Well-Driven Nails: How to Find Contentment in a Disappointing World

Well-Driven Nails offers a practical, fresh look at the book of Ecclesiastes. Lichtenwalter, who holds a PH.D. in Christian Ethics, brings this often elusive book to life through a series of creative and thought provoking expositions of its key passages. "Ecclesiastes is the best news around for our baffled and frightened postmodern world," he asserts. It's haunting "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly Meaningless!...Everything is Meaningless" theme speaks with compelling relevancy to hurting people struggling for their reason of being. Surprisingly, in spite of its assertion that "everything is meaningless," Lichtenwalter proposes that the mood of Ecclesiastes is actually one of hope. It advocates joy and rejoicing because life is a gift from God. But the meaning of life is suprising. The prospect of living and enjoying all of life's good is linked with the fullness of a life spent in fellowship with a loving,personal God. Coming to terms with reallity brings us face-to-face with a God who calls our weary hearts to Himself. The message of Ecclesiastes is llike a series of "well-driven nails" (Eccl.12:11). It hits the nail on the head in terms of all the painful and idiotic things we do in our search for meaning. It sets a straight nail in the wall on which to hang your thoughts, your heart, and your hope.The nineteen chapters are filled with contemporary illustrations that keep you engaged and brings Ecclesiastes' philosophical, moral, and spiritual themes into sharp focus. The reader will find the biblical text under discussion in each chapter as that chapter's prelude. Having read the text (usually a modern translation) one gets a sense that Lichtenwalter is drawing from Ecclesiastes rather than using it as a springborad for his own agenda. The endnotes following each chapter reflect interaction with varied sources including theologty, word studies, contemporary culture, and ethics. The epilogue sets the historical reading of Ecclesiastes in the context of the Jewish Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles and invites the reader to accept vulnerability and live more deeply. This is not a verse by verse commentary. It's an easy read, but will make you stop and think about yourself, human nature, the meaning of life, and God is ways and with a depth that may suprise you. (This review is written by a 70 year old reader.)