And Moreover I Saw Under The Sun The Place Of Judgment,

Although Solomon did live a life of excess, he did leave a lot of practical advice behind for future generations to learn from. And, Ecclesiastes is not all doom and gloom, either. There are several positive insights shared as well:

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God (Ecc. 2:24; NIV).

We should enjoy the simple pleasures in life like eating, drinking, and enjoying our work.

"Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun" (9:9).

A good marriage is an awesome blessing we should enjoy as well. I don't like the somber tone Solomon adds to this with "...all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days" (wow, what a bummer!).

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom" (9:10).

This is one of my favorite verses from this book. Make the most of the opportunities and time I have been given during this short sojourn on this planet.

Here is another beautiful verse:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end (Ecc. 3:11).

A commentary noted how Solomon did not have good insight into the ultimate plan of God to provide a Savior for our fallen condition. Vanity disappears when Christ enters the stage!