Ecclesiastes 6:1-12
One is apt to wonder if this chapter is not the emotional autobiography of Solomon. It is easy to imagine the aged king, knowing that his end is near, reflecting on his life and coming to the conclusion that he climbed to the top of the ladder and found the ladder was in the wrong place. With massive wealth, numerous children, and years of reign, he wonders if he would have been better off as a miscarriage. Was Solomon envious of his brother who died in infancy?
Note the discontentment that Solomon has in his inner being in verse 9. The Vulgate translates this as “It is better to see what one desires than to covet what one knows not." Having achieved everything possible, Solomon still had an emptiness in his soul. It seems the more he talked about it, the less meaningful the conversation was. In his prime the question was “What next?” With the end near, the question has become, “What is to follow? What is my legacy?" Suddenly the life of power, wealth, luxury, and pleasure is not a life to be envied.
“Lord, grant me a life that will grow more full before You. AMEN.”
