King Solomon was blessed with great wisdom to judge his people. During his reign, God blessed him also with wealth, a peaceful kingdom, and all the treasures one could possess. His name was known everywhere. Even the Queen of Sheba came to see him, wanting to know if what she had heard was true. When she found it to be the case, she came to worship the one true God. But was it all the stuff that made up the true treasures of joy? Or was it God himself who is that treasure? This King Solomon knew, at least he did know at one time in his life. And although it faded for a time in his life, he returned to understanding this once again at the end of the day.
There are times when I too feel the weight of this world. The more I have seen, the more futile it all seems. This week alone, I have felt the sorrow of two dear friends’ loss as they watched their father pass away. A patient came who could barely walk, his neck twisted to the side, braces on his legs and arms. Racked with pain, he told me how he was the caregiver for his wife who was bedridden. Another patient with probable ovarian cancer, young and filled with so many traumas of life, from losing her babies shortly after birth to suffering rape. Fears surrounding her mind and life. Some having given so much to serve their country, filled with a mixture of sorrow and faith. Some clinging tight, hoping that grace is real and wondering if God could really love them despite all they have done.
True Treasures of Joy—Where are they now?
10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright words of truth. Ecclesiastes 12 (NKJV)
The book of Ecclesiastes portrayed one man’s search for meaning in life. Written in the later days of King Solomon’s life, he went back to tell of his search for meaning and truth. His conclusion took him back to the beginning, long before all the temptations of life had drawn him away from the only true treasure of joy. This is what he found.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12.
Two instruments used by any shepherd are the rod that goad the sheep into submission, driven away from danger and the nails driven into the fence to hedge them in. But for humanity there is only one Shepherd who can provide this as justly, righteously needed. That one Shepherd is no other than Jesus Christ, the very son of God. He will drive us who believe in Him to obedience and righteousness because he knows our truest treasure of joy is found only in a relationship with God our creator.
Prosperity Can Taint Even a King’s Heart to forsake the true treasures
King Solomon had let prosperity taint his heart for a time, but in the end, he realized how foolish this had been. He knew there were no treasures of joy to be found under the sun. Hence, he wrote Ecclesiastes as an honest depiction of the foolish of the world. He concluded his search with this.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12. (NKJV)
Can the true treasures of joy Be Found Under the Sun? 
God blessed King Solomon with wisdom to judge his people rightly. Additionally, God orchestrated a time of peace within the kingdom and with all the surrounding nations. The nation of Israel was exalted and highly favored for their cultural, architectural, literary, and musical advancements. King Solomon, blessed with bountiful riches and wisdom, was honored by the kings and queens of his day. Having everything, one might think, King Solomon would without fail worship God perfectly. At least. We want to believe that, because we want to believe that if God would give us everything, we think we desire, then we would bow before Him always, obeying His every Command. But that is not the case with human nature. Sometimes the more we have, the more we think we deserve.
King Solomon built the temple and assembled the people, just as a preacher would. He prayed for them, acknowledging the weakness of the people, fearing they would sin against God. Deep within, perhaps he knew that he also could sin too easily. Overwhelmed by the grace of God he dedicated the temple with great humility and instruction. He wrote over 3000 proverbs to guide the people toward righteousness and over 1000 worship songs of praise to God.
Vanity of Vanities Where are the True Treasures
Yet, as the years passed, content with all he had; he slipped away from seeing God’s absolute righteousness. And when one forgets God’s absolute righteousness and His wrath against sin, the wonder of grace slips away. What is then left behind is an empty vapor or whisper of truth.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1 (NKJV)
Vanity is translated from the Hebrew word הָֽבֶל׃ hā·ḇel meaning futile, a fleeting breath, like a vapor here and then gone. That is what all the treasures of this world are—fleeting breath. Joy for a moment, whisked away like a wind that falls into the depths of sorrows. The longer I live the more I realize how nothing here on this earth endures. King Solomon came to realize this only after he had allowed his heart to betray him. He drew away from God to worship other Gods. This after God had appeared to him twice, once in Gibeon when Solomon asked for wisdom and the second time after King Solomon had dedicated the temple to God. All this before King Solomon’s heart faded away. How did it happen? Had God not warned him?
Foolishness Can Cost One the True Treasures of Joy for a Time
2the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea which you have offered before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built, by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there always. I Kings 9
This was the promise, but it was followed by this warning.
6if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have placed before you, but you go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut Israel off from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will expel from My sight. I Kings 9.
And we know that this is what happened. The kingdom was divided into two, torn asunder. Yet, both kingdoms waxed and waned in their worship of the Lord. Then, God sent the Babylonians to conquer Judah and destroy the temple.
Yet, amid all this, God continued to fulfill His promise to both Abraham and to King David. Each time, God showed grace upon a remnant of His people. Jesus was born from the line of David and Solomon to be the final forever, King. He also fulfilled His Promise to King David that His spirit would not leave Solomon. Hence why at the end of the day, King Solomon turned his heart back to God Alone, with great sorrow and repentance as displayed in this book.
So, What Happened?
In all his prosperity, power, wealth, and peace, King Solomon allowed his heart to become complacent. Since life was so easy and his fame so great, King Solomon became nonchalant about worshipping God. Instead, he busied himself with the things of this world. He strayed away from the very truth that had made him great, his humility and trust in God Alone. Then his journey led him into deep despair as he chased after the wind in this world. He found that there was no peace or joy to be found in the pleasures of this world apart from God’s presence in them. By breaching the command of God, he no longer felt the joy of God’s presence in his life. With God, we may enjoy all the beauties and pleasures of this world. Yet, when we seek them apart from God, they are empty and futile. Vanity of vanities, a vapor that quickly disappears leaving only sadness behind.
This is the book of Ecclesiastes. The teacher wants us to know the truths of true wisdom only comes from a proper view of God as supreme righteousness. It is seeing God through our brokenness and realizing that God Alone is Majesty and Righteousness.
It is learning as had David.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon, and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8 (NKJV)
How could it be that God would love someone like me?
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas. Psalm 8
And, yet how often we fail in this very thing. Do we honor Him in all He has given us? Each day we choose today whether our hearts remain true to Him or do we chase after the things of this world. Do we love God with all our heart and soul? Are we willing to lay it all aside for the good of the kingdom and trust Him no matter what this world may bring?
9 O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8 (NKJV)
True Treasures of Joy that Overcome the Sorrows of Life
In contrast we have Jeremiah whom God called to prophesy to the people of God. God told him no one would listen. And even his family turned their backs on him for the message God gave him.
27 “Therefore, you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you. Jeremiah 7: (NKJV)
Furthermore, Jeremiah was forbidden to marry or to have children. He was jailed, and beaten, living in dire poverty. His was a message of judgement. God’s wrath would be poured out upon the nation because they had forsaken the command of God to seek after other idols. Yet, despite his seeing only despair around him, Jeremiah preached God’s word to the people. And then what were his words?
I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
2 He has led me and made me walk
In darkness and not in light.
3 Surely, He has turned His hand against me
Time and time again throughout the day.
19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me. Lamentations 3 (NKJV)
He felt the weight of sorrow and even more because no one listened to his pleas. He knew what would happen and felt all he did failed. How have you ever felt that way? I have. The task seems too great and my strength too little.
But that is when Jeremiah remembered the real Treasures of Joy
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3 (NKJV)
I too deserve nothing of His blessing, but He is faithful in pouring forth grace and mercy toward me.
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3 (NKJV)
So, what should we do?
39 Why should a living man complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins? Lamentations 3
Do I not deserve the chastisement of the Lord? Yet, He so mercifully has saved me. Therefore, let me never forget daily to seek Him and place Him upon the throne of my heart.
40 Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
41 Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven. Lamentations 3 (NKJV)
And so it was that Jeremiah saw God’s goodness amid all the sorrows that surrounded him. He understood that God’s grace far exceeded what anyone deserves. Why should a living man every complain, knowing what our sin truly deserves is God’s wrath? When we keep a right view of God’s righteousness, then we keep a truer view of grace.
In A World of Futility, Let Us Seek to Follow the Command of God
13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12: (NKJV)
Concluding Thoughts
We sometimes think that we know what would make us happy but do we. Many want to preach a gospel that has no brokenness, a feel-good prosperity gospel that does not really address our sin. We whitewash it all with God’s mercy and grace. Oh, yes were it not for His mercy and grace, I would have no hope. It is that if I forget His goodness despite my sin. I wish I could forget the brokenness of my life, forget the sins of my past. But to do so would cause me not to see the magnificence of His grace that has carried me thus far.
So, this is what Solomon meant by these words: “11 The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.”
One Shepherd who truly bore the nails of wrath from God that I deserved. The words remind me of my own failures, but also of His magnificent grace toward me. His mercies are new every morning. And one day, He will return to set every justice right and I shall ride beside Him on that day, not because of my own righteousness, but his. That is what Solomon had learned in the end of His days. God’s spirit never departed from Him, even during the dark days in which his own life led him to utter despair.
Jesus is Coming Again to Righteously Judge–Never Forget
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
He is our true treasure of Joy I will ride behind Him clothed in the clean white linen of His Righteousness.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
Are you ready for His Return?
Let Me Remain
How often Lord, my heart doth moan
I long to see You on Your Throne
This life so burdened with despair
I faint beneath the weight of care
And so, I come to you once more
To ask You guide this ship to shore
Though tossing raging winds surround
Your arms of love make joy abound
Within this heart so broken Lord
I trust Your hand to guide me toward
The way you wish my heart to go
And lay aside each evil foe
That draws my mind away from You
Oh, let me not vain thoughts pursue
I pray dear Lord, you guide my heart
That from your will I dare not part
Though hard the race I cannot lose
For you are all my heart doth choose
And you will bring me safely home
Because of Grace I cannot roam
Oh, pull me tight against your chest
Within your arms I find my rest
Let me remain faithful and true
Until that day I am with You
Give me Your strength that I might stand
A beacon of Your Love so Grand
That all of whom I chance to meet
Will come to bow before your feet
No greater gift have I to give
Than for you Lord, my life to live
In such a way I die to me
That You might shine, this is my plea
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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