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May 27, 2023 06:00am

Under the S-O-N

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I teach a teenage girls Sunday School class. Following our deep dive through the book of Galatians I began my search for what to study next.

One day, during my prayer time, the Holy Spirit prompted me to turn to Ecclesiastes.

These are the words of the Preacher, King David’s Son, who ruled in Jerusalem. Everything is meaningless, says the preacher, completely meaningless. Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

If you can’t tell by the cheery demeanor of verse two, the book focuses on the idea that everything in life is meaningless. It goes on to compare going after the things of this life to “chasing after wind.”

As someone who teaches youth, I immediately questioned if the Holy Spirit was really prompting me to teach this book. I seek to encourage, not depress, my girls in their walk with Christ. I could quickly see the study turning into one of two things: a cry session or a snooze fest.

We are now several months into the study and I have concluded, as I always do, God knew exactly what he was doing.

Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon. As a king, he had: power, wealth, riches, and access to unlimited earthly pleasures at his fingertips. The man even had a family to boot. You could say Solomon, “had it all.”

In addition to having it all, the book of First Kings tells us that God gave Solomon a “wise and discerning heart” to help him govern the people and live a righteous life.

In light of all he had it seems odd that Solomon would write such a book. After all, the things he had are what most people strive for during their earthly life.

This is where context is key. The phrase “under the sun” refers to the idea that if God does not exist and this world is all there is.
The phrase chasing after wind refers to the idea that as we go after things of life they either a.) are hard to hold on to or b.) leave our hands the minute we leave this earth.

These ideas put together would simply sound like this, “If this is all there is, and everything dies with me, what is the point? What is the point of…

working
having a good reputation
living wisely
having loved ones just for them to die
pain/oppression
life

These are all ideas Solomon explores within the book.

Along this line of thinking, we get the 19th Century motto: YOLO. A motto that implies that since you only live once, you should live without restraint for whatever brings you pleasure.

In my job where I work with people, one question I am asked across the board from age eight to eighty-eight is, what is the purpose of life? Specifically, what is the purpose of my life?

It’s important to know that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes as he was nearing the end of his life; a time he was likely focusing, as many do, on how he lived his life as a whole and what sort of wisdom he could pass along.

Though Solomon was given an extra measure of heavenly wisdom, he didn’t always live by it. He often lived by his own best thinking. A thinking that, as he puts it, led him to a cloud of frustration, anger, and disappointment by day and sleeplessness by night.

A prime example, you may have already thought of, is that the man had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. It’s easy to point a finger of judgment and say, “How could you? You knew better! You even had an extra measure of wisdom from God!”

However, aren’t we the same? We have access to the Word of God at our fingertips and we know what it says, yet we often choose to live by our best thinking instead.

I have concluded Ecclesiastes is not a depressing book, but a humbling book.

A few lessons to glean from King Solomon:

God is in Control
I find myself spending a great deal of time asking why. Especially when experiencing change or grim circumstances. In chapter three, Solomon addresses the natural seasons that occur during time on earth. One example, “a time to be born and a time to die.”

He concludes the poem by encouraging readers that, sadly, these seasons are part of our earthly life as they are a product of sin being in the world. However, God has a supernatural timing that supersedes earthly time.

A small example of this was back in January. I became ill and missed a week of work; the medication I was prescribed did not help, leading me to take a second trip to the doctor, feeling worse than I did the week prior.

I was diagnosed with strep throat and given a new medication. The day following my diagnosis, I was scheduled to serve jury duty over an hour away from my home. Not to mention there was a severe ice storm that would affect my entire drive.

In a panic, I called an after hours office number and was able to reach an operator. He told me that the ice storm did not elicit an exemption, but a positive strep test I did.

In the natural, I was ill, had jury duty, and there was an ice storm. I was frantic!

In the supernatural, my God went before me and protected me.

God Is My Provider
“Working nine to five, what a way to make a livin’?” Except, in today’s world we work more, way more. Why? Money: the necessary evil as some call it. We need it to survive and to provide.

This idea of work doesn’t cause unrest, however, just like King Solomon, we often prize our wealth a little too much, causing work to become a harder “lot” than God ever intended.

We stress over obtaining it, managing it, and often having what we feel is enough of it. Which is a target Solomon describes as constantly moving.

This creates frustration and anxiety as we begin to not only view work as a lot by which we gain what we need, but a grueling lot that is constantly demanding and defeating.

Earthly wisdom says, “bigger is better,” and “more is more.”

Heavenly wisdom says, Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

We can’t forget that God is Jehovah Jireh: the God who provides. The truth is, when we grab hold of this in our heart and mind, we can rest in His provision which then allows us to enjoy the simple pleasures God has also given us.

Live In Fear of God Alone

The reason we strive after “windy things” is often a result of playing the comparison game. We not only crave the approval of others, but we also desire having more than they do.

A couple reminders from King Solomon:

– There is never a UHAUL behind a hurst (Ecclesiastes 2:21)
– God’s opinion is the only one that lasts or matters (Ecclesiastes 7:5-6)

A final reminder from the King, Jesus that is:

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot be destroyed, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:20-21

This book has not only humbled me but given me a sense of hope.

It has reminded me that this is not all there is. Though, right now, I live under the s-u-n where there is: injustice, pain, suffering, stress, and questions. I also live under the S-O-N who is ruler over it all.

And one day, I will live with him forever! Amen