Day 48: Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

If your heart is heavy with the things of life.  If you are feeling worn down and sorrowful, Ecclesiastes is a book that you may find appealing.  What is the saying, misery loves company?  Well it's true.  I have often found solace in this book and as bleak as it can be, it has brought much perspective to me over the years.  Don't be angry with the author of Ecclesiastes, whether it's Solomon or someone else.  We have all been or are going to be in this place at some point in our lives, that is we will if we have some modicum of self reflection within us.  And that self reflection; being in that place is okay.  If it weren't, why would it be in the Bible.  Okay, let's just say now, God made a mistake.  This downer of a book was never meant to be a part of His Word.  Don't be silly.  It's here for a reason and its reason is good.

Common themes again persist throughout Ecclesiates, riches are meaningless, toil is meaningless, wisdom is meaningless, all living things reach the same end - death.  It's bleak, I know, but there are glimpses of hope and perspective throughout.  Chapter 3:1-15 has long been a favorite of mine, despite it's overall poetic nature, it again assures us that at whatever point in life we are, it is okay.  It is okay to grieve, it is okay to dance; it is okay to be quiet and it is okay to speak; it is okay to love and it is okay to hate.  There is a time for everything.  God has ordained it, let it be.  Live life for "He has made everything beautiful in its time (11)."  I find comfort in that.

Friendship is important.  That is another key theme in Ecclesiastes, a message of hope amidst despair.  Ecc 4:9-12, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!  Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.  But how can one keep warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  Friendship is important and, well, it keeps us together.  There are benefits to both parties, and yes the lying down together thing speaks to friendship because think of a time, different than our own, when that wasn't so taboo.  It's something that would be done for survival, lack of space, yadda yadda yadda.  We were not created to be alone, we were made to be in community.

Stand in awe of God (chapter 5).  He is in heaven and we are on earth.  It gives you some perspective.  When you are talking to the Almighty Creator, don't babble on as the pagans do (Jesus' words), let your words be few (Ecc).  God is Creator and we are the unrighteous sinner.  "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins (Ecc 7:20)."  It gives me perspective.  It reminds me that I do not do as I ought and that I stand before the one and Holy God.  I should be humbled and I should be in awe.  He deserves no less.  We cannot understand God fully, but we can seek to serve him and live our lives as best we can (Ch 11-12).  "Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man..  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (12:13-14)

You can be irritated by the author of Ecclesiastes because he seems so stuck on the meaninglessness of things and has no hope for redemption, but remember, we can look back at things with eyes wide open because we have the fullness of revelation and the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  How much more, we should read this book in light of that.  There is hope and just as there is that, all this other stuff is true too.  Let us bring light and hope into the lives of others.  God, let me.

Song of Songs or Song of Solomon
Solomon potentially had a lot of writings here in the Bible.  I don't really have much to say about this book, except that it is an excellent bit of poetry and you can feel the emotions of each of the people within it.  I think what strikes me most about this book is the intimacy of this book and I don't mean sex.  What abounds throughout is how well the lover and the beloved know each other and how they long for each other.  It is a mutual love and a deep love and one that comes from open and ready hearts.  When that doesn't occur, that is the downfall of relationships.  It may only be from one party, but that's all it takes.  I've seen that too often in my life.  "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."  That's important.  Don't chase after something you are not ready for.  If you do, you must be willing to accept it as it is, with all your heart.  God may I truly be open to hear and see and receive you and may I also be willing to be open to give and bleed and let go all of me.

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.  It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.  Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.  If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned." Song of Songs 8:6-7