Chapter 2 outlines the 3 “tests” of Solomon. These must have taken him years to accomplish.

TEST 1 – POSSESSIONS & PLEASURE (v1-11)

It can be rather tempting to think, “If I just had as much money as I could want, life would be better.” “If I could just have more fun, more excitement…” “If I could just have…”

It’s all a lie. Solomon had it all. All the projects and accomplishments he wanted to achieve. All the houses he wanted to build. All the wealth and stuff he desired. All the women…. And he found out, it didn’t fulfill.

The trick of the Enemy is to get us to believe that we are the exception. “Other people might get rich and feel empty. Not me! They’re crazy. I would buy all the things I’ve wanted. No more going to work. I would just relax and enjoy myself.”

We can also be led to think that fulfillment and meaning and happiness are things we can find if we just got the things we’re sure will provide them – a better spouse, more money, more prestige, more travel, more free time. We know that there are miserable wealthy people on their 5th plastic surgery, their 3rd vacation home, and their 8th partner. But if WE had those things we would be happy because we’re the exception.

There are no exceptions. I’m sure Solomon enjoyed his possessions and pleasures for a little while, but according to Dave Ramsey, “If you eat enough lobster, after a while it just tastes like soap.” After amassing basically unlimited wealth, Solomon said that he found it to be hollow.

Possessions and pleasure cannot give meaning. On to….

TEST 2 – WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE (v12-17)

If I could just get that degree… If I was just the smartest person at my job or in my church…

Solomon spent years basically getting more degrees than a thermometer. He became the equivalent of a distinguished professor and could lecture on a wide range of subjects. He was always the smartest guy in the room. People came from around the world to hang on his every word.

And while he did affirm that it was better to be wise than to be a fool, he had to admit that even his great wisdom and knowledge couldn’t stop death. Death and time eventually wipe out the accomplishments of both the wise and the fool.

Here’s what Paul famously wrote about knowledge:

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If man’s wisdom and knowledge are transient and cannot give meaning, on to…

TEST 3 – WORK & ACHIEVEMENT (v18-23)

I will build something to outlast me! I will achieve greatness and make a difference so that my name goes down in history.

Solomon spent some more years of his life on construction projects, diplomatic negotiations, infrastructure development, and even major advances in science and engineering.

And he stood back and enjoyed his own handiwork and achievement for about 5 minutes. Then he realized that when he died, he would have zero control over how any of it was maintained. His son or grandson might “run the company into the ground” and undo all his hard work.

So what was the point of any of it? Here is his conclusion:

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

To quote my Gen-Alpha besties, “Mood.”

😐 This whole book is a mood.

Agree.

Chapter 3, (apart from providing The Byrds with the lyrics for a hit song in the 60’s), provides us with a reflection on the nature of time. Humans are blips on the radar, while GOD and His works remain.

A key concept mentioned here and throughout the book is “under the sun.” ☀️ These rather pessimistic reflections are limited to life “under the sun;” the here and now.

Notice that Ecclesiastes lacks the uplift of the Psalms where there is hope of a resurrection and being rescued from the grave. Ecclesiastes is a limited view of human life. That’s why Solomon observes (in v16) that there is often no justice. But that is only true “under the sun.” When you take eternity into consideration, it changes the equation. Justice will win out.

If you leave eternity out of the picture, then yes, there really is nothing better to do in life than enjoy your food and try to find some meaningful work to take pleasure in.

But there is something inside us that tells us, “there has to be more to life than this!” That “something” is our connection to eternity:

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are part of a MUCH bigger, MUCH longer story than we can see from our personal life’s perspective. If we’re paying attention, if we get quiet and look into a starry sky or across a distant view to the horizon, we can feel it. It’s planted in our hearts. The Bible – this divine book we are reading our way through over these two years – it gives us the whole eternal scope that we cannot see from the few decades of life that we live under the sun.

And the Truth revealed in this book is what gives life – both under the sun and beyond – meaning.