unknown to Solomon who was used to offering such things as lambs and goats. The Saviour and His resurrection can make all things new for us. The emptiness of life is altered only when there is a risen Lord to serve and eternal joy and peace to inherit. Solomon was short-sighted and lacked faith. Even the exciting routine of a wealthy king wore him down. I suspect that those of us today who are trapped in the routine of life, who see that life goes on pretty much as it has always done, prob ably would come to this same conclusion. Life is dreadfully and depressingly repetitious. But we need not pause here, however, as Solomon did. Solomon was also disturbed be cause man is basically evil and constantly attempts to thwart God's plans. This wise but confused king discovered, "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (7:20). Have you ever thought about that as you read the newspapers and watch television? Every individual has a basic desire, apart from Christ, which is bent upon having his way rather than God's. This same truth is taught in verse 29. He was cer tainly true when he arrived at the conclusion, "Only God is upright." Thirdly, Solomon observes that nothing works out the way it should. He is like so many of us. We expect things to fit into cer tain patterns and when they do not it upsets us. We do not like to see a picture hanging crooked. We dislike soiled clothes with spots on our ties or on our dresses. We dislike weeds in our lawn. We hate rattles in our cars. We dislike the impertinence of young people or
the sourly disposition of the elder ly. We do not like people to "rock the boat." In 10:6 and the verses following, we find it pointed out that life does not really stack up the way it should. Many times there are foolish things that take place where a dignified atmosphere ought to prevail. A rich person is many times found in a low posi tion while the poor are found in a higher social strata. Solomon says that man is bent on doing some thing only to find it backfires on him, whether the deed is good or evil. Things just do not seem to come out the way they should. Many people find themselves trapped when they attempt to do the right thing. In the end they are misunderstood or other persons have reacted differently. The writer looks at life sourly because things just never come out the way they should. Solomon wisely discovered, too, that material goods, in themselves, do not bring satisfaction (1:8). What a truth to see, "He that lov- eth silver shall not be satisfied with silver" (5:10). The thing that you set your mind and heart on the most, unless it is Christ, still will not satisfy. Just wanting to have more, to be bigger and better, ul timately will issue in downfall and defeat. Solomon sagely observes, "You will not be satisfied if you simply long for additional things." You can amass a fortune only to realize that someone else is going to come along and take it (2:18). How this is revealed as fact in our day! The possessions may be gone before the family gets to inherit it (5:13). What a very poor, discour aged and pessimistic outlook on life. Page 35
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