Ecclesiastes

2/22/10

I love the book of Ecclesiastes. I first was introduced to it in a sermon that i heard. Its my favorite sermon, and there for the only one on my ipod. Its by Artie Aragon, called Speaker of the House.



Most of the books of the bible are hard to follow, in the sense of how we follow a book. We read a book from start to finish. Each sentence is connected, and creates a detailed story. Sometimes when i read the Bible i feel like it doesnt flow right.

But Ecclesiastes makes sense. It flows. You can read it exactly how the author wrote it. As a semi-depressed outlook on the vanity life, and the jobs God has given man.


With this book more than any other i can vividly see Solomon, the preacher, son of David, king over Jerusalem, sitting down at his desk, and writing out his frustrations, confusions and dilemmas. Its almost like an essay, or a journal, or a blog. The little one liners throughout the book seem somewhat like the proverbs. But he expounds. He notes things we all know, but never speak. "All streams flow into the sea, and yet the sea is never full. And the streams turn about and run again to the place from which they came."

Then my favorite.

"For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven;
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to break down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to seek and a time to lose
A time to keep and a time to cast away.
A time to tear and a time to sew.
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace."

and,

"Moreover i saw under the sun in the place of Justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of Righteousness, even there was wickedness. So i said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and every work"".

Its quotes, its themes, is wisdom, its style of writeing, all these things make Ecclesiastes A Book That Has Kept Me.