Now that we've done the intro to Ecclesiastes, and we've focused on studying our Bibles, we're onto chapter 1.
If you're new to the Divinely Interrupted studies, here's how it works:
I will copy in several lines of the verses from the chapter, and then I'll add commentary to expand on the application and understanding of these verses. It may be from a book I'm reading, another commentator, or my reflections. I'll note which is which. I encourage you to be like a Berean in Acts 17:11, who repeatedly ensured what Paul was telling them aligned with God's Word:
"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
It's best if you have your own study Bible open and read along. Scientific studies tell us that reading comprehension can increase when reading on paper. One of the faithful Divinely Interrupted readers shared using an app that reads aloud the Bible as you read along is helpful (thanks, Ang!). It would be spiritually beneficial if you practiced pausing with each section break I provide and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Use your margins to jot down some notes, or write down a few thoughts in your journal. Here's a picture of how I prep for writing these studies. As I mentioned in the last post, this is my style, but it doesn't have to be yours. You do you. Discover your style.
At the end of each section, I've added a Time and Reflection section to encourage you to not just merely read the Word but also do what it says (James 1:22-25). As we talked about last week, Satan will do his best to distract you, discourage you, and disarm you. When you neglect personally studying God's Word consistently, it makes that sanctification process longer because God's Word transforms us each time we engage. Reflection time allows God's truth to seethe into the cracks of your heart and to renew you.
I mentioned in the intro and the YouTube video about Solomon's posture in writing this book: it was from a broken and carnal state. We must remember this as we study Ecclesiastes. It has a disappointing perspective because this was toward the end of Solomon's life when he was living contrary to God's Word (1 Kings 11 further documents this). For example, 1 Kings 4:26 tells us Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses and twelve thousand horses. Yet, Deuteronomy 17:16 says, "The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself..." Why was this command given? Because when our worldly possessions become an idol, we become self-confident and self-reliant.
This is why God wants His children to be givers. Tithing and giving is not God's way of raising money, it's God's way of raising children who are not tied down with the temporal things of this world.
As we read the words of Ecclesiastes (in ESV), remember how Solomon is documenting his journey to carnality and everything "under the sun" (i.e., in man's fallen state) is disappointing to Him.
All Is Vanity
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
"See, this is new"?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.
Unlike many of the other books of the Bible we've studied, you'll find that I grab more sections of verses at a time (in this case, verses 1-11). The reason for this, unlike other studies, is because Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature and is classified as both prose and poetry. It is technically one of the five poetical books of the Bible (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon). The poetical books deal with the spiritual life of the Israelites, and since we were grafted into God's people group through Jesus' redemptive payment, this Word applies to us as Gentile believers.
Song of Solomon is about a young man's love; Proverbs was a middle-aged man's wisdom; and, Ecclesiastes is an old man's sorrow.
Verse 2 contains the critical theme of Ecclesiastes: vanity. This word frequently occurs in this book and in the Hebrew translation, it is hebel. Hebel means emptiness, vanity, or something unsatisfactory. Solomon is writing about his perspective of how everything he sees is without importance, and he repeats a question in verse 3 that underscores his frustration with work.
The phrase under the sun is about the world and to mankind in their current, fallen state. This is a broken world, friends. And Solomon has forgotten that we work to make it whole.
Verses 4-11 speak specifically to the endless repetition of life. I was thinking about this the other day as I was vacuuming the boys' bedrooms. I don't know how many times I've cleaned that carpet. How many loads of dishes I've done, piles of laundry I've folded, and toys I've picked up. I have a wonderful husband who is in this with me, and I know he feels it. I can relate to Solomon's words here at times. "Why do I even care about picking up when it'll look chaotic again after naps?" As it says in verse 9, "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done..." To me, it means the organizing I just did will be un-organized. I'm not sure where Marie Kondo's book is on that one, but folding techniques won't solve it.
Now that we've soaked in the vain mist that Solomon is spraying on our souls let's not be left in hopelessness. As the middle-aged Solomon told us in Proverbs 10:28, "The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish."
Hope is the joyful expectation of coming good and must be the anchor for our soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19).
Turn over in your Bibles with me to 2 Corinthians 5:1. This is a great verse to underline, highlight, and (((circle))). Do that before you read it here.
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Friends, this world is not my home. And, it's not yours either. When I see imperfections—a dirty bathroom, a scraped wall that was just freshly painted, a typo in an email I sent to the entire company—I must remember that we will never experience perfection in this life. When I see blemishes—and I don't mean just in my real home, but when I see shortcomings in others—I must recognize that I see them because I am familiar with them.
There is brokenness all around us because we live in a fallen world. We live among sin, and we are sinful beings. That is why God sent His Son to do a redemptive work. My work. Your work. The "standard of grace" kind of work. And, that is how we must think of our own work here on this earth. It is harmful to compare our circumstances to another. God has assigned a calling to each of us, and you don't need to read a book on purpose or start studying out your calling to discover who you are. You simply need to accept today as your calling. Paul has told us in Philippians 4:11, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Your purpose and your calling are to be an example of Christ Jesus in every aspect of your life. As you scrub toilets, as you wash dishes, as you teach children, as you love. Period. The Message summarizes (commentates) on Romans 12:1-2 in a way that spurs me on:
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Time and Reflection
In what ways did you relate to Solomon's perspective of this world?
What steps can you take, through the strength of Christ, to view your everyday, ordinary life in a more content and joyful way?
The Vanity of Wisdom
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said in my heart, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Solomon continues to explore the wickedness of this world in these last verses. As you read the text, you can almost feel how he wrestles to reconcile what his carnal eyes see with God's goodness. And, to no avail (yet). He sees a purposeless march of the generations and a striving that does not yield fruit.
I thought verse 18 was timely: "For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow." In other words: ignorance is bliss. The oddity is, the more you know and understand, the more complicated life gets. It becomes less pure and more complex.
Time and Reflection
In verse 15, Solomon says, "What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted." Look up Luke 13:10-17 and read the story about the woman who was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. How does this miracle contrast with Solomon's view?
Name two areas (sinful) in your life that need to be "straightened" by God in your life. Remember, we must name our sins so God can do His hope-filled redemptive work.