And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 (KJV)
God gave Solomon great wisdom. Everything he wished and desired, he achieved and was able to possess. As a matter of fact, Solomon gave himself the permission to violate God’s boundaries by marrying foreign women. God had warned him that they would turn away his heart from Him, but Solomon didn’t listen and chose to have a few hundred wives!
Solomon was a man who was born and raised as a royalty. While he was not King David’s firstborn son, God gave Solomon the privilege of succeeding His father as king. We don’t hear any sad stories about his upbringing or tough times as a king yet we don’t find Solomon happy and joyful at the end of it all.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon speaks about “vexation of spirit” a few times.
Vexation (according to Strong’s Concordance): longing, striving
What could Solomon have longed for in His life that he didn’t have!? Was there anything beyond his achievement? What could he have lacked in life that would cause him to strive?
As Americans, we have more opportunities and resources than many other people around the world including believers who live in other nations. However, it doesn’t seem that we have found contentment and joy as believers.
Our opportunities have created a wedge between husbands and wives. Divorces in the church are just as many as in the society. Lack of trust in the church and in the government is evident based on the behavior and discussions seen and heard around dinner tables and on the media. Honor and respect is in all time low in a nation that gave us the freedom to speak out not to dishonor but to stand up for truth and righteousness. Where do we go from here? What will satisfy us that we don’t have and are still longing to have?
What are you after today? Are you currently experiencing vexation of spirit? Is there something you are longing or striving for right now? Spend some time with the Lord and let Him examine your heart and how you really feel about your life right now.
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.
