“Of making many books there is no end …” the Preacher says, as he brings to close his book (Ecc 12:12). Having completed the full draft of Who Through Jesus Sleep (soon to published book about the mortality of the soul), I look back at Reasons, One God the Father and More Reasons and wonder if the Preacher had a point. With thoughts (oh so many thoughts) about possible topics for a next one, I ask has this actually been much wearisome to my soul? Sure, my patience has been tested at times. Working with multiple authors often requires tact, diplomacy and sometimes a big red pen (metaphorical, of course – in the digital age I can just press delete … a lot). But wearisome?
A little exegesis first. This is a journal of biblical interpretation after all. The Preacher was not laying down a curse on book-making, nor making an observation of working in the publishing industry. His comments come in a context, and that context is the preceding twelve chapters of Ecclesiastes. The Preacher has sought to layout wisdom for his reader and admonishes him or her to pay attention to the words of the wise. The wise, the scholars, diligently seek out the words of truth to be like goads to guide. The Preacher has been wearied by his efforts but he has taken that weariness upon himself so that he might impart wisdom to his readers: “fear God …” (Ecc 12:13).
It would vainglorious in the extreme to compare our efforts in the EJournal or in the books we have produced to the writing of Scripture by the Preacher. Nevertheless, his example of putting in the effort for the benefit of others should be taken as an example to be lauded and to be followed (and not a trite put down to those who put pen to paper). And that brings me to the real point: it doesn’t matter whether writing books is wearisome at times as long as they serve a purpose. That is the real way to assess the experience of writing Reasons et al. And that is the real consideration when thinking of doing yet another one.
So there might be another book and there might not. But if there is it won’t be because we’re unconcerned about becoming weary, it’ll be because it is useful.
What is a Bible Student?