Solomon is the author of the book Ecclesiastes. Verse seventeen of the first part of chapter two states, “Therefore I hated life;” Why would Solomon, a king, one of the wisest people, make a statement like that? He is a king that rules over people, a nation. Solomon accumulated wealth and possessions, received wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from God, married seven hundred wives and princesses, plus three hundred concubines, constructed many high places in different areas, completed numerous projects, repaired breaches, and made various things throughout his life. However, with all the accomplishments, Solomon hated it. He realizes spending all this time gaining these assets and enjoying the pleasures have no permanent worth. Solomon continued in verse seventeen of the same chapter, “because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me.” He discovered that all the fleshly things his hands created received national attention upon himself. Solomon attracted the public to the point where he made a few unwise decisions within his life. The close relationship that he experienced with the living God now included other gods due to his spouses. Solomon’s wives turned his heart from God to do ungodly things. He burnt incense and sacrificed to other gods.
Solomon states, “for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” At the end of verse seventeen, the Son of David, a king, realizes the flesh will interfere with the inner man. All the physical concerns of this life will interrupt the potential of the spirit connecting with God. For all human beings, it is okay to enjoy things in life from what God has made. However, if whatever we appreciate from God affects our relationship with Him, it becomes a disruption. The problem for many of us is we allow our time to be consumed so much in earthly activities. Therefore we will find ourselves being an outsider and not an insider as God intended.