The first eleven verses describe the frustration of life in this fallen world--in the end, nothing is truly satisfying. Interestingly, God is not mentioned in these verses and I believe the Preacher intended it that way. Apart from God, all of our efforts are frustrated. We work and work to attain that which will last, but will fail every time when we strive for ultimate meaning apart from God.
There is One who brings ultimate meaning to the emptiness we feel--the Lord, Jesus. His words point back to Ecclesiastes, He is the fulfillment of the vanity in life. Even so, we need to understand the book as the original hearers would have understood in, in the ‘shadows’ of the Old Covenant’ before we understand it in the reality of the New Covenant.
Key themes in Ecclesiastes are :
Vanity, which is repeated 38 times and can be translated as empty, meaningless or futile. It conveys the idea of a breath or vapor--gone almost immediately with nothing to show for it. Nothing in life is permanent.
Man, which is repeated 56 times. Usually, it is the word ‘Adam’ (mankind). A few times, it is the word ‘male’. Ecclesiastes deals with humans living in a fallen world.
Work, which is repeated 26 times. Work is important but has been negatively affected by the Fall.
Under the sun, which is repeated 26 times. It is a way to describe life apart from God.
The book is designed to both be meditated upon and provoke dialogue. There appears to be contradictions within the book and against other Scripture. That’s because there are exceptions to every rule, life isn’t always so neatly packaged. We need to rest in the tension and not make any conclusions until the author does.
READ 1:12-2:11
In verses 12-14, the Preacher describes his credentials as he did in verse 1--’king in Jerusalem’. He tells us why he is qualified to teach the assembly--because he set out to use his wisdom to search all that is done under Heaven. All of us seek to know what life is all about, what God is doing. How many times have you heard someone say that when they get to Heaven they will ask God why He did some things? Perhaps you have said that. Solomon is reflecting on this. He had the power and resources to do whatever his heart desired. If anyone can find out what God is up to, it was Solomon.
He quickly concludes that it isn’t possible to know. Not only that, but what God has given man to do results in unhappiness. Why? Because it is striving after the wind--there is no real, lasting happiness in it. Life is burdensome. Don’t lose sight of the fact that his context is in this fallen world, where there is sorrow, frustration and grief.
The Preacher is unable to realize his quest to know what life is all about and what God is doing. Verse 15 is the point of this passage--we are helpless to change what God ordains, and what God doesn‘t provide can‘t be had. Even with the Preacher’s great wisdom, vast knowledge and plentiful experiences, it is all a striving after the wind. We don’t realize the entire consequence of the Fall in Genesis 3--every part of life is affected. Even the Earth is subject to frustration and awaits its redemption (Romans 8:20-21). Living became hard and often burdensome.
Just this past week, we commemorated lives lost in the attack on America--those who were directly affected will never be the same. We watched as fires rage in Seaside only months after it was ravaged by a hurricane. How will these people find the fortitude to rebuild? I am reminded of an acquaintance whose young son was killed in an auto accident at the fault of his older brother. How does one go on? Yes, life ‘under the sun’ is fleeting and sometimes, downright harsh. The Preacher looks squarely in the eye of the difficulties of life ‘under the sun‘, and declares it to be vanity--a mere breath.
Since Solomon cannot know all that God is doing, He looks in other directions to find something which will satisfy. He applies his heart to madness and folly--his great wisdom hasn’t brought lasting meaning to his life--maybe he’s been too serious minded--perhaps, he needs to ‘lighten up’. Once again, it is shown to be striving after the wind--he cannot grasp happiness for very long.
“For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” (v.18)
Wisdom is good, but with it, comes sorrow. As we learn more about the world, stress and fear increase. Being oblivious is sometimes a good thing. Therefore, wisdom and knowledge are mixed blessings. Solomon, even with all his resources, possessions and the wisdom to enjoy them, couldn’t. Apart from God, nothing bring lasting fulfillment.
But, maybe this isn’t the final word--perhaps there is ultimate meaning in this world, maybe there is something to which he hasn’t yet availed himself. So, he sets out to do just that. Chapter 2:1-8 gives us a rapid succession of all the ways the Preacher set out to find meaning ‘under the sun’:
- I cheered my body with wine
- I pursued folly
- I built great buildings
- I planted vineyards, gardens, parks, fruit trees, and engineered the means to irrigate
- I accumulated many slaves, herds and flocks, more than anyone else in Jerusalem
- I had silver, gold and great treasures from kings and foreign lands
- I accumulated singers, and many concubines (300, and 700 wives 1 Kings 11:3). The old KJV says he accumulated musical instruments.
- I had the delight of sons and men--anything one could want, Solomon had
Nothing was withheld from him, he surpassed everyone--no one was greater than he (I Kings 10:23). Solomon found pleasure in his work, the things he accumulated brought him reward. There is enjoyment in accomplishment and gain. But, in the end, he was left wanting. You and I will most likely not have anywhere near the wealth, power and possessions of Solomon, neither will we have his wisdom. Therefore, it is wise for us to learn from him. If he couldn't find true meaning, then neither will we. Possessions are never enough because they can’t bring lasting satisfaction--it’s all striving after the wind. In the end, there is nothing to be gained ‘under the sun’.
Studies have shown that the very wealthy are happier than those who live paycheck to paycheck, that shouldn't come as a surprise. What is surprising is that there isn’t as large of a gap as one might think--one's happiness is not exponential according to their wealth. One writer put it this way--when we enjoy a good meal, we are satisfied--we don’t immediately have another because we enjoyed it. Possessions, however, are different. Even when we are satisfied, we want more. The rich may have more expensive things, but the desire to have newer and better is the same.
According to these studies, people are happiest when they can pay the bills and have a little left over. That’s pretty much what Ecclesiastes teaches as we shall soon see. Trying to find lasting joy in money and things is futile, a chasing after the wind. It never brings lasting meaning to our lives. As the great modern poet once said, ‘Money can’t buy me love’.
Nothing relational is mentioned thus far--even his wives were due to political alliances with the nations. The Preacher is searching for lasting meaning for himself, by himself, under the sun. All that he finds is that it is vanity, a chasing after the wind.
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