Covenant Language (4):Covenant Language (4):LifeLife

EcclesiastesEcclesiastes

Song of SongsSong of Songs

LamentationsLamentations

Notes on EcclesiastesNotes on Ecclesiastes Name:Name:

Hebrew – “Qoheleth” (“convener of an assembly for Hebrew – “Qoheleth” (“convener of an assembly for instruction”)instruction”)

Greek – “Ecclesiastes” (“Teacher/Preacher”)Greek – “Ecclesiastes” (“Teacher/Preacher”) Author: Solomon? (cf. 1:1, 12, 16; 12:9-10)Author: Solomon? (cf. 1:1, 12, 16; 12:9-10) Date:Date:

950? (if directly from Solomon)950? (if directly from Solomon) 400-250? (if gathered and/or composed after the exile)400-250? (if gathered and/or composed after the exile)

Reason for inclusion in the Bible – link to SolomonReason for inclusion in the Bible – link to Solomon Theme: “All is meaningless!” (1:2; 12:8)Theme: “All is meaningless!” (1:2; 12:8)

If this is a closed system world, all is tragedy & meaninglessIf this is a closed system world, all is tragedy & meaningless If there is a God, life is brief but meaningfulIf there is a God, life is brief but meaningful If you believe the latter, live If you believe the latter, live boldlyboldly, , joyfullyjoyfully and and godlygodly!!

Literary forms:Literary forms: Personal Reflections – e.g., chapter 2Personal Reflections – e.g., chapter 2 Rhetorical Questions – e.g., 1:3, 10; 2:2, 12Rhetorical Questions – e.g., 1:3, 10; 2:2, 12 Proverbs – e.g., 1:4-9, 15, 18; 3:1-8; 4:5-6; 7:1-13; 9:17-Proverbs – e.g., 1:4-9, 15, 18; 3:1-8; 4:5-6; 7:1-13; 9:17-

11:411:4 Allegory – e.g., 12:1-7Allegory – e.g., 12:1-7

Ecclesiastes in OutlineEcclesiastes in Outline Prologue: Theme (“Meaninglessness”) & Brief Prologue: Theme (“Meaninglessness”) & Brief

Explanation (1:1-11)Explanation (1:1-11) Meaningless Things: Wisdom, Pleasures, Folly, Toil (1:12-Meaningless Things: Wisdom, Pleasures, Folly, Toil (1:12-

2:26)2:26) Interlude: The Bondage of Time (3)Interlude: The Bondage of Time (3) Other Meaningless Things: Oppression, Toil, Other Meaningless Things: Oppression, Toil,

Friendlessness, Political Advancement, Unfulfilled Vows Friendlessness, Political Advancement, Unfulfilled Vows to God, Amassing Wealth (4:1-6:12)to God, Amassing Wealth (4:1-6:12)

In order to stay sane, get practical wisdom (7:1-8:6)In order to stay sane, get practical wisdom (7:1-8:6) Reflections on all the Teacher’s Observations: (8:7-12:7)Reflections on all the Teacher’s Observations: (8:7-12:7)

The meaning of life must be found beyond life—in God aloneThe meaning of life must be found beyond life—in God alone All of life is progressing toward a common endAll of life is progressing toward a common end So enjoy life while you have itSo enjoy life while you have it And be wiseAnd be wise In summary—Live Boldly! Live Joyfully! Live Godly!In summary—Live Boldly! Live Joyfully! Live Godly!

Epilogue: The Theme and Its Value, Plus Final Reminders Epilogue: The Theme and Its Value, Plus Final Reminders (12:8-14)(12:8-14)

Reflecting on EcclesiastesReflecting on Ecclesiastes At face value, rather dark & depressing At face value, rather dark & depressing

(especially the opening sections)(especially the opening sections) Screaming messageScreaming message: : “All we do and “All we do and

everything that happens to us is ultimately everything that happens to us is ultimately meaningless and has no lasting value!”meaningless and has no lasting value!”

Moderate messageModerate message: : “Yet life goes on, so “Yet life goes on, so let’s make the best of it and be more wise let’s make the best of it and be more wise than foolish about itthan foolish about it.”.”

Subtle messageSubtle message: : “Life can only mean “Life can only mean something if there is a God who sets the something if there is a God who sets the values (e.g., time & morality) and gives us a values (e.g., time & morality) and gives us a link to eternity which confirms our right to link to eternity which confirms our right to existexist.”.”

Notes on Song of SongsNotes on Song of Songs

Author: ??? Solomon? ???Author: ??? Solomon? ??? Date: ??? 950? ???Date: ??? 950? ??? Literature Genres:Literature Genres:

Love SongsLove Songs Autobiographical ReflectionsAutobiographical Reflections Communal AssessmentsCommunal Assessments Search NarrativesSearch Narratives

Interpretation:Interpretation: The primary choice necessary in interpretation The primary choice necessary in interpretation

is whether there are two or three main is whether there are two or three main characterscharacters

Love Duet? – Solomon woos a hesitant maidLove Duet? – Solomon woos a hesitant maidLove Triangle? – Solomon in lust tries to steal a Love Triangle? – Solomon in lust tries to steal a

country maid from her betrothed, but true love winscountry maid from her betrothed, but true love wins

Methods of InterpretationMethods of Interpretation

Divine/Human Allegory:Divine/Human Allegory: Yahweh and Israel (cf. Hosea)Yahweh and Israel (cf. Hosea) Christ and the Church (cf. Ephesians 5:25-33)Christ and the Church (cf. Ephesians 5:25-33)

Morality Play: “Don’t do what Solomon did!”Morality Play: “Don’t do what Solomon did!” Royal Nuptuals: Elaborate wedding drama Royal Nuptuals: Elaborate wedding drama

developed for entertainment at Solomon’s developed for entertainment at Solomon’s many weddingsmany weddings

Liturgical Ecstasy: Language of spiritual Liturgical Ecstasy: Language of spiritual union between the soul (feminine) and God union between the soul (feminine) and God (masculine)(masculine)

““Sanctified” Pornography: God created sex, Sanctified” Pornography: God created sex, so enjoy it!so enjoy it!

Possible “Plot” to SoSPossible “Plot” to SoS King Solomon has brought the Shulamite Maid King Solomon has brought the Shulamite Maid

into his palace harem and tries to overwhelm her into his palace harem and tries to overwhelm her with power & poetry (1:2-2:7)with power & poetry (1:2-2:7)

The maid’s true lover comes seeking her at night The maid’s true lover comes seeking her at night and is chased, but the two escape to their country and is chased, but the two escape to their country community (2:8-3:5)community (2:8-3:5)

Solomon mounts a royal procession to reclaim his Solomon mounts a royal procession to reclaim his current infatuation (3:6-4:8)current infatuation (3:6-4:8)

Once again the maid’s lover comes, trying to get Once again the maid’s lover comes, trying to get her free; she misses him, runs into the streets her free; she misses him, runs into the streets after him when he is chased away, and is beaten after him when he is chased away, and is beaten until rescued by the harem guard (4:9-6:3)until rescued by the harem guard (4:9-6:3)

Solomon continues his wooing with more sensual Solomon continues his wooing with more sensual love songs (6:4-7:9)love songs (6:4-7:9)

But the Shulamite Maid spurns Solomon’s But the Shulamite Maid spurns Solomon’s advances and returns to her rural community and advances and returns to her rural community and the lover who waits for her there (7:10-8:14)the lover who waits for her there (7:10-8:14)

Interpretive NotesInterpretive Notes This approach allows the drama to have integrity This approach allows the drama to have integrity

in its original storyline context.in its original storyline context. This approach seems to take into account the This approach seems to take into account the

subtle negative aspersions cast at Solomon (e.g., subtle negative aspersions cast at Solomon (e.g., 8:12—”My vineyard, my very own, is for myself; 8:12—”My vineyard, my very own, is for myself; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand…”)you, O Solomon, may have the thousand…”)

This approach seems consistent with the This approach seems consistent with the repeated refrain: “…do not stir up or awaken love repeated refrain: “…do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4; compare 5:8)until it is ready!” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4; compare 5:8)

This approach fits with what we know to be the This approach fits with what we know to be the historical developments of Solomon’s own life.historical developments of Solomon’s own life.

This approach would speak against the harem This approach would speak against the harem and polygamist marriages, and nurture a stronger and polygamist marriages, and nurture a stronger commitment to monogamous unions.commitment to monogamous unions.

The “Solomon” Trilogy?The “Solomon” Trilogy? While the connections with Solomon in While the connections with Solomon in

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are mostly indirect, his name and circumstances mostly indirect, his name and circumstances emerge in each. What might this indicate?emerge in each. What might this indicate?

One possibility:One possibility: ProverbsProverbs emerges from the young Solomon who emerges from the young Solomon who

displayed much wisdom and colored Israel’s displayed much wisdom and colored Israel’s international character because of itinternational character because of it

EcclesiastesEcclesiastes might emerge from the reminisces might emerge from the reminisces of an old Solomon who realized much of his later-of an old Solomon who realized much of his later-life folly, and was trying to recover a sense of self life folly, and was trying to recover a sense of self and wisdomand wisdom

Song of SongsSong of Songs could be the creation of someone could be the creation of someone after Solomon died who created a morality play after Solomon died who created a morality play about love based on the failings of the great kingabout love based on the failings of the great king

The Lamentations (of Jeremiah?)The Lamentations (of Jeremiah?)

Traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah: hence location Traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah: hence location in biblical literaturein biblical literature

Four acrostic laments (1-4) plus another lament (5)Four acrostic laments (1-4) plus another lament (5) 1 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the 1 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the

successive letter): Jerusalem is like a lonely widow successive letter): Jerusalem is like a lonely widow suffering from many oppressionssuffering from many oppressions

2 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the 2 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): Yahweh’s covenant anger and the successive letter): Yahweh’s covenant anger and the resulting judgmentresulting judgment

3 (22 X 3 lines, each of which begins with the successive 3 (22 X 3 lines, each of which begins with the successive letter): Personalized pain because of Yahweh’s judgment, letter): Personalized pain because of Yahweh’s judgment, coupled with an expectation of restorationcoupled with an expectation of restoration

4 (22 X 2 couplets, only the first of which begins with the 4 (22 X 2 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): the pain of Jerusalem’s ruin successive letter): the pain of Jerusalem’s ruin personalizedpersonalized

5 (22 couplets, not acrostic): a prayer of repentance, 5 (22 couplets, not acrostic): a prayer of repentance, seeking Yahweh’s deliveranceseeking Yahweh’s deliverance

Bible “Big Picture”Bible “Big Picture” Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant

relationship with a missional community by way of a relationship with a missional community by way of a redemptive act (primary revelatory authority based redemptive act (primary revelatory authority based upon direct encounter)upon direct encounter) PentateuchPentateuch

Covenant Living – God guides the covenant relationship Covenant Living – God guides the covenant relationship with the missional community by way of authorized with the missional community by way of authorized spokespersons (secondary revelatory authority based spokespersons (secondary revelatory authority based upon unique individual calling & equipping)upon unique individual calling & equipping) Former & Latter ProphetsFormer & Latter Prophets

Covenant Questions – God nurtures the covenant Covenant Questions – God nurtures the covenant relationship with a missional community by way of relationship with a missional community by way of spiritual wisdom and insight (tertiary revelatory spiritual wisdom and insight (tertiary revelatory authority based upon communal spiritual insight)authority based upon communal spiritual insight) Job – “Why do I suffer?”Job – “Why do I suffer?” Psalms – “How do I pray?”Psalms – “How do I pray?” Proverbs – “What is true wisdom?”Proverbs – “What is true wisdom?” Ecclesiastes – “What is the meaning of life?”Ecclesiastes – “What is the meaning of life?” Song of Songs – “What is the meaning of love?”Song of Songs – “What is the meaning of love?”