Dr Paul Allen

The book of Ecclesiastes is enigmatic. It’s puzzling. It’s puzzling because it tells us that much of life is vanity, chasing after the wind. It says this from the second verse of the book: “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV).  But God’s providence tells us that everything in life is meaningful. So, what gives? The avalanche of scriptural evidence to prove that nothing is random, nothing is without purpose, nothing is pointless, and nothing is meaningless is truly overwhelming. My question is regarding Ecclesiastes.  If providence proves that nothing is random or meaningless, why does Ecclesiastes repeatedly say just about everything in the drama of human life is meaningless? How do you reconcile this?” I suspect that the author of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher (Qohelet in Hebrew) intended it to be complex and perplexing, precisely because, as we look at the world that he was looking at, it is a per...

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God , and is profitable … (2 Tim. 3:16). Ecclesiastes is one of the most difficult books in Scripture. Its ambiguous language and dramatic style often cloud its meaning. Charles Bridges recognized this difficulty, but he remained committed to writing a commentary because he believed all of God’s Word is profitable—even those parts that are ambiguous. Despite its difficulties, Ecclesiastes provides a wealth of practical instruction. To discover its jewels of wisdom , one must search its passages with a Christian spirit, not with idle curiosity. “Prayer, faith, humility, diligence, will bring rest and satisfaction to minds exercised in the school of God,” Bridges wrote. In other words, don’t despair over a difficult passage. Pray about it, rely on the Spirit of Christ for illumination, and persevere in your study. “We expect to find some difficulties in a revelation from a Being like God to such a creature as man,” Canon Wordsworth reminds us...

A while ago I was reading Matthew 6:25 -34 walking through this passage, tracing an argument and noticing important components. Here are some observations that came out of our discussion: 1.  The “therefore” points back to 6:19-23, which discusses money.   In 6:19-21 Jesus warns his audience against pursuing earthly treasure and admonishes them to pursue heavenly treasure (in other words, chase righteousness instead of riches).  In 6:22-23 Jesus warns his audience about the dangers of covetousness, and in  6:24  Jesus drops the hammer on his audience and informs them that people who live for money  cannot  live for God ; it’s one or the other. So, when Jesus says “therefore I tell you…”, the instruction that follows is not occurring in a vacuum.  Jesus talks about two  contrary  ways of living involving money, and now he continues on along that same track with a different topic. 2.  Matthew 6:25-34 starts ...

The Anointing of Solomon by Cornelis de Vos. According to 1 Kings 1:39, Solomon was anointed by Zadok. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.” ( 1 Kings 3:28 ) The “wisdom of God,” as attributed to Solomon , is an awesome concept, because God Himself is omniscient. Apparently Solomon was given a greater share of the divine wisdom than any others of his generation, and probably more than most of any generation. God also gave him “largeness of heart” ( 1 Kings 4:29 ). Not only did he build and effectively rule a great kingdom, but “he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five” ( 1 Kings 4:32 ). Included in these, of course, were three divinely inspired books ( Proverbs , Ecclesiastes , Song of Solomon ), which are now in our Bibles . Furthermore, he was a scientist, for “he spake of trees, . . . of beasts, and ...

Jesus washes the disciples' feet (Photo credit: teawithlizzie ) What happens when you get into a room to discuss life and the gospel?Talking. Lots of talking. And questions. More questions than you can imagine. Why? Because we need each other, and sometimes life can be confusing and include insurmountable circumstances. During my time in settings like this, I’m reminded of the importance of discipleship. Discipleship can take on many forms. It can be as simple as inviting someone into your kitchen for fellowship to organizing a normally scheduled lunch. However it looks, it involves honesty, seeking advice, and Scripture, and someone willing to do all of the above. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes writes, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). He is writing about the vanity of trying to work alone ...

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God , a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ( 2 Timothy 2:15 ) This command is for us to "give diligence" (Greek spoudazo) for God's approval by "rightly dividing" the word of truth. That which is to be rightly divided is not in doubt: " Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" ( John 17:17 ). The end goal is to "display yourself" as one who is, therefore, approved by God. The key is to "rightly divide" the Scriptures. The Greek word orthotomeo, only used this one time, has several shades of meaning: to cut straight, to cut straight ways; to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course; to make straight and smooth; to handle aright; to teach the truth directly and correctly. Two passages emphasize the way to "divide" the Scriptures. When Isaiah asked rhetorical questions about how to learn and understand biblical kn...

English: An image of Psalm 23 (King James' Version), frontispiece to the 1880 omnibus printing of The Sunday at Home. Scanned at 800 dpi. Français : Illustration du Psaume 23 (version autorisée par le roi Jacques), en frontispice de l'édition omnibus du Sunday at home. Version numérisée à 800 dpi. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." ( Daniel 12:3 ) The setting of this beautiful verse is after the resurrection of the saved to everlasting life , and the unsaved to eternal shame (v. 2). Its glorious promise to those who are "wise" and who "turn many to righteousness" through Jesus Christ is that of "shining" forever like the stars. Evolutionary astronomers believe that stars evolve through a long cycle of stellar life and death, but this idea contradicts God 's revelation that He has created this...

English: Ecclesiastes, (קֹהֶלֶת, Kohelet, "son of David, and king in Jerusalem" alias Solomon, Wood engraving (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man ." ( Ecclesiastes 12:13 ) The spiritual life of Solomon can, to a great degree, be traced through his writings as recorded in the Bible . They are not straightforward history but rather in a poetic style which reveal his inner thoughts throughout his life. At the beginning of his reign over Israel , he asked God for "an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad" ( 1 Kings 3:9 ), and he subsequently became renowned for his wisdom (e.g., 3:28 ; 4:29 ). Unfortunately, as is well documented in Scripture, his thirst for human wisdom led him into compromise and disobedience, setting the stage for national apostasy and idolatry upon his death. The book of Ecclesia...

Anger Controlls Him (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) It is good to be slow to anger. Those who are quick to anger display a lack of wisdom. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. ( Proverbs 14:29) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19) Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. ( Ecclesiastes 7:9) Anger should be addressed as soon as possible because it can easily turn to sin. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7) You have heard that it was said to those of old, “ You shall not murder ; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment ...