Was Solomon a Pessimist and a Hedonist?

T

TMK Sep 1, 2016

This was written by a former pastor of mine:
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As a boy, I thought Ecclesiastes was weird. As a college student, I thought it was just too deep for anyone to really understand. Now, I think I might sorta-kinda be able to maybe-somewhat understand what the wisest man in the world was saying.

For the longest time it just felt to me like Solomon was being so pessimistic ”“

"Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (1:3) … "I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after the wind” (1:14) …
Pleasure, wine, great works, gardens, pools, possessions, wealth, wisdom … it is all vanity ”“ Chapter 2
The world is just full of oppression, tears, misuse of power, discontentment, evil … and ultimately just death ”“ Chapter 4, 6 , 9
Since Solomon had such a dark and pessimistic view of life it appeared to me his life motto was just "live it up because it’s all pointless” ”“ "Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do … enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun” (9:7,9)

But is this really Solomon’s philosophy of life? Or was I missing something?

After close to 25 years in ministry, and close to 25 years of marriage, with kids now heading off to college, I think I may understand the wisdom of Solomon. It wasn’t about hopelessness that leads to hedonistic pleasure, but rather about a hopeful dependance that leads to a joyful freedom. Let me try to explain:

Solomon knew he wasn’t God, so he was free to be human

Solomon gave himself, quite passionately I might add, to flipping over every possible human invention to see if he could find some purpose and delight in life. His conclusion was that there was nothing on earth that could provide for him what only God could. All these human pursuits would never amount to anything disconnected from the heart of a worshipper to the only One worthy of worship. "For apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (2:25). We toil so hard to be in control or to feel like we have accomplished something that will make us feel important. A wise pastor-mentor of mine used to describe how young men are trying to convince those around them that they have something significant to contribute, and older men are trying to convince those around them that they made some significant contribution in their life. I think Solomon would say that both are vanity! The wise Preacher knew that he was no savior, and for as much wisdom and wealth and power as he had, he was simply a created being whose "almond tree blossoms” (gray hair comes ”“ 12:5), and one day his "golden bowl is broken” (the head goes … dementia, alzheimers ?? ”“ 12:6). It takes living some years to come to the realization that the next great spiritual awakening in America probably isn’t going to happen through a sermon you preach. But in that there is immense freedom. Freedom to trust the only wise God who has given you gifts to use and enjoy during the days of your life. You and I are free to be weak and needy, frail and faltering, so we can be trusting and true to the God who always gives out of the abundance of His grace.

Solomon knew life was hard, so he didn’t have to make excuses

Solomon had both experienced and witnessed enough evil and pain in the world to know that there was no human remedy to such suffering. Young people often haven’t suffered enough, nor have a firm enough grasp on the sovereignty of God to confidently hold pain and the goodness of God together. I know I struggled to know how to do that. I think Solomon had come to understand that you don’t have to conclude that God doesn’t care when you see heartache and trauma around you. I think Solomon had come to recognize that there is another answer to pain in the world other than God must not exist or isn’t a God of love. I think Solomon in all his searching finally removed himself from the throne and chose to trust a God He would never fully understand. He didn’t feel the need to feverishly try to prop God up so He looked better to the fools and folly around him (that never works). Nor did he give in to the arrogance of human wisdom in being the pot who challenges the Potter. What freedom there is knowing life is hard, God is God, and He doesn’t need you to come to His aid. You and I can be honest in tears, joyful in pleasure, and resist being the fool who lives to counsel the LORD.

Solomon knew God was King, so he could enjoy being in the Kingdom

The lore of King Solomon is great in the Bible. He sought God for wisdom and got it in spades. We might say ”“ He was the man! Therefore, one might think after Solomon concluded his quest for the meaning of life and discovered he actually wasn’t the man that he’d be fatalistic and depressed. Quite the opposite was true of Solomon. His diligent pursuit of "everything that is done under the sun” (1:14) led him to conclude he wasn’t God. His honest reflection on "the oppressions that are done under the sun” (4:1) made him realize life is simply hard and full of pain on this fallen planet. But those conclusions didn’t sink him, but rather gave him greater focus and freedom in life. He saw "all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun” (8:17) and rather than waste his time focused on trying to do God’s job, he could focus on delighting in God’s work. That meant worship through hard work, obedient living, and delighting in the God who gives good gifts to His children.

Our friend Tim Keller and others have elevated the emphasis on "idols of the heart”. Solomon would certainly resonate with that concept. Ecclesiastes ought to be an "idol-smashing tool” in our lives to the idol of control, the idol of comfort, and the idol of influence. Those pesky little idols rob you of job, they steal your freedom, and they make you a slave to vain living. When you and I, like Solomon, finally gain enough Godly wisdom, we too can simply enjoy being a servant in the household of the King. It is a really great place to be!

sermonindex Sep 3, 2016

Dear Brother Todd,

This is a little jewel!
"The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious..."
My tendency is to skip over Ecclesiastes, but now I will read with grace.
Thank you so much for posting. Your pastor was very wise for plummeting below the surface. The Holy Spirit gave him a snorkel :-)

Sis Leslie

T

TMK Sep 3, 2016

Yes he was a great guy- very smart but with a very soft and gentle heart. When we first started at his church he preached through the book of John- it took over a year! I loved that because so many pastors would be worried that the congregation would get "bored" with taking so long to teach through a book. I thought it was awesome.

Leaving his church when we moved was very difficult.

I

InTheLight Sep 3, 2016

On the subject of Solomon, Carter Conlon gives some terrific insight into the mystery of how such a wise man could fall into darkness;

http://carterconlon.com/newsletter/19525/

In Christ,

sermonindex Sep 3, 2016

Solomon, a picture of the flesh fighting against the Spirit and vice-versa.
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And yet, Solomon represents a "Type" of Christ as "The Wisdom of God". His book, the Song of Solomon represents a type of Christ as the "Lover of our Soul". Solomon and the Shulamite are a picture of Christ and His Bride. The Temple of Solomon is a picture of "Christ and His Church".

Amazing, what God can do in and through mere men!

Christ lives in us,,,how are we representing and manifesting Him? We are much more than a "type", as Christ dwells in us by faith. We ARE His Temple.

sermonindex Sep 3, 2016

Solomon was a real man, and one God had chosen, anointed and given wisdom and smarts that surpassed everyone else in his time and maybe ours. So even though we may want to analyze him to distraction, maybe this pastor of Todd 's hit the nail on the head.

Solomon, after years of experience and observation, obeying AND disobeying God, wondering why people and he couldn't change, even though they had the tools, (the law)...

"Rather than focusing on trying to do God's job, he could focus on delighting in God's work,obedient living and delighting in the God who gives good gifts to his children." Sounds like freedom in Christ. :-)
The "idol smashing tool" Christ Jesus, finally gave Solomon the power to give up the idea of being in control, of needing comfort and influence, of doing, doing, doing. And In the end he, as we all must, become dead to self and alive in Christ. Even then !

I think Frank's post on the difference between our own vain thinking the freedom of living by the Spirit is apropo here also.

I've spent years being religious and spinning my wheels. I am refreshed in the Lord by many of you here and appreciate that Jesus had given us a place to be challenged in our thinking.

Just my ruminatings this day,
May we delight in the Lord this day

L

sermonindex Sep 4, 2016

Uncheck, Overly Self-Indulgent Hedonism (which Solomon had access to)...naturally leads to Pessimism (or worse)...

...I think that was Solomon's point in Ecclesiastes ("The Inspired Book of Error"), no?

Whereby all that partying, potion ingesting, sinning and sexing, led Solomon to the final conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, 13-14 -- The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Amen...

Solomon was in an unusual position to undertake the experiments and investigations reflected in this book, because during the forty years of his reign there was utter peace in the kingdom of Judah and Israel. There were no tribes around stirring up warfare or strife. Since he did not have to bother himself with military life, he had all the time he needed to pursue his investigations into the meaning of life. Furthermore, he had all the wealth he needed, and he had a keen, logical, discerning mind which had gained for him the reputation as the wisest man in the world. He had all that he needed, and he set himself to discover what life is all about. Therefore, the value of Ecclesiastes is that it sets forth life from the standpoint of the natural man, apart from divine revelation.

His experimentation in Hedonism led his, again to a view of the natural man's life without God:

"Vanity of vanities, says the Debater, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 1:2 RSV)

And here, the word "vanity" does mean conceit, but rather
"vanity" here in Ecclesiastes means emptiness, futility, meaninglessness. The debater has completed his survey of life, and he gives this conclusion at the beginning of the book. He says everything is futile, empty, meaningless -- there is no sense to anything.

more to come...

sermonindex Sep 4, 2016

See Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

In chapter 2 Solomon examines the philosophy of hedonism -- the pursuit of pleasure as the chief end of life. What gives life meaning? Well, millions today say, "Just enjoy yourself! Have a good time, live it up, do as you like, seek pleasure. That's the purpose of living. That's why we are here!" But Solomon, the Debater says:

"I said to myself, "Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity." (Ecclesiastes 2:1 RSV)

And remember, "vanity" is synonymous with "futility"

Then he proceeds to itemize pleasure. He says that first he tried pleasure in the form of laughter, or mirth. Maybe this is what is needed to make life thoroughly enjoyable. So he sought out opportunities to give himself to genial, gracious, laughing, happy company. But he says that after a time, even this yielded a weariness of spirit.

Then he says he tried the acquisition of possessions; perhaps meaning comes from wealth:

"So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them;" (Ecclesiastes 2:9-10a RSV)

And he gave himself to the accumulation of wealth and possessions. (How many are living on that level today!) He says it too was emptiness of spirit and didn't satisfy his longing.

And then he says:

"I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly[That is, he considered opposites in the realm of ideas]; for what can the man do who comes after the king?" (Ecclesiastes 2:12a RSV)

"Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness." (Ecclesiastes 2:13a RSV)

He says, "This is better, at least. Here is something that is interesting: pursuing all these various ideas about life. Ah, but," he says. "I found that it comes out at the same place." The fool and the wise man alike die. And as far as their lives are concerned, one is as utterly insignificant as the other. It doesn't make any difference.

After Solomon's experimentation Hedonistic exploits, he comes to this terrible (Pessimistic) conclusion:

"So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind." (Ecclesiastes 2:17 RSV)

Here is a man who has given himself to pleasure, to possessions, and to the pursuit of wisdom in the realm of ideas, and he says,

"I hated life. I hated all my toil. I turned about and gave my heart up to despair." That is what he came to, isn't it? Just as it is what anyone will come to: only despair."

QED: HEDONISM BREEDS PESSIMISM, AND THAT IS THE EXPERIENTIAL LESSON TAUGHT BY THE WISE SOLOMON IN ECCLESIASTES...

sermonindex Sep 4, 2016

How does a wise man fall into darkness...woman...1300 of them...in Solomon's case...

G

ginnyrose Sep 5, 2016

I just love the book of Ecclesiastes. When you tell people they will look at you weird.

The bottom line is - and some other expressed this idea as well - is that we are tempted to think that if I had this or that or accomplished this or that then I would be happy or satisfied. Solomon says it doesn't work, "it is vanity". It is futile. And he is right.

When the pressure gets too great I love to read Ecclesiastes and Revelation to help me regain a proper perspective of life. How liberating that is!

Thanks for sharing.

Sandra

edited

sermonindex Sep 11, 2016

"The bottom line is - and some other expressed this idea as well - is that we are tempted to think that if I had this or that or accomplished this or that then I would be happy or satisfied. Solomon says it doesn't work, "it is vanity". It is futile. And he is right."

Thank you for summing it up completely, Sister ginnyrose!

Love-in-Christ,

kyp