Proved with Mirth and Pleasure - Ecclesiastes 2:1

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.”, and in chapter two and verse one of his book Solomon said, “I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure”, where we read,

I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: 

and, behold, this also is vanity.

The verse reads, “I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure:” Solomon began with the words, “I said in my heart”  or “I, Solomon, uttered, declared and proclaimed within my soul, mind and will”, “go to now” which means “come, proceed and live”, “I will prove you” or “I, Solomon, will test, try, and assay you, Solomon’s own self” “with mirth” which means “by the use of joy, gladness, gaiety and pleasure”, “therefore enjoy pleasure” or “wherefore, then and on this account see, look at, perceive and consider that which is good, pleasant, agreeable and excellent”. Solomon purposed within his soul and mind to test and try himself by the use of gladness and pleasure, so he began to consider that which is agreeable and excellent.

The verse goes on to say, “and, behold, this also is vanity.” Daniel continued with  the words, “and, behold” or “and, lo, look and consider”, “this also is vanity” which means “this, the pursuit of that which is filled with joy and gaiety, even so and indeed exists as vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness”. Solomon concluded that the pursuit of happiness and gaiety also ends in unsatisfactory emptiness.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how he moved from the pursuit of educational and mental accouterments  such as “wisdom and understanding” to pleasurable acts and deeds. His idea was to seek after happiness and things that are pleasurable, however, he found them to be empty as well. It has been said, “sin is pleasurable for a season”, however, that season soon ends and a person finds themselves pursuing another means to make them feel happy and pleased. God is aware of this, and His idea is to bring eternal salvation to every person who yields their life to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the satisfaction of His Holy Spirit who will guide us into His truth that continually satisfies in a way no other pursuit of pleasure will. 

Next time Solomon says, “I said of laughter, It is mad”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".