Product Description
What can we expect from life in a fallen world? How are we to live as redeemed people in such a world?
In 22 concise chapters, Benjamin Shaw shows that the answers to these questions are to be found in the message of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. Whereas some commentators have viewed the book of Ecclesiastes as an alien intrusion into the Old Testament, and have deemed it of little use for the New Testament believer, Benjamin Shaw does not hold to this misguided view.
In this commentary, designed to be used by non-specialists, he shows that this divinely inspired book is far from being the muddled collection of disparate voices it is sometimes presented to be. He demonstrates that in reality, Ecclesiastes is an integral part of the word of God, and conveys a very distinct message to all who are willing to listen to its wisdom.
Drawing on his expertise as a Hebrew scholar, Dr. Shaw opens up the text in a fresh way, shedding light on what, for many Christians, may have a long been a mysterious and enigmatic portion of Scripture.
Paperback, 168 pages
Publication Date: May 2019
Table of Contents
Foreword
1. The Five Ws: 1:1-3 1
2. The Earth Abides, Men Do Not: 1:4-11
3. The Fruit of the Fruit: 1:12-2:11
4. The Failure of Wisdom: 2:12-17
5. The Curse on Labour: 2:18-23
6. The First Respite: 2:24-26
7. Turn, Turn, Turn, or Time and Eternity: 3:1-15
8. Corruption: I’ve Got Friends in High Places: 3:16-22
9. Oppression: 4:1-16
10. Fear God: 4:17-5:6
11. The Problem of Stuff: 5:7-17
12. Recommendation Redux: 5:18-19
13. The Evil of Life: 6:1-9
14. The Problem of Man: 6:10-12
15. Proverbs Contrasting Wisdom and Folly: 7:1-12
16. The Limitations of Wisdom: 7:13-29
17. The Practical Use of Wisdom: 8:1-17
18. In Light of the Limits of Wisdom: 9:1-17
19. Proverbial Wisdom: 9:18-10:20
20. Planning for the Future: 11:1-6
21. Summary of Life: 11:7-12:8
22. Afterword: 12:9-14
Author
Benjamin Shaw is Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Taylors, South Carolina, USA.
