Ecclesiastes #4

Introduction:

Connection:

Hedonism, and the American Dream mark the fabric of reality in North America. We live for worldly pleasure—and we live for earthly kingdoms. We live to make us happy in stuff—and we live the best life now, always striving for bigger and better. We live to put away all sadness, anxiety, or worry—and we try to patch things up with a new toy or car or game or tv or sport. We live as if this life was all that there ever will be—and we live as if all that matters is building sand castles in this life of hebel.

Theme:

Pleasures, Desires, and Wisdom

Need:

The problem is not with pleasure, desire, or wisdom—the problem is with fleeting pleasures, improper desires, and the insufficiency of wisdom. We were born for pleasure, desire and wisdom—but when we turn them into gods, which prove to be vanity, and which end up as vapor, they leave us with no gain under the sun. We need Truer, Deeper, Better, Richer, and Fuller Pleasures and Joy—not lesser ones.

Purpose:

To convince and rebuke the people of God of the vanity and vapor of sinful and fleeting pleasures, to demonstrate that sin and the curse leads to hating life, and to exhort us to flee to Jesus Christ for salvation, true gain, and deep happiness.

Recap:

Last Lord’s Day we applied our hearts to unhappiness. We saw the seeking knowledge, seeing reality, and surpassing others leads to vexation, sorrow, vanity, vapor, and a striving after the wind. There is no lasting gain in human endeavors for knowledge and wisdom. They cannot satisfy—only Christ can. And from faith in Christ we begin to properly enjoy this fleeting life which is gift, not gain. Solomon is going to continue his autobiography this morning with the vanity/vapor of the next stop in his journey. Buckle in.

Read Text:

Eccl. 2:1-17 ESV

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) Fleeting Pleasures are Terrible gods - v. 1-8

Ecclesiastes 2:1–8 ESV

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

(1) Fleeting Pleasures are Terrible gods - v. 1-8

Solomon, continuing his autobiographical sketch of his backsliding, turning away from satisfaction in God, recognizing the vanity of the creature, and the vapor of life—now proves his point by showing that pleasure and great work cannot bring the gain that our hearts so earnestly desire.

He begins by telling us of his experiment, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself!” (v. 1).

Come over here, come taste my fruits, come over here, come have your fill, come over here, just indulge a little bit, come over here, you’re welcome at vanity fair, come over here, enjoy yourself for a while won’t you!

Head on down to Las Vegas, go to sin city, go see all there is to see! Go on a road trip, check off all the items on your bucket list. Try this drink, try that sight, try this adventure, try that pursuit. What makes you happy? That’s all that matters—right? Don’t hold back; what you do behind closed doors is no one’s business—right? Test yourself with pleasure; enjoy yourself—just be happy and joyful, in sinful and fleeting pleasures.

But what did Solomon realize? “Behold, this also was vanity/vapor. I said of laughter, ‘it is mad’, and of pleasure, ‘what use is it?’ (v. 1b-2).

After all the adrenaline shots of fleeting happiness, after all the sinful tastes of the world—he realized that this too is vanity, it cannot satisfy—that this too is vapor, it is passing away and cannot bring gain under the sun. I even considered laughter, mirth, and comedy. I tried to make myself smile at something funny. And I realized, laughter is mad. It is crazy. It is insane. it is a lunatic. It is stupid. Laughter gives the soul some comedic relief to distract us from facing our problems in life—laughter gives the heart a moment of vanity to divert us from staring death in the eyes. Comedy is not the answer. But neither is mere pleasure, sinful and fleeting though it may be—intoxicating and energizing though it may be. Solomon says: what use is it? What profit? What gain? What purpose? What help? Zero. The man of greatest worldly pleasure might have some fame and street cred, but he stores up wrath to come, and he hastens his day to the grave.

Romans 2:5 ESV

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

“Ian Provan recounts the tale from his university days of seeing an exceptional student, a philosophy major, sitting with a bottle of vodka in his hand rhythmically banging his head against a wall at a party. And the Preacher, after all his projects and possessions and pleasures have run their course, realizes he is left with only sand castles on the beach”

Solomon says: exactly. I tried every form of pleasure—sensual and purposeful. I tried wine and rich food. I tried to construct a glorious kingdom. I tried to furnish a shadow of Eden. I made houses, planted vineyards, made gardens and parks, planted beautiful fruit trees. I made pools. I had slaves and servants and workers. I had storehouses full of possessions. I had bank accounts full of silver and gold. I had music better than the greatest symphonies. I had women and sex at my disposal, a different girl every night. I had, he said: the delight of the sons of man (v. 8). Yet I was left banging my head against the wall. I was left hanging on the edge of the flames of God.

Whatever delights men, whether good pleasure, or sinful pleasure—what brings enjoyment to them—I had it. I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it. I’ve tried it. Pleasure, enjoyment, laughter, work, women, music, and a new garden of Eden—I made these things gods, but they let me down. They did not bring gain or satisfaction. It was a striving after wind.

Go for a walk in the country air, go to the beach, go smell the sweetest flowers, go for a bike ride, go for a paddle, go camping, go for a swim, go eat out at the fanciest restaurants, go to the best ice-cream shops, go watch the latest movies, go see the greatest shows, go hear the brilliant orchestra, go to the greatest malls and stores. And you will soon find out, says Solomon, that good pleasures make poor gods.

Go walk downtown Kingston to lust after immodest men and women, go to the strip clubs, go to the night clubs, go to the bars, go buy a sinful magazine, go watch pornography, go fill yourself with any and all sensual delight, with sexual pleasure, with wicked evil. And you will soon find out, says Solomon, that sinful pleasures make poor gods.

These false gods are so poor that, like Rachel of old, fleeing from Laban, these household gods are so small, so weak, so pitiful, so powerless—that you can sit on them and try and hide them from the watching world. Laban didn’t see the gods underneath her (Gen. 31:34). Because it was a false god, an idol. If your god is so small that you can sit on it and cover it from all watching eyes—it’s probably not worth trying to pray to and make your king. If your god is part of this creation, it’s not worth serving with joy and gladness. Yet we do this all the time with vain pleasures, pursuits, work, enjoyment, happiness, and just stuff.

Solomon had furnished the greatest kingdom on earth, the peek and apex of Israel, a new Son of God, a new Adam, a new Garden, a new Temple, a new King—but such things were hebel of hebels, vanity of vanities, vapor of vapors. Borgman says:

Qoheleth himself reconstructed his own private garden of Eden. He took the dominion mandate seriously and built houses, drew plans, acquired materials, planted vineyards, gardens, parks, fruit trees, and developed irrigation technology. He did it for himself, for the pure pleasure of accomplishing a project of beauty. [But it ended up being the Garden of hebel—not the Garden of Eden].

The pursuit of pleasure does not numb or remove the pain of hebel. In fact, it leaves us empty, frustrated, broken, guilty, ashamed, depressed, and under the wrath of God almighty—for turning his beautiful world into wicked idols and gods—for giving our hearts over to the creature over the Creator. Hear from the prophet:

Jeremiah 2:13–14 (ESV)

for my people have committed two evils:

they have forsaken me,

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed out cisterns for themselves,

broken cisterns that can hold no water.

These cisterns cannot hold the water—they cannot fill the soul—they cannot bring gain under the sun—they cannot please the God of heaven—they cannot redeem us from our sins—they cannot wipe away the power of hebel.

(1) Fleeting Pleasures are Terrible gods - v. 1-8

This brings us to our second point:

(2) Indulgent Desires can’t Satisfy Souls - v. 9-11

Ecclesiastes 2:9–11 ESV

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

(2) Indulgent Desires can’t Satisfy Souls - v. 9-11

Here we see a very similar point that Solomon is making, but he adds a layer to his pursuit of pleasure. He adds the intensity of unrestrained passion. Of unrestrained enjoyment. Of unrestrained gluttony. Of unrestrained happiness. Of unrestrained joy. He did not deny himself in any way. He never said no to pleasure. He always said, more, more, more. Just as he had surpassed all Jerusalem in wisdom and knowledge, so too had he surpassed all Jerusalem in pleasure and enjoyment. He says: whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil (v. 10).

Solomon didn’t just go to the best stores, he got the best things at the stores. Solomon didn’t just go to the best clubs, he got the best women at the clubs. Solomon didn’t just build gardens, he built the biggest and best gardens. Solomon didn’t just enjoy some low-levels of pleasure—but pleasure to the max, to the highest degree, to the greatest level.

Self-control turned into self-indulgence. Wisdom turned into folly. Godly recreation turned into sinful idolatry. Sin abounded, wickedness prevailed, iniquity soared high, and transgressions piled up. What was my reward in all my toil? In all my idolatry? It was the pleasure itself. It was the fleeting benefit of a little spike of endorphins. “Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward” (Matt. 6:5).

Luke 6:24–26 ESV

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

“Take up your cross daily and follow me”—well, that’s not super pleasurable in this life, says Solomon—let me first test out all that can be found—let me first see if I can find gain without self-denial? Without looking to the heavens. Without crushing my sin. Is there any reward for my toil that is enduring?

Maybe some of you are thinking this way. Let me try other things before I follow Jesus fully. Let me indulge myself in this world before I live for the next. Let me try the options before I live a holy life. Let me live a little, before I lay my life down for the Gospel.

Solomon, with a solemn face, with a repentant heart says: Don’t listen to those lies! Don’t follow your heart! Don’t test that way! That is the way to apostasy. That is the way to vanity! That is the way to vapor! That is the way to wrath. That is the way to hell!

Oh how true it is: “The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many” (Matt. 7:13).

Don’t make the world your idol, or you will prove that you are of the world—a child of the evil one—and bound for the judgement of God. Don’t test yourself with pleasure—I’ve already done it—take my word for it! Don’t learn this one by experience—learn it from my failures—there is no gain in pleasures! Flee from vanity fair, and enter by the narrow gate! (Matt. 6:13a). Solomon adds:

I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun (v. 11).

It won’t satisfy—it won’t save—it won’t sanctify—it is a striving after wind—it is a vain pursuit, it is a vapor and fleeting life. Indulging yourself will only dig your pit deeper, it will only store up more wrath to come, it will leave you without refuge on the day of the Lord. Self-indulgence—proves that you are dead while you are yet living. He who is self-indulgent, without repentance, shows that he is still a slave to sin, in bondage to corruption, a child of the devil, and in need of redemption.

Being a lover of self, rather than a lover of God—being an idolatrous man, rather than a worshipper of the Triune God—only leaves us with two options: (a) we are an unbeliever and need to be born again unto salvation, or (b) we are backsliding on the path to apostasy and need to be revived by the living God. Don’t remain where you are—repent, or we will all likewise perish. O’Donnel says;

What went wrong with the pleasure-and-possessions experiment, that he would pronounce it profitless? There are at least two explanations for the failure. Putting self first, ironically, fails to satisfy self and also, ironically, fails to give pleasure. The first failure deals with the sin of selfishness and the second with the sin of idolatry. The first failure breaks the second-greatest commandment (“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” Matt. 22:39), while the second failure breaks the greatest commandment (“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” v. 37).

Self-indulgence doesn’t free us from hebel—and it doesn’t cover up our enmity with the living God.

(2) Indulgent Desires can’t Satisfy Souls - v. 9-11

This brings us to our third point:

(3) Shining Wisdom doesn’t Conquer Death - v. 12-17

Ecclesiastes 2:12–17 ESV

So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

(3) Shining Wisdom doesn’t Conquer Death - v. 12-17

Solomon takes a turn here, he actually makes a positive statement about wisdom under the sun, it seems that ther is at least a little bit of gain—but then he immediately put’s this positive perspective under the umbrella of death and he recognizes that it leaves him exactly where he is—on his way to the grave.

Solomon says: I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. (v. 13).

Remember, the main point of Ecclesiastes is less about a lack of purpose, and more about a lack of permanence. And here Solomon is reminding us of the benefit of true wisdom, but also of its insufficiency. Nonetheless, he says: even though death is coming—in this life it is still better to be wise than foolish, it is better to walk in the light than in the darkness. It is better to walk with God than to walk in sin. It is better to walk in the Spirit than in the flesh. it is better to walk in love, than in hate. Very true. There is more temporal gain in wisdom than in folly—there is more peace in the shining sun than in the dark of the night. There is a gift of God in such things. Don’t let Ecclesiastes convince you that nothing matters—everything matters greatly, and we will get to that. But before we get there Solomon is unravelling these false assumptions. But here is his first hint at some positive direction. Be people of wisdom, and be people of light.

Solomon elsewhere writes this in Proverbs: Prov. 3:13-18

Proverbs 3:13–18 ESV

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Wisdom is good! Wisdom is blessed. Wisdom is precious. Wisdom is rich. Wisdom is pleasant. Wisdom is peaceful. Wisdom is valuable. Wisdom is treasure. We must lay hold of true wisdom—but we must pursue wisdom and understanding, light rather than darkness—but we must not do it in such a way as to make the pursuit of wisdom a god. Solomon says: don’t prove to be a fool, in the name of seeking wisdom. Don’t forget that even being wise in this life will leave you to perish. Your wisdom is not your anti-hebel-potion.

And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them (v. 14). Death comes upon the wise and the foolish, upon the smart and the dumb, upon the great and the small, upon the mighty and the weak, upon the scholar and the scoffer. Bare wisdom proves to be a vain-savior. Bare light proves to be a vain-lord. Such things prove to be vain-idols. They cannot redeem us from the pit. This also is vanity/vapor (v. 15). Solomon says: Oh how the wise dies just like the fool! So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me! (v. 16-17).

The life of a brilliantly wise man ends the same as the ignorant fool. Both end up in a casket. Both end up rotting away. Both end up being forgotten. And both must stand before the judgment seat of Christ. One scholar says that Solomon

“Now he realizes that even living wisely in this way will not stop him from being placed in a box in the ground just like the village idiot”

As I was preparing for this sermon I realized something: if I do not share this frustration, this anger, this hatred, this grief, this pain, this turmoil, this anguish, and this lament—if I do not agree with Solomon in my heart of hearts—I too have idols hidden under my bosom. I too am leaning upon worldly comforts and pleasures to cover up the poison of hebel that stains each inch of the cosmos. If I am not seething with righteous anger at the fall of man, at the sin of men and women, at the curse of the law, at the corruption of the earth, at the pain of life, at the sorrows of death, at the sting of sickness, at the pangs of cancer, at the tryanny of Sheol. If I am not sharing this, then something is wrong within my heart—I am living by lies. When I am feeling the most anger over sin, external and internal, then I am closest to the fear of the Lord. Prov. 8:13

Proverbs 8:13 ESV

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Do you weep? Do you lament? Do you meditate on hebel? Do you sit quietly in your room, filled with pain and frustration? Do you mourn over your sin? Do you cry over the tyranny of death? Do you hate this fallen life? Do you find that life after Genesis 3 is weary and depressing? Do you skip over the painful parts of Scripture? Like the parts where God records the absolute wickedness of rape and murder and polygamy and oppression and abuse? Oh, we need to stare these right in the eyes—and we need to cry out with the Psalmist: Ps 13:1-2

Psalm 13:1–2 ESV

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

But the Psalmist doesn’t end there, does he? He continues on through the song of hebel, and he sings a new song: Ps. 13:5-6

Psalm 13:5–6 ESV

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

I hate life—but I have a God of steadfast love. I hate life—but I have a God of salvation. I hate life—but I can sing to my Lord. I hate life—but I have been given a bountiful inheritance in Christ. I hate life—but Jesus is my Saviour. I hate life—but Messiah is my Hope. I hate life—but death has been defeated. I hate life—but the Cross has set me free. I hate life—but Christ has been risen. I hate life—but Jesus reigns on high. I hate life—but the Spirit makes me new. I hate life—but holiness is my joy. I hate life—but Jesus has forgiven me of my sins. I hate life—but I am trusting in His blood. I hate life—but I am repenting of my sins. I hate life—but I am rejoicing in my Redeemer. I hate life—but I know that this fleeting life is but a moment. I hate life—but I have the hope of glory within. I hate life—but I am here by God’s sovereignty. I hate life—but I am going to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. I hate life—but I love life eternal.

Can you sing these precious truths with me this morning? Can you rejoice, even while hating this life of vanity and vapor? Can you exult in the God of your salvation? For salvation is of the Lord. Come to Jesus, find truest pleasure, find your deepest desire, find your ultimate Wisdom. Come to Jesus and leave the vanity fair behind. Come to Jesus the true and living God, the Son of God, and cast down your idols at the foot of the Cross. Come to Jesus, and find peace with God. Come to Jesus, and be born again. Come to Jesus, and be free from sin. Come to Jesus, and be set free from hell. Come to Jesus, and never thirst. Come to Jesus, and never hunger. Come to Jesus, and overflow with living waters in the Spirit, even on these dry and barren lands in the wilderness and desert of Kingston. Come to Jesus—and find life in Him.

Mark 1:15 ESV

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

John 1:16 ESV

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 16:24 ESV

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Song of Solomon 5:16 ESV

His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Jesus alone can save, sanctify, satisfy, and strengthen our weary souls, that are heavy-laden in this world of hebel. Only by trusting in Jesus, repenting of our sins, denying ourselves, and taking up our cross can we find what our hearts so desperately need. Wholeness and Fullness in the Abundant Life in Christ. One pastor says:

You see, our Lord, who taught us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross daily (Mark 8:34), did not do so because he was a cosmic killjoy, but rather because he knows the way to the pleasures of God—“in p 54 your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11).

Oh let us look unto Jesus, and never turn our gaze away. God help us to be delighted in your beloved Son. God help us to filled with your eternal Spirit.

(3) Shining Wisdom doesn’t Conquer Death - v. 12-17

This brings us to our conclusion:

(C) Fleeting Pleasures, Desires, and Wisdom cannot Compare to the Joy, Fullness, and Life in Christ

Psalm 65:4 ESV

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

Isaiah 35:10 ESV

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

(C) Fleeting Pleasures, Desires, and Wisdom cannot Compare to the Joy, Fullness, and Life in Christ

Amen, let’s pray.