The Book of Ecclesiastes
The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most challenging reads in the Bible. Its genre is a blend of wisdom literature and poetry. Its structure is built on recurring phrases: "I saw," "vanity," "to eat, drink, rejoice, take joy in life, do good." In essence, it describes a journey: I tried everything, found it all to be meaningless, and finally discovered the solution in following what is good. The author does not introduce himself, but references to wisdom, wealth, and accomplishments evoke the figure of wise King Solomon. The book likely originated in the later years of Solomon's life (10th century BCE).
In the book, Solomon reflects on his life journey, which was marked by apostasy, idolatry, spiritual darkness, moral distortion, and depression. From a position of devout faith, he fell into this state. Through the changes in his spiritual condition, he illustrates the process of his return to faith. His life serves as an example, offering readers lessons, comfort, and hope. With God, no depth is so great that there is no way back.
Solomon received wisdom from God to lead the people of Israel, but once in power, he began to claim this wisdom for himself. God confronted him with the horror of aimlessness, futility, and nihilism. Through the cycle of nature, God made Solomon understand that everything fades away, including human life. From this, Solomon concluded that life was meaningless. The inescapable reality of death gripped him and led him to seek answers.
Instead of turning to God for a way out, Solomon sought other answers: hedonism, accumulating wealth, and grand achievements. These were his attempts to escape the oppressive reality and to achieve a sense of immortality. However, this only led to greater emptiness. Then came a turning point: his eyes were opened, and a clearer image of God began to take shape within him. He now believed in God, but he perceived a predestined, unchangeable world. He did not yet believe in God's goodness and lacked a biblical understanding of God.
Through another realization, Solomon drew closer to God. He came to understand that while justice may not prevail in this world, divine justice exists. God delays judgment to give everyone a probationary period. As a next step, Solomon shifted his focus away from himself, began to notice the suffering of others, and felt moved by it. God softened his heart.
Solomon's ideal of happiness transformed. True happiness, he realized, lies in inner spiritual harmony and a serene, balanced life—not in external values. Among the goods offered by the world, nothing is inherently good by God's standard. Finally, the phrase "I have seen it all" appears, signaling the summary and presentation of his findings. It is at this point that the king becomes the Preacher.
His soul had once been troubled by the heart-wrenching injustices of human destiny, but now the hope of ultimate justice in the final judgment brought him peace. A shift in perspective occurred in his soul: from examining life from a human viewpoint, he rose to see things from God's perspective. With the understanding of God's plan of redemption, everything became clear. Nothing is random in the world; everything is under God's control. Seeking answers to life's profound mysteries requires meaningful humility.
The Preacher reevaluated the concept of happiness. People should enjoy life, but they must live responsibly. He calls for a vigilant life, aware of the realities of the world. This life is the time of grace for everyone, a period to make decisions and act. Life is a unique opportunity, holding within it the potential for resolution. The Preacher calls for active pursuit of good, emphasizing that everyone has influence over the world and the destinies of others. Unimaginable things can arise from the collaboration between God and humanity. God's intention is to make people happy.
The happiness attainable in this world is based only on the hope of perfect happiness to come. True happiness, therefore, is possible here only through faith. Through his agonizing search, Solomon returned to God, but he wasted much of his life. As a king, he had the opportunity to guide even more people toward righteousness.
"Ószövetségi bölcsességi könyvek" (szerk. Reisinger János), Bibliaiskolák közössége, 2002
A prédikátor könyve (összeállította Prancz Zoltán), Bibliaiskolák közössége, Budapest, 2007