<aside> 👉

Download these notes here:

Ecclesiastes 2_1-11 Sermon 3.pdf

</aside>

Thesis: Torah allows joy, but it never lets you pretend joy is the goal.

Solomon conducts a careful experiment within Torah's boundaries, exploring permitted pleasures like wine, building, gardens, music, and wealth, all while maintaining his wisdom (v. 3, 9). He tests whether earthly joys alone can satisfy.

His finding: pleasure isn't wrong, just insufficient. Like a sukkah, life's joys are legitimate but temporary, reminding us that true meaning lies beyond them.

Solomon's verdict warns against mistaking temporary shelters for permanent homes.

His exploration wasn't foolish indulgence, but wise investigation. He discovered these joys are permitted but limited: they're booths, not homes.

Here is my thesis: Torah allows joy, but it never lets you pretend joy is the goal.

Or more poetically: "Wisdom allows the booth, but it won't let you live there." Joy is lawful, even beautiful, but fleeting. It belongs in a sukkah, a temporary joy not a permanent home.

The Test Begins: Joy Under Surveillance (Ecclesiastes 2:1–2)

• Solomon begins a deliberate, internal test of joy, not a pursuit of rebellion.
• “I said in mine heart” signals thoughtful self-examination.
• Joy (simchah) is Torah-commanded (Deut. 16:14–15), not suspect.
• The test concludes that joy is real but fleeting—like a sukkah.
• Laughter and mirth are lawful, but they cannot anchor the soul.

The Mindful Cup: Testing Pleasure Without Losing Control (Ecclesiastes 2:3)

• Solomon tests wine, but retains wisdom throughout the experiment.
• Torah permits wine (Deut. 14:26; Ps. 104:15), with discernment.
• “To lay hold on folly” means controlled testing, not moral failure.
• Solomon is simulating a life of indulgence to evaluate its results.