Eclesiastes 2
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Eclesiastes 2
Wiersbe - Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 WHEN PLEASURE IS TREASURED Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures - Page 243 "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; 1 refused my heart no pleasure. . . . Yet when 1 surveyed all that my hands had done . . . everything was meaningless" (Ecc. 2:10). Today's world is pleasure-mad. Millions of people will pay almost any amount of money to buy experiences and temporarily escape the burdens of life. While there is nothing wrong with innocent fun, the person who builds his or her life only on seeking pleasure is bound to be disappointed in the end. Why? For one thing, pleasure-seeking usually becomes a selfish endeavor, and selfishness destroys true joy. People who live for pleasure often exploit others to get what they want, and they end up with broken relationships as well as empty hearts. People are more important than things and thrills. We are to be channels, not reservoirs; the greatest joy comes when we share God's pleasure with others. If you live for pleasure alone, enjoyment will decrease unless the intensity of the pleasure increases. Then you reach a point of diminishing returns when there is little or no enjoyment at all, only bondage. For example, the more that people drink, the less enjoyment they get out of it. This means they must have more drinks and stronger drinks in order to have pleasure; the sad result is desire without satisfaction. Instead of alcohol, substitute drugs, gambling, promiscuous sex, money, fame, or any other pursuit, and the principle will hold true: when pleasure alone is the center of life, the result will ultimately be disappointment and emptiness. Not Enough The writer of Ecclesiastes said that pleasure, material possessions, and even great knowledge do not bring lasting satisfaction. Jesus went even further. He said that a person who possesses everything this world has to offer but doesn’t prepare for eternity is spiritually destitute. We all need more than fun, finances, and fame to be fulfilled. Thinking about this made me consider some prominent people who had committed suicide. One was a baseball star, several were entertainers, and two had inherited great wealth. I also recalled a highly esteemed scholar and his wife who both took a lethal overdose of drugs when they learned that she had terminal cancer. These people had failed to find meaning in their existence. Because we were created in God’s image, our lives do have meaning for both time and eternity. God made us for His glory and placed us on earth to honor Him. We have the remarkable ability to reflect on Him and on eternity. For Further Study Perhaps you’re looking for that elusive sense of satisfaction. Check out Why In The World Am I Here? Hold loosely the things of earth. —Corrie ten Boom (Ed: Hold tight to Jesus) Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 True Satisfaction A man stopped at a travel agency and said he wanted to go on a cruise. "Where to?" he was asked. "I don't know," was his reply. So the travel agent suggested that he take a look at a large globe that was in the room. He studied it for some time, then with a look of frustration he exclaimed, "Is this all you have to offer?" The world in which we live has many things that appeal to us. Apart from what is sinful, we can and should enjoy its pleasures. A delicious meal graced with the good fellowship of friends warms our hearts. The beauties of nature inspire and fill us with wonder. Good music refreshes our souls. And work itself can be fulfilling. Even in a sin-cursed world we can find great enjoyment. And yet these pursuits do not bring full and lasting satisfaction. In fact, people who live only for self-gratification, no matter how lofty their achievements, will always long for more. It makes no difference how deeply they drink from the wells of this world's pleasures, their thirst is still not satisfied. They must agree with Solomon that "all is vanity and grasping for the wind" (Ecclesiastes 2:17). Only by living for Jesus Christ do we experience true satisfaction. —Richard De Haan The world is filled with so much good That brings us joy and pleasure, But true fulfillment only comes When Christ we love and treasure. —Sper Putting Christ first brings satisfaction that lasts. The New Religion Driving through Ireland to a Bible conference, I saw a fascinating billboard. It was large and white with nothing on it but a woman’s red shoe and the bold caption: "Is Shopping The New Religion?" The pursuit of possessions continues to be one of the most powerful motivations that people can experience. But can the accumulation of things bring true satisfaction? In Luke 12:15, Jesus answered that question with a firm and uncompromising "No!" During a discussion on material wealth, He said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Life must always be more than just the inventory of the things we own. King Solomon also attempted to find satisfaction in the pursuit of things. He discovered it to be full of emptiness (Eccl. 2:1-17). If we have placed "the abundance of the things" we possess at the center of our lives, shopping may, in fact, have become a substitute for God—a new religion. But such endeavors will always result in emptiness. O Lord, help us to be content With all that we possess, And may we show our gratitude With heartfelt thankfulness. —Sper You are rich when you are satisfied with what you have. The Pursuit Of Pleasure In Your presence is fullness of joy. —Psalm 16:11 Today's Scripture : Psalm 16:1-11 The United States Declaration of Independence says that one of our unalienable rights is “the pursuit of happiness.” I think we would all agree that pleasure, the agreeable reaction of our senses to some stimulus, is a king-size ingredient of happiness. Most people spend much of their leisure time pursuing pleasure in the hope of finding happiness. Scripture doesn’t say that we shouldn’t enjoy life. Indeed, Paul affirmed that God has given us “richly all things to enjoy”—like food and drink and the ability to sing, laugh, and make music (1 Timothy 6:17). Paul also warned us that excessive indulgence in God’s good gifts may have a killing effect on our enjoyment of the supremely good. “[The widow] who lives in pleasure,” he wrote, “is dead while she lives” (5:6). And the writer of Ecclesiastes learned that pleasure cannot satisfy (Ecclesiastes 2:1). A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me; He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, Where rivers of pleasure I see. —Crosby Fellowship with Christ is the secret of happiness now and forever. ECCLESIASTES 1-2 Attempts to Find Significance through... Frustration of... Conclusion Wisdom Pleasure Accomplishments Death Life Conclusion Man trying to find significance without God God's Gift Chuck Smith - 1 John 5:11+ I. LIFE "UNDER THE SUN" IS LIFE ON THE HUMAN PLANE. A. Life on this plane is frustrating vexation of the spirit. 1. Man is conscious of an unfulfilled purpose. a. A desire to be? b. A desire to have? c. A desire to attain? 2. I achieve my goal only to discover it wasn't what I though it was. a. I drink but I am still thirsty. b. I eat but I am still hungry. B. Life on this plane. "Vanity, vanity all..." 1. I feel an emptiness within. a. Nothing seems to fill that emptiness. 2. Things finally seem so futile. C. Life on this plane is filled with pursuits. 1. I think happiness is the ultimate purpose for life. Ec 2:1. 2. I think building some monument Ec 2:4. 3. I think possessions Ec 2:7. 4. I think entertainment Ec 2:8. 5. I think wisdom. D. Life on this plane results in bitterness Ec 2:17. 1. We become cynical, disappointed. II. "LIFE IN THE SON" IS LIFE ON THE SPIRITUAL PLANE. 1 John 5:11+ And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. A. Life on this plane is satisfying. 1. I have a consciousness of fulfilled purposes. a. I have become a son of God. b. I have received eternal life. c. "My cup runneth over." B. Life on this plane is full and rich. 1. Nothing I do is in vain. a. A purpose even in my failures. b. "Your labor is not in vain in the Lord." C. Life on this plane is a life of rest. 1. I rest in the finished work of Christ my Lord. D. Life on this plane results in love, joy, peace. III. ON WHICH PLANE DO YOU LIVE? A. Some choose to live under the sun. 1. They feel what has happened to others won't happen to them. a. This present pursuit is the real answer. 2. They labor under the false notions and lies Satan has spread about life in the Son. a. They have preferred his lie to God's truth. B. Others choose to live "in the Son." 1. You see it is a matter of choice. 2. You choose that - "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." 3. Some get all hung up on a loving God sending men to hell. a. God does not send men to hell. b. If they choose to go there, He won't violate their choice. C. On which plane do you choose to live? The Pursuit Of Pleasure - Ray Stedman I thought in my heart, Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good. But that also proved to be meaningless. Ecclesiastes 2:1 In chapter 2 we are introduced to the record of what Solomon found in this search. We have an examination of the various ways by which humans have sought through the ages to find contentment, enjoyment, and delight in life. The first way, the one that is most popular today and always has been, is his examination of what philosophers call hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure. All of us instinctively feel that if we can just have fun, we will find happiness. That is what the Searcher examines first to see whether it is true. He gives us details of what he experienced. First, Solomon tells himself, Enjoy yourself, so he went in for mirth, laughter, and pleasure. You can let your mind fill in the gaps here. Imagine how the palace must have rocked with laughter. Every night they had stand-up comics and lavish feasts, with wine flowing like water. Solomon gives us the result of the search. Laughter, he said to himself, is foolish. I wonder if each of us has not experienced this to some degree. Have you ever spent time with a group of your friends, giving yourself to laughing, having fun, and telling stories? If you think carefully about it, you will recall that at least parts of the stories were based on exaggeration; they did not have much basis in reality. It is the same with laughter. Laughter deals only with the peripheries of life. There is no solid content to it. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:6). Laughter is only a crackling noise. It leaves one with a sense of unfulfillment. I have had such afternoons and evenings that were delightful occasions. We laughed all the time as we rehashed experiences and told jokes, but when all was said and done, we went to bed feeling rather empty. That was Solomon's experience. He is not saying that this is wrong. He says that laughter is empty, it does not fulfill or satisfy. Of pleasure, Solomon's comment is, What use is it? What does it contribute to life? Nothing, is his answer. Pleasure consumes resources; it does not build them up. Most of us cannot afford a night out more than once or twice a year because it costs so much. Going out uses up resources that have been acquired through hard work. Pleasure, Solomon concludes, adds nothing. Solomon says there were some positive things. First, he gained a degree of notoriety. He became great, surpassing all who went before him in Jerusalem. Many people think that fame will satisfy the emptiness of the heart. Solomon found fame. I enjoyed it for a while, he says. I found pleasure in all my toil, but that was all the reward I got for my labor—momentary enjoyment. Each time I repeated it, I got a little less enjoyment out of it. My conclusion, Solomon says, is that it was not worth it. Like a candle, it all burned away, leaving me jaded and surfeited. Nothing could excite me after that. He concludes that it was all emptiness, a striving after wind. He was burned out. Lord, I too have sought for my satisfaction in fun, laughter, and pleasure, and, like Solomon, I have come up empty. Let me enjoy those pleasures You give as gifts from Your hand, but let me find my heart's delight in You. Life Application - Do we live as consumers, using every resource & person in our quest for fulfillment? Has the well of hedonistic pleasures gone dry? Where do we go after burn out? THE FRUSTRATION OF PLEASURE - John Stevenson "If it feels good, do it!" The next thing that Solomon did was to invest in the pleasures of life. That is the slogan of today's lifestyle - "If it feels good, do it!" That is the message given in our advertisements and in our commercials. You only go around once, so eat, drink and be merry! The technical term for this is HEDONISM. Solomon tried pleasure. He tried comedians. He tried laughter. And he even livened it up with the best of wines. He ate and he drank and he tried to be merry. He was an ancient man with a modern lifestyle. But it was all to no avail. There are several lessons that we can learn from Solomon's experiences: 1. Sensual pleasures make promises that lack staying power. They can be enjoyable for a time. But after awhile, the fun fades, the limelight loses its luster and the amusements just aren't as amusing as they used to be. This is true of...Drugs, Sex, Alcohol It is true of any kind of physical pleasure. The pursuer of pleasure continues to strive for more and more because the thrill gradually wears off. Eventually it is an empty thrill. I can remember the first time I ever went to Disney World. What a thrill! The rides were exciting. The food was good. The entertainment was entertaining. But no longer. I will be satisfied never again to visit the Magic Kingdom. It has lost its magic for me. The thrill just isn't there anymore. And physical pleasures and entertainments are always like that. 2. Sensual pleasures offer to open your eyes, but in reality they blind us. How do they blind us? By making us feel as if the quest for pleasure is the most important thing in life. Empty pleasures blind us to those things in life which bring real happiness because they divert our attention from them. James said that they "wage war in your members" (James 4:1). The lie of the serpent in the Garden was, "Do this and you will know more, see more, feel more." But the truth is that a lifestyle of self-gratification only leads us away from the important things of life - from family, friends and God. 3. Sensual pleasures disillusion us, making us cover-up artists. When the good feelings begin to fade away, our tendency is to begin to pretend that we are having fun, even when we aren't. Sometimes this disillusionment takes another form. Once the party is over any you are faced with the emptiness of your quest, then your reaction is one of ceasing to search. Instead of deciding that you have been searching for your answers in the wrong direction, you decide that there are really no answers to be found. Colleges and universities are full of people who have come to this conclusion. They are without hope. They are empty. And they are no longer searching for answers because they have concluded that there are no answers. Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” KJV Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? BGT Ecclesiastes 2:2 τῷ γέλωτι εἶπα περιφορὰν καὶ τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ τί τοῦτο ποιεῖς LXE Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this: NET Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!" CSB Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said about laughter, "It is madness," and about pleasure, "What does this accomplish?" ESV Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" NIV Ecclesiastes 2:2 "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" NLT Ecclesiastes 2:2 So I said, "Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?" YLT Ecclesiastes 2:2 Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What is this it is doing?' NJB Ecclesiastes 2:2 This laughter, I reflected, is a madness, this pleasure no use at all. NRS Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" NAB Ecclesiastes 2:2 Of laughter I said: "Mad!" and of mirth: "What good does this do?" GWN Ecclesiastes 2:2 I thought, "Laughter doesn't make any sense. What does pleasure accomplish?" BBE Ecclesiastes 2:2 Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy -- What use is it? RSV Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter-- "Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" I said: Solomon is not speaking here of sober enjoyment of the things of the world, but of intemperate pleasure, whose two attendants, laughter and mirth, are introduced by a beautiful prosopopoeia, as two persons, whom he treats with the utmost contempt. It is: Ec 7:2-6 Pr 14:13 Isa 22:12,13 Am 6:3-6 1Pe 4:2-4 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” - NET - "I said of partying, "It is folly,"' He is saying laughter is insanity, folly, silly. Of course Solomon is not saying we should never laugh, but just that laughter wour not provide a solution to the problems of life under the sun. Wright - We notice that this description of Solomon omits mention of immorality but is concerned with the joys of luxury. No serious thinker supposes that a Casanova is on the way to discover the purpose of living (cf. Ec 7:26). The Teacher set his sights on those pleasures that many people considered worthwhile in themselves. He surrounded himself with happy people who kept him amused, but even the jokes and laughter grew stale (cf. Ec 7:1–6). (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary - Page 241) The connotation of “frivolous merrymaking” fits this context best. NET NOTE Heb “laughter.” The term שְׂחוֹק (sékhoq, “laughter”) has a fourfold range of meanings: (1) “joyful laughter” (Ps 126:2; Prov 14:13; Job 8:21); (2) “frivolous laughter, merrymaking” (Eccl 2:2; 7:3, 6); (3) “pleasure, sport” (Prov 10:23; Eccl 10:19); and (4) “derision, mockery, laughingstock” (Jer 20:7; 48:26, 27, 39; Job 12:4; Lam 3:14). See HALOT 1315 s.v שְׂחוֹק; BDB 966 s.v. שְׂחֹק. In Ecclesiastes, שְׂחוֹק is always used in contexts of self-indulgent banqueting, drinking, frivolous partying and merrymaking (Eccl 2:2; 7:3, 6; 10:19). It is distinct from “healthy” joy and laughter (Ps 126:2; Job 8:21). The connotation of “frivolous merrymaking” fits this context best. And of pleasure (simchah; Lxx - euphrosune - gladness), “What does it accomplish?” - Rhetorical question calling for a negative response so that NET renders it "of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!" NET NOTE on pleasure - The term שִׂמְחָה (simkhah, “pleasure”) has a two-fold range of meanings in Ecclesiastes: (1) it can refer to the enjoyment of life that Qoheleth affirms is good (Eccl 5:17; 8:15; 9:7; 11:8, 9) and that God gives to those who are pleasing to him (Eccl 2:26; 5:19); and (2) it can refer to foolish pleasure, that is, frivolous merrymaking (Eccl 2:1, 2; 7:4). The parallelism between שִׂמְחָה and שְׂחוֹק (sékhoq, “laughter, frivolous merrymaking”) in Eccl 2:2 suggests that the pejorative sense is in view here. Duane Garrett adds that "Throughout the book the Teacher will recommend enjoying life, but here he warns that partaking of pleasure does not of itself give meaning to existence." (Borrow Ecclesiastes page 290) NET NOTE on “What does it accomplish?” The rhetorical question “What does it accomplish?” expects a negative answer: “It accomplishes nothing!” (see E. W. Bullinger's discussion of "Affirmative Negation" Figures of Speech, 949–51). See, e.g., Ge 1:19; 18:14, 17; Dt 7:17; 1Sa 2:25; Job 40:2; Pss 56:7; 90:11; 94:16; 106:2; Eccl 3:21. Pleasure's Aftermath I said of laughter—"Madness!" And of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" — Ecclesiastes 2:2 Today's Scripture : Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 There are two words in Ecclesiastes 2:2 that describe living for pleasure without thought for God. The first word, laughter, means “superficial gaiety,” which is called “madness.” I observed firsthand the truth of those words when I was 16. I worked in a meat market with some hard-drinking men. They were destroying their health and enduring needless pain. On Monday they would come in sick, miserable, and unable to do their job efficiently. But when Saturday night rolled around, they would repeat the previous week’s insanity. A few years later I saw illustrated the truth of the second word, mirth. It means “thoughtful pleasure.” An elderly man had carefully built a successful business and had more money than he could spend. He told me he was unhappy and felt unloved by his heirs. He dreaded dying. His life of “thoughtful pleasure” had left him empty, cynical, and closed to the gospel. After trying every form of pleasure-seeking, Solomon concluded that it is “vanity and grasping for the wind” (v.11). It’s not sinful to enjoy life, but the aftermath of living only for pleasure is emptiness. Earthly pleasures vainly call me, I would be like Jesus; Nothing worldly shall enthrall me, I would be like Jesus. —Rowe Worldly pleasure is anything that crowds Christ out of your life. Norman Geisler - ECCLESIASTES 2:2—Is laughter good or bad? - When Critics Ask PROBLEM: Sometimes the Bible speaks as though laughter is good and other times as though it is bad. Solomon concluded, “I said of laughter, `It is madness’; and of mirth, `What does it accomplish?’ ”(Ecc. 2:2). He added that “sorrow is better than laughter” (7:3). Jesus added, “Woe to you who laugh now” (Luke 6:25). On the other hand, the Bible encourages laughter, claiming that “a merry heart does good, like medicine” (Prov. 17:22). Solomon even “commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry” (Ecc. 8:15). SOLUTION: The answer lies in another verse. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven … a time to laugh; a time to mourn” (Ecc. 3:1, 4). What the Bible says about laughter can be summarized in the following contrast. WHEN LAUGHING IS GOOD The means of enjoying life Means of expressing happiness In a cheerful spirit As reasonable merriment WHEN LAUGHING IS BAD The end (goal) of life itself Means of attaining happiness In riotous derision As senseless hilarity Worldly pleasure is anything that crowds Christ Out of your life. Earthly pleasures vainly call me, I would be like Jesus; Nothing worldly shall enthrall me, I would be like Jesus. –Rowe Ecclesiastes 2:3 I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. BGT Ecclesiastes 2:3 κατεσκεψάμην ἐν καρδίᾳ μου τοῦ ἑλκύσαι εἰς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπ᾽ ἀφροσύνῃ ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν LXE Ecclesiastes 2:3 And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life. NET Ecclesiastes 2:3 I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives. CSB Ecclesiastes 2:3 I explored with my mind how to let my body enjoy life with wine and how to grasp folly-- my mind still guiding me with wisdom-- until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine-- my heart still guiding me with wisdom-- and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:3 I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where is this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:3 I decided to hand my body over to drinking wine, my mind still guiding me in wisdom; I resolved to embrace folly, to discover the best way for people to spend their days under the sun. NRS Ecclesiastes 2:3 I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine-- my mind still guiding me with wisdom-- and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:3 I thought of beguiling my senses with wine, though my mind was concerned with wisdom, and of taking up folly, until I should understand what is best for men to do under the heavens during the limited days of their life. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:3 I explored ways to make myself feel better by drinking wine. I also explored ways to do some foolish things. During all that time, wisdom continued to control my mind. I was able to determine whether this was good for mortals to do during their brief lives under heaven. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:3 I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:3 I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine -- my mind still guiding me with wisdom -- and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven during the few days of their life. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:3 I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. explored: Ec 1:17 1Sa 25:36 while my mind was guiding me: Pr 20:1 31:4,5 Eph 5:18 how to take hold of folly,: Ec 7:18 Pr 20:1 23:29-35 Mt 6:24 2Co 6:15-17 until : Ec 6:12 12:13 the few years: Heb. the number of, Ge 47:9 Job 14:14 Ps 90:9-12 CONTROLLED MIND STIMULATION WITH ALCOHOL I explored with my mind ( tur; Lxx- kataskopeo - Lit - In my heart I explored) how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely (chokmah; Lxx - sophia) and how to take hold of folly - NET = "I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly" Remember he is doing a test to see if pleasure produces real meaning to life and here he uses wine as the test. He is speaking more like a wine connoisseur not a back alley drunk. A modern version might be does your wine cellar with 5000 bottles of the finest aged wine fulfill your life with purpose and meaning? That's rhetorical of course. Clearly No! Wright - The Teacher turned to sensual pleasures, such as the enjoyment of drink, which so easily becomes the folly of overindulgence. Yet he still kept a hold of himself so that he could analyze his experiences and see whether they proved to be the answer to all human desires. In other words, is the true philosophy of life “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (Isa 22:13)? (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary - Page 241) Duane Garrett adds that "Throughout the book the Teacher will recommend enjoying life, but here he warns that partaking of pleasure does not of itself give meaning to existence." All will agree that a life of total dissipation and indulgence is reprehensible—we need no “Teacher” to show us that. Rather, he wanted to know if rationally controlled indulgence in pleasure gave meaning to life. He did not become a drunk. His experiment was an experiment in pleasure, not debauchery.(Borrow Ecclesiastes page 290) NET NOTE on Heb “In my heart I explored.” The verb תּוּר (tur, “to seek out, to spy out, to explore”) is used in the OT to describe: (1) the physical activity of “spying out” or “exploring” geographical locations (Num 13:2, 16, 17, 21, 25, 32; 14:6, 7, 34, 36, 38; Job 39:8) and (2) the mental activity of “exploring” or “examining” a course of action or the effects of an action (Eccl 1:13; 2:3; 7:25; 9:1). See BDB 1064 s.v. תּוּר 2; HALOT 1708 s.v. תּוּר. It was used as a synonym with דָרָשׁ (darash, “to study”) in 1:13: “I devoted myself to study (לִדְרוֹשׁ, lidrosh) and to explore (לָתוּר, latur).” NET NOTE As the repetition of the term לֵב (lev, “heart” or “mind”) indicates (Ec 2:1, 3), this experiment appears to have been only an intellectual exercise or a cognitive reflection: “I said to myself (Heb “in my heart [or “mind”],” Ec 2:1); “I explored with my mind (Heb “heart,” Ec 2:3a); and “my mind (Heb “heart”) guiding me with wisdom” (Ec 2:3b). Qoheleth himself did not indulge in drunkenness; but he contemplated the value of self-indulgence in his mind. NET NOTE Or “I sought to cheer my flesh with wine.” The term לִמְשׁוֹךְ (limshokh, Qal infinitive construct from מָשַׁךְ, mashakh, “to draw, pull”) functions in a complementary sense with the preceding verb תּוּר (tur “to examine”): Heb “I sought to draw out my flesh with wine” or “I [mentally] explored [the effects] of drawing out my flesh with wine.” The verb מָשַׁךְ means “to draw, to drag along, to lead” (BDB 604 s.v. מָשַׁךְ) or “to draw out; to stretch out [to full length]; to drag; to pull; to seize; to carry off; to pull; to go” (HALOT 645–46 s.v. משׁך). BDB suggests that this use be nuanced “to draw, to attract, to gratify” the flesh, that is, “to cheer” (BDB 604 s.v. מָשַׁךְ 7). While this meaning is not attested elsewhere in the OT, it is found in Mishnaic Hebrew: “to attract” (Qal), e.g., “it is different with heresy, because it attracts [i.e., persuades, offers inducements]” (b. Avodah Zarah 27b) and “to be attracted, carried away, seduced,” e.g., “he was drawn after them, he indulged in the luxuries of the palace” (b. Shabbat 147b). See Jastrow 853–54 s.v. מְשַׂךְ. Here it denotes “to stretch; to draw out [to full length],” that is, “to revive; to restore” the body (HALOT 646 s.v. משׁד [sic] 3). The statement is a metonymy of cause (i.e., indulging the flesh with wine) for effect (i.e., the effects of self-indulgence). NET NOTE Heb “and my heart was leading along in wisdom.” The vav + noun, וְלִבִּי (vélibbi) introduces a disjunctive, parenthetical clause designed to qualify the speaker’s remarks lest he be misunderstood: “Now my heart/mind.…” He emphasizes that he never lost control of his senses in this process. It was a purely mental, cognitive endeavor; he never actually gave himself over to wanton self-indulgence in wine or folly. NET NOTE on take hold of folly - Heb “embracing folly.” The verb אָחָז (’akhaz, “to embrace”) is normally used to describe the physical action of taking hold of an object. Here is it is used metaphorically to describe a person’s choice of lifestyle, that is, adopting a particular course of moral conduct (e.g., Job 17:9); see HALOT 31–32 s.v. אחז; BDB 28 s.v. אָחַז. Until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives - NIV = "I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives." Note phrase the few years of their lives indicating Solomon is very aware that life is brief. (cf "one fate befalls them both" = Ec 2:14, "die" Ec 2:16, cf Eccl 5:17; 6:12; 9:9) SONS OF MEN - Eccl. 1:13; Eccl. 2:3; Eccl. 3:10; Eccl. 3:18; Eccl. 3:19; Eccl. 8:11; Eccl. 9:3; Eccl. 9:12 NET NOTE on the few years of their lives - Heb “number of the days.” The Hebrew noun מִסְפַּר (mispar, “number, quantity”) sometimes means “few” (e.g., Gen 34:30; Num 9:20; Deut 4:27; 33:6; Isa 10:19; Jer 44:28; Ezek 12:16; Ps 105:12; Job 16:22; 1 Chr 16:19); see HALOT 607 s.v. מִסְפָּר 2.b; BDB 709 s.v. מִסְפָּר 1.a. This phrase is an idiom that means, “during all their lives” (BDB 709 s.v.), “during their total [short] time of life,” that is, “as long as they live” (HALOT 608 s.v. מִסְפָּר 3.d). Ecclesiastes often emphasizes the brevity of life (e.g., Eccl 5:17; 6:12; 9:9). The LXX rendered מִסְפַּר in a woodenly literal sense: ἀριθμόν (arithmon, “the number [of days of their lives]”). Several English translations adopt a similar approach: “all the days of their life” (ASV, Douay) and “the number of days of their lives” (YLT). However, this idiom is handled well by a number of English translations: “during the few days of their lives” (RSV, NRSV, NASB, NIV, Moffatt, NJPS), “during the limited days of their life” (NAB), and “throughout the brief span of their lives” (NEB). Ecclesiastes 2:4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; KJV Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: BGT Ecclesiastes 2:4 ἐμεγάλυνα ποίημά μου ᾠκοδόμησά μοι οἴκους ἐφύτευσά μοι ἀμπελῶνας LXE Ecclesiastes 2:4 I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards. NET Ecclesiastes 2:4 I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. CSB Ecclesiastes 2:4 I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:4 I worked on a grand scale: built myself palaces, planted vineyards; NRS Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself; NAB Ecclesiastes 2:4 I undertook great works; I built myself houses and planted vineyards; GWN Ecclesiastes 2:4 I accomplished some great things: I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:4 I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself; NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. made: Ge 11:4 2Sa 18:18 Da 4:30 I builded: De 8:12-14 1Ki 7:1,2,8-12 9:1 15:19 10:19,20 2Ch 8:1-6,11 Ps 49:11 I planted: 1Ch 27:27 2Ch 26:10 Song 1:14 7:12 8:11,12 Isa 5:1 THE GOSPEL OF SELFISHNESS I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself - Solomon now carries out the "pleasure test" with things that only very rich people could even attempt. 🙏 THOUGHT - How many times have you wished you had a ski in/ski out in Colorado and a beachfront condo in Florida, thinking that is all you would need to make you happy in life? Solomon will carry out the experiment for us that we could never afford and he will end up telling us it is empty, chasing after wind! Some of the most miserable people on earth are some of the most wealthy! (cf Howard Hughes). And think about Solomon's end. He lost the Kingdom of Israel because of his apostasy which was "catalyzed" by his many pagan wives! the Teacher does everything described in this section for his own pleasure Temper Longman III - for myself - This prepositional phrase is repeated eight times in Ec 2:4–8, after most of the main verbs. The NLT does not translate it in every instance for fear that it would be overly repetitive. We must not miss the point, however, that the Teacher does everything described in this section for his own pleasure. There are no philanthropic intentions involved with his actions here. (See Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs - Page 268) I planted vineyards for myself - For myself appears 8x in these 5 verses (Ec 2:4-8) on pleasure prompting Duane Garrett to labet this the “gospel” of selfishness" (Ecclesiastes) NET NOTE The expression for myself is repeated eight times in Eccl 2:4–8 to emphasize that Qoheleth did not deny himself any acquisition. He indulged himself in acquiring everything he desired. His vast resources as king allowed him the unlimited opportunity to indulge himself. He could have anything his heart desired, and he did. The Futility of Wealth and Pleasure 2:1-11 - Don Robinson Fulfillment doesn't come through achievements. (Ec 2:4-6) a. next, Solomon got involved in all kinds of projects, hoping to discover something that would make his life worth living. b. his great works included houses, cities, gardens, vineyards, orchards and forests, and the water system needed to service them. c. Solomon also supervised the construction of the temple, one of the greatest buildings of the ancient world. d. even after all of these accomplishments, he still found no fulfillment. e. history is filled with the names of people who made great discoveries, did tremendous works, and enjoyed the world's acclaim for their accomplishments, but still found no happiness. ILLUSTRATION - Money Can Make You Mad - The Death of Howard Hughes Hughes is reported to have died on April 5, 1976, at 1:27 p.m. on board an aircraft, Learjet 24B N855W, owned by Robert Graf and piloted by Roger Sutton and Jeff Abrams.[174] He was en route from his penthouse at the Acapulco Princess Hotel (now the Princess Mundo Imperial) in Mexico to the Methodist Hospital in Houston.[175] His reclusiveness and possibly his drug use made him practically unrecognizable. His hair, beard, fingernails, and toenails were long—his tall 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) frame now weighed barely 90 pounds (41 kg), and the FBI had to use fingerprints to conclusively identify the body.[176] Howard Hughes' alias, John T. Conover, was used when his body arrived at a morgue in Houston on the day of his death.[177] An autopsy recorded kidney failure as the cause of death.[178] In an eighteen-month study investigating Hughes' drug abuse for the estate, it was found that "someone administered a deadly injection of the painkiller to this comatose man ... obviously needlessly and almost certainly fatal".[179] He suffered from malnutrition and was covered in bedsores. While his kidneys were damaged, his other internal organs, including his brain, which had no visible damage or illnesses, were deemed perfectly healthy.[70] X-rays revealed five broken-off hypodermic needles in the flesh of his arms.[70] To inject codeine into his muscles, Hughes had used glass syringes with metal needles that easily became detached.[70] Ray Pritchard - Something New Under the Sun THE MAN WHO HAD IT ALL I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. Ecclesiastes 2:4-7NIV If you ever travel to the Holy Land, you will no doubt see the remnants of Solomon's handiwork described in verses 4-6. Even though three thousand years have passed since Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, remains of his vast building projects dot the landscape. Archeologists have uncovered his stables, numerous cities he fortified, and underneath the Temple Mount in Jerusalem they have excavated the enormous stones that served as the foundation of the Temple itself. He spent seven years building the Temple (1 Kings 5-6) and thirteen building his palace (1 Kings 7). First Kings 9:17-19 adds these details: "And Solomon rebuilt Gezer. He built up Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tad-mor in the desert, within his land, as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled." First Kings 10 tells us about his throne of ivory overlaid with gold; his ships that sailed to distant ports, returning with precious metals, apes and baboons; and how silver was as plentiful as stones in Jerusalem. The whole world sought audience with the king to hear the wisdom God had put on his heart. There never was a man like Solomon—not before or since. No king ever had so many earthly advantages. Yet the end of the story is not a happy one. Solomon's many foreign wives turned his heart away from following God fully (1 Kings 11:1-6). Unlike his father David, he was not a man after God's own heart. David was an adulterer and a murderer, but deep inside he truly wanted to please God. Solomon, for all his greatness, had character flaws that eventually caused his kingdom to split in two. He also brought idol worship into the land. That curse would not be removed for hundreds of years. The lesson in all this is not hard to find. Wisdom alone is not enough. Solomon had more wisdom than David, but three thousand years later the world now acclaims father as greater than his son. David had many flaws, but in the end he had a heart to know God. Solomon had it all from an earthly point of view, but in the end what he had didn't matter because he didn't have the one thing that mattered most. Solomon's wisdom led him to greatness but it couldn't prevent him from sowing the seeds of his own decline. Having it all doesn't matter if the Lord is not first in your heart. Father, I pray for a heart fully devoted to You. Amen. SHINING THE LIGHT What are the "great projects" of your life right now? Have you ever dedicated your efforts to the Lord Jesus Christ and asked for His blessing? Take a few moments to do that before reading any further. MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read 1 Kings 6:1-38; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; and Revelation 21:22. Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; KJV Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: BGT Ecclesiastes 2:5 ἐποίησά μοι κήπους καὶ παραδείσους καὶ ἐφύτευσα ἐν αὐτοῖς ξύλον πᾶν καρποῦ LXE Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit-tree. NET Ecclesiastes 2:5 I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. CSB Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:5 made myself gardens and orchards, planting every kind of fruit tree in them; NRS Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made gardens and parks, and set out in them fruit trees of all sorts. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made gardens and parks for myself. I planted every kind of fruit tree in them. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. myself: Song 4:12-16 5:1 6:2 Jer 39:4 I planted: Ge 2:8,9 Lu 17:27-29 IS THERE PLEASURE IN PARADISE? I made (royal) gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees - My title is a play on Solomon's making parks which might well be his attempt to replicate the conditions of the Garden of Eden (see note below), but of course he found this to be futile for that Garden was undisturbed for a time by sin! Sin contaminated Solomon's "garden of Eden." Gardens and parks were common with ancient kings as in the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon. NET NOTE on (royal) gardens - The term does not refer here to vegetable gardens, but to orchards (cf. the next line). In the same way the so-called “garden” of Eden was actually an orchard filled with fruit trees. See Ge 2:8–9. Longman III - The Heb. word is paredes [TH6508, ZH7236], which the attentive reader can see is related to the English word “paradise.” The language of this verse (see also next note) implies that the Teacher is trying to recreate the conditions of paradise—that is, Eden itself. Brown (2000:38) points out that ancient, as well as more recent, kings gloried in their gardens. Their ability to tame “raw nature,” he observes, goes with their ability to wage war and to control society. all kinds of fruit trees. This language is reminiscent of the language used to describe Eden in Gen 1:11, 29; 2:9 (see Verheij 1991).(See Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs - Page 268) ED COMMENT - I think Longman is spot on! The Septuagint translates the Hebrew for parks (paredes) with the Greek noun paradeisos or "paradise" which is used repeatedly in Genesis 2 to describe the Garden of Eden! Ge 2:8 "The LORD God planted a garden (Lxx - paradeisos) toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed." NET NOTE on parks - The noun פַּרְדֵּס (pardes, “garden, parkland, forest”) is a foreign loanword that occurs only 3 times in biblical Hebrew (Song 4:13; Eccl 2:5; Neh 2:8). The original Old Persian term pairidaeza designated the enclosed parks and pleasure-grounds that were the exclusive domain of the Persian kings and nobility (HALOT 963 s.v. פַּרְדֵּס; LSJ 1308 s.v παράδεισος). The related Babylonian term pardesu “marvelous garden” referred to the enclosed parks of the kings (AHw 2:833 and 3:1582). The term passed into Greek as παράδεισος (paradeisos, “enclosed park, pleasure-ground”), referring to the enclosed parks and gardens of the Persian kings (LSJ 1308). The Greek term has been transliterated into English as “paradise.” Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: BGT Ecclesiastes 2:6 ἐποίησά μοι κολυμβήθρας ὑδάτων τοῦ ποτίσαι ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν δρυμὸν βλαστῶντα ξύλα LXE Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood. NET Ecclesiastes 2:6 I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees. CSB Ecclesiastes 2:6 I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:6 had pools made for watering the young trees of my plantations. NRS Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:6 And I constructed for myself reservoirs to water a flourishing woodland. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made pools to water the forest of growing trees. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I made ponds of water : Ne 2:14 Song 7:4 to irrigate: Ps 1:3 Jer 17:8 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees - The implication of this verse is that Solomon utilized technical skill to irrigate an entire forest. Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: BGT Ecclesiastes 2:7 ἐκτησάμην δούλους καὶ παιδίσκας καὶ οἰκογενεῖς ἐγένοντό μοι καί γε κτῆσις βουκολίου καὶ ποιμνίου πολλὴ ἐγένετό μοι ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ιερουσαλημ LXE Ecclesiastes 2:7 I got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house: also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem. NET Ecclesiastes 2:7 I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock– both herds and flocks– than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. CSB Ecclesiastes 2:7 I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:7 I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought slaves, male and female, had home-born slaves as well; herds and flocks I had too, more than anyone in Jerusalem before me. NRS Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:7 I acquired male and female slaves, and slaves were born in my house. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought male and female slaves. In addition, slaves were born in my household. I owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:7 I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house; I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:7 I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. servants: 1Ki 9:20-22 Ezr 2:58 Ne 7:57 and had: Ge 17:12,13 servants born in my house: Heb. sons of my house also: Ge 13:2 2Ki 3:4 1Ch 27:29-31 2Ch 26:10 32:27-29 Job 1:3 42:12 Related Passages: 1 Kings 4:20-23+ Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. 21 Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour and sixty kors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem - Solomon's description underscores his incredible wealth. He had to possess large herds given his daily provision for fook (1Ki 4:22-23). NET NOTE on homeborn slaves - The phrase “sons of a house” (בְנֵי בַיִת, véne vayit) appears to be parallel to “a son of my house” (בֶן־בֵּיתִי, ven-beti) which refers to a person born into slavery from male and female servants in the master’s possession, e.g., Eleazar of Damascus (Gen 15:3). The phrase appears to denote children born from male and female slaves already in his possession, that is, “homeborn slaves” (NASB) or “other slaves who were born in my house” (NIV). Apparently confusing the sense of the phrase with the referent of the phrase in Gen 15:3, NJPS erroneously suggests “stewards” in Eccl 2:7. The Futility of Wealth and Pleasure 2:1-11 - Don Robinson Fulfillment doesn't come through wealth or fame. (Ec 2:7-9) a. in this morning's paper there was an article about the winners of the Florida state lottery. b. six people will split $105 million and receive around $17.5 million each. c. Solomon had great wealth and all the things that money could buy! d. he was richer than anyone else, and his fame grew as well, but still there was no satisfaction. Ecclesiastes 2:8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men–many concubines. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. BGT Ecclesiastes 2:8 συνήγαγόν μοι καί γε ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον καὶ περιουσιασμοὺς βασιλέων καὶ τῶν χωρῶν ἐποίησά μοι ᾄδοντας καὶ ᾀδούσας καὶ ἐντρυφήματα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας LXE Ecclesiastes 2:8 Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers. NET Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight– a harem of beautiful concubines! CSB Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! YLT Ecclesiastes 2:8 I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:8 I amassed silver and gold, the treasures of kings and provinces; acquired singers, men and women, and every human luxury, chest upon chest of it. NRS Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:8 I amassed for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings and provinces. I got for myself male and female singers and all human luxuries. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself. I gathered the treasures of kings and provinces. I provided myself with male and female singers and the pleasures men have with one concubine after another. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:8 I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men -- girls of all sorts to be my brides. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, man's delight. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. silver: 1Ki 9:14,28 10:10 14:21,22,27 2Ch 9:11,15-21 men singers: 2Sa 19:35 Ezr 2:65 concubines (KJV - musical instruments) - 1Ch 25:1,6 Job 21:11,12 Ps 150:3-5 Da 3:5,7,15 Am 6:5 MONEY CAN'T BUY YOU HAPPINESS Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure (segullah) of kings and provinces (see 1Ki 10:14-29+) - His incredible resources assure that he can successively carry out his experiment to see if pleasure fulfills! John Stevenson - Solomon had MONEY. He took the old saying that money can't buy happiness and he tested it by collecting the treasures of the nations. It was always party time in Jerusalem. There was song and there was sex and there was the enjoyment of every worldly pleasure. And it all of this, Solomon kept his wits about him, using his intellect to enjoy life to the fullest. NET NOTE on treasure - The term סְגֻלָּה (segullah) denotes “personal property” (HALOT 742 s.v. סְגֻלָּה 1) or “valued property, personal treasure” (BDB 688 s.v. סְגֻלָּה 2). Elsewhere, it refers to a king’s silver and gold (1 Chr 27:3). It is related to Akkadian sug/kullu “flock” (AHw 2:1053–54) and sikiltu “private property [belonging to the king]” (AHw 2:1041). The term refers to the personal, private and valued possessions of kings, which do not pass into the hands of the state. Heb “of kings and provinces.” This personal treasure was taken as tribute from other kings and governors. See T. Longman III, Ecclesiastes (NICOT), 92. I provided for myself male and female singers - Presumably Solomon is saying that he was a generous patron of the arts but it was for himself not the populace at large. And the pleasures of men–many concubines (KJV - musical instruments) - Many women can't buy happiness and in fact they proved to be Solomon's downfall resulting in division of the Kingdom (1Ki 11:1-14+). Like the famous Beatles song "Can't buy me love." NET NOTE on Concubines were slave women in ancient Near Eastern societies who were the legal property of their master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with their master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (2 Sam 21:10–14; 1 Kgs 11:3). Longman III - many concubines. The Heb. word (shiddah [TH7705, ZH8721]) that refers to these women is rare, but is probably related to the word “breast” (shad [TH7699, ZH8716]) and thus is a crude expression referring to a woman by reference to her sexual parts..(See Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs - Page 268) Concubines (KJV - musical instruments) The difficult words {shiddah weshiddoth} are variously rendered. The LXX. have [oinocoon kai oinochoas,] "male and female cup-bearers," with which the Syriac and Arabic and Parkhurst agree; Aquila, [kulikon kai kulikia,] "a cup and smaller cups;" Jerome, {scyphos et urceolos, (Vulg. {urceos,}) "goblets and pots;" Targum, "warm and cold baths;" others, as M. Desvoeux, "male and female captives;" others, "cooks and confectioners;" others, "a species of musical compositions," derived from Sido, a celebrated Phoenician woman, to whom Sanchoniatho attributes the invention of music; but others, with more probability, "wives and concubines;" and {siddoth} may be in this sense synonymous with the Arabic {seedat, domina, conjux} from {sada,} in {Conj. V. conjugium inivit.} Of the former, Solomon had three hundred concubines, and seven hundred wives; and if they are not mentioned here they are not mentioned at all, which is wholly unaccountable. Wright on concubines - Various translations have been suggested for שִׁדָּה וְשִׁדּוֹת (šiddāh wešiddôṯ) since the term occurs nowhere else in the Bible. Some suggestions follow: 1. “Harem” (cf. “Concubines,” RSV) is the NIV’s rendering. The word is perhaps connected with שַׁד (šaḏ, “breast”). A Canaanite word of similar form is used to translate the Egyptian word for “concubine” in a letter of Amenophis III (ANET, p. 487a). We note that concubinage was considered a legal relationship and not fornication or adultery by the people. Although it was looked on as a normal convention in OT times, it is nowhere ordered by the Lord. 2. “Musical instruments” (KJV) is a traditional Jewish interpretation (so Kimchi in his lexicon), but its derivation is uncertain. 3. Connected with the Aramaic root שְׁדָא (šeḏāʾ, “to pour”), the LXX has “male and female cupbearers.” 4. The Talmud (Gittin 78a) says that in Palestine the word meant “chests” or “sedan chairs”; hence JB’s “every human luxury, chest on chest of it.” (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary) NET NOTE on concubines - The meaning of the superlative construction שִׁדָּה וְשִׁדּוֹת (shiddah véshiddot) is uncertain because the term שִׁדָּה (shiddah) occurs only here in the OT. There are four basic approaches to the phrase: (1) Most scholars suggest that it refers to a royal harem and that it is in apposition to “the sensual delights of man” (וְתַעֲנוּגֹת בְּנֵי הָאָדָם, véta’anugot béne ha’adam). There are four variations of this approach: (a) There is a possible connection to the Ugaritic sht “mistress, lady” and the Arabic sitt “lady” (HALOT 1420 s.v. שִׁדָּה). (b) German scholars relate it to Assyrian sadadu “love” (Delitzsch, Konig, Wildeboer, Siegfried); however, BDB questions this connection (BDB 994 s.v. שׁדה). (c) Ibn Ezra relates it to II שַׁד (shad) “plunder; spoil” or שׁדה “[women] taken by violence,” and suggests that it refers to the occupants of the royal harem. (d) BDB connects it to the Hebrew noun I שַׁד (shad, “breast”; e.g., Isa 28:9; Ezek 16:7; 23:3, 21, 34; Hos 2:4; 9:14; Song 1:13; 4:5; 7:4, 8, 9; 8:1, 8, 10; Job 3:12) adding that שׁדה is related to the cognate Arabic and Aramaic roots meaning “breast” (BDB 994 s.v.). This would be a synecdoche of part (i.e., breast) for the whole (i.e., woman), similar to the idiom “one womb, two wombs” (רַחַם רַחֲמָתַיִם, rakham rakhamatayim) where “womb” = woman (Judg 5:30). This is the approach taken by most English versions: “many concubines” (NASB, RSV, NRSV), “a wife and wives” (YLT), “mistresses galore” (MLB), “many a mistress” (Moffatt), and “a harem” (NIV). This is the approach suggested by the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project: “une femme et des femmes” = one or two women (e.g., Judg 5:30); see D. Barthélemy, e.d., Preliminary and Interim Report on the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, 3:566. (2) The NJPS connects it to the Mishnaic Hebrew noun שִׁדָּה which became שִׁידָּה (“a strong box, chest”; Jastrow 1558 s.v. שִׁידָּה) and renders the phrase “coffers and coffers of them” in apposition to the phrase “the luxuries of commoners” (וְתַעֲנוּגֹת בְּנֵי הָאָדָם). (3) KJV and ASV take the phrase in apposition to “male and female singers” and translate it as “musical instruments.” However, there is no known Hebrew term that would justify this approach. (4) The LXX related the term to the Aramaic root שׁדא (“to pour out [wine]”) and rendered the phrase as οἰνοχόον καί οἰνοχόας (oinochoon kai oinochoas), “a male-butler and female cupbearers.” Aquila took a similar approach: κυλίκιον καί κυλίκια (kulikion kai kulikia), “wine cups and wine vessels.” This is reflected in the Vulgate and Douay: “cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine.” Although the semantic meaning of the term שִׁדָּה וְשִׁדּוֹת (“a breast of breasts”) is uncertain, the grammatical/syntactical form of the phrase is straightforward: (1) It is in apposition to the preceding line, “the delights of the son of men” (וְתַעֲנוּגֹת בְּנֵי הָאָדָם). (2) The phrase is a superlative construction. When the second word is plural and it follows a noun from the same root which is singular, it indicates the best or most outstanding example of the person or thing so described. In addition to the Judg 5:30 parallel cited above, see the expression “a generation, generations” in Pss 72:5; 102:25; Isa 51:8. Unlike, Eccl 2:8, this juxtapositioning of the singular and plural to express the superlative usually involves a construct form. See קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים (qodesh haqqodashim, “the holy of holies,” i.e., the most holy place”; Exod 26:33), שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים (shir hashirim, “the song of songs,” i.e., “the most excellent song”; Song 1:1), אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וַאֲדֹנֵי הַאֲדֹנִים (’elohe ha’elohim va’adone ha’adonim, “the God of gods and Lord of lords,” i.e., “the Highest God and the Supreme Lord”; Deut 10:17), and עֶבֶד עֲבָדִים (’eved ’avadim, “a slave of slaves,” i.e., “the most abject slave”; Gen 9:25). See GKC 431 §133.i; R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 17–18, §80; IBHS 154 §9.5.3j. If the semantic meaning of the terms שִׁדָּה וְשִׁדּוֹת denotes “a breast (among) breasts” or “a lady (among) ladies” (Eccl 2:8, but see the previous note on the phrase “a man’s sensual delights”), the superlative construction may connote “the most beautiful breasts” (metonymy of part for the whole) or “the most beautiful woman.” This might refer to a harem of concubines or to one woman (the wife of the king?) who was the most beautiful woman in the land. Ray Pritchard - Something New Under the Sun MONEY, SEX AND POWER I amassed silver and gold for myself and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man Ecclesiastes 2:8NIV Solomon had a harem, all right—seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. Historians tell us that many of his wives were not romantic attachments but rather convenience marriages made to cement certain foreign relationships and guarantee peaceful relations with other nations. Nevertheless, common though this practice may have been, it got Solomon in trouble and helped pave the way for the breakup of his kingdom. I love the phrase "the delights of the heart of man." What a nice way to put it. If we say "sexual temptation" it sounds much different. Not too many years ago we went through a period in which several of America's best-known preachers fell prey to sexual sin. In each case good men who apparently loved the Lord yielded in a moment of weakness. I am thinking now of one man I used to watch on television as he preached with great power to thousands of people. I felt then that the power of the Holy Spirit was truly upon his life. Although his behavior shocked and saddened me, I did not believe he was a religious charlatan. But something somewhere, somehow, at some point, went tragically wrong. Did he become so big that he thought he could get away with anything? Did the empire he built finally destroy him? Did he think that he was above God's moral law? If so, he would not be the first man to fall at the height of his own power. His downfall came when he refused to accept the discipline imposed by his own denomination. Like so many before him, he thought he could solve his problems on his own. Like so many others, he discovered too late that he couldn't do it by himself. Years ago a friend told me, "The first price you pay is always the cheapest." Which being interpreted means, the quicker you deal with your problems, the better off you will be. We avoid facing our own moral weakness because we hope the problems will go away on their own. That almost never happens, especially in the realm of sexual sin. The price never goes down; it always goes up. The way of transgressors is always hard, but as so many others have discovered, you don't have to make it harder by refusing the help of people who truly love you. Loving Lord, when I am tempted to depart from Your ways, show me in advance the dangers of disobedience. Amen. SHINING THE LIGHT Do you agree that "the first price you pay is always the cheapest"? If so, how have you experienced this truth in your own life? What happens when we disregard God's teaching regarding sexual purity? MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read Ezra 9:1-10:4; Proverbs 5:15-19; and Hebrews 13:4. Ecclesiastes 2:9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. BGT Ecclesiastes 2:9 καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα παρὰ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καί γε σοφία μου ἐστάθη μοι LXE Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before in Jerusalem: also my wisdom was established to me. NET Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity: CSB Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:9 And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I grew great, greater than anyone in Jerusalem before me; nor did my wisdom leave me. NRS Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:9 I became great, and I stored up more than all others before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom, too, stayed with me. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I grew richer than anyone in Jerusalem before me. Yet, my wisdom remained with me. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:9 And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Ec 1:16 1Ki 3:12 10:7,23 1Ch 29:25 2Ch 1:1 9:22,23 WISE KING WHO HAD IT ALL EXCEPT FULFILLMENT Then - Marks progress in his narrative, moving on to another subject. I became great (gadal - powerful, influential, or important; Lxx - megaluno) and increased (Implies accumulation of wealth, fame, or influence) more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom (chokmah; Lxx - sophia) also stood by me (Literally “it remained with me” “it supported me”) - NET - "So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity" Solomon achieved unmatched status, power, and wealth. No previous king or ruler in Jerusalem matched his prosperity. Even in indulgence, his testing of pleasure, etc, his God-given wisdom remained intact, helping him observe, evaluate, and reflect on his experiences. In short, Solomon was the ideal test subject: he had limitless resources and unmatched insight. Yet, as he will reveal, even this greatness did not satisfy (vv. 11–12). Solomon’s wisdom was not lost, even in the midst of lavish self-indulgence, and thus he was able to make accurate observations and conclusions. 🙏 THOUGHT - “Great, but Empty” Solomon had what everyone else wanted. Power. Progress. Prestige. His life was one long highlight reel. Yet he steps back and says, “I became great... but even then, something was missing.” His greatness didn't keep him from despair. His wisdom didn't shield him from emptiness. Why? Because human greatness cannot satisfy divine longing. We were made for more than increase—we were made for intimacy with God. Without Him, even the highest throne feels hollow. In a world that tells you to “become great,” let Solomon’s words slow you down. Let your heart ask: Is my greatness rooted in God’s calling or my own ambition? Do I seek influence, or impact for eternity? True greatness is not in what you build— but in who you trust. Wisdom (02451) chokmah from the verb chakam - to be wise) is the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. Wisdom is the ability to see something from God’s viewpoint. Wisdom is “God’s character in the many practical affairs of life.” Chokmah is the knowledge and the ability to make the right choices at the opportune time. The consistency of making the right choice is an indication of one's spiritual maturity. The prerequisite for this "wisdom" is the fear of the Lord (Pr 1:7-note). "Wisdom" is personified as crying out for disciples who will do everything to pursue her (Pr 1:20). The person who seeks chokmah diligently will receive understanding: (Pr 2:6) and will benefit in life by walking with God (Pr 2:20, cf Gal 5:16). Wisdom is the right use of knowledge: All true spiritual wisdom is found only in Christ. Thayer makes an excellent point that wisdom is "used of the knowledge of very diverse matters, so that the shade of meaning in which the word is taken must be discovered from the context in every particular case." Wisdom is skill, expertise, competence that understands how life really works, how to achieve successful and even beautiful results. We see a picture of wisdom in Exodus 35:31, where the word translated “wisdom” in Proverbs 1:2 is used for the skill of an artist adorning the tabernacle. CHOKMAH IN ECCLESIASTES - Eccl. 1:13; Eccl. 1:16; Eccl. 1:17; Eccl. 1:18; Eccl. 2:3; Eccl. 2:9; Eccl. 2:12; Eccl. 2:13; Eccl. 2:21; Eccl. 2:26; Eccl. 7:10; Eccl. 7:11; Eccl. 7:12; Eccl. 7:19; Eccl. 7:23; Eccl. 7:25; Eccl. 8:1; Eccl. 8:16; Eccl. 9:10; Eccl. 9:13; Eccl. 9:15; Eccl. 9:16; Eccl. 9:18; Eccl. 10:1; Eccl. 10:10 Related Resources: What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? | GotQuestions.org What is godly wisdom? | GotQuestions.org How can I get wisdom from God? | GotQuestions.org Ray Pritchard - Something New Under the Sun THE VIEW FROM THE PENTHOUSE I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. Ecclesiastes 2:9NIV Here is his story, briefly told: At age six, his mother threw his birthday cake off the porch. He played the French Horn at age twelve and by the time he was fifteen he was playing professionally with some of the top jazz musicians of the day. Eventually, he became the first black musician to break the Hollywood color barrier as a composer of scores. He is perhaps best known as the composer of the score for The Color Purple. But it hasn't come easy. Quincy Jones has been married three times, survived two brain surgeries, and endured a complete emotional breakdown. Several years ago he faced surgery for an aneurysm that threatened to kill him. The doctors told him that his chances of recovery were 100 to 1. Miraculously, he survived. Question: "What did you start doing different after your operation?" Answer: "The first thing I started doing was hugging a lot. "When you get to be fifty, you start dealing with the countdown, and you can deal with it in a positive way or a negative way. I try to deal with it in a positive way. . . . You try to make this little life to be this great gift." Then he added these words: "You know that old cliche about your life passing in front of you? Well, it really does." I don't know much else about Quincy Jones, but his philosophy of life makes sense to me. What do you do when the doctors tell you that there is virtually no chance you will survive the operation, and then you open your eyes and you find out you aren't dead after all? You were the 1 in 100 who made it. You take a good look at life and then you start hugging a lot. It makes you take stock of the passing days and you realize that you cheated the Grim Reaper, but only temporarily. Suddenly life takes on a new meaning. You see it as it really is, as the most precious gift you will ever possess, a gift that must someday be returned to the Giver. If you are smart, you start hugging a lot, because when you get down to it, the relationships you have with the people you love matter more than the awards and the roar of the crowd. That's just fluff and frosting and window dressing. The only tragedy is that too often it takes a tragedy to make us wake up and figure out what's really important in life. Lord Jesus, thank You for using the hard times of life to rearrange my priorities. Amen. SHINING THE LIGHT Who is the wealthiest person you know? As far as you know, where does this person stand with the Lord? What is the major temptation a rich person faces with regard to his own wealth? MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Colossians 2:2-3; and James 3:13-18. Ray Pritchard - Something New Under the Sun - SOLOMON AND JESUS Ecclesiastes 2:9; Luke 11:31 Jesus mentioned Solomon twice. In the first instance He commented that Solomon in all his glory did not possess the simple glory of the lilies of the field (see Matthew 6:29; Luke 12:27). The lilies don't even work for what they have. God gives it to them. And do you think the flowers worry? The flowers don't even last very long. You buy some today and by Wednesday they've started to wilt. Little helpless flowers that pass away so quickly. Yet God takes care of them. But we are not flowers. We are living souls. Your body is not you. It's part of you, but it's not the whole you. The real you is more than the sum total of your blood, muscles, bones, fat, nerves, and skin. You are not just a piece of gross anatomy. You are a living soul in a body made by God. And you are going to live forever somewhere. That's makes you infinitely more valuable than the lilies of the field. And it actually puts you in a better position than Solomon if you understand that God has promised to take care of you. Jesus' only other mention of Solomon occurs in a context of judgment on the wicked generation that rejected Him (see Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). The Queen of Sheba came hundreds of miles to learn from Solomon (1 Kings 10:1 -13) and left mightily impressed with his wisdom. Yet Jesus was greater than Solomon and people rejected Him. Matthew
Eclesiastes 2
Wiersbe - Ecclesiastes 2:12-23 Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures - Page 145 "I hated all the things 1 had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?" (Ecc. 2:18) MONEY MANAGEMENT Solomon was born wealthy, and great wealth came to him because he was the king. But he was looking at life under the sun and speaking for the common people who were listening to his discussion. The day would come when Solomon would die and leave everything to his successor. This reminds us of our Lord's warning in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) and Paul's words in 1 Timothy 6:7-10. A Jewish proverb says, "There are no pockets in shrouds." Money is a medium of exchange. Unless it is spent, it can do little or nothing for you. You can't eat money, but you can use it to buy food. It will not keep you warm, but it will purchase fuel. A writer in The Wall Street Journal called money an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider of everything except happiness. Of course, you and I are stewards of our wealth; God is the Provider (Deut. 8:18) and the Owner, and we have the privilege of enjoying it and using it for His glory. One day we will have to give an account of what we have done with His generous gifts. While we cannot take wealth with us when we die, we can send it ahead as we use it today according to God's will (Matt. 6:19-34). Applying God's Truth: 1. To what extent would you say you are concerned about leaving a good inheritance for your children? Do you wonder if they will appreciate it as they should? 2. What is your philosophy of money? How much importance do you think it deserves? 3. What does it mean to you to be a steward of your wealth? The Futility of Wealth and Pleasure 2:1-11 - Don Robinson The Futility of Materialism. Ec 2:12-23 1. He sees death as the common factor. (12-17) a. wisdom is far greater than folly v12-13 b. but whether wise or foolish, each must die. v14 c. what lasting value is there to wisdom? v15-17 d. once again he sees that he has been chasing the wind. 2 He despaired over leaving the results of his labor to another. (18-21) a. who knows whether the man who benefits from my labor will be wise or foolish? b. he declares that this just isn't right, this is a great injustice. c. we have all heard accounts of children who have foolishly squandered their inheritance received from their parents hard work. d. Solomon is concerned about who will inherit the results of his labor. 3. He despaired over the absence of some reward for all his labor. (22-23) a. what is the point? b. what does man get for all his labor? c. nothing but sorrow, grief, and restlessness. Ray Pritchard - Something New Under the Sun THE TURTLE ON THE FENCE POST Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king's successor do than what has already been done? Ecclesiastes 2:12NIV I'm sure Solomon felt pressure from both sides on the issue of kingly succession. On the one hand his father was David, who quite frankly was a better man than he would ever be—even though Solomon was technically a greater king. Matthew 1:1 called the Lord Jesus Christ the "son of David," not the "son of Solomon," though that title is also correct. Solomon lived and reigned in the shadow of his father, and I am sure he knew that no matter what he did, he could never eclipse his father's place in the hearts of his people. Then there was the matter of his successor. Transferring power is always a tricky business, but Solomon didn't help himself by all the foreign wives he married and the consequent introduction of idolatry into Israel. First Kings 11 plainly says that God used the rebellion of Jer-oboam to wrest the kingdom from Solomon's hands in judgment for Solomon's sins in the latter years of his reign. Solomon evidently knew nothing about God's decision. He died thinking that Rehoboam his son would rule the whole nation as he had done. However, his son proved to be too proud to listen to wise counsel and levied a severe tax on the people. The northern ten tribes revolted. That left the tribes of Benjamin and Judah—a tiny remnant of Solomon's vast empire. In the end Solomon was not as great as his father but much greater than his son. His reign would be remembered as Israel's Golden Age—a time when the borders of the nation reached their zenith. With much pride Solomon asked in Ecclesiastes 2:12: "What more can the king's successor do than what has already been done?" But Solomon was wrong. He could not outstrip King David as a military leader or as a poet. Perhaps the lesson here has something to do with the dangers of pride. It is no surprise that the ancient church fathers listed pride as the first of the Seven Deadly Sins. First because it destroys more people than any other sin; because it comes in unawares and does so much damage; and also because religious people are so susceptible. Pride, remember, was the sin that caused Satan to fall from heaven. In his office, noted author Alex Haley had a painting of a turtle on top of a fence post. When people asked him why he had the painting, he replied that it reminded him of a great truth: Whenever you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn't get there by himself. Somebody had to put him there. The next time you are feeling a little puffed up about all the great things you have done, and you are about to break your arm patting yourself on the back, remember the turtle on the fence post. You didn't crawl to the top by yourself. Somebody had to put you there. Eternal Father, help me live so that those who come after me won’t be ashamed to follow in my steps. Amen. SHINING THE LIGHT Why is it often difficult to follow a successful person? Whose steps are you following? And who is following you right now? MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read Joshua 1:1-3; Malachi 3:7; and Hebrews 11:17. 🙏 THOUGHT- “Already Been Done” Have you ever tried to be the one who finally figures it out? Who fixes what no one else has? Who builds something that lasts? Solomon already did. He stood atop the highest mountain of wealth, wisdom, and worldly experience—and found the view frustratingly familiar. “What can the man do who comes after the king…?” He means this: you can spend your life trying to outdo others, but you will still face the same questions, the same mortality, the same God. This isn’t a call to apathy. It’s a call to humility. You are not the first to seek meaning. You will not be the last to feel empty. But you may be the first in your generation to seek it rightly—in Christ Alone. Let this verse (Ec 2:12) redirect your ambition. Stop chasing novelty. Start pursuing eternity. What has already been done can be redeemed only when it is done in Christ and for the glory of the eternal Father. Dear Father in Heaven, let it be so for each person who reads these words. In Jesus' Name. Amen “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8+ Ecclesiastes 2:13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. BGT Ecclesiastes 2:13 καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἔστιν περισσεία τῇ σοφίᾳ ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀφροσύνην ὡς περισσεία τοῦ φωτὸς ὑπὲρ τὸ σκότος LXE Ecclesiastes 2:13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly, as much as light excels darkness. NET Ecclesiastes 2:13 I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness: CSB Ecclesiastes 2:13 And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:13 I thought, "Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:13 And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:13 More is to be gained from wisdom than from folly, just as one gains more from light than from darkness; this, of course, I see: NRS Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:13 And I saw that wisdom has the advantage over folly as much as light has the advantage over darkness. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:13 But I saw that wisdom has an advantage over foolishness as light has an advantage over darkness. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolish ways -- as the light is better than the dark. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness. I saw: Ec 7:11,12 9:16 Pr 4:5-7 16:16 Mal 3:18 4:1,2 that wisdom excelleth folly: Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc light: Ec 11:7 Ps 119:105,130 Pr 4:18,19 Mt 6:23 Lu 11:34,35 Eph 5:8 WISDOM'S SUPERIORITY TO FOLLY'S FAILURE And I saw (perceived, discerned, understood) that wisdom (chokmah; Lxx - sophia) excels (yithron - an advantage, profit; Lxx - perisseia - that which is beyond the regular or expected amount) folly (sikluth - moral and intellectual foolishness) as light excels darkness - After examining the emptiness of pleasure and the limitations of labor, Solomon revisits the question of wisdom’s value—not dismissing it, but comparing it to folly. Solomon uses a straightforward term of comparison to emphasize what is fairly obvious, that wisdom excels folly. That is, wisdom brings clarity, direction, and safety, while folly leads to confusion, stumbling, and danger. Solomon acknowledges that wisdom is far superior to folly in terms of navigating the obstacles of life under the sun. Even if wisdom cannot solve the problem of death, it greatly improves the quality and direction of life while we live. Bob
Eclesiastes 2
Wiersbe - EAT, DRINK, AND BE THANKFUL Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures - Page 356 Solomon is not advocating "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!" That is the philosophy of fatalism, not faith. Rather, he is saying, "Thank God for what you do have, and enjoy it to the glory of God." Paul gave his approval to this attitude when he exhorted us to trust in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Tim. 6:17). Solomon made it clear that not only were the blessings from God, but even the enjoyment of the blessings was God's gift to us (Ecc. 2:24). He considered it evil if a person had all the blessings of life from God but could not enjoy them (Ec 6:1-5). It is easy to see why the Jewish people read Ecclesiastes at the Feast of Tabernacles, for Tabernacles is their great time of thanksgiving and rejoicing for God's abundant provision of their needs. The farmer who prayed at the table, "Thanks for food and for good digestion" knew what Solomon was writing about. The important thing is that we seek to please the Lord (2:26) and trust Him to meet every need. God wants to give us wisdom, knowledge, and joy; these three gifts enable us to appreciate God's blessings and take pleasure in them. It is not enough to possess things; we must also possess the kind of character that enables us to use things wisely and enjoy them properly. Applying God's Truth: 1. What are your Top Ten blessings from God? 2. For each of the things you've listed, are you experiencing the degree of enjoyment that you feel you should? If not, how can you enjoy them even more? 3. How can you develop the kind of character that enables you to use things wisely and enjoy them properly? Ecclesiastes 2:25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? KJV Ecclesiastes 2:25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? BGT Ecclesiastes 2:25 ὅτι τίς φάγεται καὶ τίς φείσεται πάρεξ αὐτοῦ LXE Ecclesiastes 2:25 For who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him? NET Ecclesiastes 2:25 For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him. CSB Ecclesiastes 2:25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him? ESV Ecclesiastes 2:25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? NIV Ecclesiastes 2:25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? NLT Ecclesiastes 2:25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? YLT Ecclesiastes 2:25 For who eateth and who hasteth out more than I? NJB Ecclesiastes 2:25 for who would get anything to eat or drink, unless all this came from him? NRS Ecclesiastes 2:25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? NAB Ecclesiastes 2:25 For who can eat or drink apart from him? GWN Ecclesiastes 2:25 Who can eat or enjoy themselves without God? BBE Ecclesiastes 2:25 Who may take food or have pleasure without him? RSV Ecclesiastes 2:25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? who can: Ec 2:1-12 1Ki 4:21-24 THE GIVER OF TRUE JOY For (כִּי – kî) - Term of explanation introduces a reason or explains what precedes it. He has just described the hand of God and here explains why Solomon concludes that enjoyment in life is from the hand of God. Because no one can truly enjoy even basic things like eating or pleasure without God granting it. Mark it down - There is no true enjoyment without God! Who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him (apart from God - the Source)? This is a rhetorical question, and the implied answer is no one, for without Him all is vanity and striving after wind. True enjoyment of life is impossible without God. Solomon is explaining that even the most basic pleasures like eating, enjoying work, finding satisfaction are impossible apart from God. You might possess things, but not the ability to enjoy them without Him, and most often they end up possessing you! Apart from God, the human experience loses its sweetness. With God, even ordinary experiences become extraordinary gifts. God is not just the giver of things, but the giver of the ability to enjoy them. Life’s deepest enjoyments are not earned by effort but granted by grace. Solomon had unmatched wealth, wisdom, and pleasure (Eccl 2:4–10), but he came to realize that having everything means nothing if God does not give the heart to enjoy it. Without God, you can eat but not taste, labor but not rest, own but not enjoy. Solomon underscores a key biblical truth tha enjoyment is not automatic but is God-given (cf fruit of Spirit Gal 5:22+). God not only provides blessings, but also the capacity to rejoice in them. Apart from God, even life’s simplest pleasures become meaningless. With God, even the simplest things like food, rest, and labor become deeply fulfilling. Blessed Routine Without [God], who can eat or find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:25 Today's Scripture & Insight : Ecclesiastes 2:17–26 Watching the morning crowd pour onto the train, I felt the Monday blues kick in. From the sleepy, grumpy faces of those in the jam-packed cabin, I could tell no one looked forward to going to work. Frowns broke out as some jostled for space and more tried to squeeze in. Here we go again, another mundane day at the office. Then, it struck me that just a year before, the trains would have been empty because COVID-19 lockdowns had thrown our daily routines into disarray. We couldn’t even go out for a meal, and some actually missed going to the office. But now we were almost back to normal, and many were going back to work—as usual. “Routine,” I realized, was good news, and “boring” was a blessing! King Solomon came to a similar conclusion after reflecting on the seeming pointlessness of daily toil (Ecclesiastes 2:17–23). At times, it appeared endless, “meaningless,” and unrewarding (v. 21). But then he realized that simply being able to eat, drink, and work each day was a blessing from God (v. 24). What simple blessings can you thank God for today? What can you do for someone who’s in need or is unable to enjoy life’s simple routines? Dear God, thank You for my “usual” routines, no matter how boring they may seem at times. Help me to be grateful for Your every blessing in life. 🙏 THOUGHT - “The Missing Piece of Joy” It’s not money, success, vacations, or health that makes life truly good. It’s the invisible, irreplaceable presence of God. We can sit at the finest table, surrounded by abundance, and feel emptier than a desert if God is absent. We can work long hours, buy beautiful things, and still sense that something essential is missing. Because joy isn’t in what you hold—it’s in who holds you. Jesus said: "I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35) Solomon’s words are a whisper to our restless hearts -- Return to the Giver. See the feast not as the prize but as the reminder of the Provider. Only from His hand does true satisfaction flow. Joy in life is not self-generated but is grace-given. Do Whatever For without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:25 Today's Scripture & Insight : Ecclesiastes 2:17–25 In a recent film, a self-proclaimed “genius” rants to the camera about the world’s “horror, corruption, ignorance, and poverty,” declaring life to be godless and absurd. While such thinking isn’t unusual in many modern film scripts, what’s interesting is where it leads. In the end, the lead character turns to the audience and implores us to do whatever it takes to find a little happiness. For him, this includes leaving traditional morality behind. But will “do whatever” work? Facing his own despair at life’s horrors, the Old Testament writer of Ecclesiastes gave it a try long ago, searching for happiness through pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 10), grand work projects (vv. 4–6), riches (vv. 7–9), and philosophical inquiry (vv. 12–16). And his assessment? “All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (v. 17). None of these things is immune to death, disaster, or injustice (5:13–17). Only one thing brings the writer of Ecclesiastes back from despair. Despite life’s trials, we can find fulfillment when God is part of our living and working: “for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (2:25). Life will at times feel meaningless, but “remember your Creator” (12:1). Don’t exhaust yourself trying to figure life out, but “fear God and keep his commandments” (v. 13). How much do you seek happiness through things that won’t last? Since the writer of Ecclesiastes didn’t know the hope of resurrection, how would you consider his search in light of Romans 8:11, 18–25? God, today I place You anew at the center of my living, working, joys, and disappointments, for without You nothing will satisfy or make sense. Charles Swindoll - GENUINE ENJOYMENT Wisdom for the Way: 365 Days of Wise Words for Busy People ... For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? Ecc 2:25 When I was growing up, my family lived next door to a family that had many of the world’s goods we didn’t have, but they didn’t have the joys Christ can bring—which we had in abundance. I remember one Christmas when we were singing together as a family. Suddenly, my mom said, “We’re making so much noise; we better close the windows or we’ll disturb all the neighbors.” So we closed the windows. Within minutes our phone rang. It was a girl who lived next door. She asked, “Why’d you close the windows?” “Well, we didn’t want to disturb you,” was my mom’s answer. The girl blurted out, “Disturb us? That’s the most laughter we’ve heard the entire Christmas season! . . . That’s beautiful music!” If you really want to have fun—I mean the kind of fun that is really enjoyment (without a hangover)—then you need . . . a relationship with the living God. -- Living on the Ragged Edge One Less Thing Who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him? (Eccl. 2:25) Journey Day by Day: Living Life Well - Page 218 - I hesitated before sending the e-mail to my writers’ group. How could I tell them I needed to take a break? They would be so disappointed. I’d been leading the group for years and considered each member my friend. But my husband had injured his back and would eventually need surgery. He clearly needed me home more. Long before that, however, I’d sensed God telling me that something needed to go. I was involved in choir and worship team at church, attended a home Bible study and the ladies’ study group, in addition to being a mom and working as a freelance writer and editor. “You’re doing too much,” several friends had pointed out. Norm’s health issues doubled as a last straw and a convenient excuse to slow down. I quickly sent the e-mail before I could change my mind. As it turned out, many in the group welcomed the break. I wasn’t the only one who needed one less thing on her weekly calendar. How do you know when you’ve crossed the line from an active lifestyle to an overcommitted one? Does it take one “last straw” event or request? A crisis? An out-of-the-blue season of unexplainable dissatisfaction when activities suddenly feel like chores, when what used to be fun is just one more thing to rush to? Admit it: sometimes it’s freeing to be forced to cut back. Interestingly, one of the wisest, most successful men in history, King Solomon, became disillusioned with his work. One day all of it felt like “a pursuit of the wind” (Eccl. 2:26). What drove him to that point? As we read on, it’s clear he eventually saw work as a gift from God to be enjoyed. How can we get back to that point? Perhaps only when we are willing to stop juggling more than we can handle. Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. BGT Ecclesiastes 2:26 ὅτι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἔδωκεν σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν καὶ εὐφροσύνην καὶ τῷ ἁμαρτάνοντι ἔδωκεν περισπασμὸν τοῦ προσθεῖναι καὶ τοῦ συναγαγεῖν τοῦ δοῦναι τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος LXE Ecclesiastes 2:26 For God has given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God; for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. NET Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth– only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile– like chasing the wind! CSB Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God's sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. NIV Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. NLT Ecclesiastes 2:26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless-- like chasing the wind. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to a man who is good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:26 Wisdom, knowledge and joy, God gives to those who please him, but on the sinner he lays the task of gathering and storing up for someone else who is pleasing to him. This too is futility and chasing after the wind. NRS Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. NAB Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to whatever man he sees fit he gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering possessions to be given to whatever man God sees fit. This also is vanity and a chase after wind. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting wealth. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. It's like trying to catch the wind. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. in his sight: Heb. before him, Ge 7:1 Lu 1:6 wisdom: 2Ch 31:20,21 Pr 3:13-18 Isa 3:10,11 Joh 16:24 Ro 14:17,18 1Co 1:30,31 Ga 5:22,23 Col 1:9-12 3:16,17 Jas 3:17 to the sinner: Job 27:16,17 Pr 13:22 28:8 THE TRANSFER OF TREASURE For (כִּי – kî) is a term of explanation, which introduces an explanation for the statement that precedes it, in this context explaining the basis of true enjoyment. The previous verses say that joy in labor, food, and life come from God. Now in this verse, Solomon explains that this is so because God selectively gives joy, wisdom, and knowledge to those who please Him. “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it.” – Proverbs 15:16 To a person who is good in His sight (lit before His face) He has given wisdom (chokmah; Lxx - sophia - ability to live skillfully) and knowledge (spiritual and practical insight) and joy (ability to enjoy life as a gift from God) - A person who is good is not explained by Solomon, but suggests that this is a person who knows God and has a personal relationship with Him through belief in Christ (e.g. Abel - Ge 4:4, Heb 11:4). The righteous receive joy, while the sinner gathers wealth he may never enjoy. While to the sinner (chata' - one who misses the mark of Your will) He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. The sinner is a person who chooses to live their life apart from God, replacing God with the vain idols of possessions, accomplishment, money, etc. And what is the reward to the sinner? God gives him the exhausting task of accumulating wealth, only to have it transferred to the godly. This reality upends worldly expectations. The "sinner" may seem successful, but his labor is ultimately fruitless. Imagine two people: One toils without God and builds a fortune but never enjoys it. Another walks with God, receives less, but enjoys it fully because joy is a gift, not a possession. The task of gathering and collecting - depicts activity that is laborious and repetitive, reflecting a cycle of toil without eternal reward and parallels the theme of “chasing the wind” True enjoyment in life is not earned by effort, but granted by grace. This too is vanity (hebel; Lxx - mataiotes - emptiness, nothingness, purposelessness) and striving after wind - To what does "this" refer? In the immediate context it refers to the sinner. Michael Eaton nicely sums this section up - The Preacher has held before his readers two ways of life: the vicious circle of a pointless world, temporary pleasures, fruitless work, futile wisdom, inevitable death, versus an enjoyable life taken daily from the hand of God, in the ‘assurance of faith’ that he deals appropriately with righteous and unrighteous. (Borrow Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – Ecclesiastes page 76) G Campbell