Immerse: Poets Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 264
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IMMERSE
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POETS
The Teacher shares his insights over the course of seven reflections. In
these reflections, he carefully observes various aspects of life on this
earth and meditates on what he sees, alternating between poetry and
prose in his explorations. On the surface, these reflections seem casual
and rambling, mirroring life in a world where one never knows what to
expect. But the book of Ecclesiastes presents them all inside an elegant
framework:
Prologue: The words of the Teacher (p. 253)
Theme statement: Everything is meaningless (p. 253)
Poetic reflection (p. 253)
Seven major reflections (pp. 253-264)
Poetic reflection (pp. 264-265)
Theme statement: Everything is meaningless (p. 265)
Epilogue: The words of the Teacher (p. 265)
Ecclesiastes seems to offer two conclusions to its musings, one immediate and one more ultimate. In the short term, given the crookedness
and futility that mark so much of life, the Teacher declares that it makes
sense to find enjoyment in the present moment through the small pleasures of the day. As he says, “There is nothing better than to enjoy food
and drink and to find satisfaction in work. . . . These pleasures are from
the hand of God.”
But at the book’s end we find a bigger, more important lesson. Even
though we cannot always see the deeper meaning of life in how things
work out, it is crucial to know that God is watching and working in ways
that we can’t discern. Indeed, one day he will make everything clear,
bringing all our actions to light. As we learn later in the Bible’s story,
on that day, the creation’s futility will come to an end and all things in
heaven and on earth will find their full restoration.
