The book of Ecclesiastes, as short as it is, is one of the most mysterious works in the Bible. Its content marks a decided departure from the orthodox, a bold and even imprudent alienation from Jehovah…and yet in a few verses, we read strong words in defense of a life devoted to the living Lord.
Ecclesiastes is not only the story of one man's experience but of all who attempt to live their lives apart from God.
True wisdom requires us to read God’s Word with the goal of practical application, not merely intellectual stimulation.
The book of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon’s journal. In it he paints the tragic self-portrait of a man filled with regret. For us reading his journal we see his simple message—God is God and we are not.
For King Solomon, life under the sun was a drab, dull, and depressing mess. He discovered if there’s nothing but nothing under the sun, then his only hope must be above it.
Life to many people is nothing more than chasing excitement to combat monotony. Such is the bold, dreary message of Ecclesiastes 1.
King Solomon called the attempt to find meaning in this world, “chasing after the wind.” In his journal, the book of Ecclesiastes, he talks about the difficulty of a life lived apart from Christ.
In Ecclesiastes 1:14, King Solomon says “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” If there is nothing to be hopeful about “under the sun,” there must be something beyond it.
Slice it any way you wish, ignorance is not bliss. Dress it in whatever garb you please, ignorance is not attractive. Neither is it the mark of humility nor the path to spirituality. It certainly is not the companion of wisdom.
Solomon fell for the sensual lure of self-gratification. He landed in the pit of emptiness.
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