1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” 3What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? 4One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. 10Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?” It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
Ecclesiastes is one of the many books in the Old Testament that is largely overlooked except for a few select verses that sound interesting when compared to the rest of the Bible. In fact, much of Ecclesiastes may cause you to scratch your head in wonder as to how it was included in the Bible at all. Is it ok for us to be told at only the second verse that everything is meaningless (or “vanity” depending on your translation)? If that is true, why read any further? Why not just stop here and wallow in misery?
Well, I think that the author knew that there is a strong level of curiosity in all of us that will wonder what else there is to say after such a powerful assertion of meaninglessness at the start. Doesn’t it kind of make you want to read more? I encourage you to take time right now to read through this whole book. Most chapters are pretty short and you will not have to set aside too much time to work your way through it.
Verse 9 presents the idea that history simply repeats itself and that there is nothing new under the sun. How do you feel about that statement? Does it make you feel like you are simply caught in the pointless cycle of life? Does it give you hope that you are not the only one to face a situation like the one you are in now?
Or, is it possible that the idea of nothing new existing in this world (or “under the sun”) sounds less like truth and more like the frustrated musings of someone who has sought after a reason to live and has come up empty?
If you read the fullness of this book, you will find that there is only one thing worth living for. When we genuinely pursue a relationship with God, we find that life can be full of meaning. It is only apart from that loving relationship that we can easily come to a conclusion of meaninglessness.