Turn, Turn, Turn
I spent most of June rereading and studying the book of Ecclesiastes, using Alistair Begg’s study “Ecclesiastes: Chasing the Wind.”
It takes effort to study the Bible. Like eating or exercising, no one can digest or benefit from someone else’s meal.
Turn the Pages
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
In order to benefit from the teaching in Ecclesiastes, you and I must first of all believe that the words in the Bible come from God. The words through Solomon come from God, providing wisdom each of us needs to live our life.
Wisdom comes from God rather than discovered by man, or as if stitched together over time.
Wisdom enables mere mortals to see life from God’s point of view.
Turn Around, Look at Me
Hall of mirrors, Palace of Versailles
King Solomon of Israel, cir. 970–931 B.C., identifies himself as the writer of Ecclesiastes (1:1). Nearing the end of his life, Solomon examined the meaning of life itself, often repeating the phrase “meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
The book opens with the words, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (1:2, NIV, 1984).
Other translations use the term “vanity.”
vanity––something that is vain, empty, or valueless
meaningless––lacking any significance; empty; inane; pointless
The Book of Ecclesiastes describes man’s limitations. The Bible provides the overarching story.
The writer of Ecclesiastes emphasized man’s limited knowledge, wisdom, insight, intelligence.
Throughout time and at all times, at best man has a limited viewpoint and understanding of Life.
King Solomon had accumulated and enjoyed everything his life could offer (pleasures, riches, power). He recorded words to describe the entire span of Life––from birth to death, from poverty to riches, from riches to poverty––discovering in the process that to miss seeing God “under the sun,” short-circuits man’s ability to understand or enjoy anything that matters or lasts.
Fatalistic? Almost frighteningly pessimistic in places, waves of cynicism flow across the pages in Ecclesiastes until the last chapter where Solomon concludes his argument with “Remember your Creator” before the days of trouble come (Ecclesiastes 12).
Countless lives of men and women throughout history illustrate their own turning points. Turn to God or turn away from Him?
In a documentary about MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio) titled “When the Lion Roared,” Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM during its golden years had reigned supreme over a galaxy of Hollywood stars. On his deathbed, his last words were “Nothing matters. Nothing matters.”
At one point in his life, “Louis B.” was the highest paid man in America. Still, when he faced that critical moment before stepping into eternity, he could see nothing he had achieved in his life had mattered.
He believed he could keep running and ruining other people’s lives. He believed he could keep going. He failed to turn around.
The word repent means to turn around.
Amidst turmoil and uncertainty, disappointments and anxiety, people still have the freedom and power to turn to around. Freedom to make different choices. Freedom to ethically evaluate and prioritize what truly matters in this all too brief lifetime.
“Turn, Turn, Turn”
“To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven . . .”
Written by Pete Seeger, who took from the Bible words in Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” was considered a plea for peace. Seeger added the chorus, “I swear it’s not too late.”
Turns on a Dime
“Life turns on a dime, and when it does, it turns fast.”
~ Stephen King
I remember a birthday card that characterized aging:
You turn around and you’re 20, 40, and … [Open the card] “Whatever you do, don’t turn around.”
Basically, Solomon asks of Life, “What’s the point?”
Yet Solomon in his wisdom places contentment with one’s own “lot in life” near the pinnacle of the meaning of Life.
In one of Paul's last letters, he wrote to young Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1Timothy 6:6).
Whether you and I achieve goals or feel like failures, according to the Teacher, the best anyone can expect is to accept their lot in life (Ch. 4).
(I swear it’s not too late.)
Without God, chasing after the wind––whether pursuing wisdom, pleasures, fame, advancement, money––proves meaningless. Empty.
Try capturing a dust mite.
