Ecclesiastes or Qohelet  is a stand-out Bible book which has the potential to catch readers at the wrong time and infect them with a perception that life is meaningless.  However, if read at the right time, it is a window to what life is without living a God-centered life.

 This mysterious Book contrasts observable life cycles “under the sun,” versus the majesty of the heavens beyond.  It is especially relatable to the experiences of those not interested in Scripture; as many are compelled to concede the timeless Wisdom within.

The Hebrew Title, Qohelet, remains something of a mystery.  The root, something like the sounds Q-H-L make, has been interpreted to mean: to assemble. We have a hint of a meaning, that begins with Q, which for for millennia has signified the unknown.  Qohlet later came to be interpreted to mean:  Preacher, in the sense of one who speaks or assembles sayings of wisdom in a House of God.  Another related interpretation is a searcher for truth.

The Hebrew etymology influenced the Greek title. The Septuagint chose Ecclesiastes, with the Greek word "ekklesia" (ἐκκλησία), originally meaning "assembly" in a secular context, but later came to be used to refer to a church congregation.  Ecclesia, in Latin, correspondingly came to mean church and the Spanish and French are similar: iglesia and église. All are synonymous with an assemblage for the most sacred purpose.

The Greek title references a searching for or an assembling of profound observations speaking to those cycles of life that are objectively observable.  There are certainly timeless observations in this Book, most notably from Chapter 3:

 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matterunder heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck/take/ up what isplanted (reap);

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stonestogether;  

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

In the opening verse of the initial chapter, Qohelet is identified as a son of David, which could refer to Solomon the Wise. Pointing to Solomon are multiple references to the Preacher’s extravagant wealth There is also scholarly and rabbinical thought that this could reference one from the Davidic Line. Qohlet does have the persona of a radical preacher whose lessons shock you into listening.   

There is some chance the writer of this Book was influenced by Greek thought as this material is thought to have been written around time of Alexander the Great, who conquered Palestine in 333 B.C., when there were substantial Hebrew trade and cultural connections with the Greeks. 

Overall, the Preacher is attributed as having examined various philosophies of life.  Each of us in our own way, search and contend with the meaning of life but relatively few explore the subject so vigorously and adeptly. Many, just live and pick up what they can.  Some are those said to be in tune with the ways of life without questioning same.  They live more analyze.  This Book indicates either of these methods is NOT necessarily more fruitful.  There is an implicit admonition by Qohlet against the pride of intellectualism.

A critical lesson of the Book is that searching for purpose apart from God is meaningless and the simple as well as intelligent come this realization, or miss the mark, in different ways, all in accord with our ability.  

Simply, living by Man’s way, or doing what is right in one’s own eyes, is as futile trying to catch the wind.