Ecclesiastes Notes

Short Summary

Pleasure, legacy, and achievement are ultimately unfulfilling. In addition, life is short, unjust, and unfair. While you are alive, it is nevertheless practical to cultivate wisdom, community, and strong work ethic, and enjoy the little things. Finally, seek God and be humble and deferential to him, for all his creation has a purpose.

Quotes

1. "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun."

2. "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."

3. "All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness."

4. "Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun."

5. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

How the Book Changed Me

This book is depressing to me. It is brutally honest about the problems that are inherent in human life. I think one can find solace though in its prescription to be more mindful of the present and find immense joy in the little things in life: like health, chatting with a friend, food, drink, warmth, learning, the weather, nature, etc. That kind of mindset I think can allow you to let go of demands for the world to be perfectly just, fair, and benevolent. While I find that state of mind peaceful I ultimately reject it and think that it is the duty of man to fight against the “evils” that the preacher describes. Do not bow, rebel.

Long Summary

Section 1

Your actions change nothing in the world, desire can never be fully satisfied, you will be forgotten no matter your legacy, and life is endlessly tiresome. Nature repeats with no finality, and the search for meaning is difficult and brings sorrow itself.

Section 2

The preacher tried to seek fulfillment in wealth, pleasure, achievement, wisdom, and succession to his progeny, but found this ultimately unfulfilling.

Section 3

God’s work has an ultimate final purpose, both the good and bad. Do not obsess about the ultimate final outcome, but instead live in the present and enjoy the simple pleasures. Death is the great equalizer and a fate shared with beasts.

Section 4

A great evil in life is that the powerful oppress the weak and they have no comforter. Social relationships are important because if you fall you have someone to catch you. Likewise if you are attacked a companion can support you. Isolation is unwise.

Section 5

Be deferential and humble before God, since you are on an imperfect earth, and he is in perfect heaven. Listen more and speak less. The rich suffer from worry of loss.

Section 6

Many children, long life, and much pleasure is useless if a man meets a dishonored end or can’t enjoy his gifts.

Section 7

Wisdom is better than stupidity and it should be cultivated. Wisdom can help your life in a practical way but it has limits, should not devolve to fanaticism, and doesn’t mean you will be treated fairly.

Section 8

Rulers carry real power, be deferential to them. You cannot depend on justice to be served speedily or fairly, not wisdom and full understanding of the world either. Consequently, enjoy the little things, like food, drink, moments of joy, and mystery over knowledge as gifts from God.

Section 9

Neither speed, nor strength, nor wisdom, nor intelligence, nor skill can deliver you from random misfortune. Even if your wisdom saves a city from a siege, your good memory can be drowned out or tarnished by one fool.

Section 10

Incompetent, immature, and lazy leaders are sometimes elevated to power. Foolishness can bring about mistakes, wasted effort, and false predictions.

Section 11

Be persistent and diversify your work efforts since you don’t know what will succeed or fail. Rejoice when you have good things in your life but prepare and be ready for suffering, pain, and set backs, as it is inevitable.

Section 12

While you have youth and vitality, take your life and God seriously before old age – which brings weariness, low desire, and death. Don’t drown yourself in endless study, simply fear God, and follow his law. All of your actions, despite seeming meaningless in this life, will be judged by God in the next.