I Can't Get No...satisfaction Series

Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

I Can’t Get No…Satisfaction!

There are four questions we ask about life: Who am I? Where did I come from?

Why am I here? Where am I going? These questions are asked by everyone at some point in their life. We all want to know what our purpose for existence is.

Introduction

The Theme Song of Solomon- “Satisfaction” “I can't get no satisfaction 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try…”

SATISFACTION (I CAN'T GET NO)

(M. Jagger/K. Richards)

I can't get no satisfaction

I can't get no satisfaction

'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try

I can't get no, I can't get no

When I'm drivin' in my car

And a man comes on the radio

He's telling me more and more

About some useless information

Supposed to fire my imagination

I can't get no, oh no no no

Hey hey hey, that's what I say

I can't get no satisfaction

I can't get no satisfaction

'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try

I can't get no, I can't get no

When I'm watchin' my TV

And a man comes on to tell me

How white my shirts can be

But he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke

The same cigarrettes as me

I can't get no, oh no no no

Hey hey hey, that's what I say

I can't get no satisfaction

I can't get no girlie action

'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try

I can't get no, I can't get no

When I'm ridin' round the world

And I'm doin' this and I'm signing that

And I'm tryin' to make some girl

Who tells me baby better come back later next week

'Cause you see I'm on losing streak

I can't get no, a no no no

Hey hey hey, that's what I say

I can't get no, I can't get no

I can't get no satisfaction

No satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction

(Personal note: I was selective in what I quoted from the song!)

It seems that America lives and loves the song Satisfaction! Solomon would fit in well here! He personified this spirit in chapter two.

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” 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. 1-3

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. 4-6

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.

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. 7-8

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. 9-11

"Under the sun," used 29 times in Ecclesiastes and nowhere else in the Old Testament, simply means "on the earth," that is, in terms of human existence.

The Preacher and his Fame 2:1-11

As you read these verses, you get the idea that Solomon was out to satisfy Solomon. It appears that God did not have a part of the scene until we get to chapter twelve. Solomon loved all that he had but he was a miserable man. Surprisingly, fame, fortune and folly does not make one enjoy life more!

His Wit 1-2

Here we find Solomon living for Laughter, Fun and Perversity! He found the meaning of a-muse-ment! It was NOT to think or muse! He laughed his life away!

His Wine 3

Lubricants and Satisfaction…Solomon enjoyed the pleasures of wine! But even then, it was short lived! You must start over again the next day…drats!