The Disturbing But Surprising Wisdom of Ecclesiastes [Animated Explainer]

In Ecclesiastes, we hear the skeptical voice of “the teacher.” He observes that living by the book of Proverbs doesn’t always bring positive results. Sometimes life is hard and defies neat explanations. How do you live with that tension, and still strive for wisdom? Ecclesiastes is the second of the three biblical wisdom books.

00:00 Introduction
00:25 Helpful info for understanding Ecclesiastes
01:18 A person's existence is a blink in time
02:01 Every human is going to die
02:30 Life is random
03:18 Life is like smoke
04:08 The surprising wisdom of Ecclesiastes
05:00 The proper response to the meaning of Ecclesiastes

#Ecclesiastes #Wisdom #BibleVideo

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[leslieblanco]

My favorite quote from Ecclesiastes is " *It is wonderful to be young, enjoy, take it all in but don't forget your father in heaven. Take into account him for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember youth like everything else is meaningless* ". It made me feel better about wanting to be healthy, made me stop worrying as much (still trying not to at all), and to enjoy while I'm young as much as I can.

[SQRTdude]

The art design is jaw dropping! Bravo, good sirs!

[xagatal]

Not a christian, but this channel has gotten me reading the bible and studying scripture. Thank you!

[chandlerf.]

Maybe it’s just me, but I loved Ecclesiastes and found it encouraging. I didn’t think it was dark and depressing because the overall message is to enjoy God’s goodness in your life. The simple things like family, friendship, good food, and God’s creation. In the society we live in now, materialism is suffocating, thrown in your face, and demanded by most— how many people do you know that have this stuff and these things and still feel so empty and so lonely? It’s all futile because when you shift your mind to the things above you truly realize how meaningless things in this world are. So enjoy life, enjoy God and His goodness—everyone goes through the good and the bad in life.. so be kind, be happy when you can be, and know one day we will be home with Christ and that is why everything on earth is ultimately futile 🫶🏼

[HazelFaith]

Funny enough, Ecclesiastes helped me get through my anxiety. Remembering that nothing lasts in this life really freed me from worrying about every little thing.

[melc]

Long ago I thought Ecclesiastes was depressing and I largely chose to skip it. Last year, however, I went through a major depressive episode that lasted some months. A friend referred me to reading in Job, which I did, but it did not comfort me like Ecclesiastes. I felt like the author of Ecclesiastes understood my pain, and was commiserating with me. I felt like it was ok to feel how I felt, and that assurance helped me to work through the negative feelings and then move on and leave them behind. I will say for those who would ask, I do not have chronic depression. The average adult without diagnosed mental illness could have 5-10 major depressive episodes in their lifetime. One of mine was last year. God's Word was there for me in new ways and I am thankful for it.

[justjimmy]

“Since you can’t control your life, you should stop trying...and the only thing you can control is you’re attitude”. So so true.

[LoveEarthHereAndNow]

"you only have control over one thing: your attitude towards the present moment. "

[seanathaalexand]

I have always interpreted it as life has no meaning without God.

[lunareta]

I love this book, it's depressing yet actually comforting

[msicedtee]

"Life has meaning even when you cant make sense of it." Simple words that hold such gravity. I like this quote throughout the video.

[noahstanley]

This was very timely for me today. I am currently struggling with some very, very difficult issues right now. Please remember me in your prayers.

[Brandon-frnl]

Was talking about this today. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

[DaveundseineGitarre]

I just binged through the book, right after I saw this video. It spoke deeply to my soul. The way the writer describes life is just how I saw the world and the meaning of life before I found Jesus. Now I realise that God prepared my heart by giving me all those thoughts over the last years. I just lacked a savior. And he gave him to me. It fills my heart with great joy, knowing there IS meaning, that goes so far beyond what is here on earth. I love you Lord. Thanks so much to all the people devoting their lives to save souls!

[hektordelarge]

Ecclesiastes was always my favorite I read it so many times in prison

[novanavo]

Ecclesiastes is my favorite book of the Bible. Helped me get perspective and make sense of life. I especially love its core message: Fear the Lord, keep His commandments, and enjoy life! 😊 ❤

[carlac]

This was so great and so needed. Because I almost felt defeated after reading Ecclesiastes.
- We can't control our own lives, so stop trying (God Is Sovereign Of All Things)
- Whatever we are given, hold it with an open hand (What is given to us, could easily be taken away)
- Enjoy a conversation with a friend, or the Sun on your face (the small things)
- What you can control is your attitude to the present
And above all else, Fear the Lord and Keep His Commands

Another perspective I heard was the Hope of Ecclesiastes is the reality of the book, God understands our struggles, sadness and depression; it's a reminder that we DO live in a fallen world. The hope is that God gets it <3 Amen

[iloveturtles]

Ecclesiastes freed me up so much this year & helped me get my focus back on The Lord!

[nonofyobusinessboi]

A very important point that was not made in this video about the book of Ecclesiastes is that, the author was King Solomon, who had everything in the world. There was one important thing he did not have, and that was having a relationship with God. The majority of the time King Solomon was writing these books, he was not close to God and did not understand things how God wanted him to understand, so, naturally, he wrote down everything from his own understanding, which many of his statements go against the Bible. The purpose of Ecclesiastes was to show what it means to live a life without God. You see everything as meaningless, but God gives us purpose. The so called fear of God doesn't mean to be afraid of God, but rather, be afraid of hurting God and harming your relationship with Him. King Solomon lived in wickedness despite having knowledge of God, he did not have a relationship with God which is the most important part of being a Christian. In the end, King Solomon understands his mistake and repents, seeing the true beauty of God.