Ecclesiastes II, Shoes Make Terrible Medicine

“We are prompted by our own ills to contemplate the good things of God, and we cannot seriously aspire to Him before we begin to be displeased with ourselves.” John Calvin

I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

What is crooked cannot be straightened;

what is lacking cannot be counted.

I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge.” I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.

For with much wisdom is much sorrow;

as knowledge increases, grief increases. 

I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile.

THE EMPTINESS OF PLEASURE

2 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure;uenjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile.

Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 ESV

I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:1

Two Truths

God, the Gracious Giver of Hevel (1:13)

Hevel is the Land of Great Shoes That Make Terrible Medicine (1:16-2:11)

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

"But as for you (Timothy), continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

God’s kindness in giving us hevel is a way of urging us not to place our hope in groaning things, but a gracious Savior. 

"Creation is like a shoe store for someone needing medicine. It provides something good, but cannot satisfy our needs.” Zack Eswine

"Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,

so is the person who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!””

"Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

Three Responses

Pursue Wisdom (Even Though it Cannot Save You From Hevel) (2:12-16)

Hate Hevel (2:17-18)

Re-Learn Eden in the Midst of Hevel (2:24-26)

“And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness. The wise person has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.” 

"Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.”

"There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him? For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.” 

The best good to be found under the sun surrounded by hevel is to recover and remember the small pieces of Eden that still exist as gifts to be enjoyed from the hand of our Creator.