November 25, 2020
The title of the book in the Old Testament we refer to as Ecclesiastes comes from the Septuagint (LXX) which uses the Greek word ekklesiastes. The word means “preacher” and refers to the one who gathers an assembly of people and speaks to them. Solomon is accepted as the author of Ecclesiastes by most scholars. In the first verse he refers to himself as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” Additionally, he says he is, “king over Israel in Jerusalem” (1:12), and “besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge.” (12:9). Solomon was known as the son of King David (1 Kings 3), the third king over the united kingdom of Israel, and for unmatched wisdom in the land (1:16). The book can be dated around 930 B.C. because it was most likely composed in Solomon’s latter years.
Even though Solomon did not initially ask for long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies, but for wisdom to govern the people of Israel, God granted both. However, even though he knew better, he acted foolishly by taking many wives and worshipping other gods. He became selfish and apathetic towards God. Ecclesiastes is autobiographical as the old king reflects on his many foolish decisions and empty pursuits. He concludes that life without God and the pursuit of pleasure is all “vanity.” He warns subsequent generations to avoid the same mistakes he made and that a life lived without God is futile and meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 1
All Is Vanity
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.
The Vanity of Wisdom
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- Solomon seems to begin from a very negative viewpoint by essentially asking, “What good is all of a man’s efforts?” When he considers the vastness of God’s creation and how it carries on from generation to generation, it seems that any one man’s contribution is ultimately brief and pointless. Do you view your life as pointless and without meaning? Recall the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:28-30 which says, ““So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
- What did Solomon mean by “there is nothing new under the sun.” (v. 9)?
- Despite his great wealth and influence, Solomon betrays a restlessness in life by saying that he applied his heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. Would you say that you are more content or restless in life?
- Take a moment to meditate on the words of Proverb 19:23, “The fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I learn much from the life of Solomon and heed the warnings of your word. Don’t let me pursue anything in life without you. You give meaning and purpose to life and you created me to pursue you. I seek your wisdom Lord, that is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:17). In Jesus’ name, amen.
I set my mind to know wisdom, and to increase in knowledge, so that I may know God better and to serve Him with all my heart and soul.
I want to learn everything I can about Lord and Savior. I
know with the Lord in my life there is much to learn. AMEN AND HALLELUJAH!!!
Father,
What good are my efforts without you?
May I apply your word to all my life today.
Father, you are the giver and sustainer of life, and I acknowledge you for without you I am nothing.
Forgive me, LORD, for I am such a sinner. Please do not blot out my name from your book.
Together, let’s be going to find one more lost soul who might listen and accept the free gift of eternal life through your son, Jesus Christ.
For it is in his name I lift this petition,
Amen
God I seek your wisdom every day to care for my husband Walt whom is on hospice now. I have been living in a dazed world for the past month not understanding how this could happen to you. I could not pray because I felt you were not there even though you have never left me. He has been on a new antibiotic the hospital never tried and he is improving every day. I need your wisdom they said it is up to me to keep him on it or stop it.
Dear Vickie, Please know that I continue to pray for you and Walt- and all your family. Of course, I can not offer an explanation as to why Walt has been afflicted, and I don’t need to tell you that God is with you every step of this journey because you said He has never left you. God has put you on my heart in a very fervent manner and I want you to know to remember that you ARE being lifted up in prayer in Tomball! We must always strive to grow- or renew- our faith. God promises He will never leave us and He loves us!!! I send Christian love and prayers…Margaret
Dear Heavenly Father.
You are the giver of every good and perfect gift and you will supply all of our needs. If we can understand that fact, then we will be more content. I have always heard, “You cant take it with you!” So we should focus on lasting, spiritual treasures that we can store up in heaven and will not rust or decay. Dear LORD, help me to put vanity aside and live for You . In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, help me be wise, by pursing nothing more or less, than what you plan to do in and through me.
The biggest mistake in Solomon’s life was that he didn’t ask for wisdom in his personal life and affairs. He saw the need for wisdom in the heavy responsibilities of his public life but not his private life. We need to learn from Solomon’s mistakes and not repeat them.