Scripture and shall treat it accordingly. Who would think of treating the Psalms in the

way that Ecclesiastes is treated even by the orthodox? and yet many, if not most, of the

Psalms are in their primary setting the experiences and the findings of men who had not

even the "wisdom of Solomon".

Asaph's experience recorded in Psalm 73:, so parallel in many ways with the

outlook of Ecclesiastes, is accepted as inspired truth by the very ones who in their

superiority speak of Ecclesiastes as "under the sun"! Surely Ecclesiastes has himself

summed up the majority of adverse criticism in his inimitable words, "Vanity of vanities,

all is vanity".

The book of Ecclesiastes bears upon it the same marks that we find upon the other

books of inspired Scripture, namely, the presence of a wonderfully designed structure.

This structure extends to the position and occurrence of the principal words used, and we

shall give out attention in this paper to the passages where the words THE PREACHER

The title Ecclesiastes is nearer to the meaning of the Hebrew Koheleth than "The

Preacher", for both words refer to an assembly. Koheleth might be rendered "The

Convener". This appellative is used seven times in the book, as follows:--

The structure of the occurrence of this word contains a challenge. It opens and closes

with "the words" of Koheleth. What shall we say of these "words"? Are they the words

of a jaded spirit, a satiated appetite? Are they to be deprecated in this age of Christian

enlightenment? Are they given as a warning, to show us what is not truth? Let the final

member of the series answer.

"Koheleth sought to find out acceptable words." Did he succeed? or was his search as

vain as was also his estimate of this world? "And that which was written was upright,

even WORDS OF TRUTH." Here are given three characteristics of the words that are

written in this book.