The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 3 Life Without God Is Vexation Of Spirit
Solomon uses another phrase that we will discover today. It is the phrase "vexation of spirit" and nine of the ten times it is used, are in the book of Ecclesiastes.
He is painting a picture of what your life or my life would be without God. Without knowing God through faith in Jesus Christ, life lacks purpose, meaning and fulfillment.
We must remember that King Solomon had everything that this life could offer. He had power, prestige, and wealth beyond measure. He literally could go anywhere and do anything that his heart desired.
As a young king, he also loved God and delighted in walking in His ways. Jehovah told him that he would be greatly blessed as long as he followed God with all of his heart.
Solomon was faithful for a long time, but then, he sought strange women and took hundreds of strange wives.
What God warned would happen, did happen. They turned Solomon's heart away from following hard after Jehovah.
This book was written later in the king's reign. He moved from a life of being richly blessed by God, to a life of sensual worldliness and idolatry.
Thus, he writes to us having lost many of the blessings he previously enjoyed.
Vanity and vexation of spirit is all the world offers.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
The Preacher often intersperses summary statements through this book of wisdom literature.
He declares that he has fully and intently investigated all the works done by man in this world, and found them to be empty of meaning and purpose.
Then, the king summarized mankind's many activities as "vexation of spirit." This phrase speaks about our true self, our inner man that is longing for something, but is unable to find it. It remains with empty, unsatisfied longings.
I can tell you that this sums up how I was as a young man. My parents divorced, our family was shattered, and I sought for something to fill the longing and emptiness in my heart.
However, many years later, through the testimony of my godly wife, I responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was born again, and began a fresh start in life, walking in newness of life, with our Lord.
Only God can fill that empty place in our hearts. Only God can satisfy those longings for something that all people desire to have.
We cannot find satisfaction or joy in wealth, things, experiences or relationships. We can only find it in God, through faith in Jesus Christ.
The eminent mathematician and scientist Pascal, had much to say about this.
Pascal was a remarkable man. He was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher.
He invented a primitive computing device and made great advances concerning the existence and nature of a vacuum.
However, as a Christian, he wrote insightfully about another kind of vacuum, in the human heart. His words directly address the vexation of spirit that Solomon wrote about.
“What else does this
craving, and this helplessness proclaim but that there was once in man a true
happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he
tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking the things that are
not there, the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help,
since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable
object; in other words by God himself.”
We are born with a fallen nature and corrupt hearts.
Ecclesiastes 1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
Man's life was made crooked by the sin of Adam and Eve. We cannot be made straight and right by any natural means.
More education won't fix our hearts. Working harder and longer will not straighten us out.
Self reformation or asceticism will not correct the crooked ways of a human heart.
Man is helpless to fix this spiritual lacking that each of us is born with. Only God can correct that which is crooked and lacking in us.
We can praise Him for giving a new heart and a new spirit to all who repent of their sins and turn with repentant faith, to Jesus Christ.
Solomon enjoyed all things but found them lacking.
Ecclesiastes 1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
The Preacher turns to tell us of his own experiences. He communed with his own heart, “I spoke, I, with my heart, saying.” When successful in my researches, but not happy in my soul, though easy in my circumstances, I entered into my own heart, and there inquired the cause of my discontent."
Solomon learned that he had gotten wisdom beyond all men. Added to this was wealth and honor more than any other king. His diligent inquiries gained him more practical wisdom than all his predecessors.
Seeking only worldly wisdom is folly.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Solomon tried pleasure in all its forms. He tried sobriety and self denial. He listened to the rantings of fools and the speculations of philosophers, but found no solace in any of it. All that the world could offer was vexation of spirit.
Secular wisdom increases sorrow and heartache.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
The more we know of ourselves the less satisfied we are with our own hearts. The more we learn of mankind, the less willing we are to trust or admire people.
Increasing knowledge also increases sorrow. Why. Because seeking knowledge independently of God is empty, and vexation of spirit.
In other words, Solomon is showing us the futility and hopelessness of life without God.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Praise God that He did not leave us to our own devices. He did everything necessary to make salvation available to all people, without regard to their status in life.
Praise God for His great love that made the way for us to know Him, and find satisfaction and purpose in this life.
I pray that each of you truly know God and enjoy walking with Him each day, in the light of His Word and during times of prayer.
Life does have purpose, meaning and fulfillment for all who trust Jesus Christ. God will indeed, fill that empty place in our hearts, when we repent of sin and turn to the Savior.
May the words from Jeremiah bless and encourage us as we go through this life, seeking to honor God and live for His glory.
Bob
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24) But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
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