Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 A Distant Mirror

A Distant Mirror Sep 24, 2017

“Experience” is the vision of many Americans. Come to the “Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament” - sword fights, jousting, imagining a medieval castle meal. For weddings, it is not enough of an experience to get married, but some need to have the ambiance and experience of some exotic place to be married. Today we hear of people’s “bucket list” of experiences they desire to have before they die. Even churches advertise “worship experiences.” How jaded is our overindulged culture? Boredom expressed in a “been there, done that” attitude indicates life is about “experiences.” For Solomon, wisdom wasn’t enough to understand the world so he turned to seeking pleasure (). Solomon’s experience is a mirror of our contemporary society.

I. Party On –

A. Wine

1. Jokes and laughter

2. Solomon had parties for all his friends with an open bar

3. This is viewed as the height of pleasure. Solomon once wrote

B. Women –

1. I acquired women? By money? Enticing women with the promise of pleasure and opportunity?

2. Three hundred concubines –

3. Is this a brothel?

C. Song –

1. “I acquired male and female singers”

2. In the temple there were only male singers

3. He had the most contemporary music on demand

II. A Garden of Eden –

A. I built houses – “I” used ten times in this section

1.Vineyards

2. Gardens

3. Orchards

4. Fruit trees

B. I built water pools

1. Fountains

2. Swimming

3. To water the garden

C. There was no forbidden fruit in this garden

Even as a debauched person, he had wisdom – “I” used ten times – Solomon did not build these things to beautify Jerusalem for the everyday citizens of his city but for himself

III. The Profit of Pleasure –

A. All this was work

1. What wages did He receive? Grieving the Holy Spirit – ;

2. The end result was greater loneliness and regret

B. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

1. An inheritance reserved in heaven for you –

2. A garden yet to come –

Why would God allow Solomon to pursue carnal pleasures and then record his experience in His Word? To reveal to you the vanity of pursuing experiences instead of pursuing God. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (). God Himself is your exceeding great reward! ().