- When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep, -
The meaning of the second half of verse 16 is a tad tricky to understand primarily because of the grammar.
We may read this verse and think that those whose eye’s do not see sleep is referring to those that perform their business upon the earth.
Now, in our rat race world, that may make sense! Many people spend an awful lot of time at their job, but far more are distracted by various screens and social media.
However, Solomon doesn’t have that context. Okay, sure there were definitely people staying up in his day and age too, but it wasn’t the same.
What do I mean? Light was harder to come by! It’s more difficult to read in bed by candlelight than by a lamp.
What’s my point? Some of that is us reading our modern experience of technology and always being on-line into the text.
If it’s not that, then what is Solomon referring to in 16?
Like I said, the grammar makes it hard to understand, but one might read this as the person who has been applying their heart to know wisdom is not sleeping.
What would this mean? It would mean in his pursuit to find meaning, Solomon gave up his sleep to continue his search.
The passion was so strong in him to discover this mystery, that the physical need for sleep itself became less desirable than pursuing his goal.
Now, that’s some commitment. It’s also true that some of the greatest thinkers of the past, e.g. Leonardo da Vinci, had quite bizarre sleep patterns.
We find some inspiration in that, wishing we had the same passion in our own lives to deny our body what it needs in pursuit of a more meaningful goal.
But, there is a caution here in Ecclesiastes, two if we listen carefully.
What was the result of Solomon’s time spent pursuing this truth? Right, he found that life was vain and pointless. In 17, we will even see his failure to observe everything he wanted to.
We can ask ourselves this as well. Who is the Sabbath made for? God or man? Jesus provided us the answer letting us know it is us who need rest from our work, not God.
What is the idea here? Pursuing your desires with no rest, even those from God, is not His will.
Why? When we rest we can approach the world in a truly meek manner, one that has a reserved strength to it, rather than frantically moving to the next objective.
Blessed our the meek for they will inherit the earth. A better translation is blessed our those who use gentle strength, i.e. those who use the appropriate force.
In addition, it is to remember that nothing can be done that God hasn’t allowed. No amount of effort will move the stone He wants stationary.
To stop pursuing is to turn to God and say, “You are enough. Your strength is enough. Your will is enough.”
And now, what do we do when we rest? Do we retreat and hide? Do we watch hours of TV and social media?
We love one another, as Christ loved.
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