In Pundit’s Folly, author Dr. Sinclair Ferguson takes the timeless truths found in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes and artfully applies them to today in this readable, concise volume.
Written specifically to help non-Christians, The Pundit’s Folly is a tool for evangelism; but its biblical content and explanation of the Christian gospel will provide encouragement to those who are already Christians to witness to Christ and to live unreservedly for him.
The world is a sea of glass: a pageant of fond delight, a theatre of vanity, a labyrinth of error, a gulf of grief, a sty of filthiness, a vale of misery, a spectacle of woe, a river of tears, a stage of deceit, a cage full of devils, a den of scorpions, a wilderness of wolves, a cabin of bears, a whirlwind of passions, a fained comedy, a delectable frenzy; where is false delight, assured grief; certain sorrow, uncertain pleasure; lasting woe, fickle wealth; long heaviness, short joy.
Review
“Ecclesiastes is the consummate book for the post-modernist lost in the foggy swamp of a meaningless life. Ferguson gently takes the reader down the road of futility traveled by Qoheleth (the “Pundit”), as Qoheleth searches vainly for something that would fill the emptiness of his life. When all the canyons and byways have been revealed as dead ends, Ferguson directs the reader’s attention to the poor wise man of Ecclesiastes 9:13-15, and applies the text to Christ, the wisdom of God who became poor that we might be rich. In the final chapter, using a wealth of resources from the Scriptures, Ferguson invites the reader to discover the proper fear of God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Never does Ferguson get into the weeds regarding who the Pundit is (Solomon? someone else?), or when it was written, or any textual issues or technical details of the Hebrew language. He takes the English text of the NIV and interacts with it as it is. He writes with the warmth and sensitivity of a modern-day C. S. Lewis, eschewing off-putting, academic jargon. The book is penned for the common man.
The result is a well-written, pastoral, sympathetic, eighty-eight page gospel tract that will be particularly helpful to people of the current generation. Read it yourself, and give it to a friend who is beginning to discover that life under the sun promises much more than it delivers. Five stars, highly recommended.” – C.H. Cobb, Counseling Pastor of Bible Fellowship Church, Greenville
