Lessons From An Old Man

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon sets aside his royal robes and dons the persona of the Old Wise Sage.  In doing so, Israel’s Renaissance Man wrestles with the ancient question:  “What on earth am I here for, anyway?”   As a result, the form and content of Ecclesiastes is vastly different than any other book in the Bible.  In many ways, Solomon sounds more like a rambling Ivy League philosophy professor than an orthodox theologian as he offers an answer for those desperately seeking the meaning of life on this confounding planet Earth.

Should we expect anything different from a book that invites both believer and unbeliever an honest—and at times a refreshingly raw—solution for those on this quest?  Sadly, most people look to poets, painters or songwriters for comfort rather than preachers.  Frankly, I don’t blame them!  Why?  Most pulpits offer pithy platitudes that sound simply too good to be true.  For those who have been beaten down and left bewildered by life, what the religious community offers only seems to work in an alternative universe.

As a result, the man on the street finds consolation from artists that capture the human condition in simple and authentic terms that they can easily identify with.  For adults, solace might come from a Van Gogh portrait that captures their melancholy condition with his stark blue tones.  On the other hand, many a teen has found inspiration from Holden Caulfield in J.D.'s Salinger's classic novel, The Catcher in the Rye.  Who can’t identify with this depressed adolescent who searches for a way to move on with his life after the death of his brother Allie?

Art is not the enemy of the Christian.  Our job is to look for redeeming qualities from all forms of art.  We should consider how a particular piece of art speaks to the human condition?  How well does it capture life in a sin-cursed world?  How does a poem, a short story or a top 40 song illustrate humanity's desperate need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

As a result, I asked one of our members to sing a song that I’d venture to say you won’t find sung in most church services.  I was talking with a friend of mine a couple weeks ago about Neil Young’s Old Man and it hit me that it unwittingly captures Solomon’s message in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. 

Although this song is hardly a Christian song, Neil Young’s masterful lyrics reflect what the aged Solomon sees as he observes the fleeting and circular nature of life “under the sun.”  We all need to recognize sooner rather than later that Life without God is Ultimately Life Without Meaning.

The following is a portion of this Sunday's sermon in my series in Ecclesiastes.  All are welcome to join us @ 10:30 am @ Lighthouse Community Baptist Church on 22 Pequot Trail in Pawcatuck.