Day 245

Ecclesiastes 1:1–3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15

YESTERDAY WE CONCLUDED the book of Job, and today we began Ecclesiastes. Both of these books (as well as Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and some of Psalms) are a part of a grouping of books known as Wisdom Literature.

Authorship of Ecclesiastes has traditionally been ascribed to Solomon. Scholars have debated this for various reasons. But the book likely originated with Solomon and was translated and updated, just as translations are modernized today.

Solomon was known as the wisest man in the world. He was the most powerful and wealthy man of his time and was able to pursue whatever his heart desired. No matter what he dreamed up, nothing was off limits to him. As King David’s successor, Solomon had enormous resources at his disposal, a thousand of the most beautiful women in the world as wives and concubines, royalty, power, and the wisdom of God.

For the words of a man who had it all, Ecclesiastes can seem out of character. We might expect a memoir of greatness from a man like Solomon. Ecclesiastes, on the other hand, can read like nothing more than a depressing and hopeless rant. If we’ll look below the surface, though, this book is actually a stark and deeply penetrating look into the human heart.

We all pursue dreams and goals in our lives. But very few of us ever get to do whatever we want, whenever we want. We’re always able to say, “If I only had that, life would be better. If I could only do this, life would be better.” There always seems to be something new to chase. But what if we did get it all? Ecclesiastes exposes the reality of those notions.

Solomon had pursued and achieved everything he ever set his hand to do. But later in his life, his harem of beautiful women seduced him into idolatry. Ecclesiastes contains the musings of an older man looking back over his endeavors and finding them meaningless without God —a perfect next step following all that Job gave us to consider.

Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to each of us what we’ve pursued in exchange for the promise of life, expecting in return what only God can give. Like Solomon, we may find that there is a time for every purpose under heaven, and that perhaps we’ve been chasing the wind. The book of Ecclesiastes will show us that we can gain everything and still be empty, and that a life full of achievements cannot replace a relationship with God —the true source of life.

MEDITATION:

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.