The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes was penned by king Solomon. God is the
divine Author of all the Holy Bible. Holy men of old the Bible says,
penned the Scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2nd Peter 1:21).
The word “Ecclesiastes” comes from the Greek word “ecclesia” meaning
“assembly.” Solomon is “The Preacher” preaching to an assembly. That is what a
local New Testament church is—a called out assembly, where the preacher
preaches!
An Earthly Perspective - Under The Sun
In the first eight chapters of Ecclesiastes we read about the vanity of life from a secular point of view. In the book of Ecclesiastes, we find:
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“man” mentioned 47 times
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“labour” mentioned 36 times
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“vanity” mentioned 37 times
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“wise” mentioned 52 times
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“evil” mentioned 22 times
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“under the sun” mentioned 30 times
Repeating a word shows emphasis. Repetition is the key to learning.
Solomon was one of the wealthiest people who ever lived. He had everything that money could buy. He had pleasures untold with his 700 wives and 300 concubines. Solomon had everything that a man could have, but he was unhappy. Ecclesiastes 2:17, “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Everything that this life has to offer is vanity. Nothing lasts indefinitely in this world. You can marry the most beautiful person, but they will get old and grey and die. They (or you) may die early of disease or a tragedy. Life is what happens to us when we're making big plans. When all is said and done, we will all end up in a pine box in the ground. That is what depressed Solomon, knowing that everything he was building, enjoying and achieving would all come to nought in just a few years; therefore, Solomon hated life! Solomon wondered if all his kingdom, built by wisdom, would end up in the hands of a fool (we've sure seen that in our generation). Our founding fathers were wise, but we are living in one of the most foolish countries in history today.
We read that the wisest man who ever lived sought wisdom. What you seek determines what you will become. Ecclesiastes 1:13, “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.” Pastor Jack Hyles used to say that you won't become in five years what you decide to be, you will become what you decide to be around. Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Matthew 12:34, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” I refuse to live with wickedness in my heart. I want to be like Nathanial, in whom Jesus said was found no guile (John 1:47). What does the Lord know about you?
In Ecclesiastes chapter three we learn that, to everything there is a season. God's timing is not my timing. In the book of Ecclesiastes the phrase “under the sun” is mentioned 30 times. The key word of Ecclesiastes is “PERSPECTIVE.” What is your perspective on life? Your perspective determines your attitude toward life. If you view life as “I might as well eat, drink and be merry, because I am going to die,” then you likely will eventually think life is not worth living. In the first eight chapter of Ecclesiastes, we read the perspective of a man who views life “under the sun.” Solomon hated life, because he had the wrong perspective at first. As a young man, Solomon had an earthly perspective. Most people do not know the wonderful Lord today, and so they have an earthly perspective.
Ultimately, Solomon thought life wasn't worth living anymore! That is where so many people are at today in their mindset. The world is a cold and cruel place, and that sadly includes most so-called “churches” these days, which are mere social clubs for select members. The ungodly Harvest Baptist Church on Guam, comes to mind, whose pastors are ungodly reprobates who preach another gospel of Lordship Salvation, bid Godspeed to false prophets' like Pastor John MacArthur and Dr. Steve Pettit, and have horribly abused countless people (including myself). Counterfeit churches like Harvest make this world a worse place to live in, picking and choosing business managers, politicians, rich people and people of influence as key members of their church! That is a manmade cult, not a New Testament church. People like me aren't good enough to join their cult evidently. A hurting dog barks! Their day of reckoning is coming when they stand before the Lord (Romans 14:10-12). Proverbs 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”
If you focus on this world, and the
horrible way phony Christians are, you won't want to live. If you look at
the phonies in the Bob Jones University crowd, who are a bunch of yuppie
brats, bimbo flirts and arrogant old men in charge, you'll want to quit
Christianity! I know the inexplicable discouragement caused by these ungodly
phonies. Only God can deal with them! Hurting people matter! Christian lives
matter! Harvest Baptist Church on Guam doesn't care about hurting people
(like me), but God does, and I sure do because I love God! People are
quitting churches by the droves because of ungodly phonies like the Harvest
Baptist Church on Guam, filled with BJU alumni who only care about making
money and their private social club. They laugh in my face, and think my
website ministry and the truth are a joke, but God sees their wicked hearts
and disgusting bad attitudes. I rejoice in God my Savior, because I have
told THE TRUTH, and they have lied and promoted liars like John MacArthur,
who preaches another gospel. LIKE THE APOSTLE PAUL, I TOLD THE TRUTH
(Galatians 4:16).
An Eternal Perspective - God
In Ecclesiastes chapter nine through
twelve, Solomon's whole attitude changes. Ecclesiastes 9:1, “For all this
I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and
the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth
either love or hatred by all that is before them.” Instead of having an
earthly perspective, Solomon begins to look at God and eternity, realizing
that everything is “IN THE HAND OF GOD.” Solomon realizes in Ecclesiastes
11:9, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in
the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight
of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring
thee into judgment.” And again in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember
now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”
Seeing God in everything made all the difference in Solomon's perspective.
If you are a born-again believer, and you know that your name is written in Heaven, then that is a greater hope than anything this world has to offer. I won't someday have eternal life, I've already got it. We don't hope as believers, we HAVE A HOPE!!! I know I am saved, 100% sure, no doubts whatsoever. Jesus is the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He's the Prince of peace! He's the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. Knowing these truths changes everything!!! I have God's solemn promise in the Gospel of John, that He will save them that believe. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
David said he didn't understand until
he went to church. Psalms 73:17, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then understood I their end.” Church helps us understand the things of
God, if it's the right kind of Bible church. Thank God for old-fashioned
Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, soulwinning, King James Bible only,
fundamentalist, local churches!!! Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus saith the LORD,
Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the
good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they
said, We will not walk therein.” Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982) says
in his classic sermon titled, 'THE
TITANIC,' that: “America was great when she was good, and she was good
when she had great churches!”
The Conclusion Of The Whole Matter
The
wise preacher, Solomon, sums up his preaching in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14,
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring
every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or
whether it be evil.” Not too long ago a lady said hello as she walked
by, at the clinic where I get my pain medications each month for my neck.
She said: “You're looking good, we've got to take care of our selves, that's
what it's all about, right?” I instinctively smiled and replied with a kind
voice as she kept walking: “Fearing God and keeping His commandments is what
it's all about!” Solomon lays it all out real simple, putting the cookies on
the bottom shelf for everyone to understand. Life is all about pleasing God,
by fearing Him and keeping His commandments in the Holy Bible.
Matthew 22:35-40, “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
The two greatest commandments in the Word of God is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind; and to love our neighbour as our self. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 sums up life by saying that we ought to fear God and keep His commandments. So if we combine these two beautiful Scripture passages, we find that if we fear God, we will love others. The evidence that we love and fear God is that we obey Him. We ought to obey the Bible, by loving our neighbour as our self. Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” It is becoming difficult to find love nowadays, even in the churches. Jesus foretold in Matthew 24:12 that in the end times the love of MANY would wax cold because iniquity shall abound. Crime and evil are everywhere today. Government corruption and crime is epidemic. This past week we've seen mass riots, looting and killings across the United State over the murder of George Floyd. I even heard that people were rioting in London. The world is a wicked place, and it always has been (1st John 5:19).
I love the book of Ecclesiastes. It is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. I encourage you to listen to Alexander Scourby read the book of Ecclesiastes. Your perspective will determine your attitude toward life. That is the main truth I wanted to convey to you dear reader. If you believe that this life is all there is, then you are of all men most miserable. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-14, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” The Christian has the blessed hope of “eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” (Titus 1:2). Jesus is precious!!!
