Day 166 – Solomon & His Death

• In today’s study, as we finish off our time looking at the life of Solomon, we’re thinking about the massive subject of the meaning of life! We’ll think about theme by looking at Solomon’s reflections on the subject as we return to the book of Ecclesiastes.
• How long did Solomon reign? If you consider David a good king (i.e. one who followed God) and Saul a bad king, where would you put Solomon, based on what we’ve read about his life?
• Ecclesiastes is a tough book to understand, as I’ve already eluded to! Do you have a study bible? Read the introduction to the book to help give context to what it says, especially for an overview of the passages we haven’t read. You may have already read the first chapter (in which case today’s readings should serve as a reminder of these challenging words) and you would do well to think about what we studied when we looked at Ecclesiastes 2 a few days ago.
• The ESV uses the word “vanity” in Ecclesiastes 1:2, whereas the NIV uses “meaningless”. I think it’s helpful to consider both words. It could also be called “vapour” or “mist” – something difficult to grasp, and temporary. What’s Solomon saying in the first eleven verses? What is he saying is “meaningless”?
• Have you ever heard the phrase “there’s nothing new under the sun”? If so, did you know it came from this passage? What does this phrase mean?
• In Ecclesiastes 1:12-17 Solomon looks honestly at his life. At the time of writing Ecclesiastes , he’s likely to have been an old man. What do you think his regrets were as he looked back on his life? Do you think you would be able to consider taking his advice and experiences to heart now in your youth to avoid making similar mistakes in your own life?
• What interesting thing does the author write in Ecclesiastes 1:18? It’s not saying that you can be “too wise”. Perhaps in understanding the world, do you think Solomon can see more clearly the devastating nature of sin and the meaninglessness of a life that’s separate from God?
• Ecclesiastes 12 starts with a great verse, which I’ve used when praying for young people such as yourselves at church. The passage goes on to warn against forgetting God in the ups and downs of life, warning against simply “returning to dust” when you die. It might be a contender for verses to write in the front of your journal.
• What are Solomon’s final thoughts about the “meaning of life”? What are his – and God’s – final plea to you in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14?

We’ve heard many times in TGI & Eureka that Jesus is the creator of all things and that our purpose in life is to glorify Him. A life outside of Jesus assumes that we come from nothing… and we go to nothing. What hope, or reason, does that give our lives in between, if that’s the case? Solomon is clear about that. We can strive to be the best at something, or we can take pride in a job well done. But that’s it. We live, we reproduce, we look after our bit of the world, and we die. In the end, isn’t that meaningless, or vanity?

Think bigger. In Jesus we have a heavenly purpose and an eternal home. That puts this life into perspective, as well as giving it complete meaning. As Christians, I hope that encourages you greatly! It should, also, be immensely freeing. You may still feel the trappings of this life, the desire to join and conform, and the lure of the world’s temptations. But beyond all that we have a wonderful freedom which can be found in knowing that our greatest treasure, meaning, worth, joy – you name it – can be found in Christ alone, and nothing else. In other words, we can live a life that’s excited for what’s to come, rather than one of fear of missing out.