Words of the Preacher

Abigail Sumeracki - Michigan

We have been going over the type, shadow, or appearance of Jesus in each of the books of the Old Testament. Today it will be Ecclesiastes, which the theme of the book is “under the sun.”

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity  of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

Solomon wrote this book, but notice he says “the words of the Preacher” and “saith the Preacher.” The word preacher is capitalized; it is used as a name. The Preacher is a reference to Jesus, so we see Jesus as the Preacher. 

One thing about this book is it focuses on trying to find satisfaction, joy and happiness “under the sun” in this life. Eccl. 1:14 says I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. The works that we do “under the sun” are all vanity and vexation of spirit. It does not satisfy.

Eccl. 3:19, For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as in the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

Eventually this life ends and if the Lord tarries everyone will eventually die. That is just the way it is with men, this life is temporary. And because everything in this life, everything under the sun, is temporary we cannot find eternal and lasting happiness or satisfaction in anything that is under the sun.

Jesus, the Preacher, says in Matthew 6:19-21, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The treasures that Jesus has for us in heaven are eternal and when our heart is focused on the Son, S-O-N, then we are living a life that is over the sun, S-U-N. When we see that our treasure is in heaven then we can be satisfied and happy in this life.

But how do we become an “over the sun, S-U-N person who is focused on the Son, S-O-n? Eccl. 4:9-10, Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Two are better than one and one will lift up another. 

Jesus, the Preacher, says in Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

The two that are better than one is us joined to Jesus. He is the one who lifts us up. To be an over the sun person we first need to be joined to the Son and it is only in the Son, S–O-N that we can find rest, satisfaction, and happiness not only in eternity but now here on earth while we walk under the sun.

The fact of the matter is that we have all that Solomon was looking for while we are under the sun when we are joined to Jesus. That does not mean that life will always be easy or that we will never face any difficulties or hardships. Remember when two are joined together one will help the other up. Well, when we are joined to Jesus, He will help us up during the difficult times in our lives. The fact of the matter is, when we are joined to Jesus, we can have the peace of God in any situation that we face because we know that Jesus is right there with us in the situation. 

So, in the book of Ecclesiastes we see Jesus as the Preacher who reveals to us eternal treasures we have over the sun and joins Himself to us so we can walk as “over the sun people” while we live “under the sun.”