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Ecclesiastes 1:12 – I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

 

Thought:  Solomon makes mention of two positions that he held.  One wonders which position he held in higher esteem.  No doubt, both positions were of grave importance.  But, did one position prevail over the other in the mind of Solomon?  It is said that President Garfield was an elder of the Lord’s church before becoming President.  When he assumed the office, he said:  “I now step down from being an elder to assume the position of President.”  We know which position he held in higher esteem.

 

Romans 10:15

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This is the second time the writer refers to himself as “the Preacher” and as “king.”

 

B.      This statement introduces the next section of the book of Ecclesiastes.

 

C.     Solomon reminds his readers that he has a message to proclaim to the assembly. 

 

D.     He also reminds us that as king, he had ample time and resources to conduct the things that he is about to carry out in the remainder of chapter one and into chapter two.

 

E.      LESSON:  We should be grateful that people have the time and resources and desire to do things so we can learn and benefit from them.  The things that are positive, we can do.  The things that are negative, from them we refrain.  The efforts of others can truly bring blessings to our lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 1:13 – And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

 

Thought:  Solomon opened this book with some general observations about the world.  His conclusion was that “all is vanity.”  Instead of accepting its appearance, he set out to investigate the situation for himself.  He gave his heart to seek and search out by wisdom all things that are done under heaven.  It would a long, tedious, and time-consuming experiment.  Solomon had the needed resources to do this.  Fortunately, he reveals to us what he found in this wonderful book of Wisdom.

 

Proverbs 25:2

 

Commentary:

 

A.     If there is anything that man prides himself upon, it is his human wisdom.

1.       Men spend hours reading to gain wisdom.

2.       Men spend a lifetime researching to gain wisdom.

3.       Men will endlessly engage in trial and error to gain wisdom.

 

B.      Once man acquires some wisdom, he gloats in his wisdom. 

 

C.     Sadly, this pursuit of wisdom often casts God and spiritual things to the side (Rom. 1:21-22).

 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to the wise, they became fools.

 

D.     When Solomon began his search for meaning in the world, he began with wisdom.

1.       This is not surprising when we know that God granted him great wisdom in answer to his prayer.

a.       1 Kings 3:12

 

Behold, I have done according to thy words:  lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

 

b.      1 Kings 4:29-33

 

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore…and he speak three thousand proverbs; and his songs were  a thousand and five.  And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall:  he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

 

2.       Aspects of this pursuit of wisdom.

a.       Solomon’s pursuit was not half-hearted.  He said:  “I gave my heart to seek out and to search by wisdom…”

b.      Solomon’s search was not limited in nature.  “…search out by wisdom all things that are done under heaven…”

c.       Solomon’s search involved great effort:  “…this sore travail…”

1)      Definition:

a)      Sore

-          Strong (7451):  bad           :- adversity, distress, sore, misery, trouble, vex, wretchedness

-          BDB:  bad, disagreeable, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery), distress, adversity

b)      Travail

-          Strong (6045):  ado, employment, an affair

-          BDB:  occupation, task, job

2)      “…in order to investigate the operations of nature, the most laborious discussions and perplexing experiments must be instituted, and conducted to their proper results” (Clarke, e-sword).

d.      Solomon’s search was God-given:  “…hath God given to the sons of man..”

1)      Genesis 1:28

 

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it…

 

a)      Subdue:

-          Strong (3533):  to conquer, subjugate

-          BDB:  to subdue, bring into bondage, make subservient

b)      It was part of God’s design for man to search, investigate, and bring the earth into his subjection. 

2)      NOTE:  Man may do a little harm here and there to the earth, but he will never destroy the earth.  Earth is for man.  Man is not for the earth.

e.       Solomon’s search did have purpose:  “…to be exercised therewith.”

1)      God did not put man on the earth with absolutely nothing to do.

2)      God wanted man to use his knowledge, wisdom, skills, and abilities to search out the earth and all of its treasures and mysteries. 

3)      God wanted man to be “exercised” therewith.

a.       Strong (6031):

1)      It comes from a root meaning, the eye, to look, to pay attention to

2)      It involves looking down, browbeating.

3)      To give stern attention to

b.      BDB:  to occupied, to be busy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 1:14 – I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

 

Thought:  The phrase, “vanity and vexation of spirit,” occurs seven times in the book.  All of Solomon’s time, effort, and money continue to point him in one direction.  All the things that seem important to man are vanity and vexation of spirit.  Man’s investments of time, talents, and treasures are vanity and vexation of spirit.  If Solomon stopped here, we would appear to be a people without a purpose.  Our situation would appear bleak and hopeless.  Fortunately, this is only the beginning, not the end.

 

Psalm 39:5-6

 

Commentary:

 

A.     In order to acquire wisdom, man has to work diligently. 

 

B.      Examples: 

1.       What effort is involved in learning about the sun, moon, and stars?

2.       How much effort does it take to learn about the oceans, its depths, and its inhabitants?

3.       How much labor is spent presently trying to learn about wind and solar energy?

4.       How much energy has been spent in the past learning to find, mine, and refine fossil fuels?

5.       How is a pencil made? (How is a Pencil Made & What's Inside? - Quality Logo Products).

a.       Sawmills pre-cut wood into squares that are uniform in size. These wood slats are then shipped to a pencil factory.

b.      Each wood square is treated with a wax and stain. Grooves are also cut along the edges, which will eventually hold the graphite in place.

c.       The grooves are filled with a strong glue.

d.      Graphite is mixed with clay, and the entire mixture is baked in an oven at 1500°F.

e.       The graphite is put inside the wood slat with the glue and another piece of wood is stacked on top, creating a graphite sandwich.

f.        The wood slats are squeezed together by a mechanized plunger.

g.      A mechanical table saw is used to cut individual pencils from the graphite sandwich.

h.      The pencils are sprayed with lacquer, giving them their sheen and color.

i.        The eraser is added to the top of each pencil.

j.         The pencil barrels are decorated with any necessary images or text.

k.      The pencils are packaged and ready for shipment.

 

C.     Solomon saw the labor that was put into the acquisition and proclaimed it to be “vanity and vexation of spirit.”