屬世的智慧，將只能看見極重的勞苦（傳1章）

我專心用智慧尋求查究天下所作的一切事、乃知神叫世人所經練的、是極重的勞苦。我見日光之下所作的一切事、都是虛空、都是捕風。（傳 1：13-14）

細讀傳道書，會發現跟其他經卷不太一樣，因為內容偏向於用人的有限智慧在看待萬事，所以不會見到更深一層的救贖真理，甚至有些理論，並沒有很符合絕對的真理教導，因為是聚焦在人世間一些的問題看法而已。但是，這已經是世人所能思考的智慧巔峰之作，因為已不同於一般庸俗的世界哲學家。從本卷已點出許多超越人世間自以為是的真理，並指出其中錯誤的觀念，然後引導人願意尋求真理，迎向真實的光明。

從傳道書這兩節經文，可以看到傳道者一開始的無奈。在第二章中，就可以知道這位傳道者，不單是「專心用智慧尋求查究」，而且他是以過來人身份在談這些智慧的話語。因他說：

凡我眼所求的、我沒有留下不給他的．我心所樂的、我沒有禁止不享受的．因我的心為我一切所勞碌的快樂．這就是我從勞碌中所得的分。（傳 2：10）

傳道書的傳道人，並非無病呻吟，不是為了表現有高智慧而刻意講出深奧的哲學，而是真的身體力行過，確實去實驗過，他是真的有科學家的精神，因為做了有系統地分析過。藉此專心考究後的結果，才說出了本書卷的智慧話語。但是，他還少了一點，這也是所羅門王晚年的遺憾，那就是「捨己與神同行」。因為他的「我專心用智慧尋求查究」，可以看出他這卷思想是「我」獨立完成的，並沒有提到神的感動與幫助。

令人想起在聖經的路加福音24章裡的「以馬忤斯」經歷。其中那兩位離開耶路撒冷，正走向以馬忤斯的兩位門徒，同樣地在苦思、不解如所羅門一樣，關於一些真理的問題。他們想不透：為何耶穌基督會被釘死在十字架？為何會發生這樣不幸的事？為何有人說耶穌已經復活，是真的嗎？他們所思考的都是重要的事，但是這樣思考的結果竟是「臉上帶著愁容」。

耶穌對他們說：「你們走路彼此談論的是甚麼事呢？」他們就站住、臉上帶着愁容。（路 24：17）

他們的討論，好像我們的研經與讀經，彼此分享、討論，也像所羅門王的專心探究。沒有神同在，只用人的智慧時，將沒有生發喜樂的心，卻反而是憂心忡忡。為什麼？因為是用「人智」在思考神的事，即使再怎麼專心、懇切，或是努力在神的家中盡忠職守作主工，努力絞盡腦汁要為主做一些事，但是換來的卻是憂愁、失望、灰心。為什麼？

當耶穌出現在兩個門徒之間，耶穌跟他們講解明白，好像聖靈親自說明真理。但是這時人必須要安靜、閉嘴，放下成見、專心聆聽，然後，就不一樣了，他們說：

他們彼此說：「在路上、他和我們說話、給我們講解聖經的時候、我們的心豈不是火熱的麼？」（路 24：32）

是的，如果當年有智慧的所羅門王願意自己謙卑，不要自以為有智慧，能學習亞古珥的謙和態度看待自己、看清萬事，並離棄惹神憤怒的一切事，且放下自己超人的智慧，願意讓神的靈進入他的生活，跟他說話，相信他也不會拼命地說虛空，滿口充滿無奈的嘆息。

所羅門的傳道書，在處世哲學上，的確值得我們細讀深思。但是已得著聖靈、心中有真理聖靈的人，讀傳道書應該要有超越虛空、擁抱真實的屬靈智慧，應該是要越讀越喜樂才是。因為此時心中當會出現這樣的感覺：「感謝主！主沒有賜給我不必要的東西，使我不必像所羅門那樣還要『實驗過』才能知道真理；我不必像所羅門那樣，好像很富足，卻心靈虛空、捕風。」

當我們願意每天早晨、擁抱聖經真理，細讀完、禱告，聖靈親切地在心中感動，那從天而來的智慧、如腹中的活水江河般，源源不絕、湧流而出。心中因滿足而火熱，藉由神的真理、真智慧開啟快樂的一天。如此，人生還有何虛空、捕風可言？

耶穌對他們說：「這就是我從前與你們同在之時、所告訴你們的話、說：『摩西的律法、先知的書、和詩篇上所記的、凡指着我的話、都必須應驗。』」於是耶穌開他們的心竅、使他們能明白聖經。（路 24：44-45）

By Isaiah Kao

Worldly Wisdom Can Only See a burdensome task to be afflicted (Ecclesiastes 1)

“I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning everything that has been done under heaven, and I concluded that God has given a burdensome task to the sons of mankind to be afflicted with. I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and behold, all is futility and striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:13–14, NASB 2020)

A careful reading of Ecclesiastes reveals that it is quite different from other books of the Bible. Its content leans toward viewing all things through the limited wisdom of man. Therefore, it does not present the deeper truth of redemption, and some of its ideas do not fully align with absolute truth, because it focuses mainly on human perspectives about life. Nevertheless, this already represents the highest level of wisdom that mankind can attain, far beyond that of ordinary worldly philosophers. This book points out many truths that transcend human self-assurance, exposes erroneous ideas, and then guides people to seek the truth and move toward the true light.

From these two verses, we can sense the Preacher’s initial helplessness. In chapter two, we see that he not only “set his mind to seek and explore by wisdom,” but also spoke as one who had experienced it all. For he said:

“All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10, NASB 2020)

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes was not indulging in empty lament or deliberately speaking profound philosophy to display intelligence. He truly practiced what he examined—he personally experimented and systematically analyzed life with a scientific spirit. Based on the results of his focused inquiry, he wrote this book as a warning to the world. Yet he lacked one thing—this was also the regret of King Solomon in his later years: to deny himself and walk with God. From his words, “I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom,” we can see that this work reflects independent human reasoning, with no mention of God’s inspiration or help.

In Luke 24, we read about the experience on the road to Emmaus. The two disciples who left Jerusalem and were walking toward Emmaus were similarly deep in thought and confusion, like Solomon. They could not understand: Why was Jesus Christ crucified? Why did such a tragic thing happen? Why were some saying that He had risen? Was it true? Their thoughts were important, yet the result of their reasoning was that they stood still, “looking sad.”

“And Jesus said to them, ‘What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?’ And they stood still, looking sad.” (Luke 24:17, NASB 2020)

Their discussion resembles our Bible study and fellowship, sharing and examining together. It is also like Solomon’s diligent inquiry. Yet instead of producing joy, it resulted in worry and heaviness. Why? Because they were using human wisdom to understand the things of God. No matter how earnest or diligent we may be, even faithfully serving in God’s house and striving with all our effort to do something for the Lord, what we may receive instead can be disappointment and discouragement. Why is that?

When Jesus appeared among the two disciples and explained things to them, it was as if the Holy Spirit Himself was revealing the truth. At that moment, man must be still, be silent, lay aside prejudices, and listen attentively. Then everything changes. They said:

“They said to one another, ‘Were our hearts not burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32, NASB 2020)

Yes, if Solomon, who was so wise, had been willing to humble himself—not relying on his own wisdom, but learning from Agur’s humility to see himself clearly and understand all things rightly, turning away from what provokes God’s anger, and laying down his extraordinary wisdom to allow God’s Spirit to enter his life and speak to him, then surely he would not have spoken so constantly of futility, nor sighed with such deep helplessness.

Ecclesiastes is indeed worthy of careful reflection in terms of life philosophy. But for those who have received the Holy Spirit and possess the truth within, reading Ecclesiastes should lead us beyond futility and into true spiritual wisdom. We should become more joyful as we read. For within our hearts, there should arise such a response:

“Thank the Lord! He has not given me unnecessary things, so I do not need to ‘experiment’ like Solomon to discover the truth. I do not need to be like him—outwardly rich, yet inwardly empty, striving after wind.”

When we are willing each morning to embrace the truth of the Bible —reading carefully, praying, and receiving the gentle encouragement of the Holy Spirit, then the wisdom from above will flow like rivers of living water from within us, unceasing and abundant. Our hearts will burn with satisfaction, and through God’s truth and true wisdom, we begin each day with joy. In such a life, how can there still be futility or striving after wind?

“Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44–45, NASB 2020)