Encountering the Old Testament, 4th Edition

A Christian Survey

series: Encountering Biblical Studies

Materials available for professors by request only

Chapter

23. Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs: Israelite Faith in Everyday Life

Discussion Questions

  1. How can Christians today apply the book of Ecclesiastes to their lives?
  2. What theological themes in Ecclesiastes are most useful for Christians to use to build their lives?
  3. How important is it for us to identify the author of Ecclesiastes?
  4. What is the major lesson Christians today can learn from the Song of Songs?
  5. What does the explicit sexuality of the Song of Songs tell us about God?

Class Activities

  1. Ask the students to work in pairs to identify admonitions in Ecclesiastes. In a general sharing period, have the students read the passages aloud. As they do this, make a list of the admonitions on the board. Class time allowed: 15 minutes.
  2. Lead a class discussion about the use of the Hebrew literary form x of x (vanity of vanities). Ask the students to identify the ways that this form is used in modern advertising. Class time allowed: 15 minutes.