Meditations on Ecclesiastes [Paperback]

About This Product

From the Preface- The chief object of a word of preface to the following notes is that the reader may not expect from them more, or other, than is intended. They are the result of meditations―not so much of a critical as a devotional character―on the book, in the regular course of private morning readings of the Scriptures―meditations which were jotted down at the time, and the refreshment and blessing derived from which, I desired to share with my fellow-believers. Some salient point of each chapter has been taken and used as illustrative of what is conceived as the purpose of the book. As month by month passed, however, the subject opened up to such a degree that at the end, one felt as if there were a distinct need entirely to re-write the earlier chapters. It is, however, sent forth in the same shape as originally written; the reader then may accompany the writer, and share with him the delight at the ever-new beauties in the landscape that each turn of the road, as it were, unexpectedly laid out before him.

There is one point, however, that it may be well to look at here a little more closely and carefully than has been done in the body of the book, both on account of its importance and of the strong attack that the ecclesiastical infidelity of the day has made upon it: I refer to its authorship.

This brings us then to the positive assertion that from the evident purpose of the book, the divine purpose, no other than Solomon could be its author. He must be of a nation taken out of the darkness and abominations of heathendom;―there was only one such nation―he must then be an Israelite. He must live at an epoch when that nation is at the summit of its prosperity;―it never regained that epoch―he must then have lived when Solomon lived. He must, in his own person, by his riches, honor, wisdom, learning, freedom from external political fears, perfect capacity to drink of whatever cup this world can put into his hand to the full―represent the very top-stone of that glorious time; and not one amongst all the sons of men answers to all this but Solomon the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

To Him who is “greater than Solomon “―to Him who is “above the sun “―to Him whom it is the divine purpose of the book to highly exalt above all―would I commit this feeblest effort to show that purpose, and, as His condescending grace permits, further it.

F. C. Jennings

Table of Contents

1. Ecclesiastes: Preface

2. Ecclesiastes 1: Old Groans and New Songs

3. Ecclesiastes 2

4. Ecclesiastes 3

5. Ecclesiastes 4

6. Ecclesiastes 5

7. Ecclesiastes 6

8. Ecclesiastes 7

9. Ecclesiastes 8

10. Ecclesiastes 9

11. Ecclesiastes 10

12. Ecclesiastes 11

13. Ecclesiastes 12

14. Above the Sun