Ecclesiastes Chapter Two
Ecclesiastes 2:1 (NASB) I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility.
Solomon conducted his search for life's meaning as an experiment. He first tried pursuing pleasure. He undertook great projects, bought slaves and herds and flocks, amassed wealth, acquired singers, added many concubines to his harem, and became the greatest person in Jerusalem. But none of these gave him satisfaction: "But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere" (Ecc. 2:11). Some of the pleasures Solomon sought were wrong, and some were worthy; but even the worthy pursuits were futile when he pursued them as an end in themselves. We must look beyond our activities to the reasons we do them and the purpose they fulfill. Is your goal in life to search for meaning or to pursue God, who gives meaning?
Ecclesiastes 2:2 (NASB) I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
If the pursuit of life is just to be happy all the time - what good is it? We can laugh and we can find pleasure - but what does that accomplish in the end? Are people remembered because they seemed happy all the time?
Ecclesiastes 2:3 (NASB) I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.
Solomon decided to drink wine - not to the point of drunkenness - but to point of effecting his body but not his mind. Will there be fulfillment in this? No!
Ecclesiastes 2:4 (NASB) I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;
Maybe the work of my hands will bring fulfillment to life. He built houses - he planted vineyards - but all of this effort will not bring a satisfying life without God. The truth of the matter is that you can sit in a king's palace and still be miserable.
Ecclesiastes 2:5 (NASB) I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;
Solomon thought that if he surrounded himself with pleasant things his heart would be pleasant also - but this is not the case. A heart made right by God can experience joy even living in the slums.
Ecclesiastes 2:6 (NASB) I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.
I have found it pleasant sitting by pools of water or walking through the woods. In these things I can see God's hand. But if God is not acknowledged - is there any pleasure in these things?
Ecclesiastes 2:7 (NASB) I bought male and female slaves and I had home-born slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.
Here Solomon believes that possessions will satisfy his deepest longings. He increased the amount of slaves that he had - he increased the amount of herds and flocks that he had - but would he find fulfillment in them?
Ecclesiastes 2:8 (NASB) Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men--many concubines.
He also collected wealth and was provided with entertainment but would these fulfill his deepest longing.
Ecclesiastes 2:9 (NASB) Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.
He became great in material things – but what of the things of God? Trapp has said, “Outward things are dead things, and cannot touch the soul.”
Notice that he says, “My wisdom also stood by me.” He does not say, “God’s wisdom stood by me.” It is foolishness to trust in your own wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 2:10 (NASB) All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor.
He had every means of gratification; he could desire nothing that was not within his reach; and whatever he wished, he took care to possess. But would all of this bring him true satisfaction?
Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NASB) Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.
I made a serious review of my former works and labors, and considered whether I had obtained that satisfaction in them which I had expected to find — I found myself disappointed, and wholly dissatisfied in this course. The pleasure was past, and I was never the better for it, but as empty as before.
Ecclesiastes 2:12 (NASB) So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done?
Going to the end of a dead end road – he now turns to consider other ways – wisdom – madness and folly. He seems to say, “I turned – because I was frustrated of my hopes in pleasure. I then turned to a second consideration – to see whether there was not more satisfaction to be gotten from wisdom – or perhaps madness – or perhaps folly. Let me then try once more, whether any of these things can give me happiness.”
Ecclesiastes 2:13 (NASB) And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
It only takes a very small light to change things – in the darkness. One small light can give direction. It becomes a point of reference. It can be a point that draws others to it. The brighter the light – the more darkness is excelled. Start with what light you have and work from there.
Ecclesiastes 2:14 (NASB) The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.
How foolish it is to try to navigate with your eyes closed. Yet many people try to journey through this world like that – with their eyes closed. Open your eyes and look. Perhaps by looking you will “see”.
It is so true that one fate will befall a person of wisdom and a fool. All will die. But would you not rather seek God’s wisdom in this world than to walk through it as a fool? Open your eyes.
Ecclesiastes 2:15 (NASB) Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity."
Both the wise and fool will die – so is there no profit of being wise? Death shall knock on both person’s door. From a worldly standpoint it is vanity to be wise – if death is the end of all existence what difference does is make if one is wise or a fool. But we, as believers, know that there is more beyond the grave.
Ecclesiastes 2:16 (NASB) For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die!
Go to a large cemetery and walk among the headstones. Do you recognize the names? Do you know the people who were buried there? Do you know if they were wise or if they were fools? The memory of most people is soon past. They are forgotten. Both the wise and fool lie down together – and from the account on the headstones you cannot tell the difference.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 (NASB) So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.
If there is no hope – if there is no future – it there is no life beyond this life – if there is no vision – people perish. If we look at this world as if this is all that all that there is – all that matters – then we would cry out “everything is futility”. Paul said it this way:
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” 1Co 15:14 (NASB)
Ecclesiastes 2:18 (NASB) Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
What good is life if all that I am going to do is leave all my accomplishments for some stranger to enjoy them? Do I labor in vain? Does it really make any difference to work if it accomplishes nothing? For all my toil – I have nothing to take with me. How I hate this life…..
Ecclesiastes 2:19 (NASB) And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.
Will the person who comes after me be wise or a fool? Who knows? But one thing is for sure – they will have everything I worked for. Is this not stupid? Is this not useless?
Ecclesiastes 2:20 (NASB) Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.
Solomon continued to show that hard work bears no lasting fruit for those who work solely to earn money and gain possessions. Not only will everything be left behind at death, but it may be left to those who have done nothing to earn it. In addition, it may not be well cared for, and all that was gained may be lost. In fact, Solomon's son, who inherited his throne, immediately made a foolish decision which split the kingdom—(see 1 Kings 12). Hard work done with proper motives (caring for your family, serving God) is not wrong. We must work to survive, and, more important, we are responsible for the physical and spiritual well-being of those under our care. But the fruit of hard work done to glorify only ourselves will be passed on to those who may later lose or spoil it all. Such toil often leads to grief, while serving God leads to everlasting joy. Do you know the real reason you are working so hard?
Ecclesiastes 2:21 (NASB) When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.
Some will not appreciate the efforts of those who have laid the foundation before them. They will consider the labor as nothing. They will make no effort to understand it. Is this too not senseless? All that labor is lost on a fool.
Ecclesiastes 2:22 (NASB) For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?
What comfort or benefit remains to any man after this short and frail life is once ended?
Ecclesiastes 2:23 (NASB) Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.
The labor of his days – have given him no rest at night. The task has been hard and painful – yet even on his bed he does not rest.
Ecclesiastes 2:24 (NASB) There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.
Is Solomon recommending we make life a big, irresponsible party? No, he is encouraging us to take pleasure in what we're doing now and to enjoy life because it comes from God's hand. True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God's guidelines for living. Without him, satisfaction is a lost search. Those who really know how to enjoy life are the ones who take life each day as a gift from God, thanking him for it and serving him in it. Those without God will have no relief from toil and no direction to guide them through life's complications.
Ecclesiastes 2:25 (NASB) For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?
The “Him” in this verse is referring to God. Here is a great truth – without God whatever we do is vanity. Even the simplest things such as eating have no pleasure if God is not acknowledged. Is that not a good reason to pray before we eat.
The Bible in Basic English says it this way: “Who may take food or have pleasure without him?”
Ecclesiastes 2:26 (NASB) For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
Clarke has said: “No one can have a true relish of the comforts of life without the Divine blessing – for who can eat, and who can relish without Him? For God giveth to man that is good. It is through his liberality that we have any thing to eat or drink; and it is only through his blessing that we can derive good from the use of what we possess.”
Giveth - wisdom, and knowledge, and joy -
1. God gives wisdom - the knowledge of himself, light to direct in the way of salvation.
2. Knowledge - understanding to discern the operation of his hand; experimental acquaintance with himself, in the dispensing of his grace and the gifts of his Spirit.
3. Joy; a hundred days of ease for one day of pain; one thousand enjoyments for one privation; and to them that believe, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
But to the sinner he giveth travail - He has a life of labor, disappointment, and distress; for because he is an enemy to God, he travails in pain all his days; and, as the wise man says elsewhere, the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just. So he loseth earthly good, because he would not take a heavenly portion with it.”
