Day 170—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading.  Today we are reading in ECCLESIASTES.

 Day 170 – Ecclesiastes 1 – 6. (The words of “the Preacher,” the son of David, king in Jerusalem)

This is the third book of Solomon’s “wisdom.”  Whereas the Song of Solomon seems to have been written in his youth, and Proverbs in his middle years, Ecclesiastes seems to have been written after most of his life is past, in the “evil days of old age.” (See 12:1) 

Thirty-eight times, he sighs and proclaims that “all is vanity” (vapor, nothingness).  Ecclesiastes 1:2. “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

It seems then that Solomon takes a survey to test himself. He tries “everything under the sun” to see if it lasts and is good. 

First is PLEASURE. He tries everything he can imagine – wine, women, and song. He built houses and vineyards, gardens and parks, fruit orchards, and pools. He possessed slaves, herds, and flocks more than any other person. He gathered silver and gold and the treasure of kings. He gained prestige and honor. WHATEVER his eyes desired, he acquired.  

2:11. “…and behold, all was vanity and a striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”

Next, Solomon tries wise living and hard work. He discovers that in the end, both the fool and the wise man die and are forgotten. 2:17-18. “So I hated life because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after the wind. I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?”

But we see a glimpse of “sanity” in 2:24-26.  “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. THS ALSO I SAW is from the hand of God, for apart from Him, who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases Him, God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy…”

Chapter 3 begins with the well-known comparison of seasons.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven;
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace. 

3:20. “All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.” 

In Chapter 4, Solomon looks at all the evil under the sun. “I saw all the oppression done under the sun. And behold the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead were more fortunate than the living who are still alive.”

4:13. “Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.”

5:10. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income. This also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them.” 

5:12. “Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much. But the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.”,

5:18, 19b-20.“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.  ...and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil, this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.”