The Preacher/Qohelet focuses on the lack of value in hedonistic pleasure and then more generally on the nature of life without a God-centered focus.
Qohelet’s heart guided him with wisdom while being driven to explore the human condition. He set out to test himself with mirth and pleasure to find what is good and instruct his fellow man. This includes luxuries, wine, sexual delight and frivolous amusement. He came to realize what little such pleasures accomplish. While there may be a time and place for aspects this behavior, the implication is to keep God first.
Qohelet moves onto to substantive accomplishments. He built magnificent structures, parks, vineyards and gardens. There were pools and flowing water to irrigate and beautify. He had generations of servants. He amassed treasures, acquiring more than anyone in Jerusalem. He commissioned the greatest entertainers. He also availed himself of lustful pleasure, holding many a wife and concubine. In military affairs, he received the fruits of conquest – land and tributes from Kings and provinces.
Whatever mine eye desired for pleasure; I took for myself.
Through endeavors that were both useful and decedent, hisheart would became temporarily cheerful.
Still, he recognized: my labor was as productive as herding thewind, for all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no gain under the Sun.
The grandest earthly accomplishment fails to bring the lasting satisfaction that comes from a relation with the Almighty.
There is little for even the man who succeeds the king. In other words, the Next Great Man will do no more. The most famous often grow old and observe their influence fade. Solomon’s own heir inherited Jerusalem at its apex, but presided over a miserable decent into civil war.
Qohelet moves on to focus on death, observing how it reaches us all – the wiseman & fool. So to what end, he ponders, did that all his intellect amount to?
Thus, Qohelet came to hate life because all done under the sun was distressing, being vanity and vexation of spirit. He despaired over his labor and possessions, for he mustleave it all behind to someone without the same drive and stewardship. Such thoughts solidify the pointlessness of life. He considered much of our days are sorrowful, doing burdensome work for no lasting result, where even night brings no rest.
He ponders if it would be better to take a “live for the day” view, that man should merely enjoy what is in front of him.
Implicit is that death can rob our lives of meaning, ifoverly focused on the earthly. Yet, Qohelet is making the point that such living is profane; and there is a Holy way to conduct oneself.
He stresses how nobody could acquire more than he -- in enjoyment, homes, gardens, women, riches, and luxury. His life could be expected to have been a never-ending stream of Joy. Instead, his experience revealed the meaningless world. He feels much worse-off than than the most humble man connected to the Lord.
Qohelet seems to acknowledge, that if you life without God as your anchor, temporary relief brings no lasting good. It willonly yield moments of levity.
He concludes the capture noting,
For God giveth good to a man that is good in his sight: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up,that he may give to him that is good before God.
Is this saying all eventually goes to the Good, in someway or another? Or, is this saying that God makes the ultimate decision on whom to favor and when? And that tryingto trying to keep score with respect to one person's situation versus another is the ultimate vexation of spirit. For we will never be able to make sense of the infinite problems of the world, as you can only see them from Your limited vantage point, with one lifetime of experience.
