Ecclesiastes 2:10-14

Last week we looked at how Solomon indulged himself in sensuous living in this life, this reality, "under the sun." He acquired and built virtual playgrounds with entertainers and servants at his command.

In verse 10 he reviews his accomplishments again. He expands his thought here by saying that he experienced enjoyment of all his accomplishments. They were virtually limitless. Solomon came to power in a relatively secure time. His father David had done all of the hard work of conquest. This was a period of transition among the peoples of the area. At this time there was a power void and smaller kingdoms such as Israel were able to rise to power. It was not until later that the Assyrians and Babylonians rose to power. Solomon's power and influence have been discovered as far away as South America. During this period of tranquility Solomon deftly built political and economic ties with the neighboring nations. Solomon can acknowledge that there was reward in these accomplishments. We all can identify with his assessment. We know that accomplishments do bring a certain amount of satisfaction. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 13:19 that "the desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." As we talked about last week this kind of expansive almost limitless control can be a powerful elixir. Intoxicating to the brain.

Yet Solomon could say that that in the final analysis they are empty. "Chasing after wind." All the work, effort and exertion do not last. Now Solomon is telling us that "beyond the sun" these things do not ultimately satisfy. Of course until we have accomplished comparable feats we have not learned this lesson in wisdom. We continue to strive after the illusion. Seldom are we able to accept the reality of this lesson in wisdom from those who have gone before us. We think our needs are different. That we can handle it. "Don't drink the kool aid." Solomon is saying it doesn't satisfy I have known of several people who have been able to accomplish comparable achievements to what Solomon did and be able to have a logical and balanced view of it. but they are few.

Now Solomon turns to wisdom. He has tried merrymaking, grand accomplishments, great wealth and secular acquisitions and accomplishments. Now he decides to try wisdom. Of course the literary structure of this quest has whetted our appetite for this for we think that wisdom is the answer. Solomon says that wisdom does have an advantage over folly. He uses the metaphor of light over darkness. The comparison here is that wisdom enlightens our way just like physical light illumines the way for a person who is in the dark. Folly is like living in darkness. Solomon tempers our proclivity to adopt wisdom as the magic pill to sooth all of life's uncertainties and strivings. While wisdom makes the journey easier by illumining our way and helping us to not fall down needlessly ultimately both the man who lives by wisdom and the one who lives by folly arrive at the same place. The same fate awaits them both. This is what is called a merism. This may also be understood by what is called synecdoche the part for th whole. He uses the wise man i.e. himelf but wise people at large and the fool being anyone else who does not live by wisdom. So that he is not speaking simply of two people but of people in general. Their is also an ellipsis here. The fate is death but Solomon euphemistically leaves that out. The reader is left to supply this for himself. Experience this void in the text uniquely and singularly much as we experience death. A void of physical life.

And how does this apply to addiction and compulsivity? Compulsive and addictive behavior often fuels the acquisitions Solomon was able to carry out. Enormous amounts of money are needed to finance much addictive and compulsive behavior. But all of this is most certainly a "chasing after wind." There is no serenity only turbulence. No tranquility only twistedness. In recovery we are not overcome by fear. Not that we will not experience the emotion of fear but we don't have to be overcome by it.

Our time is up for this week so until next week "keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it."