Hey guys, my name is Johnny Artivannis, and this is Dialin. In this series, we're looking at the

main themes in the book of Ecclesiastes, and in this episode, we're going to see that in Solomon's

pursuit of pleasure, it ultimately doesn't satisfy and doesn't fill the void within his soul. Let's dial in.

So in the previous episode we were introduced to our preacher king Solomon. He is on a search, a search for meaning and significance and satisfaction

in a world where all share the same destiny. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, as the saying goes,

because dust is the destiny of all men. So no matter how high Solomon ascends, he knows that he will

ultimately, and inevitably, descends six feet under like everyone else. Rich, poor, talented, and ordinary, all come to the same end.

Death is the great equalizer. And although Solomon is financially rich beyond measure,

he is questioning whether his life will be bankrupt of any lasting significance beyond the moment. So Solomon's quest

continues. There must be more in this life, Solomon says, than the mere living of it. Now in this

section from the end of chapter one through the end of chapter two, we are going to see that

Solomon is going to pursue meaning in

three different spheres. These three pursuits that we will observe in this section, although

three thousand years ago are the same pursuits in which people attempt to fill the void

within them today. These three spheres that Solomon will chase are number one, intellectualism,

number two, pleasure,

and number three, productivity.

And on his pursuit of happiness, Solomon will conclude, after traveling down each of these different paths,

that intellectualism, pleasure, and productivity, in of themselves, are dead-end streets,

and do not satisfy the soul.

I want to look first with you at the dead end street of intellectualism in chapter 1 versus

12 through 18.

...