Joy or Despair? The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes

Stephen J. Bennett is presenting a paper at the Evangelical Theological Society northeastern region annual meeting. The title is "Joy or Despair? The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes." 10:30 – 11:20 am, April 17, 2010.

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary / Northeast Campus
2810 Curry Road
Schenectady, New York 12303.

Nyack Scholars' Symposium

Stephen J. Bennett is speaking April 6, 2010 at the Nyack Scholars' Symposium (9:30 and 11:05... same thing twice; in Hilltop room 5, Nyack College).

Topic: What the Preacher Told Me: The Message of Ecclesiastes.

Presentation at Society of Biblical Literature

I am preparing a presentation for the Society of Biblical Literature regional meeting in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

My title is: Moby-Dick's Allusions to Ecclesiastes.

SBL Session 2: Wisdom Literature; March 11, 2010; 10:05--11:55 am.

( SBL 2.2 ) WISDOM LITERATURE (Salon C)
Presiding: Kenton Sparks, Eastern University.
“Innocent Suffering, Shunned and Unanswered: Ignorant Suffering in the Book of Job and Its
Socio-Political Role.”
Joonho Yoon, Drew University.
“The Last Temptation of Job: Temptation Traditions in the Islamic Qisas al-Anbiya of Job.”
Christopher Hooker, Princeton Theological Seminary.
“The Depiction of Leviathan and Behemoth in the Old Greek of Job.”
Adam Oliver Stokes, Princeton Theological Seminary.
“Moby-Dick’s Allusions to Ecclesiastes.”
Stephen J. Bennett, Nyack College / Alliance Theological Seminary.
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Commentary submitted to Publisher

My commentary is finally complete. Alex Varughese has graciously and efficiently done the editing for both Ecclesiastes and Lamentations. The manuscript has been forwarded to the publisher for copy editing. Release date is planned for March 1, 2010.

Carly Simon, Anticipation

Connections with Ecclesiastes:

"chasing after some finer day."

"tomorrow we might not be together."

"These are the good old days."

Lyrics:

Anticipation

We can never know about the days to come

But we think about them anyway

And I wonder if I'm really with you now

Or just chasing after some finer day

{Refrain}

Anticipation, anticipation

Is making me late

It's keeping me waiting

And I tell you how easy it feels to be with you

And how right your arms feel around me

But I, I rehearsed those words just late last night

When I was thinking about how right tonight might be

{Refrain}

And tomorrow we might not be together

I'm no prophet, and I don't know nature's ways

So I'll try to see into your eyes right now

And stay right here, 'cause these are the good old days

These are the good old days

And stay right here, 'cause these are the good old days

These are the good old days

These are the good old days

These are the good old days

These are the good old days

Ziggy Marley: Good Old Days

Connections with Ecclesiastes:

"No one knows the future."

"For everything has a season; It's not a time for war, it's a time for peace."

"Let's cherish these moments that we now know."

Lyrics by David Marley:

Good Old Days

Ire days, come on play

Let the angels fly, let the devils die

Got to do what you can with the time at hand

Ali boom mah, yeah, ali boom mah, yeah.

Don't worry your mind, it's just the test of time

In five years, these be the good ol' days

No one knows what the future holds

For everything has a season

It's not a time for war, it's a time for peace

Tomorrow knows tomorrow woes

I remember when grandpa used to say

"Grandson, these be the good ol' days"

These be the good ol' days

These be the good ol' days

These be the good ol' days
These be the good ol' days

Now comes the moon with its starry lights

And so begins the night life

The tribal dance puts me in a trance

As she pulls me in with her magic swing

I asked of her what do we celebrate

She said to me, "These be the good ol' days"

These be the good ol' days
These be the good ol' days
These be the good ol' days

These be the good ol' days

There is no future, there is only now, now

Let's cherish these moments that we now know, know, know

These be the good ol' days
These be the good ol' days
These be the good ol' days

...

Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ

A few references to Ecclesiastes in the spiritual formation classic Imitation of Christ.