While I immensely enjoyed this commentary on Ecclesiastes; one of the seemingly cryptic books of the Bible, which in my view second only to Revelation in terms of its obscurity, I need to point out a few things that the readers need to be aware of that are not necessarily bad, but might give them a hard time and hinder their reading enjoyment. First, the Bible quotations seem to be taken from the King James Version. Second, the Bible chapter references are in Roman numerals. So be patient when you decide to look them up and you're not familiar with V, C, L and X (e.g., Psalm xcix, lxxxiii etc). Third, Bridges' citations are mostly from the publications of Anglican ministers, notably by Bishop Reynolds, though he quotes some Puritans' (e.g., Baxter, Charnock) and Reformers' (Calvin, Luther and Melanchton) works as well. Fourth, though Bridges gives an overview of the book, he doesn't attempt to give the big picture content of the book, or of each chapter and the link between chapter to chapter unlike other excellent commentaries I have read. So there might be a sense of disconnect when transitioning to the next chapter. I'm not saying it is easy to establish a continuity between each chapter, but it would have been useful, at least to me personally.
Nevertheless, I have come to appreciate again and again with a sincere gratitude to God the value of godly and able teachers in the church such as Charles Bridges. The reason here specifically is that I see two dangers in misinterpreting texts like Ecclesiastes. It might lead to either gloomy despondency or ruinous extravagance. The former might come in a sense of hopelessness since everything is worthless. So what's the point of getting married, raising a family, going to school, getting a job, pursuing a hobby if all of these are vanities? The latter might display itself in an attitude of "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die," (1 Cor 15:32, cf. Eccl 8:15). Bridges is aware of this, so while affirming and expounding beautifully on the warnings issued to the young and old (ch.12), the thoughtless and careless hedonists (ch.2), the idles (e.g., 8:18, 9:10 and 10:10), the rich (ch.5), the babblers (ch. 10) and the penurious (ch.11), as well as the commendation to the wise and generous, he is careful to pick up evangelical messages in them, though they might not be so obvious. "When one sight after another fades away from your darkened eyes, look much more to Jesus. For if He be your joy, your hope, your life; the faster you are clothed with the snows of age, the sooner will you renew your youth in the realms of immortality... The golden chain, which binds the believer's heart to heaven, is waxing stronger. Its links are growing more firm and massive. All the powers of hell will not prevail to break them" (on ch. 12:6, p. 295).
The subject I love dearly and also covered in Ecclesiastes is the beauty of the hidden decrees of God; His providence, His overruling power and exhaustive control over all. "Works of providence, as works of creation, may begin in chaos, and seem without form and void (Gen 1:2), but they end in admirable order and beauty" (on ch.3:11, p. 67). Again, on ch. 7:13, Bridges writes, "Most profitable therefore is it carefully to ponder the dealings of God with us. Let us command our judgment and reason to stand by, that we may with reverence, submission and faith, consider the work of God" (p. 155). Bridges also aptly comments on ch. 8:9-10, "So wide of the sphere of the mighty striving of self-will must be the peril - a pinnacle of fearful danger. Thus was Pharaoh raised up to a throne, only that his fall might be more tremendous. Especial mercy is it to be kept upon the humble ground; not seeking to mount, but thankful to be kept watchful in godly fear" (p. 195).
I haven't read many expositions and commentaries by Anglican theologians. In fact, this work by Bridges is only the second one, after J.C. Ryle's "Expository Thoughts on the Gospels". Yet afterwards I went away soberly happy, better informed, better exposed to, and humbly satisfied by the majesty of the Divine words in Ecclesiastes; a mixture of poetry and proverbs; full of sobering eye-opening realities and gracious God-given counsels on life in this fallen world.
