Please read all of Ecclesiastes for next Tuesday (4/15/14).
For some people, Ecclesiastes is their favorite book in the entire Bible. Others wonder why it is in the Bible at all. What's your reaction? Did you find this book more or less enjoyable/valuable than the other books you've read for this class?
Now here is an interesting book. To me personally I'm in the crowd that is not so sure why this book exists. It goes over things that are both relatively understood, already touched upon elsewhere, and basically common knowledge.
ReplyDeleteEverything in this book is...odd. Not only does it go over messages that have already been covered through stories, anecdotes or other narrative foppery elsewhere but it is kind of open about it. At this point in the bible I feel like I should go over every word with a fine comb but here? It may presented in a poetic fashion but there is no other snippets to focus on. No figuring out the message.
To me, this book is 'babies first book of the Bible' because not only is it easy to read but the message is not cleverly inserted into a story, nor is it have any special context. Its just kinda...there.
Maybe I just am not getting it? Perhaps its the point of this book to be a breath of fresh air after the scrutiny given to books such as Ezekiel but to me its not a breath of fresh air its unnecessary dust in the wind.
Ecclesiastes, in short, is a book of the Bible that instaed of being complicated and interesting like other books of the Bible merely touches on the same things that have been better presented elsewhere in the Bible. Instead of giving me a complex forula to solve it just gave me the math problem two plus two...AND DIDN'T EVEN LET ME GIVE AN ANSWER AND SOLVED IT FOR ME ANY WAY. I am NOT dumb Ecclesiastes, I know you mean well and your message is good and all but let me be an adult and figure out the meaning of vanity through a parable instead of having it beat into my skull with a list as if I'm not paying attention to your message.
Sincerely,
DeleteA guy who actually liked piking apart Ezekiel
I often find the books of the Bible that are more autobiographical and reflective have more of an impact on me, not just because I find them easier to understand but also that what they write is what is most important to them out of their whole life! Ecclesiastes isn't like most of the other books we've covered in that it was written by the person it is about, not by someone after the fact. Perhaps this is why I find it more enjoyable, it is less legend and more personal confessions and convictions.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Solomon makes a pretty strong argument for leading a life following God. Chapter 7, Verse 13: “Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent?” Since he's made so many mistakes of his own he should know, right?
I like it. it has a lot of hope in the book. it is also a book that teaches you that in certain situation some attributes are better than others like in chapter seven verse 18 to 25. I think it is a very great book for kids to read.
ReplyDelete-Abigail miiller