In twelve chapters King Solomon covers all the things that people allow to become idols. From pleasure to work, King David's son tried everything under the sun to find it was all "Meaningless." Solomon was the second child of King David and Bathsheba. When he took the throne, God told him he could ask for anything. The young king asked for wisdom. It was granted to him. His reign was known as Israel's golden age. But the saying, "Ignorance is bliss," has some truth to it. It's common for someone who has great access to knowledge to lose their faith, to turn their focus inward to their personal growth. With multiple wives and many of them foreign pagans, Solomon began to lose his faith in the God of his father.
Anyone who suffers the pain of watching their life fall apart can most likely find the cause in the Book of Ecclesiastes. The lessons are timeless and startle many with how modern the themes are. But the truth of King Solomon's words seldom strike a chord until a life lies in shambles. No one wants to turn their eyes from God, but the slope is steep and minor decisions to ignore God's teachings lead to full out rebellion.
Chapter 1
Solomon begins his manic depressant rant (and Solomon really is super depressed in the beginning,) lamenting his wisdom, referring to it as "Meaninglessness."
He says, "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge the more grief ." (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
When have you allowed knowledge to grieve you?
Chapter 2
Chapter two begins with the quest for pleasure being like chasing the wind. The more one drinks, indulges, and seeks pleasure, the more empty it becomes.
Solomon says the work of his hands meant nothing to him. He would still die as a fool does.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying your time here on earth. However, it is easy to chase the next thing. “Chasing the wind” as Solomon says. Realizing that you are chasing a feeling, a thing, an idea of happiness is the first step to breaking those patterns and striving for something deeper and sustaining long-term happiness.
What patterns do you need to break?
Chapters 3-5
Chapter three sports one of the most well-known verses in rock-and-roll history. "To everything, there is a season..."
"and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)
All things are appropriate in their time. Death is inevitable, harvest always comes, and the healer is just as important as the soldier. Solomon continues that it is good for a man to enjoy his work, but he will never see the fruits. Again it is Meaningless. He says that work is pointless without a friend to help when one falls.
Chapter five warns of speaking in ignorance.
"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God." (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
When in the presence of God, silence is golden. This last statement is true in all aspects of life. Think before speaking, honor hierarchy, and humble yourself when dealing with others.
Chapters 6-8
Chapter six bemoans the accomplishments of a man who gains endless wealth and legacy because he will never see the fruits of his work. If one primarily worries about his reputation, bank account, and the effects of his family's actions on his reputation, he will never have peace.
Chapter seven states wisdom does not equal righteousness.
Chapter eight questions why the wicked live long lives and the righteous die young. It makes no sense to him. He also resented the fact that bad things happen to good people and the wicked prosper.
What are you holding on to that may be getting in the way of your relationship with God?
Chapter 9
Chapter nine states that the righteous and the wicked are the same.
"No man knows when his hour will come." (Ecclesiastes 9:12)
Chapter 10
Chapter ten reveals that status has nothing to do with righteousness. Solomon says,
"Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones, I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves." (Ecclesiastes 10:6-7)
Status means nothing if a fool possesses it.
Chapter 11
Chapter eleven warns not to try to understand God's ways, some things are unexplainable. Solomon tells the young to enjoy their youth. It vanishes and they never know how precious it was. Youth is meaningless and often wasted.
What are some things you can’t explain in your life? Were you able to put those things in God’s hands?
Chapter 12
Chapter twelve gives the total meaning of Solomon's search. Honor God. Above all things turn to God, then the world has meaning. One knows their place when they honor God, their eyes are opened to the bigger picture. The young need to understand this.
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
Has there been a time when God has shown you your bigger picture and how you fit into it?
So to recap, here are the lessons found in Ecclesiastes:
1. Knowledge comes with a price.
2. Everyone dies.
3. Friendship makes toil worth the effort.
4. Respect God.
5. Think before speaking.
6. Wealth and reputation can not be taken into the kingdom.
7. Wisdom does not equal righteousness, in fact, wise fools are more dangerous.
8. Bad things happen to good people.
9. No one knows their time.
10. A fool is a fool no matter what his station in this life.
11. Respect God
12. Honor and Respect God.
Wrap-up
So there it is the Book of Ecclesiastes in a nutshell. It is a great book to study if you want to see what *not* to do in this life. The thing that really struck me was that the more things change, the more they stay the same. As a society we like to think our problems are, well, our problems, we like to think no one has ever dealt with the issues we face on a day-to-day basis. The truth is, problems and sin are evergreen, they just present themselves in different ways and these evergreen issues will adapt to technology, social expectations, and theological ideas.
The Book of Ecclesiastes is a sad journey, but an important one. It is a path we all take and we all reach our own conclusions.
What conclusions have you reached in your study of the book?
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