The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 4 The Emptiness Of Seeking Wine, Worldly Pleasure And Mirth

Seeking mirth and pleasure results in an empty life. 

Ecclesiastes 2:1-2  I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2)  I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 

The Preacher moves into the second section of his quest to find meaning in a life without God. He tried seeking wisdom and listening to philosophers but he discovered nothing new under the sun. 

A quest for the world's knowledge and wisdom cannot satisfy the human soul. This is why those who seek more education beyond what is needed for employment, are not satisfied. 

As Pascal reminded us in the last post, only God can satisfy the deepest longing in our hearts. 

Therefore, the Preacher turns his attention to hedonistic pursuits. He will go all in seeking mirth. 

The Hebrew word translated "mirth" is most often connected with the joy of the LORD. However, in this context, mirth refers to pursuing happiness and gladness of heart from what the world offers.

The Preacher is going to enjoy pleasure. He sought to experience pleasure from things that appeal to the intellect. He sought to experience pleasure from that which is sensual and agreeable to his senses. 

It did not take Solomon very long to learn that pursuing mirth and pleasure seeking were vain, empty endeavors. They did not satisfy his heart. 

"Laughter" includes our reaction to things we consider humorous. It also includes a derisive cynicism that mocks and ridicules those whom we think are fools. The Preacher found that pursuing mirth is like a madman acting like a fool.

Trying to seek pleasure in moderation results in an empty life. 

Ecclesiastes 2:3  I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 

For his next course of action, the Preacher decided to pursue the pleasures of drinking wine, but to this, he wanted to have his heart guided by wisdom.

When he drew his flesh with wine he led his heart with wisdom to continue his pursuit after knowledge. Solomon did not want to become a drunkard and unable to rationally understand the experience of wine. 

He tried to find if experiencing both wine and wisdom together, would satisfy, because individually, neither wisdom or wine brought satisfaction.  

He threw all caution and restraint to the wind when he sampled mirth and enjoyed pleasure. In this test, Solomon sought to find a middle ground to see if moderation in his pursuit might satisfy his heart. 

Accomplishing great things still leaves an empty heart. 

Ecclesiastes 2:4-6  I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5)  I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6)  I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 

Solomon described some of his exploits as kings. He constructed beautiful gardens and diverted water from fountains to create large pools bordered by fruit and shade trees. 

He made Jerusalem into a lavish paradise combining stunning architecture, well constructed roads, and natural beauty.

He had many large stone cisterns to collect precious rain water and to hold water flowing from springs. 

He constructed aqueducts to channel the water throughout the city, to irrigate trees and plants, and for use in cooking and cleaning.  

Solomon was well qualified to build gardens, orchards, vineyards and conservatories. His knowledge of natural history was extensive and he wrote about many kinds of vegetation and their properties, from the cedar to the hyssop.

King Solomon's vast accomplishments. 

1 Kings 4:21-26  And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22)  And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, 23)  Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl. 24)  For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. 25)  And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 26)  And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.   

King Solomon took 7 years to build the Temple for Jehovah and 13 years to build his own home. His kingdom was marked be almost universal peace and great prosperity enjoyed by all Israel. 

Ecclesiastes 2:7-9  I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8)  I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9)  So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 

The Preacher is recounting the glory and splendor of his kingdom when he enjoyed the greatest blessings because he followed Jehovah. He had servants, abundant herds and flocks, and he received massive tributes of gold and silver from surrounding nations.

Culture blossomed with skilled musicians and singers who performed with excellence. It was a period marked with great achievements and many innovations. 

You can read 1 Kings 10, to see a fuller description of the majesty, international renown and splendor that God gave to Solomon. You can read more about Solomon's building activities by reading 1 Kings 7:8-12; 2 Chronicles 8. 

Whatever the Preacher wanted to do, he did it.

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. 

Whatever he wanted to do, he did. Not many people can say that they have the ability to do whatever comes into their thoughts, but King Solomon did have the resources and education to do many things. 

He gave his whole heart to starting and completing many projects and while doing them he rejoiced in his work. 

Life without God is all vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

Here comes the reality check for the Preacher. He carefully examined all of the many different things that he accomplished, and he reflected upon all of his works. 

His conclusion? It was all vanity and vexation of spirit. All of his investigations did not satisfy his heart. All of his many works failed to satisfy his soul. When he considered all that he had accomplished, he concluded it offered only temporary pleasure while he engaged in his work.

Thus, he concluded life without God is meaningless and purposeless. This is a valuable lesson that each person must learn. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

God created all things, sustains all things and gives us life. He alone knows what we need and what is best for us, and He has communicated that to us in His Word. 

The Preacher learned important life lessons and Solomon recorded many of his observations in the book of Proverbs. 

Proverbs 14:13  Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 

Even when we experience joy, it is tinged with sorrow, if we do not know the Lord. When all the mirth and laughter is over, then the heaviness of reality sets in. 

We will always feel empty, unfulfilled and dissatisfied without God. 

One lesson the Preacher is teaching us in the book of Ecclesiastes is that life without God is a terrible life. It is a wasted and empty life, devoid of meaning and purpose.

Proverbs 20:1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Also See Proverbs 23:29-35)

After pursuing the sensory pleasure of drinking and sampling wine, the Preacher observed that wine mocks us and can unleash unchecked anger. 

The Preacher described the unending cycle of a drunkard who cannot stop consuming wine. His eyes are reddened and he sees strange, perverse things. He is off balance, reeling back and forth like a sailor working on top of a ship's mast, while the sea is tempestuous. 

Too much wine causes one to become desensitized and when beaten, he does not even feel the blows. When sober, he must seek his drunken stupor once again. It is an empty, purposeless life. 

Let us pray as the Psalmist did and ask our Great God to assist us and turn us away from the vain, empty things of the world. Let us pray for the Spirit of God to help us seek those things of God which are above, where Christ Jesus is enthroned in heaven. 

This will give us a rich life filled with purpose and meaning.

May the Lord speak to each of our hearts this day and may we yield to the work of His Spirit in our heart. 

Bob

Psalm 119:37  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.