Ecclesiastes and Revelation: A Follow-Up
In a recent post, Doug offered some observations about Ecclesiastes, focusing on the pessimism that is perceived by many. Let me respond by offering some additional links between Solomon’s work and Revelation.
Ecclesiastes demonstrates the meaninglessness of a world view that does not press beyond the limits of human experience to include God. It seeks to show that meaningful satisfaction may be attained in a universe that seems to be nothing more than a succession of wearying cycles—a universe in which people are locked with no apparent means of escape. According to the book, freedom can be achieved by fearing God and believing that God will ultimately judge everything fairly.
Revelation also shows that history is not a succession of wearying cycles; it is heading toward a goal in which God will bring judgment, completely and irrevocably.
Ecclesiastes shows that life has a goal and purpose that it will reach, although in the course of history and the processes of the physical world it may not look at way. The book’s chief tenet is that God is not disinterested in the course of human events with its gross injustices. He will judge every deed. Life therefore has a purpose, and human deeds have meaning, for they will be judged by the ultimate standard—the mind of God himself.
Revelation concurs with this perspective. God is involved in human history, and he will have the final word, a final word that reflects his holiness and majesty.
Ecclesiastes is often accused of having a pessimistic view of life (1:12-14, 18; 2:1-9, 18-23). When you read these passages cited, one can get a feeling of helplessness borne out of a sense of empty existence. But the author’s pessimism has to do with life apart from God. To him such a life had no meaning.
Revelation affirms that those who dwell upon the earth are ultimately helpless because they are homeless because of their life apart from God. Life has meaning only for the saints, those who have a sense of a higher calling and a richer homeland.
Ecclesiastes does not reflect utter pessimism. There is an absolute good for people as they live in a seemingly meaningless world. That good is the enjoyment of God’s gifts to his people. When the author lifts the horizons of his world view to include the hand of god at work in the world, he becomes an optimist. But when he looks at life without God he is pessimistic, for such a view offers only despair.
Revelation is one of the most hopeful while at the same time most desperate books in the Bible. For those who do not look to the eternal horizon, all is lost. For those who “Behold†(trace the use of this word in Revelation), there is solid certainty.
Finally, the key to understanding Ecclesiastes is the recurring phrase “under the sun.†That phrase defines the author’s perspective. He is not judging all human experience as vain. Rather, he is observing life “under the sun,†or apart from God, as vain.
Revelation, like Romans (see 8:28), teaches that God uses all things in his world to work out good results for his people.
The bottom line? Both Ecclesiastes and Revelation teach that satisfaction can come only as one fears God. Life without God is the ultimate vanity.
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Thanks for the great insights, Dr. Lowery!
You wrote…”According to the book (Ecc), freedom can be achieved by fearing God and believing that God will ultimately judge everything fairly.”
I toally agree that this is the conclusion Solomon comes to … The one question I’ve always wondered about is do you think this was a comforting epiphany for Solomon?
As he looked back on his life…some good (choosing wisdom over wealth or power, building the temple) some bad (multiple wives, building temples to idols, enslaving his people) do you think the idea of God’s perfect justice was, to him, a souce of releif or a source of futher desparation?
Yes.