{"id":1179,"date":"2014-10-08T15:57:40","date_gmt":"2014-10-08T19:57:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/?p=1179"},"modified":"2014-10-08T15:57:40","modified_gmt":"2014-10-08T19:57:40","slug":"the-strange-book-of-the-bible-we-read-in-sukkot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2014\/10\/the-strange-book-of-the-bible-we-read-in-sukkot.html","title":{"rendered":"The Strange Book of the Bible We Read in Sukkot"},"content":{"rendered":"

T<\/span>onight begins the Jewish \u201cFestival of Tabernacles.\u201d Known in Hebrew as\u00a0Sukkot<\/em>, we spend time in \u00a0temporary outdoor dwellings.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

They remind us of the fragility of life our ancestors experienced during their journey across the Sinai Desert.<\/p>\n

Vanity, Vanity, All is Vanity!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The biblical book we read on\u00a0Sukkot<\/em>\u00a0is Ecclesiastes. Tonight we will chant it in my synagogue.<\/p>\n

I confess this book has always mystified\u00a0me. Ecclesiastes seems to contradict other parts of the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider, for example, \u201cVanity, vanity, all is vanity.\u201d (1:2) Or \u201cthere is nothing new under the sun.\u201d (1:9)<\/p>\n

The first suggests life is meaningless. We are all simply selfish people concerned with our needs. The second suggests the world is static. That leaves little room for God.<\/p>\n

So how can we read Ecclesiastes? It\u2019s part of the Bible, so we know it conveys God\u2019s word. How do we make sense of it?<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Remember what kind\u00a0of book it is: T<\/span>he meaning of a book depends on the way you read it. We read a poem differently than we read a novel. We read history differently than we read science.<\/p>\n

Ecclesiastes is not a theological book. It is more of an autobiographical reflection. It is the reflection of King Solomon, the wisest of Jewish kings.<\/p>\n

He is sharing the wisdom from his life experience. He is not telling us what one must believe. He is recounting and reflecting on his life. He is conveying life lessons.<\/p>\n

His feelings and observation may resonate with us, even if we do not believe in their literal truth.<\/p>\n

There are times when we do feel that life is futile. When an illness strikes a loved one, when we work hard and we fail, when natural disaster strikes.<\/div>\n

\n

And there are times when we know that life is not futile. When a new child comes into the world, when we\u00a0 see righteousness in action and justice prevail.<\/p>\n

Ecclesiastes represents one side of life. And life is complex. As the book points out later, in another of its most memorable sections,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere is a time for every season; A time for every purpose under heaven\u2026 A time to love and a time for hate; a time for war and a time for peace; a time to laugh and a time to grieve\u2026\u201d (3:1-8)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2. Remain Humble:<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Much of life is outside of our control. We did not choose to be born here. We did not choose our parents. Many of us simply got lucky. And no matter who we are, we face pain, and our lives are limited.<\/p>\n

Time and chance, as Ecclesiastes puts it, befall us all. Reminding ourselves of this truth helps us remain grateful for what we have and accept with calmness the difficulties with which life challenges us.<\/p>\n

3. Look for God in the tension:<\/span>\u00a0The Bible is not always say to decipher. Verses that seem inconsistent may contain a deeper level of congruence. The tension compels us to learn, pray and grow. Life emerges out of that tension.<\/p>\n

Think of a battery. It is a positive charge and a negative charge. The tension between those charges creates the spark of energy that gives a device power.<\/p>\n

So it is with us. The tension between life as it is and life as it ought to be\u2013between the past and the future, between the world we we inhabit and the one to come\u2013it is that tension that pushes us to live with grace and faith.<\/p>\n

Want to more about\u00a0Sukkot<\/em>\u00a0and other holidays?\u00a0Click here to get a free 1-page guide to all the Jewish Holidays!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tonight begins the Jewish \u201cFestival of Tabernacles.\u201d Known in Hebrew as\u00a0Sukkot, we spend time in \u00a0temporary outdoor dwellings. They remind us of the fragility of life our ancestors experienced during their journey across the Sinai Desert. Vanity, Vanity, All is Vanity!\u00a0 The biblical book we read on\u00a0Sukkot\u00a0is Ecclesiastes. Tonight we will chant it in my…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Strange Book of the Bible We Read in Sukkot - Truths You Can Use<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Strange Book of the Bible We Read in Sukkot - Truths You Can Use\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tonight begins the Jewish \u201cFestival of Tabernacles.\u201d Known in Hebrew as\u00a0Sukkot, we spend time in \u00a0temporary outdoor dwellings. 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His book, What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Jewishness of Jesus was a 2015 best-seller. His upcoming book of devotions\u2014Shalom for the Heart\u2014takes short biblical passages and show they way they can help us make better choices and live with fewer regrets. With Rabbi Moffic, you will find an open, accessible guide to life\u2019s deepest truths. A husband and father, he graduated from Stanford University in 2000, and was ordained a rabbi in 2006. He leads a congregation in suburban Chicago. 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