Encountering Ecclesiastes: A Book for Our Time

By James Limburg

Book Overview

The book of Ecclesiastes speaks eloquently to the uncertainties and anxieties that people have experienced through the centuries. James Limburg brings this ancient book to life for readers in our probing, questioning twenty-first-century times. He illuminates the contemporary existential themes in Ecclesiastes -- the quest for meaning in life, the incompleteness of our knowledge, the place of work in human lives, and the need to discover God amid life's uncertainties. A fresh, relevant discussion, arising from Limburg's extensive teaching experience, Encountering Ecclesiastes is ideal for any reader seeking to understand the timeless wisdom of Ecclesiastes.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802830471
• ISBN13: 9780802830470
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Helpful, Sermon, Ideas.

This is another book that is part of the class on Moral Formation and Wisdom Literature. This book is enlightening on the nature of this style of wisdom. From earlier impressions of Ecclesiastes, it seems to be a depressing book. The author has a negative view of life. He always harps on "Hevel" which is the Hebrew word for "vanity." "Hevel" rhymes with "Level." But really the book is full of wisdom for modern society. It provides a balanced perspective in life. Life is vanity, but the author does not tell one to reject this world for the world to come, but rather informs the reader to embrace life while you have it. It really provides some counter wisdom. It counsels the young man to life it up in his youth, but always remember God is watching. It tells the man to eat, drink, and be merry. This little book should be preached in a lot of joyless congregation. It encourages the Christian to enjoy life. In fact, I liked the book so much I am going to be preaching a series of lessons from it for the congregation and for the class at Harding Graduate. If you want to preach on Ecclesiasties, read this book first.

Great book

The book is too short, but it contains some great thoughts. The author has a very "earthy theology" and he pulls on some very good letters from Bonhoffer to underline his understanding of Ecclesiasties in this respect. He also deals with how our attitude toward life should be in the face of death. I recommend this book to anyone meditating on Ecc. Its not a verse by verse commentary really nor does it seek to give a systematic theology of the book. But, I think the author captures the spirit of the book well and presents us with very readable musings ont he book.