JAN 2

Ecclesiastes 12:8-10
Memorise Proverbs 22:17
"because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge…"

WHAT DOES ‘ECCLESIASTES’ MEAN?

The title ‘Ecclesiastes’ as found in the English Bible, is a direct transliteration from the Greek name of the book, ‘ekklesiastes’ taken from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Greek Septuagint. This word ‘ekklesiastes’, is an accurate rendition of the Hebrew word qôheleth, which is the word that is in turn translated as ‘preacher’ in the book of Ecclesiastes.

This word, ‘qoheleth’ is what the author of the book titles himself, and occurs only in the book of Ecclesiastes and nowhere else in the Bible (a total of 7 times, Ecclesiastes 1:1,2, 12, 7:27, 12:8-10, and translated as ‘preacher’ each time in the English Bible). It comes from the root word in Hebrew ‘qahal’ which literally means ‘to assemble, to gather together’. When it is used here in the participle form, the word ‘qoheleth’ can be rendered ‘the one who calls and assembles people together’. In this light, we see that it refers to more than just a preacher, but to one who calls and assembles people together to come to listen to his message. Thus by using this term to title himself, Solomon is coming before the people, and calling upon them to hear his words, not as the decrees of a sovereign King, but wise words of an old man who has a message to share with people whom he cares about.

For all of us who come to read the book of Ecclesiastes, we too are sitting at the feet of the wise preacher who has gathered the people to teach them ‘knowledge… many proverbs… acceptable words… words of truth’ (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10). These are all descriptions given of the precious contents of the book of Ecclesiastes. There are certainly wise words of wisdom that we would do well to take heed to! To read the book of Ecclesiastes is to gather to avail ourselves to the wisdom of God, to be like one of the congregation who "bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge." Proverbs 22:17.

Thought: What a privilege it is to gather with God’s people to hear God’s Word from God’s servants!
Prayer: Lord, may You place in me a deep hunger and thirst to know Your wise words of wisdom.