16 “And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind”?
Here we come once again to one of Solomon's pessimistic statements; it is a cross section into his thinking. He placed a very high value on wealth, fame and things; as a result it depress him that none of these things were going with him. As true men and women of God we should fix our gaze upon the Lord and the eternal, the keeping of and the propagating of the commandments as well as living for His pleasure. Solomon was full of idolatry and vice and illustrates for us what happens to someone who makes other things, instead of the Lord, their focus. At best they are headed towards emptiness and disillusionment and at worst severe depression. The only thing in this world, which brings true peace and joy, is walking in the righteousness of Christ (Romans 14:17).
17 “All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness”.
"All his days also he eateth in darkness..." Solomon, obviously speaking from personal experience, demonstrates to us that though a man be very rich and have a household capable of sustaining thousands yet he can be very lonely and in the dark. This reminiscent of some of his earlier Proverbs (Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 16:8; Proverbs 28:6)
"...and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness." Sorrow anger and sickness. One in pursuit of other things who has not made the Lord their pleasure will be compassed with many dark moods. Depression, frustration, anger, sickness etc... While the righteous will suffer for sure they, unlike the unrighteous, will be delivered from them all (Psalm 34:17; Psalm 34:19)
No comments:
Post a Comment