2023_08_11 Insight Post- Brandon Bennick
This week’s reading- Psalm 22, Proverbs 8, Psalm 51, Ecclesiastes 1
Ecclesiastes 1 left me scratching my head at first. We read in verse 2, “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” The author makes this declaration, followed by examples of rivers flowing, the wind blowing, and the sun hurrying. I stopped to ask myself, ‘Do I actually believe that everything is meaningless?’ I don’t think so at all. I believe God has intention in everything He does. Therefore, some things must have meaning. So what is the author getting at here? I cracked open The Wiersbe Bible Commentary to get some needed context. It helped me understand the author is never named, but the descriptions indicate the identity of King Solomon, which is relevant because he was known for having great wisdom and wealth (Wiersbe, 2007). Throughout this chapter, we see the themes of work and wisdom being carried out “under the sun.” As far as I’m concerned, it’s wise not to work under the sun for too long because I’ll get sunburnt, but that’s not what King Solomon is getting at. “Under the sun” refers to things under heaven (Wiersbe, 2007). In other words, Solomon is writing from a worldly perspective about work and wisdom. He’s regarded as one of the wisest men in history and he shares with us that everything he has tasted in this earthly realm is meaningless. No amount of status, wealth, or wisdom ever leads to his satisfaction. In verse 13, he writes, “I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.” If that does not wake you up, it may make you want to get back in bed. It’s almost like Solomon had this spiritual alarm clock go off when he realized the way he’s been living isn’t working for him. At that moment, we can turn toward God or continue down the same path.
I’ve experienced this in my life. I have tried to find satisfaction in things the world has to offer. No amount of approval has made me feel significant enough. No amount of feeding my appetite has ever left me full. No amount of ambition has left me feeling successful. What’s the point? Solomon pleads that nothing will satisfy our longing apart from a relationship with Jesus so we should stop trying to fulfill ourselves in early ways. This seems so elementary in principle, but I need this daily reminder. We may share these thoughts with our unbelieving friends thinking they need to hear it, but this book comes from a man who walked closely with the Lord early in life and has now strayed away. Solomon knew the goodness of God and yet still chose to chase after everything under the sun. My takeaway is asking God, in what ways have I been chasing the wind?
Brandon Bennick
Director of Young Adults & Digital Ministry
Wiersbe, W. W. (2007). The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: Old Testament. David C Cook.