiastes awakens us to our own mortality, begging us to seriously consider how we should live with the time we’ve been given.” Yes, thank you SRT!
It is so important as a Christ-follower to KNOW and LIVE for Jesus. ALL else is futile.
When I examine the last 4 years of my life, and literally SEE, FEEL, and KNOW the difference of living my life for God, with God…fully..it is overwhelmingly more than I can’t explain with words! With Him at the center, the focus that comes first, to dwell fully in me, I find life (abundant life!)! His Spirit, that has been there all along since salvation-yet can be quenched, when put first, will yield precious, glorious fruit!
But it takes discipline. Look at Solomon that asked for wisdom..yet, he tried to gain all the world had. In the end, it was all futile. Many people today get to the end of their lives to find just that. What was it all for? For fame, wealth, prestige, titles? Where is our time going? You know they say where your time is spent becomes your idol, and what you therefore become (or waste your time striving to be). And if you don’t know where you’re going you spend your time wandering. Neither is good.
Christians walk by the Spirit. We chose to follow, and then must obey. If we don’t obey, we aren’t really a Christ-follower. Do we lay down our life for him? Do we lay down our pride and idols…do we surrender our way to His?
Disciplines are crucial to direct and guide us. It is us choosing to abide in him, the vine getting nutrients from the source. Getting our living water and manna daily. That is by spending time with God. Reading his word, praying and listening, meditating on what is good and true, and memorizing his truth so it is IN us. Fasting with purpose and seeking. Instead of overwhelming us, these things grow us, sanctify us, move us, and TRANSFORM us! Just like a good businessman that has to work hard and put in the time.
We like things to be instant, but you can’t rush growth in the Lord.
When I talk about all the wonderful things God is doing in my life it always starts back 11 years ago when I started reading my Bible. That is where wisdom starts. WE HAVE HIS WORD but many, many do not read their bible. Doesn’t getting my daily Bible verses on my phone count? How would you weigh your time there with the other apps on your phone? The things we watch and listen to throughout the day? You have to analyze that for yourself. Are you more eager to go to him in the morning than the world? And throughout the day. If that sounds like too much work, ask God for a fresh wind. David says in Psalm 101:3 “”I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me”
Thus, he promises not to know wickedness.
“A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness” (Ps. 101:4, NKJV).
David First Set His Heart to Seek the Lord
And Jesus tells us in Matt 2:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light”
We have to be so careful of what we absorb scrolling and looking at and hearing. As Romans 12:2 says..”Do not be conformed to this world, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY the renewing of your mind, that by testing what is true of God, what is good, and acceptable and perfect”
What goes in matters. It is important to stay away from all sin. (fLEEEE..RUN..!) When it comes, He is faithful and just, to give us a way out!
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Th. 5:21-22).
I want to spend my time doing what God has for me! And when I submit and pray about it, he gives me just what I need to bless others and blesses me by result. I become selfless…(ha..trust me, I am not selfless. A true “dying to self” is so hard)
Beautiful and comprehensive. Thank you Rhonda.
Yes and Amen❤️
We are called to do/not do so many hard things.
Please Lord guide us with Your wisdom and give us courage to obey.
Part of the old hymn God of Grace and God of Glory comes to mind: “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the living of these days,for the living of these days.”
Reflecting on eternity with Jesus gives me hope! When my eyes are on Him, my fears are less and my soul is at rest. It reminds me that this present life is but a moment in time, and everything that am going through here will pass. We have an amazing inheritance waiting for us with our Savior.
❤️
Warren Wiersbe notes:
Ecclesiastes ends where the Book of Proverbs begins (Prov. 1:7), with an admonition for us to fear God (see Eccl. 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12, 13). The fear of the Lord is that attitude of reverence and awe that His people show to Him because they love Him and respect His power and His greatness. The person who fears God will pay attention to His Word and obey it. He or she will not tempt the Lord by deliberately disobeying or by playing with sin. An unholy fear makes people run away from God, but a holy fear brings them to their knees in loving submission to God. The fear of the Lord must result in obedient living; otherwise that “fear” is only a sham. The dedicated believer will want to spend time daily in Scripture, getting to know the Father better and discovering His will. “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).
✨✨✨
John MacArthur Study Bible notes:
Fear God.
Solomon’s final word on the issues raised in this book, as well as life itself, focuses on one’s relationship to God. All of the concern for a life under the sun, with its pleasures and uncertainties, was behind Solomon. Such things seemed comparatively irrelevant to him as he faced the end of his life. But death, in spite of the focused attention he had given to it in Ecclesiastes, was not the greatest equalizer. Judgment/retribution is the real equalizer as Solomon saw it, for God will bring every person’s every act to judgment. Unbelievers will stand at the Great White Throne judgment (cf. Rev. 20:11–15) and believers before Christ at the Bema judgment (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10–15; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10). When all is said and done, the certainty and finality of retribution give life the meaning for which David’s oft-times foolish son had been searching. Whatever may be one’s portion in life, accountability to the God, whose ways are often mysterious, is both eternal and irrevocable.
✨✨✨
On the run again. I will try to catch up later. ☺.
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Paul answers the first question beautifully. Check out Ephesians 5:15-17 in the Amolified Version!
15Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16[b]making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.
Love how we both had this called to mind! God is so good!
Q1. Reflecting on eternity helps me keep things in perspective – helps me filter everything thru the lens that this is not my home. One day all things will be made right. In the meantime, “fear God and keep His commands.”
Q2. This life is a vapor and without Jesus it truly will be meaningless. Ecclesiastes points us to Jesus, who entered into the meaninglessness, hopelessness and despair of our lives. He came and lived out the command, “fear God and keep His commands.” Trusting Him enables us to do the same. He entered into the meaninglessness of life and brought meaning and hope to it.
Thinking and living with eternity in mind makes me more intentional. We want to see the world brought to christ. We want to love God and love people as He loved us!
I’m so thankful that we can know Jesus and His wisdom and right living brought us redemption…so we can live in the same way!
My thought is that I’m probably going to get it wrong by answering the question. I also don’t know the right way to understand it.
Caroline Bridges – don’t worry if you get it right. Just ask God for what He wants you to get from it. Your reading His word and sometimes it can be a struggle. Just hang in there. I’ve been there too!
Amen Cheryl I agree. Caroline, just ask GOD, things like where do I fit in here God? Where are You in here and what are you showing me? There is this helpful SOAP method, SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. (Scripture- read and write the stood out verses / Observation- who (audience),what, when / Application- ask yourself, where does it applies to your own life now, what futility am i chasing, what wisdom to memorize, what specific actions do I need to take or change/ lastly PRAYER- pray a short prayer of your own words, write down, on repentance, ask for strength and guidance, new direction to live out your application). Hope this helps.
Amen
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Psalms 131:1 NIV
[1] My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
I have been reflecting on this Psalm since lent, trying to calm and quiet my soul to accept there are things I will never know or understand on this side of eternity. but I keep getting this image of being a doormat, and it feels like God wants me to get up and fight, and I can’t figure out the happy medium between the two. Fear God and keep his commands?
Lanie, I do not know the situation but I know God never wants us to be a doormat. I’m praying for wisdom for you.
Some days I feel like everything is useless. Going to work. Cooking and cleaning. Running kids around. I can relate to feeling hopeless and frustrated like Solomon. The lost and those far from God have been on my heart so much. I pray for the spirit to draw them to our Jesus.
Would love prayer for wisdom and discernment with kids and decisions. For God to move on our oldest.
Praying Melm!
Praying for you and your oldest. ❤️ Focus on the Family podcast has really great episodes that help me when I’m feeling burnt out with parenting, my marriage, etc., etc. I also feel like Satan has a lot to do with these feelings as well when we get stuck in them, especially for us moms, so put on that full armor of God, and let your light shine on others. Even the mundane can have purpose when it is done for others with love which is what God wants us to do. Everything points back to Him.
Great insight❤️
So good Kim: “Even the mundane can have purpose when it is done for others with love which is what God wants us to do” ❤️. Thank you!
Q1 How does reflecting on eternity influence living in the present? That’s a loaded question with a quick answer and a complicated explanation and execution.
We all want to get to Heaven but the narrow road and submitting to God’s will trips up so many. Praying for the lost and the prodigals.
In times of temptation and failure to stay on that narrow road, I work to remind myself to seek wisdom and keep the long view in sight – eternity with my Lord and Savior, kneeling in worship, praise and thankfulness.
.
Q2 It’s all about Jesus, God’s promise fulfilled.
.
MARY PENN praying for your son and family
DARBY BYRD praying for resolution
MERCY ❤️
CEE GEE ❤️
TRACI GENDRON praying for your friend and her sister
FOSTER MAMA ❤️
Thank you for praying yesterday ❤️
The narrow road and the long view ❤️
Lord help me to focus on and follow You, and not the ways of the world!
Reflecting on eternity gives me the hope needed to live in the present world of seemingly endless violence and injustice.
.
Today’s reading in Ecclesiastes gives the truth of how fallen the world is and how we need to be redeemed from our sin-tainted world.
.
MARY PENN – continuing to pray for your son’s recovery
.
MARI V – praying for God’s leading for a job for both of your children
.
As you go into your day, remember to “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (Ecc 12:13).❤️
By focusing on the eternal things, it clarifies what is truly important and what has little consequence. So much of our time is spent worrying and striving towards things that will have only temporal value. Our relationship with God, made possible by the great gift of salvation, and our relationships with one another are where we ought to truly put our investments!
This is so true!
Yes, Amen!
“He is a shield to those who walk in integrity” Proverbs 2. Thank You God for standing in front and allowing me to walk behind You! ❤️
Great image! Thanks for pointing it out!
In the early days of losing Julee, I was ready to join her that day, the next day, the day after that, and pretty much the best part of 3 months..
GOD giving me a picture of where she was and how happy she was, changed my thinking a tad!
GOD not only showed me where she was, but I got to see a little of the surroundings even if it was only calming meadows, and a beautiful breeze that had her glowing with happiness and pure, pure joy.
I don’t know if that was Eternity, but I’ll tell you what, I would settle for that when my time come.
You know it, tears roll down my cheeks as I recall that most special of gifts from GOD!
Here’s the thing, that gift was given to me, when I did not walk as I do now with GOD, how much more now ..
.
Over the years, in my walk with GOD, I have understood the journey of seasons, and the final season of going home to be with the LORD, that, sorry, THAT will be something else! I know it!
.
BUT GOD..
.
In the meantime, calls us to live in that tension of here and now, of being the best possible version of who He has called us to be. We will never be perfect, but by golly, we could do our best!
.
Life may call us to walk in the opposite direction to the call of GOD, but, when we listen to the Spirit inside of us, when we finally understand, GOD wants our absolute best, though we may fall short, as we are told in Jesus’s words, ” Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven..”
We will not always get it right, BUT GOD, is always at hand to save us by His grace..
.
AMEN.
.
Happy Wednesday ya’ll.
.
Much love, hugs and continued prayers.❤️
In the “tension of here and now”
we need to “listen to the Spirit inside of us”
You nailed it, sister ❤️
Yes agreed.
Amen ❤️
❤️
AMEN!!❤️
Amen. ❤️
❤️