The Ultimate Search for the Meaning of Life
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?
One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose.
The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.
All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again.
All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.
That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.
There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.
I. Who is “The Preacher”?
I. Who is “The Preacher”?
“Preacher” is a rather odd name. The Hebrew Word occurs only in this book. We associate the term with someone who delivers a sermon in a church, however, this person is a King of Israel. God had not yet even revealed that there would be such a thing as the church, so whoever this is isn’t thinking about any type of church function.
The word is related to a Hebrew word that means “assembly”, that is, one who leads an assembly. The Assembly often meant Israel gathering at the Tabernacle or Temple to worship God.1 Kings 8:22.
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;
But we might think that the leader of a solemn temple function might deliver a Psalm, but that’s not what this book is. Rather, this is a meditation on the meaning of life. That makes it a work of Philosophy, which is why it is located in the Old Testament Wisdom books. The name indicates that the writer of this book is investigating something that everyone is concerned with, rich or poor, powerful or weak, famous and unknown. He aims to deliver this discussion when Israel assembles together, probably at one of the Temple feasts.
So what is an “Ecclesiast”, anyway? The odd title is a transliteration of the Septuagint title for the book, which means Leader of the Assembly.
But you probably know that Solomon wrote this book. But how do we know that? He never reveals his name. Well
He is a King of Israel in Jerusalem, after David
He was wiser than anyone previous to him Eccl 1:16.
I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.”
He built great projects and was enormously wealthy Eccl 2:4-8.
I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.
I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.
I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.
He was greater than any who had come before him Eccl 2:9.
So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
There’s only one person who fits that description: Solomon.
Only Solomon was King of Israel in Jerusalem after David; immediately after Solomon’s death, the kingdom split in two into the Northern Kingdom of Israel, whose Kings reigned in Samaria, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, whose kings reigned in Jerusalem. So any king after Solomon would have called himself “King of Judah in Jerusalem.”
Solomon was promised incomparable wisdom from God, and received it.
Solomon’s wealth is legendary, and well deserved.
So if it was so obvious to everyone that Solomon wrote it, why didn’t he use his name? Why use a made up title like “preacher?”
I think it is to avoid people taking his words as the force of law. He doesn’t want to compell people here, but teach them. He wants to convince them, not make them do something because he is the King. King Solomon here speaks to us, not as the King to enforce the law, but as an incomparably wise old man, someone who has seen it all, done it all, made some pretty big mistakes, and wants to share that wisdom with you.
II. What is the Point?
II. What is the Point?
Three repeated phrases show us the point of the book. “Vanity” is the translation of הְַבֵל, a word that we could also translate “meaningless”, that is, it has no enduring value or significance. Everything is meaningless. The word occurs 38x in Ecclesiastes, so it’s a theme.
It’s meaningless because it fades away
It’s meaningless because it accomplishes nothing
Labor, or Toil, or Work is another term, found 22x in the book.
It’s the labor, anxiety, and exhaustion from working hard, Eccl 2:24
Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
It’s the anxiety and trouble from suffering tragedy. So Solomon is looking for the point of working and suffering. Gen 41:51
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”
“under the sun” is yet another repeated phrase in the book, it occurs no less than 29x. That is, it is about life in the present. It does not consider eternity, but purely life in the present world.
A fourth phrase is “Striving/toiling after wind” 9x Eccl 1:14, 17
The search for wisdom and folly is striving for the wind Eccl 1:14, 17
Solomon’s many building projects are striving for the wind Eccl 2:11
The fact that both the wise and the foolish die and are forgotten is striving for the wind Eccl 2:16-17
The Sinner toils to give it to the one who pleases God Eccl 2:26
Work done because of envy Eccl 4:4
Being forgotten after having ruled successfully Eccl 4:16
Work to satisfy appetite Eccl 6:9
This may sound remarkably Nihilistic, but don’t misunderstand him. This is his beginning, not his conclusion. Some have taken this phrase and considered Ecclesiastes to be a very gloomy book.
This is not so, for others have reached the exact opposite conclusion, because Solomon also tells us to enjoy the good of our labor Eccl 2:24; 3:13; 5:18. Some have taken these verses and thought that Solomon was a bit hedonistic. Now you can’t have it both ways. Solomon cannot both be a nihilistic sourpuss who doesn’t enjoy anything, and also a wild hedonist who enjoys everything too much. Rather, both the gloomy and joyful statements are in the book, because Solomon is searching for the meaning of labor
In fact, the book delays giving the answer to the meaning of life until the very end. Solomon builds his case gradually, then gives the conclusion right at the end, like a punchline to a joke. Eccl 12:13-14
III. "Under the Sun”
III. "Under the Sun”
Solomon was the perfect person to write a book on the meaning of life, because of his wisdom, his position, and his ignorance.
Because of his superlative wisdom, Solomon’s advice ought to carry a great deal of weight. He was given unusual wisdom from God, and spent his life expanding it, searching for the meaning of life.
Because of his vast wealth and immense power, he could try literally everything possible. If it could be done, he could try it.
But also because of his ignorance of the rest of the Bible. Remember that Solomon lived a long time before many of the things we rightly consider give us meaning in this world even existed.
Jesus gave the church the Great Commission, to deliver the message of eternal life to the whole world. But Solomon lived a thousand years before the church’s worldwide mission was a thing.
Solomon’s knowledge of heaven and hell was effectively non-existent. This wasn’t clear at all until after the exile, and Jesus himself revealed much about heaven and hell.
Solomon does know that death is not the end, but at this stage in history God has said almost nothing about what comes after death. See Eccl 12:14; Samuel’s resurrection; The translation of Enoch;
Therefore, we can find meaning because we know we have eternal life, and therefore our eternal hope give us courage. Solomon, however, cannot do this as we get this hope from information Solomon did not have access to. This makes Solomon the perfect person to investigate the meaning of the present life; not the meaning of our present life for eternity, but the meaning of our present life as the present. Rather a tall order, don’t you think?
IV. What is the benefit of labor?
IV. What is the benefit of labor?
The opening question isn’t rhetorical, it’s the primary question of the book. What is the point of all the work done under the sun. He cannot ask about the point of the Great Commission, so he has no conception of evangelism; he cannot ask about value of life for eternity. So he can only investigate the meaning of our labor and toil purely as its own thing. So what realities show the apparent pointlessness of labor and suffering?
1. The passing generations merely replace each other.
1. The passing generations merely replace each other.
When Adam fell, God subjected the human race to death. Prior to this, the successive generations would get us somewhere, as each new life would add to the human race, enabling the growing population to each build on the existing society. However, now that death is a reality, each generation must spend most of their energy simply replacing the holes left by the previous one. When the previous generation dies, we must work to fill the position they vacated, thus what ought to have been a “gain” or profit for each generation has been turned into a cycle of replacement with most efforts going to simply maintaining society in somewhat of the form it was already.
2. The Cycles of Nature go nowhere
2. The Cycles of Nature go nowhere
Again, this turn of events isn’t as God created our world. While God intended cycles to exist, they now are examples of a lot of activity without any progress for man’s “gain.” I don’t think Solomon would deny that nature is supposed to declare God’s glory Ps 19:1-3. God controls the thunder and lightening. Ps 29:3. He sets the bounds of the sea Jer 5:22. He calls the stars by name Psalm 147:4.
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters.
Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.
He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.
Remember that he isn’t asking what nature says about God; he’s asking where is the gain, or profit, for mankind. He also isn’t denying that nature demonstrates God’s care by providing for us what we need to live; indeed God’s bountiful care for the animals is on display too Acts 14:17; Ps 145:16.
Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
But while nature does provide for us, the cycles of nature never result in a gain of function for us, they just maintain what is already there. There are three examples of this: the sun appears to rise and fall - this is the language of appearances. Solomon doesn’t care how it works, just that we see the sun move in the sky. Second, the wind blows round and round, yet it never actually goes anywhere. third, the rivers flow into the sea, yet never fill the see due to the hydrologic cycle. While God’s glory is amply on display even here, yet still, none of this busy activity gets mankind anything better; it’s just maintaining the created order. Solomon wants to know what gain we can find for mankind.
This state of affairs generally is a result of the fall. Presumably before the fall the sun shone, the rivers flowed continually, and the wind blew. But before the fall, everything was full of hope, the untapped potential that Adam and Eve in their unfallen state were ready to unlock. Rom 8:19-21
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
3. Experiences accomplish weariness
3. Experiences accomplish weariness
Solomon notes that no matter how many things you experience (“see”, “hear”, meaning you go somewhere or do something so you can say, “been there, done that.”), you never get to the point where there’s nothing more to see or do. Remember that Solomon is looking for a task that “gets us somewhere” that leaves us farther than we were before. Travel and interesting experiences may be fun, but at the end of the day, you’re still the same person, and now that you’re back from vacation, you need a vacation from your vacation!
4. Progress is an illusion
4. Progress is an illusion
Now we today might think of technology, innovation. Surely here we have incontroverible evidence of a “gain” for mankind. Two hundred years ago, the fastest you could go was to ride a horse; today, we get on planes that travel at hundreds of miles an hour. Centuries ago, medical science was unable to deal with relatively simply medical problems, like a toothache. Today, we can cure diseases that used to be a death sentence; we can improve the lives of many people with those afflictions we cannot cure. In ancient times, if you wanted to communicate over distance, you had to have someone physically send a letter; today we can communicate digitally to anywhere on earth. Books used to be extremely expensive, today thousands of books are available via the internet at a moments notice for comparatively little. We have developed factories that churn out a vast array of products, making the current age the wealthiest generation ever to live.
However, in all this achievement, we forget that the most fundamental realities do not change. Human nature doesn’t change. We may have more books than previous generations, but that doesn’t make us smarter. We can travel faster than before, but we end up doing the same things once we get there. The sun still rises and sets; people still strive for fame, power, happiness, pleasure. We have healed many sick, but we all still die. It’s true that we each enjoy many things that used to be only available to kings and princes, if at all. However, with all our goods, we still suffer the same basic problems, and yearn for the same essential goals.
Let us remember, however, that history is ultimately not cyclical. Our hope in Christ is that Jesus will indeed bring real progress, and will bring history to a glorious close Rev 21:5-7. We wait the blessed hope of the coming of Christ Tit 2:13; who will change the fundamental realities and restore creation to its former glory. We can be thankful for the innovations that make our lives better today, but let’s never forget that this technology doesn’t make us better; instead, we wait for the return of Christ who really will make us better.
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Conclusion
The primary question - what is the meaning of labor and suffering? What enduring value comes from all our toil? We know that God made this world, and his glory is on display for all to see. God gives many joys as we travel this world, but what endures? What is left when all is said and done?
We know that in Christ we wait for a better world, where there truly is enduring value, for it will endure forever, and we will live forever in it. In the meantime,
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Therefore what we do that impacts eternal souls does last forever; By doing the will of God, pleasing him, we gain rewards for that world. Only by this means can we have something that has enduring value, otherwise, everything you see, your job, even your family and friends, will all one day fade away. Everything is forgotten eventually; all deeds fade into history. Furthermore, in this life there are injustices and inequities. Our good deeds don’t always get the credit they deserve; our bad deeds don’t always get punished as they should be; we sometimes suffer the wrong of others, or from the reality of living in this broken world, and in this lifetime don’t receive compensation for greater trouble than others.