Two Views of Life - Proverbs and Ecclesiastes
October 1, 2010 by Tom Brunson
Traditionally both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are believed to be written by Solomon. The two books present quite a contrast of views about life, but it is a contrast we also see as we live our lives. Proverbs is a book of wisdom that is largely compiled by Solomon. There are similar collections of sayings from other ancient nations that predate Solomon, and include some of the same thoughts. So it appears that Solomon's contribution was not to originate all the sayings, but to compile and organize them to state the truths about how life should be in Israel. Solomon's reign was generally a time of peace and stability in Israel, and this is reflected in the tone of Proverbs. This contrasts with Psalms, which include many written in times of conflict and war. Proverbs states the way life should be lived in the kingdom of stable Israel. However, man has never lived as he should. Ecclesiastes appears to be written much later than Proverbs, and it reflects the realization that man's sinful nature affects all of life, so that the ideal way to live doesn't seem to play out. It notes that sometimes the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. It does offer hope, but we'll have to look closely to find it. We live in a culture that is also generally stable and peaceful, although there are many fears about the future. We would like to see life work like Proverbs - but we often see the side that Ecclesiastes describes. I've found much comfort in Ecclesiastes over the last several years. I'll try to share some of that as we read through this book.
Categories: Proverbs | Comments (0)
