Ecclesiastes 1:1 KJVS
“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem”
The Preacher is Solomon the son of David, and in 1st Kings Chapter 3, Solomon asked God for an understanding heart to judge Israel.
1 Kings 3:3-9 KJVS
“And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. [4] And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. [5] In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. [6] And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. [7] And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. [8] And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. [9] Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
Solomon did not ask for wisdom and discernment for himself, he asked for wisdom and discernment so he may judge Israel.
1 Kings 3:10-13 KJVS
“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. [11] And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; [12] Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. [13] And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.”
Because Solomon pleased God through a request that was noble, God gave also gave him riches that are among the earth, and honor among men.
What is wisdom?
Proverbs 1:1-7 KJVS
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; [2] To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; [3] To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; [4] To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. [5] A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: [6] To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. [7] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Having more of an understanding about Solomon in 1st Kings Chapter 3, and the wisdom and knowledge he was given, let us continue with this great book of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 KJVS
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. [3] What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? [4] One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.”
The earth has been here and will continue to be here forever, and all is vanity in life according to the flesh. What profit do people take in within its toil?
In each generation people come and go, and in regard to the earthly labor that is done under the sun, there nothing from that labor that we can take with us.
1 Timothy 6:7 KJVS
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 KJVS
“The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. [6] The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. [7] All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.”
With each passing generation throughout this World Age in the flesh, the earth has done, and will continue to do what God has intended.
Ecclesiastes 1:8 KJVS
“All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.”
All things according to the flesh is full of weariness, and through our flesh eyes, and our fleshly understanding we will always lack in a deeper understanding of it.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 KJVS
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
There is no new thing under the sun. What has happened before, seems to happen again. With each passing generation, year after year, we see the earth and the inhabitants thereof remain in its toil.
Ecclesiastes 1:10-11 KJVS
“Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. [11] There is no remembrance of former things ; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.”
Life goes on ” as people say.
People come and people go from generation to generation, and those who are passed are not remembered, or at least the memories of those who have passed eventually fade within time. So, it is for those who are yet to come. Our flesh lives are only temporary, whereas our spiritual lives are forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-13 KJVS
“I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. [13] And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.”
Solomon who was blessed with wisdom that is from above, sought and searched out all that is done under heaven, or we can say under the sun. Solomon having received wisdom that is not from this world, helped him to see the sore travail that life according to the flesh has to offer.
What about you are you seeing that travail also?
Ecclesiastes 1:14-15 KJVS
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. [15] That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.”
That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered, why? Because nothing of this flesh and its understanding can fulfill what is inside us, and nothing on this earth can make us straight. Only that which is from above can, and all that is not from above is vanity and vexation of the spirit.
Solomon continues.
Ecclesiastes 1:16 KJVS
“I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
Solomon came to a great estate. He received an abundance of riches (wisdom and knowledge) that are from above and he received an abundance of riches here on earth.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 KJVS
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.”
Solomon gave his heart to know the immeasurable riches of wisdom and knowledge from God, and he also gave his heart to know the madness and folly of the flesh. His perception of that which is offered through the flesh, was vanity and vexation compared to what was offered to his Spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 KJVS
“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
For in much wisdom that is of this earth and its toil, there is much grief, and as one’s knowledge increases in the ways of the flesh, their sorrow also increases.
Grief and sorrow come from the labor of this flesh, understanding and contentment comes from laboring into our Heavenly Fathers wisdom and knowledge.
Solomon gave his heart to know both.
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