Misunderstood Day 4 God Wants Me to be Happy: Digging Deeper
Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) Solomon says that his mind was guiding him with wisdom (v. 3) and that his wisdom remained with him (v. 9). What kind of wisdom did Solomon have?
2) What does Solomon mean in verse 10 when he says that he took pleasure in all of his struggles?
3) In all of his wisdom, why was Solomon not able to find meaning in the pleasures and accomplishments of this world?
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2 I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind the pull of wine on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly, until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
4 I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. 7 I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. 11 When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Original Intent
1) Solomon says that his mind was guiding him with wisdom (v. 3) and that his wisdom remained with him (v. 9). What kind of wisdom did Solomon have?
Not long after Solomon became king, God came to Solomon and said, “Ask. What should I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5) Solomon could have asked for anything: riches, health, fame, love. Instead, he asked for wisdom (v. 9), which ironically was very wise! Solomon’s wisdom wasn’t worldly wisdom, it was godly wisdom. He had wisdom that was greater than his own knowledge, worldly strategies, and philosophy of the day.
2) What does Solomon mean in verse 10 when he says that he took pleasure in all of his struggles? What does Solomon mean in verse 10 when he says that he took pleasure in all of his struggles?
As king, Solomon had many struggles and problems despite his wisdom. Even in hard times, Solomon found ways to have joy. Solomon’s great wisdom allowed him to see past the temporary pain. Proverbs 1:33 says that whoever listens to wisdom will not be disturbed by the dread of danger. Godly wisdom allows us to find pleasure when we are faced with difficulty.
3) In all of his wisdom, why was Solomon not able to find meaning in the pleasures and accomplishments of this world?
Solomon was able to indulge in all that the world had to offer. His palace and his riches are famous, but none of this fulfilled him. In the end, he found that everything was futile. There was nothing to be gained under the sun. Solomon was looking in the wrong place. True fulfillment is not found under the sun – it is found in the Creator of the sun and everything under it. Solomon did not find joy because he was delighting in the created instead of the Creator. (Romans 1:24-25) In the end Solomon concludes: “When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Everyday Application
1) Solomon says that his mind was guiding him with wisdom (v. 3) and that his wisdom remained with him (v. 9). What kind of wisdom did Solomon have?
We live in a world where information and knowledge are almost always at our fingertips. An answer to any question is just a quick Google search away. College is more accessible than ever. There are endless ways to learn new things and ideas. Is all of this knowledge the same kind of wisdom that Solomon had? Knowledge and information do not equal wisdom from God. Do you trust in the wisdom of the world? Or do you seek wisdom that comes from above? Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Wisdom from God will always endure where wisdom from the world fails.
2) What does Solomon mean in verse 10 when he says that he took pleasure in all of his struggles?
James 1:2-4 says that we should consider it joy when we face trials because it grows us in our faith. The very next verse says, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” (v. 5) James knew that when we face trials, we need wisdom from God in order to persevere. Praise be to God, that even in our trials we can find joy through the wisdom that He provides!
3) In all of his wisdom, why was Solomon not able to find meaning in the pleasures and accomplishments of this world?
Like Solomon, worldly pleasures are all around us. Have you ever thought, “If I only had _____, then I would be happy.”? Insert anything you like: that job, a husband, the perfect house, more money, a better body, etc. God cares about the desires of our heart. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus instructs, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” God wants to provide for us, and when we are seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, our desires will align with His. Later in the same sermon, Jesus says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:11). James says that every good and perfect gift is from God (James 1:17). God gives good gifts for us to enjoy, but we must remember that our joy comes from the Creator, not the created.
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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