EGW WritingsEcclesiastes 2

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 11 (1896)

Lt 19, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 19, 1896, par. 8

“I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?” Ecclesiastes 2:2. These things are painful to me. I am really ashamed of you for such exhibitions as this, searching through a young girl’s trunk and bed to find that which you wanted to gratify your taste with. You do not seem to have a sense of propriety and wisdom. Can you not see that your influence as a Christian leader is dead because of these things?

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 5—Solomon’s Deep Repentance

SS 40.3

“And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure ... . Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” “So I hated life ... . I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, 17, 18, RSV.

Education

The Discipline of Suffering

Ed 153.2

“I hated life.... Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:4-12, 17, 18.

Reflecting Christ

Solomon Learns From Suffering, November 17

RC 335.4

“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. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done” (Ecclesiastes 2:4-12).

RC 335.5

“I hated life.... Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun” (verses 17, 18).

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 5—Solomon’s Repentance

PK 76.4

“And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.... I hated life.... Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:4-18.

Radiant Religion

Pride of Prosperity, August 13

RRe 227.1

I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. Ecclesiastes 2:8.

Christ Triumphant

Prosperity Sometimes Causes Spiritual Downfall, June 1

CTr 159.1

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.

Our Father Cares

A Late Awakening, July 16

OFC 209.1

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.

With God at Dawn

The Repentance of Solomon, May 18

WGD 140.1

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.

Radiant Religion

Industry, August 7

RRe 221.1

There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24.

My Life Today

God Gives Us the Good, July 28

ML 213.1

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy. Ecclesiastes 2:26.

Radiant Religion

Happiness the Gift of God, March 1

RRe 62.1

God giveth to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner He giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:26.