Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, Changing Of The Guard

Ecclesiastes 2:12 Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king?—only what he has already done.

The consideration of the preacher settles on a particular topic: his reign. The preacher was the wisest, richest, most powerful king in Jerusalem that ever was, and by God’s admission, would ever be, outside the of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verses 10 and 11 he contemplated materialism and hedonism, and how he did gain superficial pleasure or a sense of accomplishment when he reflected on what he had done.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, The Failure Of Accomplishment

Ecclesiastes 2:10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. [11] Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

The preacher ventures into what may be categorized as rampant hedonism at this point. Oxford defines hedonism as, “behavior based on the belief that pleasure is the most important thing in life.” There is a modern American saying in our popular culture, “if it feels good, do it.” Or more to quote the musical artist Leon Bridges’ song title, “If it feels good (Then it must be).”

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, Kings Among Kings

Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. [9] So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

The list of accomplishments and accolades continues. At this point, and at this pace it is really more of an onslaught as the preacher boasts, as Paul once foolishly boasted, in the accomplishments of the flesh. The pinnacle of human grandeur and achievement is touted in the preacher’s person, who, for the third time in this book, claims that he is greater than all who were in Jerusalem before him.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, Acquisition

Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. [5] I made myself gardens, and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. [6] I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. [7] I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.

The first item to note in this passage is the plural. Everything the preacher makes mention of is in plural. His works are plural. His houses and vineyards, gardens, orchards and fruit trees, servants and flocks are plural. The man did nothing half way and denied himself nothing, see Ecclesiastes 2:10.