This preacher identifies himself at the end of verse one: “…the son of David, king in Jerusalem” Solomon then is the writer, continuing his expositions of wisdom began in the book of Proverbs. Jewish tradition states that the proverbs were written early in his life while the Ecclesiastes was written later in life as he reflects back upon years lived and spent. This is likely in view of the book’s theme perhaps being influenced by Solomon’s youthful vanities later remember with disdain. A constant companion word throughout this book is “vanity.” The book is opened with the harsh reality of carnal living:
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Solomon’s sorrow is felt in every word of the verse. He had throughout his life sought various means of fulfillment, his exploits being forever contained in the scriptures:
“But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashteroth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods” (I Kings 11:1-8).
All of those many years spent chasing after multitudes of women and gods brought anguish which is reflected in Solomon’s writings. It is a harsh reality to have to look back over the span of one’s life and conclude that it was all wasted in vanity. However, Solomon does so in order to provide a valuable lesson for generations to come. He speaks from the experience of one who had wasted his early years and his advice to all others was to “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them…” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
Frank J. Dunn provided a valuable tool to understanding the layout of Ecclesiastes in his Know Your Bible. Under the heading of “Solomon’s Experiment (Chapter 1:4-11:10),” he stated:
“Solomon sought satisfaction in the following earthy pursuits:
1. In natural science, and he found nothing new under the sun (1:4-11).
2. In wisdom and philosophy, but all to no purpose (1:12-18).
3. In pleasure in all forms of mirth, drinking, great works, building, agriculture, great possessions, wealth, and great music, but found them all to be empty (2:1-11).
4. Materialism, living merely for the present, in ‘wisdom, and madness, and folly’ (2:12); all is ‘vanity and vexation of spirit’ (2:12-26).
5. In fatalism, and found life to be a weary round of monotonous repetition (3:1-22).
6. In observation of social evils, and found all wanting (4:1-16).
7. In religion without God, and was convinced that enjoyment of life was his portion (5:1-20).
8. In wealth, honor, and long life, and found that these cannot satisfy (6:1-12).
9. Morality and civil duties, and even these, if done for their own sake cannot give satisfaction (7:1-8).
10. In observing the good and the bad, wise and the foolish, he concludes that the grave is the goal of all (9:1-10:20).
11. In benevolence and seed-sowing, and a future harvest will result. “God will bring thee to judgment” (11:1-10).
Though satisfaction in life was sought in each of these by Solomon personally, his conclusion in chapter twelve is that satisfaction is only found with God.
Christ is picture in Ecclesiastes as the “one shepherd” that makes life worth living through His offer of the truly abundant life. If only man would see the folly of carnal vanity and recognize the need to seek and know God then surely Solomon’s wasted life would be vindicated in the righteousness of others. Such is the purpose of Ecclesiastes.