Ecc. 1:12-18 - The Failure of Human Philosophy -

Intro:

Last time, we looked at the Failure of Science to Bring True Happiness.

Now, let’s look at the Failure of Human Philosophy to do the same.

(Begin by reading Ecc. 1:12-18 in its entirety).

Before we get into this text, I want to ask you some questions:

(These are prompted by my study of Thomas B. Warren’s lecture in the 1994 MSOP Lectureship book, which is an excellent sermon, and one I definitely recommend reading).

Are you a philosopher?

To answer that, I ask, have you ever reasoned before? Ever used logic? Ever thought about truth versus error, right versus wrong?

If you answered “yes” to any of those, then yes, you ARE a philosopher to some extent because philosophy simply means “lover of wisdom.”

Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge to determine the right course of action.

Prudence is having not only wisdom, but the discretion to go ahead and USE that wisdom and do the right thing!

And philosophy is the study of that process! (more or less)

1 Thes. 5:21 says - “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

That’s practicing discernment through what you have learned from God’s Word.

That’s using proper REASONING through the Scriptures — Isa. 1:18 - “Come, let us REASON together.”

The study of wisdom literature in the Bible (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) is the “philosophy section” in the Bible’s library, so to speak!

Loving the gaining of wisdom through reading God’s Word.

That’s a BIBLICAL philosophy — worldview.

The problem comes when people begin to FORSAKE a BIBLICAL worldview and begin to interpret the Bible in light of WORLDLY philosophies!

Thomas B. Warren said in his lecture that “in a very real sense philosophy ‘leads theology around by the nose.’ This is the case because theologians are not often willing to go against the philosophies prevailing at any given time (cf. ‘unity in diversity’ as taught by many today). There can be little doubt that various philosophies are presently tremendously influential not only in the world but also in the Lord’s church. Christians ought to be concerned deeply about this because much of the loss of faith which we see all about us is traceable to this fact. We are living during a time of great skepticism.”

Warren goes on in his lecture, toward the end, to say: “What conflicts with Christianity is not philosophy per se, but bad (false) philosophy. Much the same point might be made in regard to science and religion. While there are within science propositions which conflict with Christianity, it is not science per se which conflicts with Christianity; it is bad (pseudo) science which so conflicts. There is much even in religion which conflicts with Christianity, but it is not religion per se which so conflicts … It is bad (false) religion which conflicts with true Christianity.”

Text:

V. 12 - Just an acknowledgement of Solomon’s kingship, which God had granted him.

Also, remember in Ecclesiastes, the word “preacher” means “one who calls the assembly together.”

V. 13 - “Under heaven” - 3x in the book, and is synonymous with “under the sun.”

Solomon is saying that he embarked on a great quest to gain knowledge and wisdom about all of the inner workings of all things under heaven.

He wanted to know everything! He, essentially, made a god out of knowledge by seeking knowledge for its own sake.

(Remember, TRUE proper usage of philosophy (BIBLICAL philosophy/worldview is good and essential; but using knowledge for the purpose of puffing one’s own self up/pride is a bad thing).

“This burdensome task God has given to the sons of man ...”

In other words, if man thinks he can figure EVERYTHING out, he’s embarking on a FUTILE journey!

Deut. 29:29 is in there for a reason!

V. 14 - This is the same idea from 1:2 - vanity, emptiness, grasping for the wind (trying to catch the wind) — Again, futile!

Without a human being coming to the PROPER conclusion through his studies (found in Ecc. 12:13-14 which we must keep going back to), it’s all pointless!

And that is theme of this book!

V. 15 - The meaning here is that sometimes, try as one may, he just can’t fix certain things.

It’s futile to try!

He tries to straighten something back out that is crooked, and through his own human efforts, he just can’t do it!

He tries to count something that is impossible to count (number of the stars, or grains of sand, etc.).

We might similarly say trying to find a needle in a haystack — Good luck because it’s near impossible!

Solomon is making the point that in his search for meaning in trying to “know everything,” he realized that was impossible, so this is vanity of vanities!

V. 16 - Since he realized that he couldn’t know EVERYTHING, he tried to comfort himself by saying, “Well, at least I know more than everybody else!”

Do you see Solomon’s insecurity here.

** Fundamentally, we are ALL insecure without finding our purpose and our meaning in God!!! **

V. 17 - He SET HIS HEART on this pursuit, and all it ended up being was madness and folly!

Why?

Because his heart wasn’t set on God — the Creator!

V. 18 - Is Solomon repudiating the idea of knowledge and wisdom here?

Is he speaking out against the importance of wisdom when he says, “For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow?”

Well, when you study the rest of what Solomon says about wisdom in the Proverbs, you will quickly understand that can’t be what he means.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Prov. 1:7

“So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding.” Prov. 2:2

“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” Prov. 2:6-7.

“When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul.” Prov. 2:10

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” Prov. 3:13

A few other passages in the N.T.:

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Jam. 1:5

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” Jam. 3:13

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Jam. 3:17

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” 2 Pet. 1:3

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Pet. 3:18

Knowledge, wisdom, understanding — all extremely important!

So we know that Solomon is not repudiating the idea of knowledge and wisdom.

Rather, what he’s doing is he is pointing out that knowledge FOR ITS OWN SAKE is not going to lead to human happiness.

Wisdom FOR ITS OWN SAKE, the same!

We have to understand that there is “wisdom” (quote/unquote), and then there is WISDOM (true wisdom)!

And the Bible goes into great detail on this:

James 3:13-18

James 3:13–18 NKJV

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

There’s a reason that Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers! (people who go out of there way to accomplish TRUE peace — not false peace, by the way (“peace, peace, when there was no peace.”) (peacemakers, not compromisers on doctrine) (opinion, different story) (We’ve got to have discernment brethren, which comes from study!)

1 Cor. 1:18-31 (Turn and read it).

Also, there is a certain kind of knowledge that “puffs up,” (1 Cor. 8:1), “but love edifies.”

And what kind of “knowledge” would that be?

Selfish knowledge, self-SEEKING knowledge — PRIDE, basically!

So is Solomon repudiating knowledge/wisdom/understanding itself?

No!

He’s repudiating getting caught up in knowledge/wisdom/understanding for the wrong reasons!

That’s why if the ONLY time we ever study out Bibles is to try to prove other people wrong, and we never let the Bible prove US wrong/never let it teach us anything that we need to change/improve on, we are going to be in big trouble.

It’s really easy to read the Bible and say, “Oh yeah, that applies to them, and to them, and to him, and to him, and to her” …

But it’s a lot more difficult to read the Bible and realize humbly — “That applies to ME!”

Conclusion:

We’ve all heard and probably used the expression — “Ignorance is bliss.”

That phrase is usually taken way too far and used as an excuse not to learn what one needs to learn.

But occasionally, there are some things I don’t want to know!

Sometimes people take this approach when it comes to a health problem.

But anyways, Solomon is using some similar thought processes here, I think, when he says that “in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

Some of the evil’s that are commited in this life I wish I didn’t know about — but I do.

Anyways, Solomon is essentially saying that knowledge (for knowledge’s sake alone — just being a “brainiac” and knowing things”) isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

So there is folly in obsessing over human philosophy.