“The
Crooked Straight”
A
Sermon on Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
October
13, 2002
by Rev. Stephen C.
Magee
Introduction: The Reflections of a Great and Wise Man on
the Human Condition
God gave the author of this book of Ecclesiastes
a special vantage point that prepared him to give the message that he brings to
us this morning. While God is most
certainly the author of all Scripture, yet we do well on occassion
to consider the human author. In this
section of Ecclesiates we are forced to do so.
Over the next few weeks we will
consider the first of the book's three cycles that help to organize this book
of wisdom. All three cycles are chiastic
in structure. What that means is that
there is something special for us in the middle of each cycle. It also means that there are matching
sections as one moves out from the middle of the cycle
to the beginning of the cycle.
This is the shortest of the three
cycles. Next week we will consider the
middle of the cycle, and there we find Solomon's very explicit consideration of
his own life, considered in the light of this first theme of the book which
displays the fleeting nature of life under the sun. What makes this so interesting is that
Solomon had great wealth and great wisdom.
It would seem that he had everything that we often think that we need in
order to escape trouble and sorrow. We
assume that if we only had more money, or if we were perhaps just a bit more clever that we would not face the trials and
difficulties that we face. Solomon tells
us as a matter of the testimony of his own life that such thinking is
false.
This story is especially told in the
second chapter of the book, which is the central passage in this first
cycle. On either side of this center are
two poetic passages, the first introducing Solomon's findings from his life of
pursuing work and wisdom, and the second forming a poetic conclusion to this
cycle in the author's meditation upon the sovereign purpose and timing of the
plan of God.
As we prepare to consider the first
of these three passages this morning, consider that they are the
divinely-inspired reflections of a truly great man - a man who had it all - not
only in terms of worldy resources, but also in terms
of God-given wisdom. Let us examine his
assessment of the nature of the human problem in this structured introduction
to the testimony of his life.
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
1:1 Prologue
1:2 Motto
[1:3-3:8 Cycle 1 Reflections
on the Fleeting Nature of a Productive and Wise Life
No Profit - No Progress
- No Legacy
... 12
I, the Preacher, was king over
15
What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And
what is lacking cannot be numbered.
16
I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and
have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in
18
For in much wisdom is much grief,
And
he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
[3:9-6:6 Cycle
2 Work in Fear Before God Whose Work Endures]
No Profit - No Progress
- No Legacy
...
[6:7-12:7 Cycle
3 Wisdom in Humility Before
God Whose Wisdom is Unfathomable]
No Profit - No Progress
- No Legacy
...
12:8 Motto
12:9-14 Epilogue
Definition:
Note first the structure of the
passage before us. There are two
paragraphs, each concluding with a proverb.
The first paragraph considers the issue of work, and the second considers
the attainment of wisdom. Both
paragraphs begin by telling us something about the greatness of Qoheleth-Solomon.
Both continue with statements about his goals - what he set out to do
concerning the matter at hand. They both
end with the same summary conclusion, and finally close with brief and poetic
proverbs, as mentioned earlier.
The greatness of Qoheleth (1:12, 1:16)
Solomon was king over
I was struck last night as I was
going through a volume from a multi-volume commentary on the Hebrew Bible. One entire volume in the set - some 442 pages
- was dedicated to a careful consideration of the Hebrew text of Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Few
people in this world have anything of any substance written about them. They come and go like a passing vapor, and
their place remembers them no more. But
here in this one volume of a larger biblical commentary, every word that we
have have from Solomon except for some things in the
Psalms - every word was worthy of the most rigorous scholarship. There is so much wisdom and knowledge
contained in the words of this man.
His father David was a man of
war. But Solomon, David's son, would
enjoy a prolonged period of peace, and would actually enjoy the cooperation of
neighboring nations who would be used by God to bring great resources together
for the building of the temple, and for many other projects that this he would
undertake. He would be admired by his
contemporaries both inside and outside of
What he set out to do and to know (1:13, 1:17a)
He was not only a great man, he was
an industrious man engaged in great human enterprises. He says in verse 13, "I set my heart to
seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven." The two Hebrew words that he uses to describe
these efforts indicate that he tried to get to the root of the matter before
him, and he looked all around it. He
devoted himself to using all the resources at his disposal for the worthy task
of understanding the created order. He
indicates that this is no easy enterprise.
It is a "burdensome enterprise" to attempt to understand the
world. But he set his heart to the work,
along with all his resources, and he pursued not only wisdom, but also madness
and foolishness.
His summary conclusion - all a grasping
for the wind (1:14,
1:17b)
When all was said and done, this great man, with
extensive resources, and extraordinary God-given gifts for the task before Him,
came to this single conclusion expressed twice in this passage - once
concerning work, and another time concerning the pursuit of wisdom. It is a "grasping for the
wind." It is an endeavor that is,
humanly speaking, impossible. We cannot
understand the world with all its work and wisdom, with all its fading beauty,
and its surprising horror. We could just
as easily try to collect the wind in our hands and save it for another
day. It is not a matter of a bit more
money - a tad more ability - and then everything will fit together, everything
will line up, all the missing pieces will be found, and victory will be
ours. It is not this way. No amount of money will do it. No extra giftedness will bring you closer to
a solution. It is all a grasping for the
wind.
Poetically stated (1:15, 1:18)
The problem is beautifully stated in the two
concluding parables. First, the
conclusion regarding our work:
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.
There
is nothing that you can do under the sun to make the crooked straight. This is not just about a piece of metal that
has been damaged in an accident that needs to be straightened. The word translated "crooked" here
is used in other places in the Bible to describe perversity. Our crookedness is both in our bodies and in
our souls. Our hearts are inclined
toward evil. Furthermore, in terms of
positive requirements, everywhere there is much that is lacking, so much that
it cannot be numbered. In fact, how can
you count things that are lacking anyway. It is a grasping for the wind.
Second, the assessment of the
enterprise of growing in wisdom:
18 ... in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Our
searching for truth, if we do it without rose-colored glasses reveals much
grief - much sorrow.
With the world of work, we suppose
that if we could throw some more resources into the problem we will be closer
to the solution we desire. But the more
money we throw at it, the further away the goal appeals. When we do attain a goal, in shortorder the achievement is not what we once thought it
to be.
In the world of wisdom, we suppose
that with more knowledge and discernment, all our confusion and unseettledness would evaporate. But the more we attain we wisdom and
knowledge, the more we see the grief and sorrow of a world of futility.
Solution:
Who did this? Who alone can fix it?
We will never begin to solve this
problem until we answer one very important question: Who did this?
Who made things this way? At the
end of Genesis One everything was very good.
What went wrong? Do not settle
for a second cause in answering this question.
Do not say that Satan did this.
You give him too much credit, and imagine him to have more power than he
does. Remember that we are ultimately
talking about something that has happened to all the sons and daughters of Adam
- the man. Remember that we are talking
about the curse. And remember that the
curse was not announced by Satan, or by Adam.
It came from God.
God did this. He announced His righteous judgement. He
responded to the sin of our first father with his sentence of curse. He has ordained, as a part of his righteous
wrath, a crookedness that we can not straighten, and a void that we can never
fill. God did it. And only He can fix it. You can not fix it, or even come close to
really understanding it. Solomon could
not do it, and he had far more resources than you possess, and he gave himself
to the task. But it was a grasping for
the wind. Only God can fix the
curse. To realize this is the beginning
of the solution.
Note these words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 8:
Romans 8:18-27
18 For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the
earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons
of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered
from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of
God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors
with birth pangs together until now. 23
Not only that, but we also who have
the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our
body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen
is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if
we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise
the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray
for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He
who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes
intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Calvin, in commenting on this
passage and the meaning of it for everything in creation said, "It has
pleased God to bring them under vanity."
The crooked straight
Solomon has spoken truly. Under the sun, "What is crooked cannot
be made straight."
But God, who is so rich in mercy,
announced long ago in three places through the prophet Isaiah the coming of One who would by His divine mercy and power make "the
crooked straight."
Isaiah 40:4
4 Every
valley shall be exalted
And every
mountain and hill brought low;
The
crooked places shall be made straight
And the
rough places smooth;
Isaiah 42:16
16 I will
bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will
lead them in paths they have not known.
I will
make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These
things I will do for them,
And not
forsake them.
Isaiah 45:2
2 'I will
go before you
And make the
crooked places straight;
I will
break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut
the bars of iron.
The fullness of Him who fills all in all
Solomon has spoken truly. Under the sun, "What is lacking cannot
be numbered."
But God, who is so rich in mercy,
announced through the Apostle Paul that the Lord Jesus Christ had a plan for
His body, the church, that involved the fullness of
God.
Ephesians 1:15-22
15
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love
for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of
you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know
what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His
inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power
toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He
worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right
hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might
and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in
that which is to come. 22 And He put all
things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
This fullness from Christ the head -
a fullness that is at work in His body, the church, is a divine fullness unlike
anything under the sun. It comes from
God who works resurrection life in us - a life that comes from Him alone.
Psalm 16:11
11 You
will show me the path of life;
In Your
presence is fullness of joy;
At Your
right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 36:5-9
5 Your
mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
Your
faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 Your
righteousness is like the great mountains;
Your
judgments are a great deep;
O LORD, You
preserve man and beast.
7 How
precious is Your lovingkindness,
O God!
Therefore
the children of men put their trust
under the shadow of Your wings.
8 They are abundantly satisfied with the
fullness of Your house,
And You give
them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 For with You
is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
The Apostle John tells us that the
fullness that the church receives is all through Christ. It is a divine fullness.
John 1:14-18
14 And the
Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness
of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes
after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "
16 And of His fullness we have
all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was
given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one
has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the
Father, He has declared Him.
See also Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 1:19-20, and 2:9-10.
The One who works all things together
for good
Solomon has spoken truly. Under the sun, "In much wisdom is much
grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."
But God, who is so rich in mercy,
has brought us to trust in Him. See
Psalm 73 for a great Old Testament display of this truth, and a hope of
resurrection glory. See also Psalm 145,
especially verses 17-21. But it is in
Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 8, verses 28-39, that we hear with such
gospel clarity of the love that has been demonstrated to us in Christ, a love
that can be counted on in all things, even as we face the grief and sorrow that
is increasingly known to us as we pursue wisdom and knowledge.
Romans 8:28-39 28 And we know
that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also
predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also
called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these
He also glorified.
31 What
then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He
not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge
against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is
Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is
even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For
Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ is the answer to our every
need. He has come to make the crooked
straight. He has supplied His body with
a divine fullness in a world where what is lacking cannot be numbered. He has assured us in this place of tears,
sorrow, and grief, that His Father is working all things together for His own
glory and our good. We trust in Him.
Conclusion: How will we see? "Thine eye
diffused a quickening ray."
This truth of Christ is the answer
to the problem of this fallen world. But
how will we, who are a part of this cursed existense,
see the truth of Christ. Since only God
can fix this problem, the answer must come from Him. As Wesley has stated so well in his famous
hymn:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature's night;
thine
eye diffused a quick'ning ray; I woke, the dungeon
flamed with light; my chains fell off,
my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my
God, shouldst die for me?
No condemnation now I dread; Jesus and all
in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in
righteousness divine,
bold I approach th'eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ, my
own. Amazing love! How can it be that
thou, my God, shouldst die for me?