Podcast 87 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 2”

Every great writer finds his voice. If he does not find his voice, he shall never be a great writer. King Solomon found his voice. Who but Solomon could have written Ecclesiastes. The word Ecclesiastes comes from the Greek meaning “one who addresses an assembly” or “preacher,” hence the title of the Book. He is reflecting upon his life.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Notice the choices: mirth, pleasure, laughter, wine. Eventually they don’t satisfy. They all come to the same meaningless end. Solomon, however, also acquainted “his heart with wisdom.” As we know that was a special gift from God.

He uses terms such as ‘vanity,’ ‘folly,’ and ‘vexation of spirit.’ It isn’t that laughter is bad. It is that seeking pleasure “all the days of their life” is empty, unfulfilling. The same with giving himself to wine. In time seeking things of the body rather than the mind or spirit turns to folly. Spending one’s life in seeking pleasure is vanity. It is fleeting. It has no staying power. But Solomon was given a gift above all other men. He was given wisdom. The following is recorded in 1 Kings.

1 Kings 3:9-12

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

Ecclesiastes was clearly written in the latter part of his life for he is looking back over his life. He has accumulated great wealth.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-10

I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

But even that turned to vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

It is an ironic use of the word’ profit’ since he is perhaps the wealthiest man in the world. Ecclesiastes is a cautionary tale. King Solomon is giving us a warning. He is asking us to decide what really matters in life. Are we chasing chimeras?