Ecclesiastes

[Hats Off]

I have a real problem with Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. I cannot begin to comprehend the wisdom - it seems to me at the beginning he understood, but then he went on to use (abuse?) the resources his father had left him. I can't wrap my head around the wisdom of 700 wives plus 300 concubines. We hear so much across the pulpit about the wisdom of Solomon but if we began to follow or imitate him we would be excommunicated. "I planted me gardens, i hired me singers etc.. it was all about Solomon. The truth of God's statement to Samuel about a nation wanting kings and what the result would be for the people certainly became true in Solomon's era.

[ken_sylvania]

How much of that wives and concubines situation was a case of "Knew better, but didn't do better?"

[MaxPC]

How much of that wives and concubines situation was a case of "Knew better, but didn't do better?"

Good point

[PositiveSeeker]

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. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. (Ecc 1:9-10 KJV)

How do you view a statement like this? Do we have to find a way to prove that it is true? I've heard of people claiming that the pre-diluvian natives had airplanes, for instance.

Or do we simply view this as an observation by Solomon that could be right or wrong, and is probably wrong? A little like the passages in Job that record the words (right and wrong) of Job's friends.

I have always considered this passage to be true and something that I noted with my own observations. For example, history is full of repeating patterns. However, bringing up airplanes throws a real curve ball.

[PositiveSeeker]

I have a real problem with Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. I cannot begin to comprehend the wisdom - it seems to me at the beginning he understood, but then he went on to use (abuse?) the resources his father had left him. I can't wrap my head around the wisdom of 700 wives plus 300 concubines. We hear so much across the pulpit about the wisdom of Solomon but if we began to follow or imitate him we would be excommunicated. "I planted me gardens, i hired me singers etc.. it was all about Solomon. The truth of God's statement to Samuel about a nation wanting kings and what the result would be for the people certainly became true in Solomon's era.

To Solomon's credit, when he reflected on those things he considered it all vanity (emptiness). Solomon concluded that everything he strove for was vanity and that the whole purpose of life was to love God and keep his commandments.

[Wade]

I have a real problem with Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. I cannot begin to comprehend the wisdom - it seems to me at the beginning he understood, but then he went on to use (abuse?) the resources his father had left him. I can't wrap my head around the wisdom of 700 wives plus 300 concubines. We hear so much across the pulpit about the wisdom of Solomon but if we began to follow or imitate him we would be excommunicated. "I planted me gardens, i hired me singers etc.. it was all about Solomon. The truth of God's statement to Samuel about a nation wanting kings and what the result would be for the people certainly became true in Solomon's era.

I try to keep in mind that; wisdom is as profitable to the person wielding it, as his heart is right in using it. Solomon's wisdom and writings can be very profitable for us even if his wisdom didn't profit him so much... I think...

[Bootstrap]

The Ecclesiastes thread is getting an awful lot of page views. That's great!

[lesterb]

I have a real problem with Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. I cannot begin to comprehend the wisdom - it seems to me at the beginning he understood, but then he went on to use (abuse?) the resources his father had left him. I can't wrap my head around the wisdom of 700 wives plus 300 concubines. We hear so much across the pulpit about the wisdom of Solomon but if we began to follow or imitate him we would be excommunicated. "I planted me gardens, i hired me singers etc.. it was all about Solomon. The truth of God's statement to Samuel about a nation wanting kings and what the result would be for the people certainly became true in Solomon's era.

To Solomon's credit, when he reflected on those things he considered it all vanity (emptiness). Solomon concluded that everything he strove for was vanity and that the whole purpose of life was to love God and keep his commandments.

Actually, his conclusion was to fear God and keep his commandments. The difference between the two is significant, and I will need to add a chapter or postlude to my book to deal with that. I think that this aptly portrays the difference between the two covenants.

[lesterb]

The Ecclesiastes thread is getting an awful lot of page views. That's great!

Yes, everytime I wonder if it is worth my while to update it, some more traffic comes along. I'm reading it all, even though I don't always take the time to comment on the comments.

If it ever gets published, I'll have to list all you guys as reviewers!

[lesterb]

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. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. (Ecc 1:9-10 KJV)

How do you view a statement like this? Do we have to find a way to prove that it is true? I've heard of people claiming that the pre-diluvian natives had airplanes, for instance.

Or do we simply view this as an observation by Solomon that could be right or wrong, and is probably wrong? A little like the passages in Job that record the words (right and wrong) of Job's friends.

I have always considered this passage to be true and something that I noted with my own observations. For example, history is full of repeating patterns. However, bringing up airplanes throws a real curve ball.

I think I addressed this somewhat in this post.