Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs: Life and love does not come in neat packages

Victor Frankl in his book, Man's Search for Meaning, wrote - "man's search for meaning may arouse inner tension rather than inner equilibrium. However, precisely such tension is an indispensable prerequisite of mental health." Be prepared to feel the inner tension from Qohelet, the teacher/author of Ecclesiastes who is traditionally assigned to be King Solomon since he is introduced as "the son of David, king in Jerusalem." (Eccl 1:1). Furthermore, the types of projects embarked on by the author (construction of houses, gardens, parks, purchase of slaves, flocks, and herds, collection of gold and silver) can only be executed by someone with royal resources. 

In addition to meaning, the other great object that we search for is ... Love. In Song of Songs (in Hebrew, the noun itself can be used as an adjective, hence instead of saying "the best of songs", it is described as "Song of Songs"). The caution in reading this book is that we allegorizes it too much - for example, John Gill (1697-1771) allegorizes Songs 1:13, "My beloved ... lies between my breasts" means that the author lies between the Old Testament and the New Testament which as a pair are alike in their promises and truths! The big problem with allegorizing is that the text means whatever the allegorizer wants it to mean and we drift away from examining the text in its context.

Connecting the dots
When reading Ecclesiastes, it is important not to read with the conclusion in mind - you must be walking in the shoes of Qohelet, the teacher and feel his struggle as he oscillates between futility and fulfilment, vanity and vision, discouragement and desire. The key is not to attempt to resolve the contradictions raised by Qohelet, but to reflect on it instead. Bear in mind also, the bookending focus where it begins with "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity" (Eccl 1:2) and ends with "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" (Eccl 12:8). In between, we observe the author's experimental and empirical approach in deciphering the meaning of life. The negativity expressed is one who is "under the sun" where God is treated to be distant. For example in chapters 3 and 9, the author had the best opportunity to bring God into the picture but he did not. Hence, we see in Ecclesiastes a true assessment of the fallen world apart from God's redeeming love.

Song of Songs on the other hand is a beautiful picture of romantic love that is to be read as it is without having to over-allegorize its message. Its description of the emotions of desire, longing and finally consummation in marriage is reflective of  Yahweh's covenantal commitment to Israel - "For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of host; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel' (Isa 54:5). Think about it, what matters at the end of the day is not what we have done in serving God - "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance .. but I have this against you." (Rev 2:2-3a). The church in Ephesus was a doing and serving church but Jesus was seeking for a bride, not an organization. "But I have this against you, that you have left your first love." (Rev 2:3b). What a romance, what a mystery! Song of Songs remind us that "My beloved is mine, and I am his" and "his banner over me is love." (Song 2:4,16).

Activity idea
Read Psalm 73 after you have read through Ecclesiastes and you will discover that while both the Psalmist and Qohelet struggled through the "vanities of life," the Psalmist had an additional insight which brought things back into perspective. It was the perspective from being in the sanctuary of God. Go check it out!

Christ in Scripture
Qohelet - the preacher in Ecclesiastes accurately describes a world struggling under the effects of the curse of the Fall. Hebel (vanity) is translated as futility in Romans 8:20 to describe the subjection of creation to futility. The creation groans as it waits to be set free from the bondage of decay. however, futility will not have the last word because Jesus has taken upon Himself the curse of the futility of life. The power of the new creation is demonstrated in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. There is, therefore something new under the sun. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, The old has passed away; behold , the new has come." (2 Cor 5:17). Praise be to God!

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