IS LIFE WORTH LIVING?
Some thoughts on the message of Ecclesiastes
By Christopher Brearley
Zaccmedia, 140pp, £7.99 on Amazon
ISBN 978 1 911 211 402
This book is nicely produced, with clear double-spaced text, uncomplicated language and limited footnotes. It is exactly what the subtitle says: ‘Some thoughts on …’ and not a complete treatment.
Brearley has previously brought out a Bible study book on Ecclesiastes (2005), and the cover of this present book claims that it is also ‘ideal for study groups’. Useful, quite possibly, yes, but I’m not convinced about ‘ideal’.
Who is it aimed at?
Crucially, the writer seeks to be rigorously faithful to Scripture. This vital commitment is evident throughout. Yet the writing comes across to me as perhaps some fairly simple introductory lectures, reproduced rather prosaically. And I’m not sure exactly what readership is really in mind. It’s not a commentary – but then, it isn’t pitched as such. The 14 chapters are a bit long for daily devotions. The ‘pause for thought’ at the end of each chapter sometimes only makes further statements, where well-chosen questions might have been much more helpful. The early chapters do not go much beyond simple common sense, but the later ones are pitched (in distinct contrast) decidedly evangelistically. The first half seems a little underplayed, whereas the latter half, in Christological zeal, might take things too far on from the text of Ecclesiastes itself.
At times, some quite detailed Scripture knowledge is assumed (unexplained references to ‘the priests of Baal’ (p.90), Nabal (p.117) and ‘Elohim’ vs ‘Jehovah’ (p.126) ).
There is nothing really so very wrong about this book, though, I have to say. Brearley gives us some useful introductory tasters of the flavour of Ecclesiastes. His book is well seasoned throughout with many excellent, thought-provoking and repeat-worthy quotations. But (sorry!) still, for me, not quite the dish of the day.
