"That which has been, is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun."

This article uses the Book of Ecclesiastes as a referrence. There is argument (isn't there always)
about who wrote the book. It is still widely believed that King Solomon wrote it. However, more modern scholars believe a scribe or editor wrote it about him, since the language seems from a later period about three Centuries before Christ. Whichever it is, Solomons words are still his words so whether it be written by him or about him it's his wisdom that concerns me.

In the book of Ecclesiastes the statement is made: 1:9 "That which has been, is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun."

I think King Solomon, a man blessed with great intellect, ruminated over the same things we do today. Of course we immediately think our High Tech society gives us much more information and we know a lot more now. (Do we?). For those who philosophically ponder the meaning of life, we use the same tool he did, our minds.

You say...but wait...we learn form the greatest minds ever , from schools and Universities that teach all the greatest masters, most of whom weren't even born yet, in Solomon's time.You are right, but I ask , then tell me why is the world in the worst condition it has ever been in? If we are so learned and have progressed so much, where is our beautiful, peaceful, loving, contented society, to show for it?... (Note many of the the "Philosophical masters" are listed below)...

Solomon mused, 3:19-22..."For what happens to the sons of men one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely they all have one breath , man has no advantage over beasts for all is vanity... 20- All go to one place, all are from the dust and shall return to the dust. 21-Who knows the spirit of the sons of men which goes upward, and the spirit of the beast which goes down to the earth?...22- So I have perceived that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?"

Now, isn't that exactly the thinking of most of the world today? Which is what made me write this article. Yet, King Solomon did not leave it there. He summed up all his negative thinking with this positive position:

...12:12-14..."And further my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh....13-"let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man. ... 14-For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil."

If you will humor me I have just one more Scripture for you to read, to make my final point.
I kings 3:9...Solomon is praying for guidance after becoming King :..." Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours."

3:11..."Then God said to him, 'because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, v.12- behold I have done according to your words, see I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been any like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you." 4:29" And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashores."

There we have it folks.The only source of wisdom, and the answer as to how we get it is in the prayer of Solomon: his attitude, and what he asked for. This is the key to understanding the kind of prayer that God answers. If we have any sense, we will review this Scripture and meditate upon it, comparing how and what we ask from God.

Most, if not all of the "wise men" listed below, have read and studied Solomons works, among them the books of Wisdom, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. Unlike a lot of those past, present, and future masters, I hope we will remember that it is from God that we get any wisdom we are going to get. There is no other place to get it. Even if your an Atheist, if you have any smarts God gave them to you, and one day He will tell you why He did.

This world is in need of people who will pray and commune with God to get the wisdom we need to overcome the present conditions. So, if you are one who cries and rants over the worlds condition, or over the dastardly cicumstances some of our children are living in the world over, don't forget to seek the one who will give them the only help they are going to get, for we can't do it without Him.

Eileen T. Waldron 2002 ©


Many ”Great Masters”: Avicenna { ibn Sina} (meta-physics) Thales of Miletus (metaphysical) Plato (founder of first philosophical school forms and platonic ideas)--
Aristotle ( logic) Kant (critical idealism) Kierkegaard & Sartre (existentialism)
Descartes (founder of modern philosophy--mathmatics and Spinoza mathematics/ Pantheism) Voltaire (freedom of concience) Freud (founder of psychoanalysis)
William James (Pragmatism) Alfred Adler (inferioity complex) Felix Adler (ethical culture)
Albert Einstein( Mathematics physicist theory of relativity) Albert Schweitzer ( Physician and theologian) and too many others to list. Also ...Taoist Yin and Yang, Chinese Confucianism, Hinduism's Yoga, India's Buddhism/Karma or any other of mankinds philosophies, which give us some excellent ideas for better ways to live.