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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon

By Ekombe Hau -
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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Every time a new year comes close, something in me start feeling that weird mix of excitement and heaviness. Maybe you know the feeling too—like you’re standing at this invisible doorway. One foot in the old year (the stuff you want to forget but somehow still sticks to you like stubborn glue), and the other foot stepping into something you still can’t see clearly. And sometimes you’re hopeful, sometimes you’re scared, sometimes you’re… well, both at the same time. I was thinking about all that while reading some Scriptures again, and honestly, it hit me harder this year. Maybe because life been kinda loud lately, or maybe because I’m tired of pretending everything always makes sense. But the Bible does this thing, right? It sneaks into the parts of your heart you thought you cleaned up, and suddenly you realize God is trying to talk to you again. Even if it feels like you weren’t exactly listening. S...
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Ecclesiastes: A Complete Explanation

By Ekombe Hau -

 

Ecclesiastes: A Complete Explanation

Introduction

The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most enigmatic and thought-provoking books in the Bible. Found in the Old Testament, it is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, though the text itself refers only to its author as “Qoheleth” (meaning “the Teacher” or “the Preacher”). The book forms part of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible, alongside Job, Proverbs, and some Psalms. Written in a tone both poetic and philosophical, Ecclesiastes explores deep existential questions about the nature of life, the pursuit of happiness, and the limits of human understanding.

Authorship and Historical Context

Though traditionally ascribed to Solomon, scholars debate the authorship and date of composition. The use of late Hebrew and Aramaic phrases suggests it may have been written during the Post-Exilic period (5th to 3rd century BCE), long after Solomon's reign. Nevertheless, the author may have used the Solomon figure as a literary device—portraying a wise and powerful king reflecting on the vanity of life.

Literary Style and Structure

Ecclesiastes is unique in both tone and style. Its voice is introspective, philosophical, and at times deeply skeptical. Unlike the certainty found in Proverbs or Psalms, Ecclesiastes confronts the complexities of life head-on.

The structure is loosely organized and can be divided into three broad sections:

  1. Introduction and Theme Statement (1:1–11)

  2. Philosophical Reflections on Life (1:12–11:6)

  3. Concluding Exhortation and Epilogue (11:7–12:14)

Key Themes and Teachings

1. “Vanity of Vanities! All is Vanity.”

This refrain appears repeatedly (e.g., 1:2), setting the tone. The Hebrew word translated as “vanity” is hevel, which literally means “vapor” or “breath.” It suggests something fleeting, elusive, and insubstantial. The Teacher declares that all human pursuits—wisdom, pleasure, labor, wealth—are ultimately meaningless when viewed from a purely earthly perspective.

Interpretation: This is not nihilism, but rather a poetic realism. The Teacher emphasizes the transience of human life and the limitations of human understanding.

2. The Pursuit of Wisdom

Ecclesiastes explores whether wisdom can bring lasting meaning. Qoheleth, portrayed as a king endowed with great wisdom, undertakes a grand experiment to explore life through learning and discernment.

“I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven...” (1:13)

Yet even wisdom is found to be insufficient:

“For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” (1:18)

This echoes the limits of human reason and how more knowledge often brings more questions.

3. The Futility of Pleasure and Wealth

The Teacher indulges in pleasure—wine, possessions, building projects, music, and many wives—only to conclude that these are all “vanity and a striving after wind” (2:11). Even material success and luxury cannot secure lasting satisfaction.

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money.” (5:10)

The message is not that pleasure is evil, but that pleasure alone cannot provide purpose.

4. Work and Toil

Hard work, too, is scrutinized. While work can be satisfying, it becomes frustrating when one realizes they must leave the fruits of their labor to someone else—possibly a fool.

“What does a man gain from all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (1:3)

Work, like pleasure and wisdom, is impermanent. Yet it is also seen as part of God’s gift:

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil.” (2:24)

The text acknowledges simple joys in life as moments of grace.

5. Time and Seasons

One of the most famous passages (chapter 3) reflects on the rhythms of life:

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...” (3:1)

This poetic passage recognizes that human life follows a divine pattern beyond our control. Joy and sorrow, birth and death—all are appointed times in the course of life.

This leads to humility: humans do not control time or outcomes.

6. Death and the Afterlife

A key theme is the inevitability of death. Rich or poor, wise or foolish, all meet the same fate.

“The same event happens to the righteous and the wicked…” (9:2)

Ecclesiastes is unusually reserved about the afterlife. Unlike other biblical books, it doesn’t dwell on heaven or judgment. Instead, it focuses on how to live wisely and joyfully in light of death’s certainty.

This stark realism forces readers to value life and to live responsibly and gratefully.

7. Fear God and Keep His Commandments

The epilogue (12:13–14) provides the ultimate conclusion:

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

After exploring the vanity of all earthly pursuits, the Teacher urges reverence for God and ethical living as the proper response to life’s uncertainty.

This final note shifts the tone from cynicism to reverent wisdom.

Ecclesiastes and the Human Condition

Ecclesiastes remains powerful because of its existential depth. It addresses universal human concerns:

  • What is the meaning of life?

  • Is there any permanence in a world of change?

  • How should we live knowing that we will die?

Qoheleth does not offer easy answers. Instead, he invites readers into the tension between despair and hope, uncertainty and faith. Life may seem absurd, but that does not mean it is meaningless. Moments of joy, love, beauty, and work are seen as gifts from God, to be embraced even amid life's ambiguity.

Relation to Other Biblical Books

Ecclesiastes stands apart in tone from other wisdom books like Proverbs, which teaches that righteous living leads to blessing. Ecclesiastes challenges this with its observation that bad things often happen to good people—and vice versa.

Similarly, while Job also confronts suffering, Job ends with restoration, while Ecclesiastes concludes without such resolution. Yet both books encourage humility before the mysteries of God.

Ecclesiastes also anticipates some of the teachings of Jesus, particularly his warnings about the pursuit of wealth, and his emphasis on trusting God and living in the present.

Modern Relevance

Ecclesiastes speaks powerfully to the modern world:

  • In an age of materialism, it reminds us that consumption cannot satisfy the soul.

  • In a culture obsessed with productivity, it encourages rest and enjoyment.

  • In times of existential crisis, it legitimizes doubt and struggle, while pointing toward faith.

Many secular readers find Ecclesiastes profoundly honest, even if they do not share its theology. Its poetic reflections continue to resonate with philosophers, artists, and spiritual seekers.

Key Verses

Here are some of the most impactful verses from Ecclesiastes:

  • Ecclesiastes 1:2 – “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season…”

  • Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

  • Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money.”

  • Ecclesiastes 7:2 – “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting…”

  • Ecclesiastes 11:1 – “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”

  • Ecclesiastes 12:1 – “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth…”

  • Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 – “Fear God and keep his commandments...”

Conclusion

Ecclesiastes is a profound meditation on life’s impermanence and the search for meaning. It challenges simplistic religious answers and confronts the reality of death, injustice, and human limitation. Yet it does not abandon hope. Instead, it points to God as the source of meaning, urging us to live with gratitude, humility, and reverence.

Its message can be summed up as:

Life is unpredictable and fleeting—but that doesn’t make it meaningless. In a world we can’t control, the best response is to live wisely, enjoy the small blessings, and revere the One who is eternal.

Whether read as literature, philosophy, or spiritual guidance, Ecclesiastes remains one of the Bible’s most powerful and enduring books.

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