1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
-Ecclesiastes 1:1 (NKJV)
The first verse is obviously the author (presumably King Solomon-although there is some debate) identifying himself to his audience.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
-Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NKJV)
Verse 2 is where the text of Ecclesiastes really gets started. This verse sets the context for the chapter as well as the entire book.
Vanity: 1: something that is vain, empty or valueless.
Vain: 1: having no real value; IDLE, WORTHLESS 2: marked by futility or ineffectualness; UNSUCCESSFUL, USELESS 3: archaic; FOOLISH, SILLY
Definitions from: Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th ed.
Do you remember the circular reference mentioned in the “Introduction”? Here it is again. In order to define the item, the author refers to the item. This serves two purposes: 1. to set the context (as already mentioned) for the chapter then the book, 2. it magnifies the meaning of the vanity. As we ponder things which are vain, empty or valueless we’ll come to understand they are even more vain empty and valueless.
Think about the vanity of life as exemplified in the endless cycles presented in the first chapter.
v. 3-the endless cycle of toiling under the sun to make a living, etc.
v. 4-generations come and go.
v. 5-the sun rises then goes down endlessly.
v. 6-the wind whirls about continuously.
v. 7-the rivers continuously fill the sea and never run dry.
v. 8-the eye does not see enough and the ears do not hear enough.
v. 9-that which has been is what will be, what has been done will be done again.
10 Is there anything of which it may be said,
“See, this is new”?
It has already been in ancient times before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come
By those who will come after.
-Ecclesiastes 1:10-11 (NKJV)
The bold print in the text for verse 10 was my doing. I believe this to be one of the keys to the text. What if, instead of being a platitude, there really is (literally) nothing new under the sun?
What about computers? Those are new.
Are they really? Our computers are based on a binary code of 1’s and 0’s. DNA is a “computer” code but is much more powerful. It’s based on a quadratic code of A, G, T, C and the amount of information which can be held in a teaspoon using the DNA code is hard to fathom. I’m not going to venture out of my “lane” here and talk about genetics/ computer programming, etc. It’s already been done. Instead, do some research online on your own. Look-up DNA, the cell, the human body. Please consider, “The Case for a Creator” by Lee Strobel1. It’s on You-Tube. It’s mind-blowing! If you’re feeling especially frisky and really want your mind twisted into an unrecognizable shape, consider watching: “Origin of Life Crisis: Rice’s Dr. James Tour Calls Out Bad Science at Harvard”2 on You-Tube.
What about robots?
What about them? Look on You-Tube for “robot parkour”. There are some really amazing things available. It’s incredible what we’ve been able to do in that department. Then, look-up “parkour”, and be even more amazed. If there’s a mathematician out there please consider doing the calculations on what would be required (“software”/ “hardware”) for a human being to perform parkour (processing capacity/ power, visual resolution of the eye, communication across all body systems, etc.) with no lag in real-time perception and performance. I’m sure it’s hard to comprehend. If robots, etc. are “new”, why do they always emulate forms (animals/ humans) which already exist?
What about cars and airplanes?
What is a horse? It’s an “engine” which converts fuel into energy. That energy is then channeled to move things. It has an onboard “computer” to run all the necessary functions to make movement possible. Horses can also procreate-something automobiles can’t do. Attach a chariot to it and you have a “car”. Yes, automobiles are faster today than they were. Nonetheless, how do we measure engine power today-“horsepower”.
Why do we have aircraft? Because we studied birds and pondered, “How do they do that…fly?” The principles of lift, aerodynamics etc. were discovered by studying birds. What is a bird? It’s an “engine” which converts fuel into energy and uses homing radar and it’s onboard computer system for flight, navigation, reproduction (something aircraft can’t do), etc.
What about the space station?
Are you referring to the habitat which moves through space and has climate control and systems for food and water and sleep and rest and resources for up to 6 inhabitants to perform their work?
Are you really going to make me do this? Fine…What is planet Earth, which currently has a population of 8 billion? It’s already been done. There’s nothing new under the sun-literally. It’s impossible for there to be because, God has not created anything new (that we know of).
The Grief of Wisdom
In verses 12-14 the author finishes this chapter by summing up the endless cyclical nature of life as a “…burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.”-Ecclesiastes 1:13 (NKJV) The idea being this keeps us busy and in some way makes us stronger and more fit.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.
-Ecclesiastes 1:15 (NKJV)
The point of verse 15 is we’re caught in a never ending loop of living. Regardless of how that makes us feel there’s no way out of it. We simply have to deal with that reality. I think there are two basic ways we’ll feel about that: 1. it will create a sense of despair, or 2. it will create a sense of security. The author (presumably King Solomon) admits he gained much wisdom, more than anyone before him, and it was all for nothing. It was, “…vanity, and grasping for the wind.” It’s made worse by the fact that:
18 For in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
-Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NKJV)
Why is that?! At some point we must come to the realization we “create”-nothing. Everything we do is modeled on something which already exists. We “discover” things only because they already exist and therefore can be discovered. We must come to the realization all of this is at the pleasure of someone we cannot manipulate and to whom we are indebted for everything!
This is of course extremely damaging to the human ego. It is what it is…
1. Lee Strobel and his associated ministries, et al do not endorse and have no relationship or affiliation with simplifiedtheology.org in any way. All intellectual property owned by Lee Strobel, et al. remains the sole property of Lee Strobel, et al.
2. Dr. James Tour and his associated ministries, et al do not endorse and have no relationship or affiliation with simplifiedtheology.org in any way. All intellectual property owned by Dr. James Tour, et al. remains the sole property of Dr. James Tour, et al.
All images courtesy various artists via Pixabay.