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Searching for the Meaning of Life: Studies in the Book of Ecclesiastes
In Ecclesiastes, the Preacher reflects upon his own futile efforts to find ultimate meaning and purpose amidst life’s perplexities. He concludes that nothing “under the sun” will ever fulfill the eternal longing which God has put in the heart of man. In a world that gives no clue as to life’s purpose, provides no answer to man’s ultimate longing, and furnishes no resolution to life’s jarring contradictions and inequities, the Preacher’s observations and conclusions are eminently valid; man by his unaided wisdom will never penetrate the mystery that guards the purposes of God. In this context, Ecclesiastes wrestles through the same themes of the world’s bewildering contradictions and frustrations and the confidence that the God who sits above the sun will bring an ultimate resolution. Man finds his center, not in the world of vanity, but in the God of eternity.
110 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 21, 2024
A book of bite-sized essays, great for personal study or class teaching prep
July 9, 2024
Scholarly commentaries often get so far in the weeds of words and arguments that they neglect the essential goal of discovering the author’s meaning. Earnhart’s work is a devotional commentary that only lightly touches on technical issues, but focuses on unlocking exactly what the author meant. What should we be getting from this section? How is the author approaching the topic? These insights are very useful.
Earnhart writes with the quiet confidence of a man who has spent a lifetime chewing on these truths. I get the feeling that while I may disagree with him about this or that point in the book, what he is saying is always true and important.
He also writes beautifully. Each small article holds at least one or two powerful sentences that drive home the point with a punch.
Maybe not a favorite of the scholarly crowd, but highly recommended for helping people understand and benefit from Ecclesiastes.
Earnhart writes with the quiet confidence of a man who has spent a lifetime chewing on these truths. I get the feeling that while I may disagree with him about this or that point in the book, what he is saying is always true and important.
He also writes beautifully. Each small article holds at least one or two powerful sentences that drive home the point with a punch.
Maybe not a favorite of the scholarly crowd, but highly recommended for helping people understand and benefit from Ecclesiastes.
May 10, 2018
About everything Earnhart writes is clear, concise, and helpful. This little book on Ecclesiastes is no different. It is similar to his works on the parables and the Sermon on the Mount. It is not a verse-by-verse commentary. He moves from one section to the next explaining the overall meaning of the text without a deep dive into language, history of interpretation, or theology. This is a great book to read as you read Ecclesiastes in your daily Bible reading, but you will want more if you are teaching a class or studying the book in depth.
May 5, 2022
Reconciling Proverbs with Ecclesiastes has always been a struggle for me and this book has helped me A LOT. I love that Paul does not shy away from the harsh truths of life and honestly, of following God. It is a very sobering, yet encouraging book. It will definitely put things in a new light.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews