Covenant Language (4): Life Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Lamentations

Notes on Ecclesiastes Name: Name: Hebrew – “Qoheleth” (“convener of an assembly for instruction”) Hebrew – “Qoheleth” (“convener of an assembly for instruction”) Greek – “Ecclesiastes” (“Teacher/Preacher”) Greek – “Ecclesiastes” (“Teacher/Preacher”) Author: Solomon? (cf. 1:1, 12, 16; 12:9-10) Author: Solomon? (cf. 1:1, 12, 16; 12:9-10) Date: Date: 950? (if directly from Solomon) 950? (if directly from Solomon) ? (if gathered and/or composed after the exile) ? (if gathered and/or composed after the exile) Reason for inclusion in the Bible – link to Solomon Reason for inclusion in the Bible – link to Solomon Theme: “All is meaningless!” (1:2; 12:8) Theme: “All is meaningless!” (1:2; 12:8) If this is a closed system world, all is tragedy & meaningless If this is a closed system world, all is tragedy & meaningless If there is a God, life is brief but meaningful If there is a God, life is brief but meaningful If you believe the latter, live boldly, joyfully and godly! If you believe the latter, live boldly, joyfully and godly! Literary forms: Literary forms: Personal Reflections – e.g., chapter 2 Personal Reflections – e.g., chapter 2 Rhetorical Questions – e.g., 1:3, 10; 2:2, 12 Rhetorical Questions – e.g., 1:3, 10; 2:2, 12 Proverbs – e.g., 1:4-9, 15, 18; 3:1-8; 4:5-6; 7:1-13; 9:17-11:4 Proverbs – e.g., 1:4-9, 15, 18; 3:1-8; 4:5-6; 7:1-13; 9:17-11:4 Allegory – e.g., 12:1-7 Allegory – e.g., 12:1-7

Ecclesiastes in Outline Prologue: Theme (“Meaninglessness”) & Brief Explanation (1:1- 11) Prologue: Theme (“Meaninglessness”) & Brief Explanation (1:1- 11) Meaningless Things: Wisdom, Pleasures, Folly, Toil (1:12-2:26) Meaningless Things: Wisdom, Pleasures, Folly, Toil (1:12-2:26) Interlude: The Bondage of Time (3) Interlude: The Bondage of Time (3) Other Meaningless Things: Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness, Political Advancement, Unfulfilled Vows to God, Amassing Wealth (4:1-6:12) Other Meaningless Things: Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness, Political Advancement, Unfulfilled Vows to God, Amassing Wealth (4:1-6:12) In order to stay sane, get practical wisdom (7:1-8:6) In order to stay sane, get practical wisdom (7:1-8:6) Reflections on all the Teacher’s Observations: (8:7-12:7) Reflections on all the Teacher’s Observations: (8:7-12:7) The meaning of life must be found beyond life—in God alone The meaning of life must be found beyond life—in God alone All of life is progressing toward a common end All of life is progressing toward a common end So enjoy life while you have it So enjoy life while you have it And be wise And be wise In summary—Live Boldly! Live Joyfully! Live Godly! In summary—Live Boldly! Live Joyfully! Live Godly! Epilogue: The Theme and Its Value, Plus Final Reminders (12:8-14) Epilogue: The Theme and Its Value, Plus Final Reminders (12:8-14)

Reflecting on Ecclesiastes At face value, rather dark & depressing (especially the opening sections) At face value, rather dark & depressing (especially the opening sections) Screaming message: “All we do and everything that happens to us is ultimately meaningless and has no lasting value!” Screaming message: “All we do and everything that happens to us is ultimately meaningless and has no lasting value!” Moderate message: “Yet life goes on, so let’s make the best of it and be more wise than foolish about it.” Moderate message: “Yet life goes on, so let’s make the best of it and be more wise than foolish about it.” Subtle message: “Life can only mean something if there is a God who sets the values (e.g., time & morality) and gives us a link to eternity which confirms our right to exist.” Subtle message: “Life can only mean something if there is a God who sets the values (e.g., time & morality) and gives us a link to eternity which confirms our right to exist.”

Notes on Song of Songs Author: ??? Solomon? ??? Author: ??? Solomon? ??? Date: ??? 950? ??? Date: ??? 950? ??? Literature Genres: Literature Genres: Love Songs Love Songs Autobiographical Reflections Autobiographical Reflections Communal Assessments Communal Assessments Search Narratives Search Narratives Interpretation: Interpretation: The primary choice necessary in interpretation is whether there are two or three main characters The primary choice necessary in interpretation is whether there are two or three main characters Love Duet? – Solomon woos a hesitant maid Love Duet? – Solomon woos a hesitant maid Love Triangle? – Solomon in lust tries to steal a country maid from her betrothed, but true love wins Love Triangle? – Solomon in lust tries to steal a country maid from her betrothed, but true love wins

Methods of Interpretation Divine/Human Allegory: Divine/Human Allegory: Yahweh and Israel (cf. Hosea) Yahweh and Israel (cf. Hosea) Christ and the Church (cf. Ephesians 5:25-33) Christ and the Church (cf. Ephesians 5:25-33) Morality Play: “Don’t do what Solomon did!” Morality Play: “Don’t do what Solomon did!” Royal Nuptuals: Elaborate wedding drama developed for entertainment at Solomon’s many weddings Royal Nuptuals: Elaborate wedding drama developed for entertainment at Solomon’s many weddings Liturgical Ecstasy: Language of spiritual union between the soul (feminine) and God (masculine) Liturgical Ecstasy: Language of spiritual union between the soul (feminine) and God (masculine) “Sanctified” Pornography: God created sex, so enjoy it! “Sanctified” Pornography: God created sex, so enjoy it!

Possible “Plot” to SoS King Solomon has brought the Shulamite Maid into his palace harem and tries to overwhelm her with power & poetry (1:2-2:7) King Solomon has brought the Shulamite Maid into his palace harem and tries to overwhelm her with power & poetry (1:2-2:7) The maid’s true lover comes seeking her at night and is chased, but the two escape to their country community (2:8-3:5) The maid’s true lover comes seeking her at night and is chased, but the two escape to their country community (2:8-3:5) Solomon mounts a royal procession to reclaim his current infatuation (3:6-4:8) Solomon mounts a royal procession to reclaim his current infatuation (3:6-4:8) Once again the maid’s lover comes, trying to get her free; she misses him, runs into the streets after him when he is chased away, and is beaten until rescued by the harem guard (4:9-6:3) Once again the maid’s lover comes, trying to get her free; she misses him, runs into the streets after him when he is chased away, and is beaten until rescued by the harem guard (4:9-6:3) Solomon continues his wooing with more sensual love songs (6:4-7:9) Solomon continues his wooing with more sensual love songs (6:4-7:9) But the Shulamite Maid spurns Solomon’s advances and returns to her rural community and the lover who waits for her there (7:10-8:14) But the Shulamite Maid spurns Solomon’s advances and returns to her rural community and the lover who waits for her there (7:10-8:14)

Interpretive Notes This approach allows the drama to have integrity in its original storyline context. This approach allows the drama to have integrity in its original storyline context. This approach seems to take into account the subtle negative aspersions cast at Solomon (e.g., 8:12—”My vineyard, my very own, is for myself; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand…”) This approach seems to take into account the subtle negative aspersions cast at Solomon (e.g., 8:12—”My vineyard, my very own, is for myself; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand…”) This approach seems consistent with the repeated refrain: “…do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4; compare 5:8) This approach seems consistent with the repeated refrain: “…do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4; compare 5:8) This approach fits with what we know to be the historical developments of Solomon’s own life. This approach fits with what we know to be the historical developments of Solomon’s own life. This approach would speak against the harem and polygamist marriages, and nurture a stronger commitment to monogamous unions. This approach would speak against the harem and polygamist marriages, and nurture a stronger commitment to monogamous unions.

The “Solomon” Trilogy? While the connections with Solomon in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are mostly indirect, his name and circumstances emerge in each. What might this indicate? While the connections with Solomon in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are mostly indirect, his name and circumstances emerge in each. What might this indicate? One possibility: One possibility: Proverbs emerges from the young Solomon who displayed much wisdom and colored Israel’s international character because of it Proverbs emerges from the young Solomon who displayed much wisdom and colored Israel’s international character because of it Ecclesiastes might emerge from the reminisces of an old Solomon who realized much of his later-life folly, and was trying to recover a sense of self and wisdom Ecclesiastes might emerge from the reminisces of an old Solomon who realized much of his later-life folly, and was trying to recover a sense of self and wisdom Song of Songs could be the creation of someone after Solomon died who created a morality play about love based on the failings of the great king Song of Songs could be the creation of someone after Solomon died who created a morality play about love based on the failings of the great king

The Lamentations (of Jeremiah?) Traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah: hence location in biblical literature Traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah: hence location in biblical literature Four acrostic laments (1-4) plus another lament (5) Four acrostic laments (1-4) plus another lament (5) 1 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): Jerusalem is like a lonely widow suffering from many oppressions 1 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): Jerusalem is like a lonely widow suffering from many oppressions 2 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): Yahweh’s covenant anger and the resulting judgment 2 (22 X 3 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): Yahweh’s covenant anger and the resulting judgment 3 (22 X 3 lines, each of which begins with the successive letter): Personalized pain because of Yahweh’s judgment, coupled with an expectation of restoration 3 (22 X 3 lines, each of which begins with the successive letter): Personalized pain because of Yahweh’s judgment, coupled with an expectation of restoration 4 (22 X 2 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): the pain of Jerusalem’s ruin personalized 4 (22 X 2 couplets, only the first of which begins with the successive letter): the pain of Jerusalem’s ruin personalized 5 (22 couplets, not acrostic): a prayer of repentance, seeking Yahweh’s deliverance 5 (22 couplets, not acrostic): a prayer of repentance, seeking Yahweh’s deliverance

Bible “Big Picture” Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant relationship with a missional community by way of a redemptive act (primary revelatory authority based upon direct encounter) Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant relationship with a missional community by way of a redemptive act (primary revelatory authority based upon direct encounter) Pentateuch Pentateuch Covenant Living – God guides the covenant relationship with the missional community by way of authorized spokespersons (secondary revelatory authority based upon unique individual calling & equipping) Covenant Living – God guides the covenant relationship with the missional community by way of authorized spokespersons (secondary revelatory authority based upon unique individual calling & equipping) Former & Latter Prophets Former & Latter Prophets Covenant Questions – God nurtures the covenant relationship with a missional community by way of spiritual wisdom and insight (tertiary revelatory authority based upon communal spiritual insight) Covenant Questions – God nurtures the covenant relationship with a missional community by way of spiritual wisdom and insight (tertiary revelatory authority based upon communal spiritual insight) Job – “Why do I suffer?” Job – “Why do I suffer?” Psalms – “How do I pray?” Psalms – “How do I pray?” Proverbs – “What is true wisdom?” Proverbs – “What is true wisdom?” Ecclesiastes – “What is the meaning of life?” Ecclesiastes – “What is the meaning of life?” Song of Songs – “What is the meaning of love?” Song of Songs – “What is the meaning of love?”