EGW WritingsEcclesiastes 1

Conflict and Courage

A Late Awakening, July 9

CC 196.1

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11.

CC 196.2

By his own bitter experience, Solomon learned the emptiness of a life that seeks in earthly things its highest good. He erected altars to heathen gods, only to learn how vain is their promise of rest to the spirit. Gloomy and soul-harassing thoughts troubled him night and day. For him there was no longer any joy of life or peace of mind, and the future was dark with despair.

CC 196.3

Yet the Lord forsook him not. By messages of reproof and by severe judgments, He sought to arouse the king to a realization of the sinfulness of his course.... At last the Lord, through a prophet, delivered to Solomon the startling message: ... “I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.”

CC 196.4

Awakened as from a dream by this sentence of judgment pronounced against him and his house, Solomon with quickened conscience began to see his folly in its true light. Chastened in spirit, with mind and body enfeebled, he turned wearied and thirsting from earth’s broken cisterns, to drink once more at the fountain of life.... He could never hope to escape the blasting results of sin; he could never free his mind from all remembrance of the self-indulgent course he had been pursuing; but he would endeavor earnestly to dissuade others from following after folly....

CC 196.5

The true penitent does not put his past sins from his remembrance. He does not, as soon as he has obtained peace, grow unconcerned in regard to the mistakes he has made. He thinks of those who have been led into evil by his course, and tries in every possible way to lead them back into the true path. The clearer the light that he has entered into, the stronger is his desire to set the feet of others in the right way.22Prophets and Kings, 76-78.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Ms 33, 1889

6LtMs, Ms 33, 1889, par. 14

Christ said, “Consider the lilies...” [Matthew 6:28.] Carry your minds back to the glory of Solomon sitting on his throne flanked with golden lions and surrounded by gardens of flowers and all that could make a man happy. Was he happy? No. We hear him moan out: “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” [Ecclesiastes 1:2.] It was not a lack of beauty that made unhappy the greatest king that has ever held a scepter. He was an idolater. His career shows him a disappointed man and that riches, power, glory and fame are not sufficient to make a happy man. No, he lacked the peace of God which brings contentment. So teach your children that the beauty of the lily should decorate their hearts. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” [1 Peter 3:3, 4.] Teach them that it is not the beauty of face, dress, wealth, etc. but the beauty of character that elevates them in the scale of moral value with God.

To Be Like Jesus

Ever Search for More Light, April 11

BLJ 111.1

I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven. Ecclesiastes 1:13, NKJV.

From Splendor to Shadow

Solomon Acknowledges His Sin

SS 42.2

“Fear God, and keep His commandments,” he wrote, “for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Verses 13, 14.

Conflict and Courage

When It’s Better Not to Know, January 11

CC 17.1

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. Ecclesiastes 1:17.