Sometimes Solomon can sound like he’s ranting. Often he is. Ranting against what did not work for him “under the sun.” But if I get close and listen, there is life-saving, face-saving, day-saving wisdom. Sweet wisdom. The fruits of it in this passage are words like “composure”, “advantage” and “success” to navigate life well. But they are never gained by technique or good intention. So I must listen well to wisdom. When I started preparing this passage I had no idea what it was about. But staying awhile, there are answers here I desperately need. Thank you Solomon. Thank you God.

Looking back at last Sunday's message regarding the inevitability of death, is there no way that we can "win" over death? Does the certainty of physical death place us beyond hope? And what of the calamity that often strikes even the people of God? Where is the hope? Where is the victory, if there is any? Taking Solomon at face value, but also seeing the New Covenant perspective, we can conquer death, because Christ did!