The Sun Also Rises
The sermon highlights the importance of focusing on God's purposes and seeking satisfaction in His plans, rather than our own, using the example of Solomon's mistake in Ecclesiastes.
Bruce Hulshizer preaches on Solomon's perspective in Ecclesiastes, where he sees the futility of life and its labors in the continual rising and setting of the sun. Despite this, the constancy of the sun is used by God as a witness to the certainty of His promise to David regarding his seed and throne. Solomon, as the Son of David, should have recognized the sun as a witness to God's promise, but instead, he loses sight of God's purposes and seeks fulfillment in earthly plans. We are urged to learn from Solomon's mistake and recognize that we are part of even greater purposes in God's divine plan.
Text
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon sees the continual rising and setting of the sun as another demonstration that life and its labors are futile (Eccl. 1:5). The sun just keeps doing the same thing, going around in a circle, never getting anywhere. Yet this very same fact, the sun's continual rising and setting, was used of the LORD in testifying that His promise to David, Solomon's father, was sure. "Once have I sworn by my holiness; I will not lie unto David: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me; It shall be established forever as the moon, and the witness in the sky is firm." (Psalm 89:35-37 JND) Thus, the very same constancy of the sun is used of God to illustrate the certainty of David's seed and throne being established.Solomon ought to have seen the sun as a witness to the LORD's promise to establish the very seed of his father and the very throne upon which he sat (he being "the Son of David, king in Jerusalem"- Eccl. 1:1).
In fact, at one time he had testified that his being king was in fulfillment of this very same promise to David, for he was David's seed on David's throne (1 Kings 8:20). Yet now he looks at the sun as a witness that there is no purpose to life and its labors!
How sad it is when a man loses sight of the LORD's purposes and himself as part of them, and instead spends his energy seeking to find profit and satisfaction in his own plans and works here on earth! May we learn from Solomon's mistake, for we have been included in even greater purposes than those of which Solomon was made part (Eph. 1-3).
Sermon Outline
- The Sun as a Witness to Futility
- The Sun as a Witness to God's Promise
- The Importance of Focusing on God's Purposes
- Solomon's mistake in losing sight of God's purposes
- The importance of seeking satisfaction in God's plans
Key Quotes
“The sun just keeps doing the same thing, going around in a circle, never getting anywhere.” — Bruce Hulshizer
“The very same constancy of the sun is used of God to illustrate the certainty of David's seed and throne being established.” — Bruce Hulshizer
Application Points
- We should focus on God's purposes and seek satisfaction in His plans, rather than our own.
- We have been included in even greater purposes than those of which Solomon was made part, and we should seek to fulfill God's plans for us.
- Losing sight of God's purposes can lead to a sense of futility and emptiness in life.