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.
What Is 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.
Reading parts of Ecclesiastes today really got me thinking about how the people back then must have felt. Solomon says everthing is futile. There is nothing we can do earthside to earn a place in Heaven. And the People of that time did not know that Jesus would come to save us all. They didnt have the comfort of knowing that they had salvation and a way to God thru Jesus. How must that have felt? Its a scary and sobering thought for me.
Hello Tina! So glad you checked in!❤️
This reading today reminded me that so many things in our lives are out of our control. I’m so glad that we have a holy, righteous God who is in control.
Tina it’s so good to hear from you again. Love sent to you from across the pond and praying for you.
SarahJoy I so agree with what you said.
Taylor what you posted is so on point.
Phoebe I will rest and have joy in Him too. Love what you wrote.
Angie I’ve never looked at the book of Ecclesiastes in that way. Thank you for explaining it to us in a different light and way.
Traci Gendron I don’t know if you listen to the podcast for week 3 or have the study book but both have references to history and the Bible. In the study book there is a fold-out that shows where in history many of the Biblical stories occurred. Also there are books and other items you can check on that will reinforce this. You can probably even find something on the internet. I’ll be praying for you.
Sarah D. amen, amen.
Bridget Vaschak you are sooo right. Love what you wrote.
Victoria E. I know the loss of a child is hard, I lost my son in 2003 at the age of 18 and my niece last year two days before her 34th birthday, my greatest asset was my faith. I remember when I lost my son my father told me God has a reason for everything. Well I’m finding the reason for my loss might be to help my sister through her loss. You see she is a recovering alcoholic. Each day my faith grows stronger especially with the SRT community and my church to help me through it. Remember you are not alone.
Jessica sometimes it is best to wait because sometimes God has something better in store for you.
Praying for all those others who need prayers.
Thank you Dorothy ❤️
These readings illustrate that God gives us the instruction we need to walk with Him in our lives here on earth, and doing that is the only way to eternal life with Him forever. He says wisdom is understanding the fear of the Lord, which is reflected in our daily choices and our ultimate choice to follow Jesus.
God is the point of everything. The end. (lol)
I don’t know if any of the rest of you noticed but Solomon changed his attitude toward life and what he was writing in Ecclesiastes compared to Proverbs. Proverbs is much more upbeat and Ecclesiastes is more downcast and matter-of-fact. His wisdom, I feel, has become too much for him. I wouldn’t mind some wisdom but I don’t know that I would want to be so wise that I would question God and everything in the world.
Have a blessed hump day sisters.
Just thanking the Lord for your check-in Tina. So good to hear from you. You will be in my prayers.
Angie and Phoebe your comments this morning really spoke to my heart. Like Sarah D I’ve been here a lot of years and the wisdom shared here…the relationships we share…they are an anchor that lead us to the Lord. Thanks and love to you all.
Mari V I’m about an hour north of you as you sit in Sac airport praying for you & your daughter to have a safe, wonderful trip.
Praying for you all this morning! so glad to see you back Tina! I am so encouraged by this community, I wish we could all meet in person and give each other big hugs. We are truly one family under Christ, sisters in Him. Like Philippians 1:3, I thank God every time I think of you all and SRT. I think it was 5 or 6 years ago that I started following along with SRT and reading my Bible daily. I’ve grown so much and have learned so much about the Lord. Praise God, he is just as faithful as he was 6 and even 10 years ago! All of my life he has been faithful. Praying others would come to know the good news in Jesus, as we have found in him. As the SRT Bible devo says in Ecclesiasted, God invites us into a relationship with Him that will continue through the ages! Praise God!