Ecclesiastes 1
EverettEcclesiastes 1:1-2
Predestination: The Vanity of Human Life and Creation – The Preacher begins his book by acknowledging that God has predestined this world to mortality and vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11). He will base this conclusion upon his own personal experiences (Ecclesiastes 1:12 to Ecclesiastes 2:11) and upon his evaluation of society (Ecclesiastes 2:12-26). Solomon, in his old age, looks at the effects of his life on society. In chapter Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, the Preacher expresses the uselessness of his efforts to make things different and better for others. In Ecclesiastes 1:12 thru Ecclesiastes 2:26 he gives examples of his vain efforts. Had he made things better for his nation, for the world around him? In despair, He saw everything the same. He felt that all of his labor and travail had not created the changes that he so desired. He concludes this book with the insight that his duty is not to change the world, but to fear and serve the Lord, for each man will give an account of his own life before God. Outline – Here is a proposed outline: Intro: The Preacher Concludes that This Life is Vanity — Ecclesiastes 1:1-111. The Preacher Explains His Conclusion — Ecclesiastes 1:12 to Ecclesiastes 2:26
Ecclesiastes 1:2-4
Opening Statement – Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 serves as an opening statement upon which the rest of the book of Ecclesiastes is built. In other words, the Preacher offers his opening statement and builds his arguments from it, reaching his conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13. The Preacher realizes that God has set this earth upon a course of mortal decay because of human depravity; and man, whose spirit is immortal, should fear God as a means of overcoming the vanity imposed upon him in this earth-life. Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2 — Word Study on “vanity” – Gesenius says the Hebrew word “vanity” “hebel” (δֶ ?αֶ ?μ) (H1892) means, “breath, breathing,” and “exhalation, vapour, midst, darkness.” He says that it is “commonly used of any thing transitory, evanescent, frail.” Strong says it means, “emptiness, vanity,” and is derived from the primitive Hebrew root “habal” (δָ ?αַ ?μ) (H1891), which means, “to be vain, lead astray.” The Enhanced Strong says it is use 73 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “vanity 61, vain 11, altogether 1.”Comments - The phrase “vanity of vanities” literally, “breath of breaths.” We know that breath, or wind, is fleeting. This phrase means, “utterless, meaningless or useless,” or “a most useless thing.” Breath is transitory and impermanent as the wind. This phrase opens and closes the book of Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:8). After taking the entire book to support this statement, he ends his case by making the same statement. Ecclesiastes 12:8, “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.” Bob Nichols says the word “vanity,” when used within the context of Ecclesiastes, refers to the things pertaining to this earthly life, which will someday pass away.[23] It does not mean that things in this life are not necessary or unimportant, but the Preacher is weighing them in light of the importance of eternal matters. The older we get, the better insight we have into the vanities of this life and our eternal destiny. We see children busying themselves with play and clinging to toys and things that are of little worth. Of course, play is an important aspect of a child’s social development. But the things they pursue are not true treasures. Even as adults, a wise man sees this same vain activity in the lives of people around him. The Preacher will conclude that the only true importance in this life is to fear God and to keep His commandments. [23] Bob Nichols, “Sermon,” Calvary Cathedral International, Fort Worth, Texas.Ecclesiastes 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? Ecclesiastes 1:3 — “What profit hath a man of all his labour” - Word Study on “profit” – Strong says the Hebrew word “profit” (ιִ ?ϊְ ?ψεֹ ?ο) (H3504) means, “preeminence, gain, advantage.” The Enhanced Strong says this word is used nine times in the Old Testament, with all occurrences found within the book of Ecclesiastes. It is translated in the KJV as, “profit 5, profitable 1, excelleth 2, excellency 1, better 1.” It also translated, “.” Word Study on “labour” – Strong says the Hebrew word “labour” (ςָ ?ξָ ?μ) (H5999) means, “toil, wearing effort,” thus, “worry, whether of body or mind.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 55 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “labour 25, mischief 9, misery 3, travail 3, trouble 3, sorrow 2, grievance 1, grievousness 1, iniquity 1, miserable 1, pain 1, painful 1, perverseness 1, toil 1, wearisome 1, wickedness 1.” Strong says it comes from the primitive root (ςָ ?ξַ ?μ) (H5998), which means, “to toil, to work severely and with irksomeness.” Comments - The Hebrew word “labour” (ςָ ?ξָ ?μ) (H5999) is used twenty-two (22) in the book of Ecclesiastes of fifty-five (55) uses in the Old Testament, thus becoming a key word that reveals the theme of the book. As we look at the book of beginnings, the book of Genesis, we find that labour and travail were placed upon mankind under the curse as a way of judging him. God said to Adam, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread…” In the book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher re-evaluates the results of the curse of our labour and travail, saying, “I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.” (Ecclesiastes 3:10) God uses labour and travail to discipline us so that we will look to Him each day in the midst of our daily travail. Ecclesiastes 1:3 — “which he taketh under the sun” - Comments - The phrase “under the sun” in the book of Ecclesiastes basically means, “in this life.” We know that the word “vanity” is used also in the previous verse (Ecclesiastes 1:2) to refer to the temporal affairs of this life when compared to the importance of eternal matters. It is the sun that causes man to age so quickly and thus, to be mortal. We see later in Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 a discussion on the brevity of this life that is lived under the sun. The rising and setting of the sun is used to measure our mortal life. In addition, no other aspect of nature brings more stress and travail upon the laboring man that the sun beating down upon his sweaty brow. The sun brings more stress upon the physical body than any other aspect of nature. Ecclesiastes 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. Ecclesiastes 1:4 — “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh” - Comments - Man’s mortality is the greatest witness to his subjection to travail and vanity upon earth, since it refers back to the Fall in the Garden of Eden. At this time man and all of creation was predestined to mortality and vanity. “but the earth abideth for ever” – Comments - Although this present heavens and earth will pass away in order to make way for the new in eternity, it seems to abide forever in that it outlasts each generation of mankind. Thus, relatively speaking, this earth “abides forever.”
Ecclesiastes 1:5-7
The Three-fold Testimony of the Generations of the Earth to Man’s Subjection to Vanity – Not only does man’s mortality testify to his subjection to travail and vanity until his future redemption (Ecclesiastes 1:4), but all of creation has been subjected to the same (Romans 8:18-23). The second greatest testimony to man’s subjection to travail and labour is characteristics of the earth, which was also cursed at the time of the Fall. Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 describes three primary characteristics of this temporal earth, the sun, wind and rain, which is also described in Genesis 8:22. These three characteristics of nature have the most obvious, continuous movement on any aspect of creation, and may be representative of all the other characteristics of the earth. Because of the rotation of the earth, the sun, the wind and water are always in motion and determine weather patterns. Nothing else in nature moves as consistently and swiftly as do these three; yet they seem to go nowhere.
Man has been given authority by God to dominate parts of this creation, in a limited capacity; however, he has not been given the power to rule over the sun, the wind, nor the rivers. These elements of earth’s creation behave as they desire, despite man’s knowledge and intervention of them. These movements describe the destiny of this temporal earth in which we must live our live under the sun. More specifically, they testify to the vanities of this mortal life. As all aspects of creation testify of the glory of God, the endless and seemingly purposeless movements of the sun, wind and rivers testify to us that God has subjected this temporal earth to vanity. Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Ecclesiastes 1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. Ecclesiastes 1:5 — Comments - The first characteristic of the earth that testifies to man’s travail and vanity is the sun, which appears to rise and go down due to the rotation of the earth. The energy released by the sun becomes the driving force of the wind currents over the earth. Ecclesiastes 1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. Ecclesiastes 1:6 — Comments - The second characteristic of the earth that testifies to man’s travail and vanity is the wind, which is driven by the energy of the sun and the rotation of the earth. Ecclesiastes 1:6 provides a clear description of the Jet Stream, which flows in the high altitudes of the earth’s atmosphere. Man did not discover that the Jet Stream existed until the twentieth century. Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. Ecclesiastes 1:7 — Comments - The third characteristic of the earth that testifies to man’s travail and vanity is the rain and the rivers that flow as a result of the rain, which weather is driven by the wind currents across the earth.
Ecclesiastes 1:8-11
The Testimony of the Generations of Man to His Subjection to Vanity – In addition to creation (Ecclesiastes 1:5-7), time also serves as a testimony to man’s subjection to vanity. The events of man’s present life (Ecclesiastes 1:8 b), past events (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10), and future events (Ecclesiastes 1:11), all testify to the fact that God has predestined mankind to travail and vanity. Divine Intervention in the Affairs of Mankind - In Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 the Preacher acknowledges how God intervenes in the affairs of mankind and establishes seasons of purpose in our lives. The Preacher initially notices the repetition of cycles, or seasons of life when he says, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). He will later acknowledge God’s hand in orchestrating these cycles and seasons in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. The repetition of particular events in history can be seen in Bible prophecy. For example, Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) that a virgin would conceive and bear a son and his name will be called Immanuel was two-fold. It was fulfilled during the time of King Ahaz as well as during the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. History will repeat itself when Jesus will reign as King of Kings from Jerusalem. King Solomon serves as a type and figure of the Lord Jesus as King over the earth. Thus, Solomon’s reign will repeat itself in prophetic fulfillment at the Second Coming of Christ Jesus. Ecclesiastes 1:8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Ecclesiastes 1:8 — “All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it” – Comments - The NIV reads, “All things are wearisome, more than one can say…” In other words, every aspect of our mortal life testifies to life’s travail and vanities. “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” – Comments - Man’s present lusts and pursuits testify to life’s vanities. Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 — Comments – The Past Testifies to Man’s Vanities - While Ecclesiastes 1:8 b reflects upon how the present activities of mankind testify to our travail and vanity, Ecclesiastes 1:9 reflects upon how the past activities of mankind testify to the same, in the fact that the events of man’s life seem to repeat themselves in later generations. Ecclesiastes 1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. Ecclesiastes 1:11 — Comments - While Ecclesiastes 1:8 b reflects upon how the present activities of mankind testify to our travail and vanity, and Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 reflects upon how the past activities of mankind testify to the same, Ecclesiastes 1:11 reflects upon how the future activities of mankind testify to our travail. The future testifies to our subjection to vanity by having nothing to offer mankind except the certainly of a loss of one’s remembrance (outside of man’s future redemption). Who will even remember that a particular person existed after his life of labours and death?
Ecclesiastes 1:12-2
The Preacher Explains How He Came to a Conclusion of Vanity in This Life – Having acknowledged the predestined vanity of this world, the Preacher begins to explain how he pursued a purpose for his life in the midst of life’s vanities. He will describe the vanity of his own personal experiences (Ecclesiastes 1:12 to Ecclesiastes 2:11) and those of the society of people around him (Ecclesiastes 2:12-26). Outline – Here is a proposed outline:
- The Preacher Finds Vanity in the His Own Pursuits — Ecclesiastes 1:12 to Ecclesiastes 2:11 2. The Preacher Finds Vanity Around Him — Ecclesiastes 2:12-26