The Crossing
Seeing the world clearly and God differently in the light of Jesus.
Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 1:1 NIV
Solomon was the second child born to David and Bathsheba.
The first was stillborn after the affair, murder of her husband, and cover-up by king David. He was 19 years old when David died and became the new king over Israel.
The beginning of Solomon’s reign as king was marked with violence, idolatry, and marrying for political gain. It was also a time when he built a palace for himself and began the project of building a temple to God.
1 Kings 3:4-13 NIV
Because of this gift of wisdom, Solomon had virtually unlimited
money, unlimited access to pleasure, unlimited power, unlimited
influence, and could live out every dream, desire, and fantasy that
could be imagined.
This doesn’t sound like a man who is fulfilled.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV
Ecclesiastes 1:3-7 NIV
1 Kings 11:1-13 NIV
The upper story isn’t about the things that God can give you in the
lower story, its about God’s presence in your life and His plan for
your life. The pursuit of happiness in the lower story is an illusion.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 NIV