Ecclesiastes Chapter Two... Questions once resolved now unanswered.

12    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.

“And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly...” Solomon begins to contemplate the differences between wisdom and madness and folly. Put this statement into context and you will see there is a problem is Solomon’s life; did he not already at this point publish his 3000 (1 Kings 4:30-34) proverbs extolling the merits of wisdom, understanding and knowledge? Why then is he going backwards to revisit questions that at this point should have been obvious? It was because Solomon did not sanctify (set apart) the Lord in his heart and secondly he did not guard his heart with all diligence against vice. When one fails to do these two things then instead of becoming clearer and clearer over time they begin to be filled with doubt. These questions should have been settled a long time ago for Solomon.

“…for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.” Solomon also begins to ask this question: What can the next king do that I haven't done? This is how ambitious Solomon was, his building projects would put many rich men today to shame. And yet he did not establish a lasting kingdom of righteousness and peace. Solomon did indeed put Jerusalem “on the map” with prestige and opulence but he did not establish a kingdom of righteousness.