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Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

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MLA citation style

Hill, Michael (1942-). Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26. Moore Theological College. 1980. Retrieved from the Atla Digital Library, https://images.quartexcollections.com/moore/thumbnails/preview/8b3ab776-15ce-4eb9-ba86-edf6025f8445.

APA citation style

Hill, M. (1980). Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26. Retrieved from the Atla Digital Library, https://images.quartexcollections.com/moore/thumbnails/preview/8b3ab776-15ce-4eb9-ba86-edf6025f8445.

Chicago citation style

Hill, Michael (1942-). Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26. Moore Theological College. 1980. Retrieved from the Atla Digital Library, https://images.quartexcollections.com/moore/thumbnails/preview/8b3ab776-15ce-4eb9-ba86-edf6025f8445.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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  • Hill preaches on the topic of meaning based on Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26. Three sections can be seen. Firstly, in 1:12-16, the futility of life acts as a warning for all. Man's own solution to meaning in life is an impossible task and is from God alone. Secondly, the avenues sought for meaning and fullness in life are explored. The first suggestion is through wisdom. Wisdom is the knowledge and judgement which enables man to control life to accomplish his goals in life. For the Teacher, to increase ones own wisdom is to increase one's understanding of the mysteries of the world and produces vexation and sorrow. Pleasure produces the opposite of true satisfaction. In the end, pleasure leads to moral perversity and madness. Creative endeavour likewise leads to the conclusion of 2:9-11, all is meaningless. Finally, in 2:12-23, the Teacher reflects upon his experimentation in the attainment of meaning. Even if wisdom excels beyond folly, there is no wisdom remains unattainable. Death trumps all experiences. The only appropriate reaction to such a reality is hatred and despair of life. For the Teacher, none of the experiences resulted in permanence. In 3:11 it is revealed that God himself has placed eternity on hearts of men and has created this discontent. The longing within man has been misdirected to the gifts instead of the gift giver. For the Christian minister, the task of the preacher is to reveal the reality of people's predicament from which there is only one solution. For us today, Australian society is shaped by a humanistic understanding of life and reality. Society tells us that meaning within life lies within our power. The Teacher's message for us today is to avoid the temptation to look elsewhere for meaning and to look instead to God.
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  • In copyright - educational use permitted. This item may be used for the purposes of research and study. Please acknowledge that it is held by Moore Theological College