RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-02-04	Why Does The Preacher Conclude All Is Vanity? (Ec.12:8)
		Ecc 1:2  "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Ecc 12:8  "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." There are 12 chapters for the book of Ecclesiastes. In the first (1:2) and last (12:8) chapters we find the preacher say, “All is vanity”. So like bookends, with the evidence in between, the preacher makes this cry. The word “vanity” is used 34 times in the book, and so it is the key word and its theme. The writer is Solomon who is king David's son, uses the word “vanity” with the sense of “meaningless”. The Hebrew (H1892, hebel) means “breeze” or “vapor”. So it speaks of the fleeting nature of things. How did the preacher (again Solomon) come to the conclusion that there is no meaning or purpose to human existence? The book of Ecclesiastes is unique from other books of the Bible in that it comes from the standpoint of worldly thinking apart from God. Solomon wrote the book later in the later years of his life. Solomon attempted to understand life using human reason and intellect. This perspective of worldly wisdom would be limited to information available from the physical realm. Like many worldly philosophers, separated from God and His divine revelation, Solomon concluded that nothing in life has significance. Apart from God, His revelation of Himself, and His purposes, our lives are indeed void of meaning. We like Solomon have to learn that anything which lacks eternal value has no real value at all. So the contrast is worldly versus heavenly, temporal versus eternal perspectives. Ecclesiastes speaks to those times when life seems empty or does not make sense. Wicked people succeed while the righteous suffer. Horrible injustices are all around (Ec.3:16; 4:1-4). Ecc 3:16  Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there. Like Solomon, if we look for meaning and purpose apart from God, our quest will end in frustration. Solomon closed Ecclesiastes in the same place where he started. When we focus only on this earthly life, that is, “under the sun” (1:3), life will seem pointless. We were made in the image of God to be His representatives on the earth (Ge.1:26). We as believers should understand this purpose. When God is present in our lives, He becomes our treasure, meaning, and purpose of our lives. Paul tells believers that our work here does have meaning (1Co.15:58). 1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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