2019 Mar 26 Ecclesiastes 2, 2Peter 1
2019 Mar 26 Ecclesiastes 2, 2Peter 1
Wishing you well this day, and welcoming you! Let’s continue in Ecclesiastes 2, this time verses 4-11:
“4 I undertook great works. I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all sorts of fruit trees. 6 I made pools of water for myself, to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. 7 I acquired male and female servants, and I had servants born in my household. I also acquired much livestock—cattle and flocks—more than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. 8 I accumulated silver and gold for myself, the treasures of kings and of provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, as well as what brings great pleasure to the sons of men—a woman, yes, many women. 9 So I grew great and surpassed anyone prior to me in Jerusalem. And my wisdom remained with me. 10 I did not deny myself anything that I desired. I did not withhold from my heart any sort of pleasure, for my heart was joyful because of all my hard work, and this was my reward for all my hard work. 11 But when I reflected on all the works that my own hands had done and on all the hard work that I had toiled to accomplish, I saw that everything was futile, a chasing after the wind; there was nothing of real value under the sun.”
Eccle 2:4-6 Solomon, in searching for the benefit of pursuing various pleasures, began building houses, making gardens and parks, also pools of water and trees. Are these not some of the things that most if not all of us find some pleasure in? Did not God plant for our first parents a park like Paradisaic garden called “Eden,” meaning “pleasure?” Yes, our first parents were to have children and more children, and expand the borders of Paradise eventually earth-wide! Although God’s purpose took a detour, His will has not changed—under God’s Kingdom the earth will still become a Paradise, within which we may welcome ancestors and loved ones back from the grave, to be taught to live in peace and harmony in both spiritual and literal Paradise conditions! (Psalm 37:11,29; Isaiah 45:18) Still, Solomon was exploring the benefits of such pleasures in themselves, and thus did not find the satisfaction that we will find when it is truly God’s will for us to transform this earth into such a beautiful condition. He summed up his activity as “futile, a chasing after the wind.”
Eccle 2:7-10 So Solomon continued with servants, livestock, accumulating silver and gold, singers, as well as women—many of them. Solomon recognized “a woman” as “what brings great pleasure to the sons of men.” This is in harmony with Proverbs 31, where a “capable wife” is prized, saying “who can find” such a woman, and “her value is far more” than anything of material value. (Prove 31:10). Proverbs 31:11-31 details some of the skills and practices that can make a woman even more beautiful in the eyes of her husband. Part of what hurt Solomon in his later years is alluded to in verse 10–where he says “I did not deny myself anything I desired.” This included many more women than God intended for him to have, including among them foreign wives who had been worshipping false gods. These came to be a snare to Solomon later in life. Nevertheless, he was honest with what he sought and the wisdom he had, much of which we can benefit from even now. We should learn the lesson that our desires should be under control, letting God’s will govern what we allow ourselves to meditate upon, and rejecting any wrong desire in God’s eyes. James 1:14,15 warns: “14 But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn sin, when it has been carried out, brings forth death.” Clearly, we are to be in control of our own desires, rejecting those contrary to the delightful will of God.
Eccle 2:11 So Solomon’s pursuit of pleasure led him to futility, a “chasing after the wind.” Thus we find pleasures should be kept in their place, rather delighting first in pursuing the will of God whole-souled. We will have pleasures, from the many gifts of God we may experience daily, such as pleasant conversations and meals with loved ones and friends, observing and caring for pets or animals, enjoying gardening or other outdoor activities. We may delight in loving and training our children, helping them grow in their relationships with God and others. Married persons may delight to love each other and encourage one another spiritually and otherwise. So many delights God has given to us, but as we put God first, and His will that “all sorts of persons should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth,” we may grow spiritually, finding true contentment and fulfillment in life that Solomon did not find by putting pleasure-seeking first. We shouldn’t even be anxious about our daily needs, as Jesus said, at Matthew 6:33, “Keep on then, seeking first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” Thus may we continue to learn of the delightful will of God, that we may keep Him first in our life, letting no one or thing take the primary place that Jehovah should occupy in each of our hearts, bringing true happiness to our lives, marriages, families, and communities.
2Peter 1:9-11 refers to not shutting our eyes to the light, so that we do not lack the qualities mentioned in the previous verses, such as godly knowledge, self-control, and godly devotion. If we close our eyes to the light of Scriptural truth, we can be truly blind, not able to see dangers right in front of us. These verses read as follows: “9 For anyone lacking these things is blind, shutting his eyes to the light, and has become forgetful of his cleansing from his sins of long ago. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure for yourselves, for if you keep on doing these things, you will by no means ever fail. 11 In fact, in this way you will be richly granted entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” As we learn to serve God properly, may we likewise encourage others to do so, assisting them, including our precious children, according to our ability, to make spiritual progress. Thus we will be reminded of the steps we took to grow spiritually, and that we should not forget or take for granted, but maintain our firm hold on our hope and faith in God and Jesus.
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Between Winchester, Virginia, and hopefully, Washington D.C., having confidence that our thankful trust in God will not fail to inspire us to the peace He has purposed via His Kingdom!
