the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
The Preacher applied his heart first of all to knowledge. How many exciting things there are to discover in every sphere: the arts, the sciences, travel, archaeology . . . Today through modern resources they are within the reach of young people. But the further the wise man advances in his research, the harder become the problems and the more he may be discouraged. The human spirit is imprisoned within the walls of its own reasoning. Only the Word of God can set free the mind of man and impart true knowledge. An unpleasant job, weariness, pain and sorrow — such is the sad conclusion of the wise man (Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 1:18; Ecclesiastes 12:12).
Then he says to himself, "Let us think now only about the pleasures of life" (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3). But there too his experience does not satisfy — vanity and folly are the words which sum it up this time. All human joy is spoilt by the realisation that it will not last (Proverbs 14:13).
Perhaps an abundance of earthly riches will be able to satisfy him? Who was better placed than Solomon to accumulate and manage riches, to accomplish these "great" things which human ambition is always planning? (2 Chronicles 9:22). Let us listen then to his final assessment of them: "Vanity and pursuit of the wind" (v. 11; JND trans.).
