EatScripture

We spend about half of the installment looking back at where we have been literarily, particularly with and eye toward the end of chapter 3--God's test for us--and the literary center of Ecclesiastes found in 5:1-7. These are essential to keep our hands on and to govern our understanding. Then we take a look at how 7:15-22 is giving us one major thought, which is: Don't go so overboard in "righteousness" (leading to a Pharisecal life) nor should you jettison righteousness and live without it at all (hedonism). Learning to live a life that gains wisdom through righteousness and, on the other hand, through the unrighteous circumstances we at times find ourselves in is the key to a greater depth of understanding and of living in God's presence. We don't have to shun everything the self-righteous call "sin." There has to be a wiser way to live than the Pharisees, doesn't there?

We spend about half of the installment looking back at where we have been literarily, particularly with and eye toward the end of chapter 3--God's test for us--and the literary center of Ecclesiastes found in 5:1-7. These are essential to keep our hands on and to govern our understanding. Then we take a look at how 7:15-22 is giving us one major thought, which is: Don't go so overboard in "righteousness" (leading to a Pharisecal life) nor should you jettison righteousness and live without it at all (hedonism). Learning to live a life that gains wisdom through righteousness and, on the other hand, through the unrighteous circumstances we at times find ourselves in is the key to a greater depth of understanding and of living in God's presence. We don't have to shun everything the self-righteous call "sin." There has to be a wiser way to live than the Pharisees, doesn't there?

In today's podcast, we watch as the writer mirrors the points he's made first at the end of chapter 3 and then in the poem at the beginning of chapter 3. He does this in chapter 6 by continuing to look at things in the world that perplex him about how things work. In 7:1-13 the author uses a 14 line poem that mirrors the poem from the beginning of chapter 3 and talks about the need to live life wisely and finish well.

In today's podcast, we watch as the writer mirrors the points he's made first at the end of chapter 3 and then in the poem at the beginning of chapter 3. He does this in chapter 6 by continuing to look at things in the world that perplex him about how things work. In 7:1-13 the author uses a 14 line poem that mirrors the poem from the beginning of chapter 3 and talks about the need to live life wisely and finish well.

After making a big deal about the importance of fearing God and trusting in His Sovereignty, the author returns to similar observations to those he made in chapter 4. He continues to ask why there are so many things that seem difficult to understand about how life works. He is still perplexed over the inequities of life

After making a big deal about the importance of fearing God and trusting in His Sovereignty, the author returns to similar observations to those he made in chapter 4. He continues to ask why there are so many things that seem difficult to understand about how life works. He is still perplexed over the inequities of life.

The literary center of Ecclesiastes is found in 5:1-7. That means the author has placed his most important point--the point to which all others must ultimately give way--at this center position. It is all about out lives before God and how we are to approach him. It must not be with demands, or our futile imaginings of our own lives or our requests. Those must never be first. First must come our devotion to him and to hearing from him. We are not the center of existence. He is. 

The literary center of Ecclesiastes is found in 5:1-7. That means the author has placed his most important point--the point to which all others must ultimately give way--at this center position. It is all about out lives before God and how we are to approach him. It must not be with demands, or our futile imaginings of our own lives or our requests. Those must never be first. First must come our devotion to him and to hearing from him. We are not the center of existence. He is.

In the middle of Ecclesiastes the author continues to ask questions about why life works the way it does. Whether it is workaholism or being surrounded by oppression, or amassing riches without anyone to share them with, everything seems to be incomprehensible to the author. And yet as he moves toward the middle of this book in 5:1-7, he is preparing to give the reader the heart of his belief about what is important in life.

In the middle of Ecclesiastes the author continues to ask questions about why life works the way it does. Whether it is workaholism or being surrounded by oppression, or amassing riches without anyone to share them with, everything seems to be incomprehensible to the author. And yet as he moves toward the middle of this book in 5:1-7, he is preparing to give the reader the heart of his belief about what is important in life.