Troublesome Topic: When Was Ecclesiastes Written?

Here is my theory about the writing of Ecclesiastes.

Solomon never got over his grief from Shuly’s death because he did not complete the grieving process properly. Instead he started blaming God and the longer it went the more his anger toward God consumed him.

During this time in his life he probably stopped giving as many public speeches, maybe none at all, but he was still serving as judge and counselor for people’s conflicts and problems, but on a limited basis. He was in a dark place with no idea of how to find his way out.

He also became very introspective. He looked at all his great accomplishments and he was no longer pleased by them because he had “no one” to enjoy them with. His perspective on money, power and accomplishments had changed.

When he shared his new perspective with Zabud, a priest and his spiritual advisor (1 Kings 4:5), his wise friend encouraged him to write about it for others to benefit from this deeper kind of wisdom. Inwardly his friend also thought the king might find the writing process therapeutic, and he was probably right.

I can hear Solomon saying, “No, whatever I write at this point in my life is going to be dark, too dark for most people to handle.”

But Zabud encouraged him even more, and after considerable time Solomon began to write it down. He did this himself, not through a scribe.

This took place a number of years before the end of Solomon’s life, leaving room at the end for his apostacy. It was written when he was struggling with these issues, but that is the point – he was still in the struggle. He could still give godly advice for he had not yet abandoned God. The book was shaped by his truncated grief and his disappointments in life, but he was still able to recommend that people seek God.

This book feels different from the proverbs because it is much more introspective. It shares a perspective that is more mature, more realistic. But it is presented with a dark tone because of Solomon’s pain.

I see in Ecclesiastes his first “discussion” of the Shulammite’s death. He had refused to talk about it up till then and this was his first time to open up about it. He did not use her name but he discussed death a great deal. It was his way of opening that door which he had kept locked for years. Doing so did not make him feel any better because he did not accompany it with the other steps that are necessary for the grieving process to bring him to a place of health and balance. Ecclesiastes may have been his final attempt to reach out toward God. 

As you read through this dark book you can see how it could have naturally come from the hurting heart of one who had not grieved properly. There are many people who can identify with this dark book because of their own experiences. But they must see its light, not just its shadows.

The next lesson is: Why Is Ecclesiastes So Dark?