Redemption in Ecclesiastes

I am attempting in these articles to explore the biblical books that we are surveying. I am doing this by focusing on the theme of redemption in each book. We have come in our Bible survey to the book of Ecclesiastes. If you are familiar with this book, you are probably wondering how we see the theme of redemption in this book. Perhaps we see redemption in Ecclesiastes by seeing the futility of lasting satisfaction in anything but God.

Ecclesiastes speaks of the reality of human longing for significance and eternity. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that God has "put eternity into man's heart." This desire for lasting meaning is fulfilled only in Jesus, who offers eternal life and "living water" so that believers will never thirst again (Jn. 4). Ecclesiastes lists the various things the author, the “Preacher,” tried to find lasting significance. He tried wisdom, knowledge, hedonism, pleasure, materialism, accomplishment, meaningless labor, achievements, and pursuit of a lasting legacy. All of these things drove the author to the conclusion that life is meaningless. However, at the end of the book the “Preacher” gave his conclusion. “The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14). A right relationship with God, or redemption from God, depends on the right attitude of fearing God and keeping His commands.

Ben