ECCLESIASTES LESSON 2
We will begin in Ecclesiastes 2:1 "I said in mine heart, Go to
now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and,
behold, this also [is] vanity."
We see that Solomon was so dissatisfied with life the way he had
experienced it, that he decides to try pleasure of the flesh. He is
like so many who look for peace in all the wrong places. He has plenty
of money and fame, but that does not satisfy the hungry soul. I have
heard so many people say, they thought great riches would make them
happy. When they acquired the great riches, they were still unhappy.
Some of them searched for fame, thinking that would satisfy them. True
satisfaction comes from a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Nothing else in life can fill that void. In verse one above, he finds
that fleshly happiness does not bring satisfaction either.
Ecclesiastes 2:2 "I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth,
What doeth it?"
This speaks of laughing on the surface, but your heart is crying.
Laughter is but for a moment. Proverbs 14:13 "Even in laughter the
heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness."
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."
Many people, in our society today, drink alcohol and take drugs
to hide from the realities of life. They feel, that for a moment, the
deadening will help them to forget their sorrows. It really does not
work. When the effects are gone, they are even more depressed than
when they began. This is what Solomon discovered, here, as well.
Ecclesiastes 2:4 "I made me great works; I builded me houses; I
planted me vineyards:"
The accumulations of fine houses and vineyards will not help.
Things do not bring that peace, Solomon is looking for. Peace and
satisfaction is not brought by outward influences. This comes from the
heart of man.
Ecclesiastes 2:5 "I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted
trees in them of all [kind of] fruits:"
Solomon loved beautiful gardens. The garden he had on the
outskirts of Jerusalem was well known. Even the beautiful gardens he
loved, did not bring the satisfaction he was looking for.
Ecclesiastes 2:6 "I made me pools of water, to water therewith
the wood that bringeth forth trees:"
Many people find it very soothing to live on the banks of a lake.
This was the thoughts of Solomon, as well. Again, this does not cause
him to be satisfied.
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:"
We know that even the queen of Sheba was impressed by the finery
of the king's court. She had many servants herself, but nothing to
compare with Solomon's. I Kings 9:20 "[And] all the people [that were]
left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,
which [were] not of the children of Israel," I Kings 9:21 "Their
children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of
Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon
levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day." We can see from the
following Scripture, an example of the number of animals he had.
II Kings 3:4 "And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered
unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred
thousand rams, with the wool."
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."
Solomon, besides being the wisest man, was also the richest man.
The following Scripture is an example of the wealth he acquired in one
year. I Kings 10:14 "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in
one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold," We see
in the following Scripture, that Solomon had whatever he wanted. He
had many singers and those who played instruments. I Chronicles 25:6
"All these [were] under the hands of their father for song [in] the
house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the
service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph,
Jeduthun, and Heman."
Ecclesiastes 2:9 "So I was great, and increased more than all
that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me."
Solomon's wealth, fame, and wisdom were known throughout the
lands around them. I Kings 10:23 "So king Solomon exceeded all the
kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom."
Ecclesiastes 2:10 "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not
from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced
in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour."
We see, in this, a fulfillment of every earthly desire that any
person could imagine was Solomon's. Everything Solomon put his hand to
prospered. Attaining worldly fame and fortune cannot bring true
happiness. The search for fulfillment in life, always ends with
searching for the Lord and everlasting life. All the other things do
not satisfy.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 "Then I looked on all the works that my hands
had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold,
all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit
under the sun."
All of this is nothing. It does not satisfy the soul. All the
things, mentioned in this chapter, are no comparison at all, to the
satisfaction knowing Jesus brings. Proverbs 15:16 "Better [is] little
with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith."
I John 2:16 "For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world." I John 2:17 "And the world passeth away, and the
lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Ecclesiastes 2:12 "And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and
madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the
king? [even] that which hath been already done."
About the highest honor a man can attain on this earth is to be
king. Wisdom, in a sense, is no better than folly or madness, if it is
worldly wisdom. None of them satisfy his soul. This, to me, is saying
Solomon does not want to start all over as king. He has done what he
could, and going over it again would not help.
Ecclesiastes 2:13 "Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far
as light excelleth darkness."
Proverbs 4:18 "But the path of the just [is] as the shining
light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs
4:19 "The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what
they stumble." Ephesians 5:8 "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now
[are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"
Ecclesiastes 2:14 "The wise man's eyes [are] in his head; but the
fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event
happeneth to them all."
"Eyes" speak of intelligence. The one event that "happeneth to
them all" is death. John 11:10 "But if a man walk in the night, he
stumbleth, because there is no light in him." I John 2:11 "But he
that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and
knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his
eyes."
Ecclesiastes 2:15 "Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to
the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise?
Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity."
Solomon knows that just being filled with wisdom will not extend
his life. His speculation, here, is if this is so, what advantage is
it to be wise?
Ecclesiastes 2:16 "For [there is] no remembrance of the wise more
than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now [is] in the days to
come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise [man]? as the
fool."
Solomon is a little negative in this statement. This is not
exactly true. Solomon was remembered above his fellows for the wisdom
he conveyed to all of us, when he penned some of the wisdom he had
into a book. Surely the wise and the foolish do die, when their time
God has allotted them to die comes. They have no control over death.
God is the Controller. Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment:"
Ecclesiastes 2:17 "Therefore I hated life; because the work that
is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity
and vexation of spirit."
This is a climax of the other statements he has made. The word
"therefore" connects the previous verses. Because death comes to all,
I hate life, is what he is saying. He feels no accomplishment, in
spite of the fact he has accomplished so much. He feels as if he has
failed God.
Ecclesiastes 2:18 "Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken
under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be
after me."
After reigning 40 years, Solomon will die, and someone else will
take his place. I Kings 11:11 "Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon,
Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant
and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the
kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant."
Ecclesiastes 2:19 "And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise
[man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I
have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun.
This [is] also vanity."
When a man dies, the work he has wrought with his hands is
another's. It is not very pleasant for him to realize that the works
of his hands might pass to someone undeserving. Since he does not know
who God will choose to rule after him, he also does not know whether
he will be wise, or a fool. All of his wisdom is gone, when he dies.
He cannot pass his wisdom on to another. Wisdom is a gift from God.
Ecclesiastes 2:20 "Therefore I went about to cause my heart to
despair of all the labour which I took under the sun."
We can see that Solomon was greatly troubled, about what would
happen to the things he had built by the wisdom God had given him. He
is looking back and wondering what earthly good was all of it.
Ecclesiastes 2:21 "For there is a man whose labour [is] in
wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not
laboured therein shall he leave it [for] his portion. This also [is]
vanity and a great evil."
This is Solomon speaking of himself. The person who takes
Solomon's place has not worked to build all of this. He receives this,
because God is taking it from Solomon. Psalms 49:10 "For he seeth
[that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish,
and leave their wealth to others."
Ecclesiastes 2:22 "For what hath man of all his labour, and of
the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?"
There is a certain amount of pride, that goes along with the
finishing of some important project here on the earth. It is a known
fact, that none of that follows us after our death. The only treasures
we carry with us, are those we have stored in heaven before our death.
Things we do for ourselves, or for earthly fame, will be of no
assistance in heaven. Solomon had great wealth and fame on the earth.
All of that is left behind. Matthew 16:26 "For what is a man profited,
if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall
a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Ecclesiastes 2:23 "For all his days [are] sorrows, and his
travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is
also vanity."
Solomon has difficulty sleeping, because of his thoughts about
the inevitable end that comes to all. Job 14:1 "Man [that is] born of
a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble." Jesus explains that
this world is full of trouble. Our hope is in Him. John 16:33 "These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world."
Ecclesiastes 2:24 "[There is] nothing better for a man, [than]
that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy
good in his labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of
God."
We find that even the everyday functions of eating and drinking
can only take place at the will of God. The prayer that Jesus taught
the apostles says, "Give us this day our daily bread". It is by the
grace of God, that we have bread to eat. We should be thankful for
whatever God has provided us with. We should be like Paul and be
satisfied with what God has given us. I Timothy 6:8 "And having food
and raiment let us be therewith content."
Ecclesiastes 2:25 "For who can eat, or who else can hasten
[hereunto], more than I?"
Possibly, Solomon had the most to be thankful for.
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."
God had thought very highly of Solomon. He had loved him so much,
that He gave him wisdom above all his fellowmen. He gave him great
wealth and tremendous fame. Solomon did not stay faithful to God. The
temptations of life were more than he could handle, and he sinned. God
will abundantly bless those who are in the will of God. The wealth of
the sinner is laid up for the righteous. God does not overlook the
slightest thing you do to please Him. God is the Rewarder of those who
follow Him.
Ecclesiastes 2 Questions
1. What caused Solomon to try pleasure for satisfaction?
2. Where else had Solomon looked for satisfaction?
3. Where does true satisfaction come from?
4. What is verse 2 speaking of?
5. Quote Proverbs chapter 14 verse 13.
6. What does the author believe the problem is in our society today
with drugs and alcohol?
7. Solomon built what, that did not satisfy him.
8. Where is true peace from?
9. Where did Solomon get this huge number of servants.
10. What queen was overwhelmed by Solomon's finery?
11. He had _____ and _______ singers.
12. What were some of the musical instruments Solomon had?
13. Quote 1 Kings chapter 10 verse 23.
14. Attaining worldly fame and wealth cannot bring __________.
15. Quote Proverbs chapter 15 verse 16.
16. Quote 1 John chapter 2 verse 16.
17. What do wisdom, folly, and madness have in common?
18. How much does wisdom excel folly?
19. Quote Ephesians chapter 5 verse 8.
20. The wise man's eyes are in his _________.
21. Quote John chapter 11 verse 10.
22. He that hateth his brother is in ____________.
23. What does Solomon say, in verse 16, that is not absolutely the way
it is?
24. Quote Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27.
25. Why did he hate life?
26. Why did he hate his work?
27. How many years did Solomon reign?
28. Why will God rend the kingdom away from Solomon?
29. Who is verse 21 speaking of?
30. Quote Psalms chapter 49 verse 10.
31. What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own _______?
32. Quote Job chapter 14 verse 1.
33. Give us this day our _________ _______.
34. Quote 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 8.
35. God is a __________ of those who follow Him.
Home