Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
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Summary
- Life under the sun, summarized.
Details and/or Comments
- This passage shows the futility of focusing only on life under the sun. The premise throughout the book is that God must be the foundation on which our life is based. That is the only way to bring meaning into life!
- What does the statement "there is nothing new under the sun" refer to? We should let the book of Ecclesiastes itself, define what it means by "nothing new." The very issues mentioned in the book will show us what is meant!
- It obviously doesn't mean that there aren't any "new" inventions or products being made in the world (unless we want to argue that new inventions are just different ways to do old things).
- More likely it is a reference to things such as world conditions, conflicts between right and wrong, human nature, the types of things people live for, values, etc.
Scripture
Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
- See also: Life "Under the Sun".
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Ecc 1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
Ecc 1:2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." |
"Vanity" - referring to emptiness, futility, no lasting value or meaning.
If this present life is what you live for, the end result can be summarized by this one word: “meaningless.” The day that all things will be given their final significance is still in the future – the Day of Justice (or judgment). We are reminded of this later in the book of Ecclesiastes. |
| Ecc 1:3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
Ecc 1:4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. |
What value is there in all that we do? Sooner or later, we're gone (dead) and another generation replaces us. |
| Ecc 1:5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
Ecc 1:6 The 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. Ecc 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. |
Life is characterized by a series of seemingly endless cycles. Some obvious examples include the sun, the wind, and the water cycle. The only thing that seems to remain is the earth, where it all occurs (v. 4)!
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| Ecc 1:8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Ecc 1:9 That 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. Ecc 1:10 Is 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. Ecc 1:11 There 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. |
We never reach a point of complete satisfaction, in which there is nothing left to want - whether physical needs, goals and desires, or something else. We have an inner drive for "something more" or "something new" - whatever it may be. And in this never-ending pursuit, we just never seem to get any further ahead.
Nothing is new... it's just forgotten and then repeated (or re-learned)! Like everything else, human accomplishment seems to repeat in cycles. (This is one of the reasons that people sometimes say, "History repeats itself.")
Verse 11 - What is forgotten? Some translations interpret the words "former" and "latter" as referring to the people, who die and are forgotten. Others interpret them as referring to the things that they do (which they often claim are "new"). Either concept fits with the context... and both are true. |
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Ecc 1:12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. | This could have been Solomon, but no name is given anywhere in the book. |
| Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. Ecc 1:15 That which is crooked can't be made straight; and that which is lacking can't be counted. |
This heavy burden is the result of human sin. It is related to what happened in Genesis 3:1-24. This frustration, futility and sorrow cannot be stopped - at least by us.
Crooked and lacking - we cannot undo it. Those who are wise will pay attention to this fact.
Note that God is said to "afflict" us with this burden. Scripture never sees a contradiction or conflict between God's sovereignty and human responsibility.
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| Ecc 1:16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
Ecc 1:17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. |
Sorrow comes with wisdom. The wise understand that the things mentioned in the previous verses are true. (No wonder living just for "this world" makes no sense! It's meaningless!) In chapter 2, we learn that wisdom is better than madness and folly (even though wisdom is associated with sorrow). |
Scripture Passages
(Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.)
Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy • Joshua • Judges • Ruth • 1 Samuel • 2 Samuel • 1 Kings • 2 Kings • 1 Chronicles • 2 Chronicles • Ezra • Nehemiah • Esther • Job • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Solomon • Isaiah • Jeremiah • Lamentations • Ezekiel • Daniel • Hosea • Joel • Amos • Obadiah • Jonah • Micah • Nahum • Habakkuk • Zephaniah • Haggai • Zechariah • Malachi Matthew • Mark • Luke • John • Acts • Romans • 1 Corinthians • 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy • 2 Timothy • Titus • Philemon • Hebrews • James • 1 Peter • 2 Peter • 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Jude • Revelation |
—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——
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The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.
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Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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