Ecclesiastes 2:10  - And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour:  and this was my portion of all my labour.

 

Thought:  Once Solomon had amassed his great wealth, he did not hesitate to spend it on things he desired.  “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I keep not from them.”  There was nothing that Solomon could not have.  Whatever he saw, whatever he longed for, could be his.  In fact, not only could they be his, they were his.  He could have owned the world.  Surely, if a person can have whatever his heart desires, happiness would be his.  Surely, Solomon will show us how true this thought really is.

 

Proverbs 23:5

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon used two things as he searched the world for happiness:  his eyes and his heart.

1.       If his eyes desired something, he did not keep it from them.

2.       If his heart yearned for something, he did not withhold any joy from it.

3.       Again, there are many who wish they could have such a privilege granted to them. 

 

B.      It is interesting that Solomon tells us:  “…for my heart rejoiced in all my labour.”

1.       There is some pleasure that comes from a person’s labor.

a.       Satisfaction of a job well done

b.      Momentary pleasure of success

c.       The fulfillment of one’s plans

d.      The pleasure of some boasting

e.       The enjoyment of what was built

f.        The accolades of others

2.       LESSONS:

a.       It is the “pleasure” that causes individuals to give themselves to these things.

b.      Not all of the pleasure found in these things is evil.  We will see this later in the book.

c.       The vanity of labor and pleasure is that it can only last as long as life lasts.  Too, the pleasures of labor often become the very thing that bring troubles and difficulties to life.

 

C.     “…and this was my portion of all my labour.”

1.       This is the first time we read the word “portion” in the book of Ecclesiastes.

2.       Solomon will use it eight times in the book.

3.       Definition:

a.       Strong (2506):  allotment

b.      BDB:  portion, share, part, territory, one’s possession

4.       Solomon was given he called a “great” portion. 

5.       LESSONS:

a.       Each of us will have a “portion” in this life.

b.      No one’s portion will be exactly the same as another man’s portion.

c.       Each of us should be content with our portion in life.

d.      None of us should be covetous of another man’s portion.  This leads to jealousy and envy.  Neither of these two desires leads to something that is beneficial for the individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:11 – Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do:  and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

 

Thought:  Solomon had spent many days and a lot of money trying to find happiness.  He had been involved in all kinds of activities in his search.  As we read about his search, it seems to be the kind of life that all wish they could live.  Solomon finally stops to evaluate all he has done.  “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought.”  His conclusion is found in the following words:  vanity, vexation of spirit, and no profit under the sun.  His efforts did not yield the happiness he sought.  His life was still empty and worthless and hopeless.  He desperately wants all to understand this.

 

Psalm 39:6

 

Commentary:

 

A.     To build great things, there are massive costs, extreme amounts of time, intense labor, paying attention to details, and overcoming obstacles. 

 

B.      Surely, one’s labor cannot be in vain.

 

C.     Yet, that is how Solomon summarizes “all the works that my hands had wrought.”  “Behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”

1.       Great palaces are ransacked by destroying armies.

2.       Homes and buildings left to children are auctioned off to the highest bidder.

3.       Sometimes, homes and land are left behind and the buildings collapse and crumble with no one laying claim to them.  The land is overtaken with weeds and is unprofitable.

 

         

 

4.       The rewards of one’s labors certainly do not follow the individual into the grave.  All is left behind. 

 

D.     Clarke:  “Because it promised the good I wished for, but did not, could not, perform the promise; and left my soul discontented and chagrined” (e-sword).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:12 – And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly:  for what can the man do that cometh after the king?  Even that which hath been already done.

 

Thought:  Solomon assures his readers that he has done all a person can do in his search for ultimate happiness.  Anyone who comes after him cannot do more than he had done.  Yet, it is interesting that men keep trying.  They try with small scale efforts.  They try with large scale efforts.  The result is always the same.  Vanity and vexation of spirit.  Would that all could learn from Solomon.  Happiness and joy are found in something that has nothing to do with the things of this world.

 

I Kings 10:6-7

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon reflects again that he had given himself to know “wisdom, and madness, and folly.”

 

B.      He had explored and engaged in these areas so much that he asks:  “…for what can the man do that cometh after the king?”

1.       No one could experiment more than Solomon.

2.       No one else would ever have the resources to do what Solomon had done.

3.       Others might foolishly believe that they could attempt to do more than Solomon, but they could not.

4.       Even if another could match the extent of experimentation done by Solomon, he knew that he, too, would reach the same conclusions. 

 

C.     The scale of experiment that Solomon did has never been attempted by anyone else.  This book, Ecclesiastes, stand alone among the books of wisdom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:13 – Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

 

Thought:  Of all the things that Solomon pursued one excelled the others.  “Wisdom excelleth folly.”  Wisdom has some benefits to man.  In some areas, wisdom can make his life better.  The benefits are far better than wine, madness, and folly, which have no real benefits at all.  Human wisdom, however, still falls short when it comes to bringing happiness.  True happiness lies in a very special place.

 

Proverbs 16:16

 

Commentary:

 

A.     In the process of his experimentation, Solomon learned some things that were positive.

 

B.      In this verse, he notes:  “Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly.”

1.       Solomon had pursued wisdom, pleasure, and labor.

2.       Of all of these, one excelled the others.  That one was wisdom.

3.       If Solomon had to accept one of the things that experimented with for his life, he would choose wisdom.  There are benefits to some of the wisdom of man.

a.       Advances in technology.

b.      Advances in science.

c.       Advances in medicine.

d.      Advances in mental health.

e.       Advances in relationships.

f.        Advances in agriculture.

4.       He expresses how much wisdom excels the other things.  “…as far as light excelleth darkness.”

a.       Light is as different from darkness as one can get.

b.      Wisdom excels pleasure and labor to this extent.