“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” Thus begins the book of Ecclesiastes. This Preacher, David’s son, the king, is Solomon. When Solomon became king he asked God for “… an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad …” (1 Kings 3:7-9). God promised to give him a wise and understanding heart, “… so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Kings 3:11-13). The evidence that God did just that is seen later in 1 Kings 3 when two women are brought before him. They each had a child, but one child had died. They both claimed the living child was theirs. Solomon asked for a sword, and offered to divide the living child and give each woman half. Of course, the real mother of the living child objected, and the case was solved. Solomon now brings his wealth of wisdom and life experience to life itself. After declaring in the opening verses “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), he turns his attention to various pursuits of life and shares what is vain and concludes with the purpose of life. The word vanity means empty, vain, transitory and unsatisfactory (Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary).
The Preacher asks what profit there is in labor (Ecclesiastes 1:3). In verse fourteen, he adds “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” and concludes that this also is vanity. Solomon mentions that one generation passes, and another comes, but the earth remains. He states that man is not satisfied (Ecclesiastes 1:8). Next, the king turns his attention to enjoying pleasure, acquiring possessions, building houses and gardens. God had promised Solomon wisdom, as well as riches. 1 Kings 3:13 records God’s statement to Solomon, “And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.” And yet Solomon did not find satisfaction in this great wealth. He planted trees, then had to build pools to hold water to water the trees. Solomon got servants, gathered gold, silver and “peculiar treasure.” He got singers and musical instruments, saying that he didn’t withhold from his heart any joy. Solomon built a house that was so marvelous, it took thirteen years to complete (1 Kings 7:1). He also built a house for his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter (1 Kings 7:8). Of course, Solomon’s Temple was spectacular, being overlaid with pure gold (1 Kings 6:21). So wealthy was Solomon, that 1 Kings 10:21 mentions “And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.” Yet Solomon even considered this display of wealth to be vanity. Solomon expounds on the accumulation of wealth, mentioning “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
In chapter six, Solomon observes a “common” experience of man – God prospers with wealth and honor, a man has a family, yet he dies. A man labors to meet his needs, yet is not satisfied (Ecclesiastes 6:7). Solomon refers to “all the days of his vain life” being “as a shadow” (Ecclesiastes 6:12). In the eighth chapter, Solomon confronts the truth that God does not always punish the wicked and reward the righteous in this life. There are just men who face setbacks, and there are wicked men who prosper. This also is vanity (Ecclesiastes 8:14). If the book of Ecclesiastes were put to music, it would undoubtedly be composed in a minor key!
It has been said that “A fool learns from his own mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” It would be wise to glean from the counsel of Solomon, not only in the book of Proverbs, but also in the book of Ecclesiastes. In a society where so many are chasing the proverbial dream of a better life, materialism lurks in the shadows, waiting to trip the unsuspecting. The glamor of riches, the enticement of pleasure, the allure of fame and popularity, even the emptiness of religious busyness keeps many pursuing their goals, only to eventually join in Solomon’s dirge, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” As one sage quipped, “All my life I steadily climbed the ladder of success. Only when I reached the top did I realize the ladder was placed against the wrong building.” There is a German proverb which states, “Too soon old, too late smart.”
The final chapter of Ecclesiastes begins with the Preacher giving a poetic admonition to “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7). Solomon then concludes with “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” ( Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
When life is finally over, mankind will face God – believers and unbelievers alike. God will judge everything. Then, and only then, will the score be settled. Recognizing that truth should assure that man’s focus is to keep the main thing the main thing. Blaise Pascal said, “What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.” Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. ” Man was not created to seek wealth, or personal pleasure, but to bring glory and pleasure to God. Revelation 4:11 states this clearly, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” That too, is Solomon’s conclusion, “the conclusion of the whole matter.” Fear God … and keep his commandments. Because judgment is coming.
