How are we to explain someone like King Solomon, who said he hated life? Life is good. It’s a precious gift from God that should be loved and used to the fullest. Everybody has a bad day now and then, but is this any excuse for Solomon to think life is a meaningless chasing after the wind?
One thing’s for sure, Solomon didn’t inherit his attitude problem from his father, who held the opposite view of life from that of his whining son. Far from hating life, David even passed out guidelines to be used by those who love life and think it’s good:
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
(Psalm 34)
And interestingly enough, as is so often true with the Psalms, this optimistic, faith-filled poem was written during a troubled time in David’s life. In it he observed that even if a person has many troubles, including a broken heart and a crushed spirit, “the Lord delivers him from all of them.” David trusted God, loved life, and refused to let problems keep him down. He believed days should be good.
Many centuries later, when Christians were suffering because of their faith, the Apostle Peter quoted these same words of David to comfort them. He also reminded them (among other things) that when they received an insult they should return a blessing. After all, he reasoned, it was a blessing that they were called to inherit (see 1 Peter 3:8-12).
God gives us choices. We have options. If we insist upon being miserable, we can join forces with Solomon. He’s neither the first nor the last person to hate life. There are plenty of people who live meaningless lives. This requires no special gift.
But even when David and Peter were inundated with problems, they still spoke of good days and a love for life. They focused on the Lord. Peter spoke of set ting apart Christ in our hearts as Lord. David says those who look to the Lord are radiant. God gives meaning to life, and makes it good. Live it. Love it. Enjoy the good days.