What's The Point?

What's the Point?

(A Study From Ecclesiastes)

"Absolutely pointless!" says the spokesman. "Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless."   (Ecc 1:2 GW)

That night the LORD appeared to him in a dream and asked him, "What would you like me to give you?" Solomon answered,...

(1Ki 3:5-6 GNB)

So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?" The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this, and so he said to him, "Because you have asked for the wisdom to rule justly, instead of long life for yourself or riches or the death of your enemies, I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had before or will ever have again. I will also give you what you have not asked for: all your life you will have wealth and honor, more than that of any other king.

(1Ki 3:9-13 GNB)

I, the spokesman, have been king of Israel in Jerusalem. With all my heart I used wisdom to study and explore everything done under heaven. Mortals are weighed down with a terrible burden that God has placed on them. I have seen everything that is done under the sun. Look at it! It's all pointless. It's like trying to catch the wind. No one can straighten what is bent. No one can count what is not there. I thought to myself, "I have grown wiser than anyone who has ruled Jerusalem before me. I've had a lot of experience with wisdom and knowledge." I've used my mind to understand wisdom and knowledge as well as madness and stupidity. Now I know that this is like trying to catch the wind. With a lot of wisdom comes a lot of heartache. The greater your knowledge, the greater your pain.

(Ecc 1:12-18 GW)

But because the Philosopher was wise, he kept on teaching the people what he knew. He studied proverbs and honestly tested their truth. The Philosopher tried to find comforting words, but the words he wrote were honest. The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all. My child, there is something else to watch out for. There is no end to the writing of books, and too much study will wear you out. After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.

(Ecc 12:9-14 GNB)

Get out the Binoculars!

To study the life of Solomon is like travelling along a mountain road that winds it's way through valleys and mountaintops only to end up (from what we can decipher from scripture) in a deep, dead end valley from which he never returned. The book of Ecclesiastes takes place before that fatal valley and is written when Solomon is at the peak above all peaks! He heard from God and answered in a humble manner so that God blessed Solomon with more than he imagined. He had wealth, land, animals, servants, control, knowledge and wisdom that surpassed any before him and more than likely any after him (it was supernaturally given by God wasn't it?). When he had reached this peak in the midst of a life having experienced this supernatural blessing from God and having first hand knowledge of what it is like to have, to experience, to obtain, to control and to know anything that you desired, he asked himself one simple question: What's the point? What is the point of life? And so the 'test' began and we call this 'test', Ecclesiastes.

Here, in this study, we won't be going verse by verse or try to solve the riddles that Solomon himself couldn't. No, this is a mere fly-over from just above the mountain tops, just close enough to hear Solomon tell us why he put this down on paper: With all my heart I used wisdom to study and explore everything done under heaven.  And so he did...

· What would you have asked for if you were in Solomon's sandals?

· Why did God grant him this request?

· Have you ever fallen into the trap that says, "I deserve it"?

· Why do you think Solomon would want to do this 'study'?

Get to the point!

The word translated in most Bibles 'Preacher' or 'Teacher' from the first verse in the book of Ecclesiastes gives us a good clue as to why Solomon would tackle the subject of "What is the point of life?" The Good News Bible actually does a good job with the Hebrew word, Koheleth. According to the Pulpit commentary, Koheleth is probably best translated, 'convener, or debater'. So, the GNB translates the first two verses, "These are the words of the Philosopher, David's son, who was king in Jerusalem. It is useless, useless, said the Philosopher. Life is useless, all useless." (Ecc 1:1-2 GNB)  So, when we think of someone who would want to mull over the usefulness- or uselessness- of life, a philosopher would be a natural fit.

So what made Solomon use the word, 'useless, 'pointless' or 'vanity' some sixteen plus times in this book of Ecclesiastes?  Look at the intensity of the words, "Absolutely Pointless!" or 'Pointless, Pointless, everything is Pointless!' Wow! Take into account that the word Yahweh (LORD) isn't used in the book, and the Law of God as well as the nation of Israel almost left out altogether. Why? Could it be that Solomon, after acquiring all, was no longer able to see God through the worldly lens that he now was looking through? Oh, he acknowledges God, God's existence isn't questioned, but whether or not God matters is questioned (Guzik). Was Solomon questioning because he was no longer on the peak but actually was on the downhill side heading toward the valley?- (There is another view that says Solomon was actually toward the end of his life and was looking back in reflection as an old man at all that he had done in his worldliness, his getting away from God, and acknowledging that without God, it had been pointless. This can be discussed at another time, for now we will stick with the current view.)- Yes, it appears that Solomon, though knowing about God, has began to have his conscience seared by the shadow of doubt possibly coming from the canyon of perversion growing in his own life. We find in chapter 7 this statement that sheds some light into this questioning shadow:

"I find that a woman whose thoughts are like traps and snares is more bitter than death itself. Even her hands are like chains. Whoever pleases God will escape her, but she will catch whoever continues to sin. The spokesman said, "This is what I've found: I added one thing to another in order to find a reason for things. I am still seeking a reason for things, but have not found any. I found one man out of a thousand who had it, but out of all these I didn't find one woman." (Ecc 7:26-28 GW)

And then with a beam of truth he says,

"Behold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions." (Ecc 7:29 JUB)

We need to always remember when reading the accounts of lives from the Old covenant that the Holy Spirit was not yet living inside of man but empowered certain men at certain times: thus the law! The law was in place to keep men on the road toward God, a school master to keep the children in line! And, just as Solomon acknowledges, men will seek out 'perversion' when left to themselves. Sin is indwelling, it doesn't need to be avoided, it needs to be killed; without the cross of Christ and the indwelling presence of the Spirit, it can't be accomplished. "The letter kills, The Spirit gives life." (1Cor 3:6)  Solomon's journey along this path was leading him to confusing thoughts of life without God and trying to find peace without the Spirit...pointless!

· How do you see yourself? Philosopher, Professor, Realist,...?

· Have you ever thought or heard, 'What's the meaning of life?' Response?

· How does Guzik’s statement about not questioning God's existence but whether God matters pertain to us?

· How would you explain 'indwelling sin'?

What is the point?

So, here is Solomon, after gaining all through the provision and providence of God, he is studying, questioning and testing the meaning of life through the eyes of the world, "under the sun." And there lies the log on the trail (or in the eye!): the view from the world will never be able to satisfy the curiosity, the striving, or the soul searching of men:

  

We don't speak about these things using teachings that are based on intellectual arguments like people do. Instead, we use the Spirit's teachings. We explain spiritual things to those who have the Spirit. A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the teachings of God's Spirit. He thinks they're nonsense. He can't understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them. Spiritual people evaluate everything but are subject to no one's evaluation. "Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can teach him?" However, we have the mind of Christ.

(1Co 2:13-16 GW)

Trying to find God through the lens of the world (under the sun) is what leads to foolish religions of God-men, re-incarnation, animism, ancestor worship, and all the other New age or New type of religion that men have invented or been swept into by deception since the rebellion:

For the invisible things of him, his eternal power and divinity, are clearly understood by the creation of the world and by the things that are made so that there is no excuse; because having known God, they did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and of fourfooted beasts and of serpents. Therefore God also gave them over to the lusts of their own hearts for uncleanness, to contaminate their own bodies between themselves, who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for all ages. Amen.

(Rom 1:20-25 JUB)

This under the sun type of thinking is what caused Solomon to say that life is pointless, useless, all chasing after the wind. Any life that doesn't have the messiah, Christ, at the center; the pursuit of His ways and His glory as central, will in the end see life as pointless. Face it, no one today or at any other time in history has had the resources, the time or the wisdom and knowledge to give themselves wholeheartedly to the quest of the meaning of life in the way's that Solomon did. He had the biggest parties, the most sex, the most things, the most money, the most power, the most...everything, and he said it wasn't enough! If that is the case then far be it from any of us to think it will be enough for us either; outside of a deep, real relationship with the Lord nothing will satisfy, nothing. Oh sure, for a short time maybe, there is pleasure in sin for a season, but not long term.

Now you may be thinking that it appears that Solomon did know the truth and was trying to point people from pointlessness to the point when he said,

After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone. God will certainly judge everything that is done. This includes every secret thing, whether it is good or bad.

(Ecc 12:13-14 GW)

On the surface this sounds correct doesn't it? "Fear God" Yes! "keep his commands" Yes. But then comes a remark that I had looked at many times as just a concluding remark of truth: "God will certainly judge everything that is done. This includes every secret thing, whether good or bad." Is it true? Yes. But how? And what does it mean? Well, the old covenant did require fearing God and keeping the commands, but the reason wasn't just to keep from judgment was it? Solomon's father, David, didn't think so:

Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yet, you desire truth and sincerity. Deep down inside me you teach me wisdom. Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness. Let the bones that you have broken dance. Hide your face from my sins, and wipe out all that I have done wrong. Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me. Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience. Then I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you. Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, my savior. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness! O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell about your praise. You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one to you. You are not pleased with burnt offerings. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart. Favor Zion with your goodness. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit- with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Young bulls will be offered on your altar.

(Psa 51:5-19 GW)

Amazingly this was written in reference to David's sin of adultery and murder which involved Solomon's mother, Bathsheba. You see, David didn't discount the fact that sacrifice and burnt offerings were required, what he made clear was that those duties of the law were not the place where true freedom from sin and restoration of a relationship with God are found. These sacrifices were only used as shadows of the one true sacrifice, Jesus the messiah, and for these to be of any help in restoring the relationship with God a broken and sorrowful heart was required of the one seeking forgiveness. To come to God with a legalistic sacrifice or a dutiful burnt offering just to escape the judgment of God wouldn't be enough...and still isn't.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hos 6:6 ESV)

It hasn't changed has it? The requirement of the old was really the requirement of the new and fulfilled in Christ. Think about the young, rich man who came to Jesus wanting everlasting life (Mat. 19). He had kept the commands, he wanted forgiveness, but when it came to having a true relationship with Jesus he couldn't give up the riches: he didn't understand that his heart had to be transformed. If we are living our lives thinking that some thing, or some religious (christian?) duty is what pleases Jesus then we haven't been transformed. True heart transformation will take away the drive to do more for the Lord and instead drive you into Him and Him into you, and this driving in will drive out the fleshly searching for more. It's not doing, it's becoming. I'm not sure Solomon ever understood this, at least it doesn't appear that he did:

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. 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.

(Ecc 2:8-10 ESV)

He (Solomon) had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.

(1Ki 11:3-11 ESV)

 So, here is the conclusion of the whole matter: Have you given yourself completely to Christ? Are you living in the freedom from a dutiful, legalism? Has your heart truly been transformed by the gospel of Jesus, the death that he died and the life that he lived? If so....

Your life isn't pointless!

· What are some examples of 'under the son' type thinking?

· What makes the way of the cross so 'foolish' to the world?

· When you read the books in the old testament do you see them as relevant? How?

· What stood out to you in Davids prayer in Psalm 51?

· How can we keep our hearts from being led astray like Solomon?

· Explain transformation? How does it happen?

I hope you liked the post! If you have questions or comments, let me know. 

Until next time, All for His Glory!

Randy