Ecclesiastes, with notes from Jon Courson.
As an older man, Solomon is looking back on his life. The subject is bittersweet, like the blues. He started well, but got distracted by wives. He didn't think the rules applied to himself. He made alliances with other nations. He compromised with their religions. He got confused and wondered what life was really about.
Yahweh, or Lord Jesus, is never mentioned in this book, only a generic reference to God. Ecclesiastes is poetry meant to be felt emotionally, not theologically.
So Solomon is experimenting. He's plunging into all kinds of things and experiences, trying to find satisfaction. Existentialism reigns, where you decide what works for yourself and discover why you exist. There are no absolutes.
Solomon was the richest man in history. He was the smartest man to ever live. Silver was lying all over the ground, but no one bothered to pick it up because gold was in such abundance. He was the most powerful king on earth. He had everything. He concluded everything was meaningless. Most people say, "if I just had..." or "if I could just get... then I'd be happy." It's just not true. Solomon proved it. The Solomon Sin-drome is one which the person makes it to "the top", but is still lost, with nowhere to go but down. Sad.
I'm excited about this study of Ecclesiastes. I see similarities in our lives today. It seems we are doing the same kind of things that were done 800 years ago, if not longer! The battle between the sinful nature and the spiritual nature continues to rage on. We continue to desperately pursue satisfaction of our flesh in entertainment, accomplishment, achievement, recognition, insulation, riches, pleasure, hobbies, groups, partying, material possessions, and the like. I figured Summer was the perfect season to get into the study, considering it is full of self, with attention given to beauty, fun, sun, skin, and lounging around. We will be able to look at a life under the sun as compared to life under the Son.
I believe studying this book will empower us to have keener vision for what truly is important in this life. I believe it will give us encouragement to pursue Christ and His purpose for our existence. I believe it will give us courage to keep a healthy balance in this battle, finding joy in life, but not allowing it to rule over us with its influence and allure. I believe it will help give us perspective for dealing with what happens along the journey and what is happening to those around us.
A note I jotted down years ago states, "The Holy Spirit is poured out, magnified, and maximized in our lives when Jesus is glorified in our hearts. When we truly want to live for His glory and not ours, the Holy Spirit is finally welcome to enter, have His way, influence, empower, act, lead, thrive, work, etc."
