Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings, dear ones.
Becki and I were able to knock out our little “wog” (walk/jog). Nice pleasant morning. But, once again, it’s amazing how much time is consumed with just living and following the requirements of the mundane. It’s already 11:30am!
Yesterday was a cooler day…a perfect day for doing outside work, but I mainly did some inside sign work. Today is much warmer…but I plan to mainly do outside work. Oh well… At least we’re not bound to any big commitments.
May the rest of your day be a good one…with the essential ingredient of God’s blessing.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Solomon, like so many I meet along my life course, speaks with pompous arrogance and authority about things he doesn’t really know. Perhaps he is so intoxicated with his own abilities, achievements, and claim to wisdom that he can’t see much beyond them. Add to this the darkening effect of his own moral failures (like worshipping other gods when God has clearly commanded exclusivity, e.g., Exodus 20:3-6; Deuteronomy 5:7-10), and we now observe him doing everything he can to support and substantiate those failures. Therefore, it becomes expected that his NATURAL SIN NATURE would assist him to develop a worldview that basically says, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” (e.g., 2:24-26; 3:9-14; 5:18-20; 6:3-6; etc.).
When Solomon asserts that there is no such thing as an afterlife, that humans “have no further reward,” many who drink the same intoxicating self-centered and secular stuff will say, “Amen!—preach it, brother!” But a very legitimate question to raise with these Solomon-types is, “How do you know that?” or, “Are you sure?” I concede that I’ve never died before, so I can’t speak with absolute authority from the platform of experience, but neither can they! Nevertheless, I’m convinced that this, and matters like it, boil down to a more basic over-arching question: WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?
Indeed, the world is a cacophony of voices—all making truth claims. How do people make their selections of which voice to heed? The loudest? The happiest? The one laced with the most comedy and laughter? The one that gets the majority vote? The most sensational and dramatic? The one that fits best with their opinions? Let me offer this advice: Whatever you do, don’t believe the voice of Solomon entirely! His recurring thesis of meaninglessness in this text of Ecclesiastes is a recipe for depression and worse. As is the case with all other cult leaders, they mix into their opinion-driven scheme just enough Biblical truth to make it sound good—even wonderful. His is a voice of danger as presented here. How so? Two reasons come to mind:
- Solomon’s basic message within this book is delivered from a disillusioned secular backslidden heart condition. That condition prevents the perspective of upbeat positive Biblical faith and purpose.
- “One greater than Solomon is here”—representing greater knowledge (He made knowledge!—and knows everything about everything!)—greater authority (He IS authority!)—greater truth (He is TRUTH!—not just a better opinion.).
If the voice of God affirms (as reaffirmed by Jesus) that “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth (voice) of God” (Matthew 4:4), what chance for success do we face if we ignore or oppose His voice? Furthermore, if we are only caught up with the loud cacophony of voices, what chance do we face of tuning in to the “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12) of His voice?