The word Ecclesiastes means “the preacher” and this book is a sermon written by King Solomon. Solomon, probably later in life, used the wisdom God gave him to look at life, its purpose and how to make the most of it.

ALL IS VANITY
He found (v2) that “vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities! All is vanity”. Vanity in Ecclesiastes is a word describing life as a waste of time. Solomon questioned what you get from this life which, for most people, is one big toil (v3)? It is important to realise he was talking about the life that goes on “under the sun”, life on earth, and not so much heavenly things. Solomon was looking for something new (v10) but even the sun does the same thing every day (v5). People come and go but who will remember them in the future (v11)? Solomon had received a vast amount of wisdom from God and he used it here to think everything through (v12,13). The more he discovered, though, the more he became troubled (v18) about the “unhappy business” God had given to human beings (v13); everything was vanity and a “chasing after wind” (v14).

PLEASURES-A CHASING AFTER THE WIND
Solomon had tried the pursuit of pleasure (2v1), again vanity, and he said of laughter “it is mad”(v2); he tried wine(v3) and then sought to work out what good things people should be doing (v3). He played the kingly, aristocratic bit (v4) building houses, vineyards, gardens, parks, planting fruit trees and designing irrigation systems. His treasures were legendary, he explored music and sex; anything he desired he had, but this did not satisfy him. Again, all was vanity and a chasing after the wind (v11). Yes, he did find that wisdom was far better than folly (v13), the message of Proverbs, but in the long run, what was good about being wise when we all have the same destiny, which is to die and be forgotten (v14)? The injustice of all this caused Solomon to hate life which became grievous to him. What was the point? even if you have a measure of success you may then leave your inheritance to a foolish child who never did any work (v19,21). Solomon’s son did turn out to be a fool, as history unfolded.

UNDERSTAND GOD’S TIMING AND RHYTHM
So for all of us, it is the same, for we all struggle (v23). There is nothing better, Solomon advises, than to eat, drink and try to enjoy our toil as much as possible. The one thing we can do differently is please God (v26) for this brings it’s rewards (v26). It is good to understand God’s rhythm and His sense of timing and chapter 3 tells us that, “for everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven” (3v1-8). We have our own part to play (v10,11) but no-one can fully understand what God is up to (v11), except we know that He is doing things of enduring value (v14). Things may seem very unfair, righteousness and wickedness all mixed up (v16), but we know there is a God who will be the ultimate judge and has plans for every matter (v17).

THE WORLD CAN BE UNFAIR
So what about all the injustice and oppression in the world? this deeply concerned Solomon (4v1) but he thought that even a corrupt government is, on balance, better than none at all (5v8-9). All motivation to work is generated out of envy for our neighbour (4v4). Fools who do not work suffer for it but there are others working and working for nothing (v8). There is strength, though, in standing together with others (9-12). What is the point of loads of money? for the lover of money will never be satisfied with it (5v10) and the more you have, the more you have to spend it on (v11). Sometimes you save money, only for it all to be lost on a bad venture (v14), and then, you get no benefit from all you have done (v16). You may have many possessions but a stranger lives to enjoy them, instead of you (6v2). So Solomon concluded “who knows what is good for mortals while they live their vain life” (v12)?

In chapter 7 Solomon answered his own question, went back to wisdom again, and brings us some useful and practical proverbs which have stood the test of time:
“A good name is better than precious ointment” (7v1).
“A bribe corrupts the heart” (v7)
“Do not be quick to anger” (v9)
“Do not say why were the former days better than these?” (v10)
“Do not give heed to everything that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you” (v21)
He concluded, at the end of the chapter, that God makes things straightforward but, sadly, men have done their own thing and pursued their own schemes (v29). Life is difficult, yes impossible to understand (8v7), and troubles lie heavy on people (v6). Sometimes wicked people seem to succeed and are praised for it (v10). The human heart is fully set to do evil, often because people do not reap the consequences quickly enough (v11). In fact, sometimes things seem to go badly for good people, the righteous (v14). Solomon concluded that we should try to enjoy the simple things in life and, no matter how long the wise research away, they will never be able to find out what is happening under the sun (v17). All he knew was that, in the long run, it will be well with those who fear God (v12).

BE CONTENT
We have only one life to live (9v5), one share in all that “happens under the sun” (v6). Try to make life enjoyable, live a good life, bring happiness to those around you (v7-9) and “whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might” (v10). I like to think that the words of verse 8 (let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head) mean that we should live a pure life, anointed with his Holy Spirit. We just need to realise that justice is not always done and, using the famous words in verse 11, “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favour to the skilful”. Solomon told the story of a poor man (13-16) who, through wisdom, saved a city but got no credit for it. Another problem is that none of us can anticipate the day of our calamity (v12) which may come very suddenly.

TIPS TO LOWER THE CHANCE OF FAILURE
Chapters 10 and 11, again, come up with a series of proverbs which have golden nuggets of truth some of which have found their way into our modern language-
“whoever digs a pit will fall into it” (10v8)
“send out your bread upon the waters for after many days you will get it back” (11v1)
“in the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good” (v6).

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR
There is a vanity in being young (11v10) and Solomon recommends in the final chapter, chapter 12v1, “remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come” and before you get old. Remember none of us know when the day of trouble will come.
At the beginning of chapter 12 you find that great metaphorical passage which describes getting old:
V3 “when the guards of the house tremble” -trembling arms.
“the strong men are bent” – our legs become weak
“the women who grind cease working because they are few”- teeth
“those who look through the windows see dimly”-eyesight goes
“the doors of the street are shut”-unable to speak and hear
“one rises up at the song of a bird”-getting up early
“when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road”-irrational fears
“the almond tree blossoms”-grey hair then falls out
“desire fails”-appetites and passions subside
“before the silver cord is broken “ –the spinal cord
“the golden bowl is broken”-the head or skull
“the pitcher is broken at the fountain”-heart problems
Do we agree with Solomon that there are many things about life which are impossible to understand and make it look, at first sight, unjust and futile? Are we ready for whatever the future may hold, troubles, sorrows, injustices and finally, the same destiny that comes to us all-old age?

FINAL ADVICE-LIVE GOD’S WAY
Solomon’s mind finished its investigations (v13) “the end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments, for that is the duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil”.