as i'm reading through the bible, i thought i'd share some of the scriptures in ecclesiastes that i read in my quiet time.
first off, i asked myself, why king solomon was so wise? see I kings 3:7-12.
second, what does king solomon discover when he takes a humanistic approach to finding satisfaction in life apart from god? he discovers everything is futile and vain after he delves into many areas of life while keeping a wise perspective on it all.
king solomon sums it all up in ecclesiastes 12, that true satisfaction and fulfillment comes by us revering god, worshipping him and knowing that he is, and second to keep his commandments, for this is the original purpose of mankind, this is our foundation of all happiness and our duty.
here is a small list of the vain things in solomon's book:
1:16-18- he worked hard to be wise instead of foolish, the more wisdom, the more grief
2:4-6- undertaking great projects, public works, gardens, establishing parks, irrigation systems
2:7-8- obtaining great wealth, establishing cultural arts, men's and women's choirs and orchestras
2:17-23- hard work
what else does solomon write about? god's sovereignty- 3:11,14. god plays a part in human- affairs 3:16-18. what solomon observed in the world- 4:1,4,7. the trap of wealth- 5:10. the futility of it all-chapters 5-8. the hope of hope- chapter 9. sound bites of wisdom- chapters 10-11, similar to the proverbs he wrote and chapter 12 after all this is said and done remember your creator while you are young.
the D.A.D.
I have always loved Ecc 11 and 12. Your reflections are a great reminder for us to think about Who made us and for what purpose we were made. And that since we know Him and have a personal relationship we have a luxury to serve Him in the beginning of our lives and throughout. Thanks so much for sharing Pops!
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