Eclesiastes 1
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Eclesiastes 1
Guzik - It seemed that every part of life suffered from this emptiness. We see from the first two verses that Solomon wrote this from a certain perspective, a perspective that through the book he will expose as inadequate and wrong. Most all of Ecclesiastes is written from this perspective, through the eyes of a man who thinks and lives as if God doesn’t matter. "It is an absolutely accurate statement of life when it is lived under certain conditions; but it is not true as a statement of what life must necessarily be.” (Morgan) If you say, “My life isn’t vanity; it isn’t meaningless. My life is filled with meaning and purpose.” That’s wonderful; but you can’t ignore the premise of the Preacher – the premise of life under the sun. Therefore Ecclesiastes is filled with what we might call true lies. Given the perspective “God does not matter,” it is true that all is vanity. Since that perspective is wrong, it is not true that all is vanity. Yet Solomon makes us think through this wrong perspective thoroughly through Ecclesiastes. The bitter things which the Preacher is saying so abundantly through its course do not represent his ultimate convictions, but thoughts that he took up in his progress from error to truth. Alexander
Eclesiastes 1
Guzik has an interesting note that "Solomon thinks through this perspective, but he wasn’t the first nor the last to see life this way. Many moderns judge life to be equally futile. “We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.” (Playwright Tennessee Williams) “Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but on balance life is suffering and only the very young or the very foolish imagine otherwise.” (Author George Orwell) “Life is rather like a can of sardines, we’re all of us looking for the key.” (Playwright Alan Bennett) Vanity (SEPTUAGINT) (3153) (mataiotes from mataios = vain, empty <> derived from maten = to no purpose or in vain) means emptiness, vanity, nonsense, nothingness, , frailty, folly, purposelessness, transitoriness! Thayer says mataiotes is a "purely Biblical and ecclesiastical word" which describes "what is devoid of truth and appropriateness". It defines the inability to reach a goal or achieve a purpose. It includes the idea of being without success, of being unable to achieve a goal or purpose. It has the quality of being empty, fruitless, nonproductive, useless. Mataiotes speaks of want of attainment with the idea of aimlessness or of leading to no object or end. See also lengthy discussion by Trench in Synonyms of the New Testament. Futility is best pictured in Greek mythology. Doomed to Tatarus (hell) forever, Sisyphus is given the endless task of trying to roll a huge stone up to the top of a mountain. But just when he gets within sight of the pinnacle, the weight of the stone pushes him and the stone all the way down to the bottom, where he begins again the futile attempt to push the stone to the top. Complete futility! Vanity (futility, idols, breath, delusion, worthless, emptiness)(01892) hebel means breath, vapor, vanity, emptiness, meaninglessness; idols. Hebel commonly has the figurative use of that which is evanescent and unstable. The first OT use refers to idols (Dt 32:21, cf 1 Ki 16:13, 26, Jer 8:19; Jeremiah 10:8, 15; Jer 14:22 Jer 51:18; Jonah 2:9; Ps 31:6), a fitting word picture for the worthlessness of idols! Hebel refers to breath because of its transitory fleeting character, as in Job's figurative use "my days are but a breath." (Job 7:16, cf similar idea Ps 39:5, 6, 11; Ps 62:9; Ps 78:33 where hebel parallels behālâ from root bāhal "to hasten": Ps 94:11; Ps 144:4) Hebel "generally appears in contexts where it is used as a simile emphasizing the transitory state of an object, never as descriptive of the biological function. A prime example would be "Humanity is like a breath (Ps. 144:4). Not only is breath ethereal and of short duration, but all things which breathe will die." (Gilbrant) Michael Eaton adds Hebel means (i) brevity and unsubstantiality, emptiness (NEB), spelt out in Job 7 where the ‘vanity’ (Job 7:16, Heb.) of man’s life is a ‘breath’ (Job 7:7), an evaporating cloud (Job 7:9), soon to be ended (Job 7:8) and return no more (Job 7:9f.); (ii) unreliability, frailty, found also in Psalm 62 where God, a ‘Rock’ and a ‘high tower’ (Ps 62:6), is compared with man who is ‘vanity’ (Ps 62:9), a ‘leaning wall’ and a ‘tottering fence’ (Ps 62:3); (iii) futility, as in Job 9:29 (Heb.), where ‘in vanity’ means ‘to no effect’; (iv) deceit (cf. Jer. 16:19; Zech. 10:2). Ecclesiastes includes each of these emphases. All is untrustworthy, unsubstantial; no endeavour will in itself bring permanent satisfaction; the greatest joys are fleeting. Between Eccl 1:2 and Eccl 12:8 the Preacher will echo this key statement about thirty times, showing that his book is in fact its exposition. Vanity characterizes all human activity (Eccl 1:14; 2:11): joy (Eccl 2:1) and frustration (Eccl 4:4, 7–8; 5:10) alike, life (Eccl 2:17; 6:12; 9:9), youth (Eccl 11:10) and death (Eccl 3:19; 11:8), the destinies of wise and foolish (Eccl 2:15, 19), diligent and idle (Eccl 2:21, 23, 26). (Borrow Ecclesiastes : an introduction and commentary page 56) Vine's summary of hebel - First, the word represents human "breath" as a transitory thing: "I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity [literally, but a breath] (Job 7:16). Second, hebel means something meaningless and purposeless: "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity" (Eccl. 1:2). Third, this word signifies an "idol," which is unsubstantial, worthless, and vain: "They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities …" (Dt. 32:21, the first occurrence). See SPIRIT usage notes. Warren Baker adds that hebel "refers to the vanity and ultimate emptiness and meaninglessness of all things in this life, whether they seem good or bad (Eccl. 1:2, 14; 2:11, 15, 3:19; 4:4, 7, 8; 5:7; 6:2, 4, 9; 7:6, 15; 8:10; 9:9; 11:8). Combined with itself in the plural, it means absolute meaninglessness (Eccl. 1:2). Idols and the vain religious customs associated with them are all delusions (Jer. 10:3, 15). It denotes an empty, vain life (Eccl. 6:12). Used with the verb hāb̠al, it means to carry out vain talk or action or what is empty (Job 27:12). As an adverb, it means to talk in vain, emptily (Job 35:16). To walk after heb̠el means to go after or follow vanity (2 Ki. 17:15; Jer. 2:5). Anything obtained through evil is vain, such as wealth (Prov. 13:11)." (Complete Word Study Dictionary– Old Testament) Victor Hamilton on "the cluster of references (of hebel) found in Ecclesiastes (thirty-six). These may be grouped into several subdivisions. First are those passages in which the author states his inability to find fulfillment in work, both in his failure to be creative and in his lack of control over the privilege of free disposition of his possessions; this is "vanity": Eccl 2:11, 19, 21, 23; Eccles. 4:4, 8; Eccles. 6:2. Second are those verses in which the author struggles with the idea that the connection between sin and judgment, righteousness and final deliverance is not always direct or obvious. This is an anomaly about life and it is vanity": Eccles. 2:15; Eccles. 6:7-9; Eccles. 8:10-14. The meaning of hebel here would be "senseless." Thirdly are those verses in which the author laments the shortness of life; this is vanity": Eccles. 3:19; Eccles. 6:12; Eccles. 11:8, 10. Life, in its quality, is "empty" or "vacuous" (and thus unsubstantial), and in its quantity is "transitory." Rather than the above observations being final conclusions about life by the author of Ecclesiastes, perhaps they reveal something of his method and his concealed premise. He may be attempting to demonstrate man's inability to find meaning to life unaided by divine revelation and interruption. This solo quest will always end in futility. HEBEL - 67X/64V - breath(5), delusion(2), emptily(1), emptiness(2), fleeting(2), fraud(1), futile(1), futility(13), idols(7), mere breath(2), nothing(1), useless(1), vain(3), vainly(1), vanity(19), vanity of vanities(3), vapor(1), worthless(2). Deut. 32:21; 1 Ki. 16:13; 1 Ki. 16:26; 2 Ki. 17:15; Job 7:16; Job 9:29; Job 21:34; Job 27:12; Job 35:16; Ps. 31:6; Ps. 39:5; Ps. 39:6; Ps. 39:11; Ps. 62:9; Ps. 78:33; Ps. 94:11; Ps. 144:4; Prov. 13:11; Prov. 21:6; Prov. 31:30; Eccl. 1:2; Eccl. 1:14; Eccl. 2:1; Eccl. 2:11; Eccl. 2:15; Eccl. 2:17; Eccl. 2:19; Eccl. 2:21; Eccl. 2:23; Eccl. 2:26; Eccl. 3:19; Eccl. 4:4; Eccl. 4:7; Eccl. 4:8; Eccl. 4:16; Eccl. 5:7; Eccl. 5:10; Eccl. 6:2; Eccl. 6:4; Eccl. 6:9; Eccl. 6:11; Eccl. 6:12; Eccl. 7:6; Eccl. 7:15; Eccl. 8:10; Eccl. 8:14; Eccl. 9:9; Eccl. 11:8; Eccl. 11:10; Eccl. 12:8; Isa. 30:7; Isa. 49:4; Isa. 57:13; Jer. 2:5; Jer. 8:19; Jer. 10:3; Jer. 10:8; Jer. 10:15; Jer. 14:22; Jer. 16:19; Jer. 51:18; Lam. 4:17; Jon. 2:8; Zech. 10:2 Deuteronomy 32:21+ ‘They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their IDOLS (no god - ESV, so-called gods - CSB, false gods- NET)(hebel; Lxx - eidolon). So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation, G Campbell
Eclesiastes 1
Guzik - There may be nothing new under the sun; but thankfully the followers of Jesus – those born again by God’s Spirit – don’t live under the sun in that sense. Their life is filled with new things. A new name (Isaiah 62:2, Revelation 2:17) A new community (Ephesians 2:14) A new help from angels (Psalm 91:11) A new commandment (John 13:34) A new covenant (Jeremiah 31:33, Matthew 26:28) A new and living way to heaven (Hebrews 10:20) A new purity (1 Corinthians 5:7) A new nature (Ephesians 4:24) A new creation in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) All things become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21:5) Ecclesiastes 1:9 Routinely Fresh That which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. —Ecclesiastes 1:9 Today's Scripture : Ecclesiastes 1:1-9 All of us are bound to repeat ourselves as we go about our daily routine. Time after time we eat, sleep, work, and clean up. We can lose our enthusiasm for life if “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). There is another way to view life, however. The world may be likened to a stage on which the drama of eternity is being unfolded. We are the actors. The sun rises and falls like a great curtain day after day, and every time we “repeat our lines” we make a decision. We either respond to the cues of our daily circumstances just to get our part over with, or we look at our role in life as a wonderful opportunity to know and enjoy the goodness and wisdom of the great Director (5:18-20; 12:13-14). As we gladly participate in this repetitive activity, character is formed, faith is strengthened, hope is increased, and endurance is developed. Through the normal course of events, God is saying to us that there is more to our earthly existence than the meaningless round of duties. I wonder what I did for God today: How many times did I once pause and pray? But I must find and serve Him in these ways, For life is made of ordinary days. —Macbeth If life is a grind, use it to sharpen your character. Norman Geisler - ECCLESIASTES 1:9-10—Isn’t it false to claim there is nothing new under the sun? - When Critics Ask PROBLEM: Solomon declared here that “there is nothing new under the sun.” But not only is this contrary to science and human history, but it is opposed by other verses of Scripture (cf. Isa. 43:19; Jer. 31:22) where God says He will do “a new thing.” SOLUTION: Of course there are new inventions, and God does new things. Solomon is not speaking about these, but as to how a human being can be satisfied “under the sun” (v. 8). All the regular means of wine, wealth, wisdom, and works (see Ecc. 2) have already been tried and found wanting. Warren
Eclesiastes 1
Guzik - The futility of life seems to extend in both directions, both into the past and into the future. Man works hard, yet it never seems to make a lasting difference and all is simply forgotten. John Stevenson The Lack of Remembrance. Even when you DO accomplish something significant, it is eventually forgotten. My father was an officer in the United States Air Force. He flew in three different wars and he received a handful of medals. I have some of those medals, but in some cases I don't even know what they signified. A few generations from now they will likely find their way to a dumpster. I have a couple of degrees from college and seminary. But after I am dead and gone, they were be mere waste paper. There isn't much that we do that is noticed while we are alive and there is even less that will be remembered after we are gone. Your entire life will one day be condensed onto a single line of a neglected tombstone. What do you know about your great-great grandfather? What were his accomplishments? His dreams? His aspirations? Do you even know his name? (I don't). Life is transient. Everything you have and everything you are will one day be forgotten. And that is the message of Ecclesiastes. It portrays life "under the sun." It is a rather depressing picture. It is depressing because life without God is always depressing. The good news is that God has not left us "under the sun." For Christians, life is not "under the sun" but rather WITH THE SON. And that makes all the difference in the world. There is a little rhyme taught to me as a child which goes: "Only one life, will soon be past, Only what's done for the Lord will last." There is a principle here. It is the principle of permanence. The only permanent things are our service to the Lord. They may be forgotten in this life, but they are written where it counts (SO REDEEM THE TIME). Eaton - Nihilism (ED: philosophical perspective that denies the existence of objective meaning, truth, or value in the world) not only dominates his outlook, it also works itself out in life. Past events are forgotten; future events will be forgotten...Nehemiah’s prayer ‘Remember me, O my God, for good.’ (Neh. 13:31) pleads that God’s actions may arise out of his past promises (cf. Gen. 40:14; Exod. 20:8). (Borrow Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – Ecclesiastes page 60) Nihilism means literally ‘nothing-ism.’ R. C.
Eclesiastes 1
Guzik points out that "God has deliberately built a system (ED: I WOULD ADD THE QUALIFIER THAT IT WAS THE RESULT OF SIN ENTERING THE CREATION) where life seems meaningless and empty without the understanding of a living, active God to whom we must give account. It may seem cruel of God to devise such a system, but it is actually evidence of His great love and mercy. He built within us the desire and need for that which brings meaning and fulfillment to life. As Augustine wrote, the Creator made a God-shaped space in each of us, which can only be filled with Him. Seek (search)(01875) darash means to seek, to inquire of, to examine, to require, consult, ask. One of the most frequent uses of this word is in the expression "to inquire of God," which sometimes indicates a private seeking of God in prayer for direction (Gen. 25:22), and often it refers to the contacting of a prophet who would be the instrument of God's revelation (1 Sam. 9:9; 1 Kings 22:8). At other times this expression is found in connection with the use of the Urim and Thummim by the high priest as he sought to discover the will of God by the throwing of these sacred stones (Nu 27:21). We can get a good sense of one aspect of the meaning of darash when God says "You will seek (baqas; Lxx = ekzeteo intense seeking) Me and find Me when you search (darash; Lxx = zeteo) for Me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13) What is the condition of seeking Yahweh and finding Him? It is seeking with one's whole heart! We see a similar nuance in Dt 4:29+ "But from there you will seek (baqas; Lxx = zeteo) the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search (darash; Lxx = ekzeteo intense seeking) for Him with all your heart and all your soul." Notice the importance of the heart in Explore (08446) tur means to to seek out, spy out, explore. It has the basic idea of "to move about" in various directions. "Careful examination" would thus seem to capture the basic meaning of the root, a meaning that is especially clear in Eccles. 1:13; Eccles. 2:3; Eccles. 7:25, where an intense search for wisdom is such an important preoccupation in the mind of the author. Tur depicts persons following their own hearts or desires, seeking them out to pursue them rather than the Lord's will (Nu 15:39). It refers to merchants, those who seek out wares (1Ki. 10:15; 2Ch 9:14). It is used of the instincts and inclinations of an animal to search out its habitat (Job 39:8). It refers to a person serving as a guide who explores the way for others (Pr 12:26). TUR - 23V - explore(1), explored(1), explores(1), follow(1), guide(1), investigate(1), seek(2), selected(1), spied(5), spy(6), spying(2), traders*(2). Num. 10:33; Num. 13:2; Num. 13:16; Num. 13:17; Num. 13:21; Num. 13:25; Num. 13:32; Num. 14:6; Num. 14:7; Num. 14:34; Num. 14:36; Num. 14:38; Num. 15:39; Deut. 1:33; Jdg. 1:23; 1 Ki. 10:15; 2 Chr. 9:14; Job 39:8; Prov. 12:26; Eccl. 1:13; Eccl. 2:3; Eccl. 7:25; Ezek. 20:6 Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. KJV Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. BGT Ecclesiastes 1:14 εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τὰ πεποιημένα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος LXE Ecclesiastes 1:14 I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, beheld, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit. NET Ecclesiastes 1:14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind! CSB Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. ESV Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. NIV Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. NLT Ecclesiastes 1:14 I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless-- like chasing the wind. YLT Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit! NJB Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun: how futile it all is, mere chasing after the wind! NRS Ecclesiastes 1:14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. NAB Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind. GWN Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun. Look at it! It's all pointless. It's like trying to catch the wind. BBE Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind. Ec 1:17,18 2:11,17,26 1Ki 4:30-32 Ps 39:5,6 THE CHASE THAT NEVER ENDS: THE WIND IN MY HANDS I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun - Solomon must have been the ancient equivalent of "AI!" examining everything that people did, doing so with a thorough search so that he is not offering guesses but sound conclusions. While there is clearly a touch of hyperbole (Solomon never saw Eskimos building igloos, etc), he has surely seen as much as any other man. Under the sun of course means on earth, the things visible on earth. And of course under the sun implies he is focused on the natural things and not the supernatural or things "above the heaven" so to speak. Henry
Eclesiastes 1
Guzik - The more the Preacher understood life under the sun, the greater his despair. The more he learned, the more he realized what he didn’t know. The more he knew, the more he knew life’s sorrows. Michael Eaton - The attempt to solve the problem of life by wisdom in fact only enlarged the problem (v. 18). So long as wisdom is restricted to the realm ‘under the sun’, it sees the throbbing tumult of creation, life scurrying round its ever-repetitive circuits, and nothing more. ‘The more you understand, the more you ache’ (Moffatt). (Borrow Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – Ecclesiastes page 68) John Stevenson - Solomon took that wisdom which was given to him by God and he worked it. He set out upon an intellectual journey to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven (Ec 1:13). He looked and he studied and he thought and he pondered. What did he find? He found that rationalism ultimately has no answers that satisfy. It is all empty. If intellectualism brought fulfillment, then our colleges and universities would be "Camelots" of peace. But it isn't so. Knowledge doesn't make you happier. It has just the opposite effect. It brings grief (Verse 18). Increasing knowledge results in increasing pain (Ec 1:18). Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 Knowing Too Much He who increases knowledge increases sorrow. --Ecclesiastes 1:18 Gerrit and I were teenage friends when we attended Christian High School. One day he became unhappy with the large assignments, so he reminded his teacher that Ecclesiastes says, "He who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (1:18). Apparently our teacher wasn't impressed. The assignments stayed large and our sorrow increased. Gerrit, of course, had misapplied Scripture to ease the discipline of learning. Yet the passage makes a significant statement about the pain of gaining too much knowledge if not accompanied by "the fear of the Lord" (Prov. 1:7). Yes, modern science has brought many benefits. But that same knowledge also makes us aware of the possibilities for global disasters such as a nuclear holocaust or unstoppable germ warfare. Many become so scared by television programs portraying these dangers that they won't watch them. With knowledge comes both good and ill, Some blessing and some harm; But those who learn to fear the Lord Can live without alarm. --DJD The heart of education is education of the heart Greg Laurie - THE ANSWER TO LIFE - For Every Season For the greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:18 NLT) Maybe you have been searching for a philosophy that you could live by, something you could govern your life by—a philosophy, of course, that you could live out, but still have fun and do what you want to do. Maybe you have thought about creating your own religion. Or maybe you have told yourself, If I were a highly educated person, that might take care of all the questions I have in life. While education certainly has its place, you can’t study your way to happiness and fulfillment in life. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote, “I said to myself, ‘Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.’ So I worked hard to distinguish wisdom from foolishness. But now I realize that even this was like chasing the wind” (Eccl. 1:16–17 NLT). Solomon concluded, “For the greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow” (v. 18 NLT). Of course, Scripture is not condemning the pursuit of knowledge. That is a noble pursuit. But what it is saying is that if you try to fill the void in your life through the pursuit of knowledge, it will be an empty pursuit. Knowledge will not fill that void. Nor is the answer found in the pursuit of pleasure. Nor is it found in possessions. Nor is it found in success. Nor is it found in sex. Nor is it found in education. Nor is it found in religion, even. It is found in Jesus. The answer to your life is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Norman Geisler - ECCLESIASTES 1:18—Is wisdom the source of happiness, or the means of sorrow? - When Critics Ask PROBLEM: Solomon affirms here that “in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” However, Proverbs asserts that “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding” (Prov. 3:13). Does wisdom bring sorrow or happiness? SOLUTION: It all depends on the purpose for which wisdom or knowledge are sought. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon is seeking wisdom “under the sun” (cf. 1:3), that is, apart from God, as the source of happiness. This he rightly concludes is “vanity and grasping for the wind” (1:14). However, if wisdom is viewed as based in “the fear of the Lord” (Prov. 1:7), then it is the very means of obtaining true happiness. Indeed, Solomon came to this very conclusion in Ecclesiastes (see 8:12; 12:13). Also, the OT understanding of wisdom is not the accumulation of great amounts of knowledge. For Solomon, wisdom is first and foremost living a successful life of righteousness and peace in obedience to God. Knowledge alone does not bring wisdom. Indeed, the message of Ecclesiastes is that knowledge alone brings only sorrow. Wisdom is the accumulation of the right kind of knowledge coupled with a life that is in harmony with God’s commands and at peace with Him.