I shared some reflections a few weeks ago. Although I've been a Bible learner and disciple of Christ for many years, I do not yet have this walk figured out. It's filled with missteps and mistakes, and even when I re-read some of my prior posts, I can see how I could have represented the truth more fully and adequately. It is humbling to know that God still brings truth even in our tiny bit of understanding.
Today, we start a Bible study I've refused to write for months. It is a chapter out of my dark soul and a testament to the bright communion God showed me over a long, swarthy night. I know I need to sit still and get some of the messy, messy work God has graciously done down on paper. I dread it and welcome it all in one.
In chapters 1 and 2, the skeptical and pessimistic Solomon presents four arguments that seem to prove how life is not worth living. Those four arguments are the monotony of life (which we talked about some last week), the vanity of wisdom (1:12-18, 2:12-17), the futility of wealth (2:1-11), and the certainty of death (2:12-23).
I mentioned in the intro and the YouTube video about Solomon's posture in writing this book: it was from a broken and carnal state. We must remember this as we study Ecclesiastes. It has a disappointing perspective because this was toward the end of Solomon's life when he was living contrary to God's Word. We’re going to talk this week about the difference between hebel (a vapor) and hope (the absolute expectation of coming good).
