Back in the sixties, Louis Armstrong recorded a memorable song by Bob Thiele, "What a Wonderful World." You remember Louis’ throaty “I see skies of blue…red roses too… and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”
If Solomon were alive today, somehow I don’t think Louis would be invited to sing for the king’s supper. Solomon didn’t seem to think it was a wonderful world at all. In fact, he and Louis appear to be polar opposites. While Solomon plaintively wailed about oppressed people and lazy fools and solitary workaholics, Louis crooned of “friends shaking hands,” “bright blessed days” and “dark, sacred nights.” Where the jaded king saw loneliness and oppression and fruitless toil and meaninglessness (and declared that the dead are happier than the living), Louis saw beauty in the faces of those around him and celebrated the potential in a baby and summed it all up with, “What a wonderful world.”
It’s telling that Solomon’s pessimism came from looking at the effects of sin –injustice and discontentment and futility. Louis’ optimism came from looking at God’s handiwork – skies and roses and rainbows and babies and true friendship…
We can’t write off either perspective. One is just as real as the other. But one is temporary and one is eternal. The good news is that Solomon’s awful, terrible, pointless, unhappy world is on its way out, destined to be overpowered by a Kingdom where no tears or loneliness or discontentment of any kind is even possible. In fact, it’s being overpowered now as sons and daughters of the King turn from fruitless and selfish pursuits and seek His will and His glory. As they realize they are never alone. As they work in confidence that all their toil will be rewarded, and in the assurance that Someone will right every injustice - and not just in the sweet bye and bye. They know that even here, under the sun, where the prince of this world holds humanity in chains of darkness, the lonely days are made bright and blessed and the dark nights are made sacred because Jesus has redeemed even them if we trust in Him.
It’s not a “Pollyanna” approach that has us stuffing our fingers in our ears and singing loudly to shut out the harsh realities… It’s just the Truth. In this world we will have trouble… loneliness, victimization, heartache… but Jesus has overcome it. Past tense. So we can “be of good cheer.” We can live here and now, under this sun, to the tune of “What a Wonderful World.” Because of Jesus. Only because of Him.
Sing it again, Louie. And Solomon, listen up. This one’s for you.
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