Thanks to user “susanlee” who asked that the book of Ecclesiastes be studied. I will not go as in-depth as I am prone to do, so that other topics can also be covered; but for this particular Tuesday Targeted Study Series, I plan on making observations on a chapter-by-chapter basis. So, if the plan remains, this will be the first of 12 entries in this study. For my own purposes, I use the New King James Version of the Bible, but your favored translation may also be used.
Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, a man gifted by the Lord with unparalleled wisdom, looks back on a life that has seen its ups and downs, and the downs of that life were caused not by external forces, but by personal choices. The book of Ecclesiastes records Solomon’s observations of life, and without understanding the life of Solomon, the book itself doesn’t make sense; or, if it does make sense, it seems quite depressing.
One must remember that wisdom doesn’t always mean perfection and peace. Allow me to explain. Biblically speaking, knowledge is intelligence, and can go so far as to include knowing right from wrong. True godly wisdom is knowing right from wrong, and choosing right. But for all the wisdom in the world, we still have the power of choice. No matter what choice we make, whether right or wrong, wisdom puts into sharp relief that which is right. For the person who knows what they should do, yet intentionally makes the wrong choice, it is far worse than an accidental transgression. Your own wisdom and knowledge condemn you. This was the case with Solomon.
Solomon had allowed the things of this world take the place of his devotion to God, yet he retained the human wisdom with which God had blessed him. Therefore the peace he once possessed had left him. Now, at an advanced stage of life, looking back, all he could do was lament his choices, and think about what “could have been.” He had given himself to the pleasures of this world, marrying wives who worshiped other gods, going so far as to build temples for their gods and worshiping those god alongside his wives. What a mighty fall for the wisest man who ever lived (aside from Christ, of course!)
The first chapter of Ecclesiastes sets the tone for the mindset of Solomon, as well as for the remainder of the book. “The words of the Preacher,” the phrase we see in verse one, indicates one who addresses a group of people. Words from the king were always special, official, carrying the weight of law and power. Therefore these words would be considered by those who read them to be more than just a “man-on-the-street” speaking, but from someone who “knew what he was talking about.”
The word “vanity” that we see repeated throughout this book means “emptiness” or “unsatisfactory,” giving us the idea that all the worldly pursuits of life never give us the fulfillment we desire. There may be pleasure and peace to be found, but it is all temporary satisfaction. Verses 3 and 4 vividly illustrate this point. All that is done by one person, one generation, one day comes to an end, and someone else, another generation, takes the place of the former. One must question, “What is the point of life if it is temporary?”
All of us have asked that question of ourselves at some point in life, perhaps in many different ways. What difference can I make? Is any of this going to matter? Does anyone care? Why should I even bother? Am I doing any good at all? Humankind has wrestled for thousands of years with these questions, and will continue to do so as long as this world survives. We see people come and go; after the funeral of a loved one, we go back to our daily lives, and as they say, “Life goes on.” So what is the point?
Solomon was asking valid questions, and because of his life was making accurate assessments. When he says that, “The earth abides forever,” he was saying that people come and go, but life does go on, so what is the point of life? Verses 5-7 further expound on this thought of the cycle of life. The sun rises and sets and rises again, the wind blows every which way, and then again and again. He even describes the water cycle: rivers run to the sea, the water evaporates, makes clouds, clouds drop rain, fill the rivers, which run to the sea. Since life continues no matter what seems to happen, what is the life of one man, of one generation, in the great tapestry of time?
There is never true satisfaction, as verse 8 alludes. No matter what we see or hear, it never makes us complete. Verses 9-11 show the attitude of Solomon, and the reality of this life on earth. We may see advances in technology, so-called progress in quality of life, but on the most basic levels, man has remained the same; nothing has changed, nor will it. When I read these verses, I am reminded of a cemetery, of so many headstones, from ornate and lavish to small and simple. I can take you to the graves of friends and family, of ancestors, but eventually personal memory will fade. I can show you the grave of my great-great-great grandfather, but to me, all he is is a name and date on a piece of marble. In some way, I am here today because of him, but I never knew him, and everyone who did know him have joined him in death. One day, that will happen with me as well.
Not a very exciting prospect, but it is part of the facts of life. We are born, we traverse this world for a time, and then we pass into eternity. We remember some names, some events, some pivotal moments of history, but even for the greatest people who have ever lived their time came and went. This is the nature of life. Everything is temporary on this side of the grave. Solomon, approaching his own appointment with death with each passing day, realized that the pursuits of earthly things were as fleeting as this life itself. When approached in this way, things don’t look so great.
Verses 12 and 13 again reveal Solomon as the ruler of a nation and a possessor of the gift of wisdom. He calls it “burdensome,” which it is; it is man’s job to discover what is right and wrong (within the guiding hand of God) and choose to do it. Yet when we look at our life as Solomon did, we find that many of those things we held so dear, those pursuits in which we expended so much time and energy and resources, were as fruitful as trying to catch the wind: much effort expended and nothing to show for it.
Verse 15 is Solomon’s way of telling us that what is cannot be changed. We can try, but there are some things simply beyond our control. We think of technology prolonging life, but all of the machines and medicines available cannot change the fact that when our time comes, we must leave this life behind. It is one appointment we must and will keep.
Verses 16 and 17 are Solomon’s admission of pride, that he had the gift of wisdom, and it did come in handy. But that wisdom also pointed out the follies of life, and while he recognized those follies, he did nothing to avoid them. And yet for all his vast knowledge and wisdom, Solomon realized something we all should come to realize: the more we learn and know, the more we discover how much more we have to learn and know. Complete understanding, wisdom and knowledge are impossible in this life, in these bodies and with these minds. Sometimes we think we know everything, from teenagers to the elderly, but the reality is far different: no matter how much we know, we still have a lot to learn.
Verse 18 closes this chapter with a very poignant thought: “For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” Having knowledge and wisdom can in some aspects be more of a curse than a blessing. For instance, when a parent looks at their child as he or she experiences their first heartbreak, that parent knew it was inevitable, but was powerless to stop it. It hurts all the more knowing the reality. Doctors, nurses, even pastors can many times see death approaching, and while the family holds out for that glimmer of hope, the knowledge of what is coming is painful.
Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, a man gifted by the Lord with unparalleled wisdom, looks back on a life that has seen its ups and downs, and the downs of that life were caused not by external forces, but by personal choices. The book of Ecclesiastes records Solomon’s observations of life, and without understanding the life of Solomon, the book itself doesn’t make sense; or, if it does make sense, it seems quite depressing.
One must remember that wisdom doesn’t always mean perfection and peace. Allow me to explain. Biblically speaking, knowledge is intelligence, and can go so far as to include knowing right from wrong. True godly wisdom is knowing right from wrong, and choosing right. But for all the wisdom in the world, we still have the power of choice. No matter what choice we make, whether right or wrong, wisdom puts into sharp relief that which is right. For the person who knows what they should do, yet intentionally makes the wrong choice, it is far worse than an accidental transgression. Your own wisdom and knowledge condemn you. This was the case with Solomon.
Solomon had allowed the things of this world take the place of his devotion to God, yet he retained the human wisdom with which God had blessed him. Therefore the peace he once possessed had left him. Now, at an advanced stage of life, looking back, all he could do was lament his choices, and think about what “could have been.” He had given himself to the pleasures of this world, marrying wives who worshiped other gods, going so far as to build temples for their gods and worshiping those god alongside his wives. What a mighty fall for the wisest man who ever lived (aside from Christ, of course!)
The first chapter of Ecclesiastes sets the tone for the mindset of Solomon, as well as for the remainder of the book. “The words of the Preacher,” the phrase we see in verse one, indicates one who addresses a group of people. Words from the king were always special, official, carrying the weight of law and power. Therefore these words would be considered by those who read them to be more than just a “man-on-the-street” speaking, but from someone who “knew what he was talking about.”
The word “vanity” that we see repeated throughout this book means “emptiness” or “unsatisfactory,” giving us the idea that all the worldly pursuits of life never give us the fulfillment we desire. There may be pleasure and peace to be found, but it is all temporary satisfaction. Verses 3 and 4 vividly illustrate this point. All that is done by one person, one generation, one day comes to an end, and someone else, another generation, takes the place of the former. One must question, “What is the point of life if it is temporary?”
All of us have asked that question of ourselves at some point in life, perhaps in many different ways. What difference can I make? Is any of this going to matter? Does anyone care? Why should I even bother? Am I doing any good at all? Humankind has wrestled for thousands of years with these questions, and will continue to do so as long as this world survives. We see people come and go; after the funeral of a loved one, we go back to our daily lives, and as they say, “Life goes on.” So what is the point?
Solomon was asking valid questions, and because of his life was making accurate assessments. When he says that, “The earth abides forever,” he was saying that people come and go, but life does go on, so what is the point of life? Verses 5-7 further expound on this thought of the cycle of life. The sun rises and sets and rises again, the wind blows every which way, and then again and again. He even describes the water cycle: rivers run to the sea, the water evaporates, makes clouds, clouds drop rain, fill the rivers, which run to the sea. Since life continues no matter what seems to happen, what is the life of one man, of one generation, in the great tapestry of time?
There is never true satisfaction, as verse 8 alludes. No matter what we see or hear, it never makes us complete. Verses 9-11 show the attitude of Solomon, and the reality of this life on earth. We may see advances in technology, so-called progress in quality of life, but on the most basic levels, man has remained the same; nothing has changed, nor will it. When I read these verses, I am reminded of a cemetery, of so many headstones, from ornate and lavish to small and simple. I can take you to the graves of friends and family, of ancestors, but eventually personal memory will fade. I can show you the grave of my great-great-great grandfather, but to me, all he is is a name and date on a piece of marble. In some way, I am here today because of him, but I never knew him, and everyone who did know him have joined him in death. One day, that will happen with me as well.
Not a very exciting prospect, but it is part of the facts of life. We are born, we traverse this world for a time, and then we pass into eternity. We remember some names, some events, some pivotal moments of history, but even for the greatest people who have ever lived their time came and went. This is the nature of life. Everything is temporary on this side of the grave. Solomon, approaching his own appointment with death with each passing day, realized that the pursuits of earthly things were as fleeting as this life itself. When approached in this way, things don’t look so great.
Verses 12 and 13 again reveal Solomon as the ruler of a nation and a possessor of the gift of wisdom. He calls it “burdensome,” which it is; it is man’s job to discover what is right and wrong (within the guiding hand of God) and choose to do it. Yet when we look at our life as Solomon did, we find that many of those things we held so dear, those pursuits in which we expended so much time and energy and resources, were as fruitful as trying to catch the wind: much effort expended and nothing to show for it.
Verse 15 is Solomon’s way of telling us that what is cannot be changed. We can try, but there are some things simply beyond our control. We think of technology prolonging life, but all of the machines and medicines available cannot change the fact that when our time comes, we must leave this life behind. It is one appointment we must and will keep.
Verses 16 and 17 are Solomon’s admission of pride, that he had the gift of wisdom, and it did come in handy. But that wisdom also pointed out the follies of life, and while he recognized those follies, he did nothing to avoid them. And yet for all his vast knowledge and wisdom, Solomon realized something we all should come to realize: the more we learn and know, the more we discover how much more we have to learn and know. Complete understanding, wisdom and knowledge are impossible in this life, in these bodies and with these minds. Sometimes we think we know everything, from teenagers to the elderly, but the reality is far different: no matter how much we know, we still have a lot to learn.
Verse 18 closes this chapter with a very poignant thought: “For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” Having knowledge and wisdom can in some aspects be more of a curse than a blessing. For instance, when a parent looks at their child as he or she experiences their first heartbreak, that parent knew it was inevitable, but was powerless to stop it. It hurts all the more knowing the reality. Doctors, nurses, even pastors can many times see death approaching, and while the family holds out for that glimmer of hope, the knowledge of what is coming is painful.
A teacher of mine from years ago told me, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” God gave Solomon wisdom, and God expected Solomon to use it wisely. But Solomon was wise enough to know how poorly he’d used it. Think of it this way: which is worse, thinking you may have some disease, or knowing it for sure? Solomon wasn’t looking at his life now, or his past, and saying, “I don’t know if I made the wrong choices.” He knew he had, and it made the feeling even worse.
Solomon is warning us that even the greatest among us, if we lose our focus and desire to live the life the Lord wants, will have a great fall. Failure is the toughest pill to swallow, and Solomon recognized that he’d wasted his life, and the blessings of God. Every day, before every decision, we should ask ourselves if we are living for the “here and now,” or the “there and then,” meaning eternity. We should ask if we are living for ourselves, or for the Lord. We should ask if we are trying to grasp the wind, or trying to grasp our Savior. With this warning, we can avoid the pitfalls of Solomon, but only if we heed it.
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