The Vanity of Wisdom

Ecclesiastes Study, 2024

Series Title: Ecclesiastes: The Pursuit of Purpose

Message #3

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.

ETS: The Preacher declared wisdom empty of providing any meaningful purpose in life.

ESS: Our purpose is not in the wisdom of man.

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to realize the vanity of human wisdom and trust in God for their purpose.}

PQ:

What helpful insights does Solomon provide readers regarding wisdom?

UW: Insights

Intro.:

TS: Let us examine the insights given by Solomon now:

Even with great wisdom, an investigation of earthly things proves miserable and void of providing a satisfactory purpose. [vv. 12-16]

This is a continuation of Ecc. 1:1 whereby the teacher picks up the thought of being both teacher and king in Jerusalem.

Notice: This section is driven by the qualifying feature of Solomon’s wisdom which enabled him to make such a judgment as he is making:

Wisdom is in the background of this passage rather strongly: vv. 13, 16 (x2), 17, and 18.

This wisdom is the feature of which Solomon thoroughly investigated all that is done under heaven.

This wisdom is the means by which Solomon made the judgment and conclusion that everything (is) futile, a pursuit of the wind.

This wisdom is what enabled Solomon to provide the Proverbial statement in verse 15, “What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.”

As mentioned in the introduction, Solomon is dealing with the devastating impacts and reality of the fall of man and rebellion in sin that leads to brokenness. One may ask— what exactly is the purpose of this section?

The wisdom Solomon had, through searching and experiencing the world from various perspectives, causes him to reflect back and realize the curse of God on the world as a result of the rebellion and fall of man— thus resulting in the following: “…everything is broken in our world and in our lives. We try to find ways out of the brokenness but only end up more broken and frustrated.” (Daniel Akin, Ecc. 1:12-18)

Solomon, through wisdom, concluded that the pursuit of purpose in this world was miserable and void of providing any satisfactory purpose. It actually leads to the opposite: frustration and brokenness. He discovered that the brokenness of the world could not be straightened by means of any human answer, even in all of his wisdom. (V. 15)

Thought for us: A pursuit of purpose in this life, even with all wisdom possible, will only lead to misery, emptiness, frustration, and brokenness. We must pursue purpose beyond what this life and world can offer us.

All the wisdom and ways of the world will not satisfy our longing for purpose. [vv. 16-18]

Solomon then turns to explain how he made such conclusive judgments as well as furthers the judgement:

I have obtained more wisdom than others [16]

I have tried both the right way (wisdom and knowledge) and the wordly way (madness and folly)

I learned this too is an empty pursuit leading to no purpose that satisfies my longing.

Solomon then concludes with this judgment:

The wisdom one has, the more sorrow one has; the more knowledge, the more grief.

This only strengthens what he had already concluded: a pursuit of purpose in the world, whether accompanied with wisdom of folly, leads to frustration, emptiness, and brokenness.

Thought for us: Whether with everything or nothing, a pursuit for purpose in this life through what the world offers will lead to more longing and emptiness.

Three Circles

Reflective Questions:

[1] Are you searching for purpose outside of God?

[2] Can you recall a time in your life when your pursuit for purpose was caught up in worldly things (or this life)?

[3] Have you experienced frustration and brokenness in your pursuit of purpose in worldly things? [Psalm 51:16-17]

[4] How can you begin pursuing purpose in God today?

[5] How can you help someone else begin pursuing purpose in God today?

Consulted Resources:

[1] Duane A. Garrett, “Ecclesiastes,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).

[2] Daniel L. Akin and Jonathan Akin, Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), Ec 1:3–11.

[3] A. R. Fausset, A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Job–Isaiah, vol. III (London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited, n.d.).

[4] James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998).

[5] Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000).

[6] Michael A. Eaton, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 18, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1983).

[7] James Parks, Wordplay in the Bible (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2021).