The author of Ecclesiastes is known only as "the Teacher" (Heb. Qoheleth [Koh-hey-LATE] ), although tradition and textual cues connect him with King Solomon. The book contains a lengthy speech (1:12-12:8), preceded by a brief introduction (1:1-11) and followed by an epilogue (12:8-14).
The Teacher's message is a bracing confession of his struggle to find meaning in life. His view of the world is often cynical and jaded. His gut-wrenching honesty enlightens our own struggle for a purposeful life. It also models for us how to be honest with God about our own doubts. The Teacher's message may seem shocking to us, but it doesn't offend God. God is more interested in the things on our hearts, however rough, than He is in the polished words we use to impress Him. For all of his cynicism, the Teacher does not question his relationship to God or deny God's goodness.
Ecclesiastes also reminds us to cultivate humility before God. We who know God through Jesus Christ and through the Bible must not forget how much bigger God is than our pint-sized conceptions of Him. We must guard against undue self-confidence when we worship a God Who is free and sovereign. His ways are mysterious. Ecclesiastes is an antidote to the venom of glib platitudes and repetitious chatter in worship. As the Teacher says: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few" (5:1-2).
The Teacher's message prepares us for the coming of Christ, the only source of true, lasting meaning. How thankful I am that God has come in Christ to show me what life is all about and to deliver me from the quicksand of meaninglessness!
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