“After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.” Ecclesiastes 2:3 NLT
When I read about Solomon, in the early years I am impressed by his humility, loyalty and wisdom as he ruled the Israelite Empire. And, an empire it was for sure. Israel extended into the Sinai desert near Egypt in the south and to the Euphrates River in the north. It was roughly three times the size of Israel today and would have included parts of present-day Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Solomon himself was “greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.” God also granted him wisdom beyond any other human being. And yet Solomon finds himself searching, wanting, still “seeking wisdom.” In chapter two, he goes looking for trouble – “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life,”2:1.
It’s the next sentence that boggles my mind. “And while still seeking wisdom… I clutched at foolishness.” What a strange oxymoronic pursuit! God gave him more than enough smarts for several lifetimes, but it wasn’t enough? Proverbs and Ecclesiastes is filled with unfathomable wisdom, plenty to know about God, to love God and how to do right. Everything one needs to fulfill Micah’s self-examined question – what does the LORD require of us? Solomon started out with a life of acting justly, loving mercy, walking humbly with God! It seems as though Solomon’s pursuit of MORE had the strange effect of bewitching his life, family and future.
Solomon had the means and the shadowed motivation of experiencing the only “happiness” most find in the brevity of life? He bought and built anything his heart desired. He was consumed with this one idea, “Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure,” 2:10. He did the most dangerous, crazy social experiment any human would attempt, ”So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?).” Solomon did it so that we wouldn’t have to… or want to? Plunging himself into deep stupidity. Who would aspire to simultaneously be the smartest and dumbest human? What drove him? I have no idea!
I do know folks that have an insatiable hunger for more. And, conversely, I also know people that seem insanely driven to failure and oddly addicted to foolishness! Both are so sad to watch. I’m not trying to be self effacing, but I am just not smart enough to be one and certainly not dumb enough to be the other! Oh, I want to be wise, but not so much that it drives me to the edge of insanity. I have learned so much from the wisdom God gave Solomon. I’m hoping I will never need his tips on foolishness, other than avoiding them.
Prayer
Dad,
When I started following Jesus I dove deeply into Proverbs because I was socially delayed as well as lacked discipline. Going through relationships and exploring love for the first time I also spent time in Psalms to learn how to both express and understand the disappointments of life as a teenager. I never did spend too much time trying to understand Solomon and the life lessons he provided. Now, all these years later I understand a little more, but I am still missing the big WHY of his life and Ecclesiastical writings. To have so much and yet still succumb to all the traps of sin and the lusts in our soul, leaves me puzzled still. I do trust you and know there was great purpose in having Solomon record his experiences as the “teacher.” Maybe by the time life ends I’ll figure it all out. Then again, maybe I won’t 🤨.