Ecclesiastes - The Search for Meaning

The book of Ecclesiastes is a unique contribution to the wisdom literature of ancient Israel that has been passed down to us. It is unique because its format doesn’t just include the typical poetry or proverbs of the wisdom genre. It is set up more like a learning seminar in which the facilitator, known as “The Teacher,” makes observations about the fallen conditions of the world so the student will reflect deeply and draw the appropriate conclusion, which is to fear and serve God. So much of our personal energy is spent on the pursuit of happiness, pleasure, and success, but Ecclesiastes calls this vanity and trying to catch the wind. A repeated phrase in the Teacher’s observations is “under the sun.” With this designation, he is looking at life mostly from a secular perspective. However, in light of the New Testament teachings, we’ve seen what God is doing “above the sun,” so to speak. In our sermon series, as with all the preaching at Grace, we’ll look for ways that Ecclesiastes points to and finds its fulfillment in Christ.