ECCLESIASTES 3 & 7-8

A glance at the previous lesson will show why these two sections are grouped together.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

This section consists of a poem (which became a folk song by Pete Seeger and one of the first folk rock hits by my favorite group, The Byrds) followed by two parallel subunits. The theme of this section is “time.”

Poem (3:1-8)

    A. Observation (3:9-11) [He has made everything beautiful in its time]

        B. Conclusion--Positive (3:12-14)

            C. Qualifier (3:15)

    A. Observation (3:16-21) [He has appointed a time for every matter and for every work]

        B. Conclusion--Positive (3:22a)

           C. Qualifier (3:22b)

vv. 1-8 There is a regular pattern in which “good” and “ bad” activities take turns being first. It shows that we should not categorize them such; each is appropriate at one time or another.

Verse 15 is difficult to translate, but the general idea is that God is in charge of all events past, present and future.

vv. 18-21 Discuss. Only man of all the animals can contemplate his death. (Go back to verse 11) How does verse 21 fit into Christian theology?

Conclusion in v. 22: Live in the present, not the uncertain future.

This section has in common with its paired verses below:

    Common themes: the problem of injustice in the world, God's judgment, uncertainty ( “can't find” or “who knows?”), the wicked vs. the righteous.

    Common language: “God's gift,” “all evil,” matter, “there is nothing better,” cryptic sayings beginning “that which is.” There are identical ideas in 3:1 and 8:6.

Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:17 This overall section is arranged as follows:

A. Fate of the Wicked and Righteous (7:15-18)

    B. Proverbs (7:19-23a) [All this I have tested by wisdom]

        C. Wisdom (7:23b-27a)

            D. “says the Preacher” (7:27b) (phrase only in prologue and epilogue)

        C'. Wisdom (7:28-8:1)

    B'. Proverbs (8:2-9) [All this I observed]

A'. Fate of the Wicked and Righteous (8:10-14)

               E. Conclusion – Positive (8:15a)

                    F. Qualifier (8:15b-17)

7:15 The apparent injustice on earth in which the wicked prolong their days (Section A) is addressed by the Preacher in Section A' (read 8:10-13).

7:16-18 Discuss. Moderation is enjoined. Verse 18 means to take hold of both principles in vv. 16-17.

7:26-28 Negative comments on women in general? More likely it refers to the personified figure of Folly, the seductive woman, also found in Proverbs.

7:29 “Every man is as Heaven made him and sometimes a great deal worse.” Cervantes, Don Quixote

Read 8:2-14 and the conclusion in verse 15.