Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

It is worth noting that Ecclesiastes is not simply a compilation of casual observations; it is the result of very deliberate study and inquiry: I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. (v. 13a) Perhaps we should pay attention and dig into what the Preacher has to say, especially if we find it somewhat unsettling.

Indeed many over the centuries have found Ecclesiastes unsettling, so much so that they have questioned whether it should rightly be included in the Canon of Scripture, seeing it as being contradictory to the rest of Scripture, even heretical. Yet the Church has consistently reaffirmed that Ecclesiastes belongs in the Bible. So if Ecclesiastes makes us uncomfortable, or we feel like we want to reject what the Preacher says, then we need to ask ourselves, “Why? What’s the problem?” And then further ask whether the problem is with Ecclesiastes — or with ourselves. Hmmm. Bear that in mind as we journey through this book together.

What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.

Ecclesiastes 1:15

I recall an incident a few years back in which this verse inspired a rather profound insight. It was truly remarkable. Unfortunately, I cannot remember what it was! So I stand here now as living proof of the truth of this proverb: what is lacking (my forgotten insight) cannot be counted (or shared). This also is but a striving after wind. Sorry!

For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:18

Think of that as the other side of the “ignorance is bliss” coin, and for that I offer you this Dilbert gem. Enjoy! [Edit: Unfortunately, our culture has canceled Dilbert, or rather it’s author, Scott Adams, so that link no longer works. Vanity of vanities!]

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. (v. 1) So who is this Preacher? Ancient tradition holds that the Preacher is none other than King Solomon, which is clearly consistent with this first verse and later verses (see Ecc. 1:12,13,16,2:1-10), coupled with everything else we know about Solomon, including his reputation for wisdom, riches, and women. However, some modern scholars contend that some of the language would indicate a much later, postexilic date. I am content to stick with tradition, but, frankly, I don’t think it really matters who wrote the book. In fact, it seems to me that arguments over authorship fall pretty squarely into the realm of what the author himself says is “useless” or “futile” or “vain”. What matters more than authorship is what the book actually says.

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

The Hebrew word translated here in the ESV as “vanity” is “hebel” (or “hevel“, depending on one’s preference of pronunciation), a word used 38 times in Ecclesiastes. As Deacon Todd points out in his paper, “hebel” is notoriously difficult to translate, and “vanity” misses the mark somewhat. A more literal translation would suggest the notion of vapor or smoke, a breeze or a sigh. No single English word really captures the idea, but we certainly have the sense of futility, of grasping at something that cannot be grasped. Hence, we may also use words like “meaningless”, “useless”, or “pointless”. Nevertheless, “vanity” goes back to the Latin Vulgate translation and thus has a strong tradition behind it. Just recognize that we’re not talking about “inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance; conceit” as Mirriam-Webster defines “vanity”.

What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:3

This is perhaps the central question of Ecclesiastes. And a key word here is “gain”. In other words, “I do all this work (toil), but what’s in it for me?” Indeed, what’s in it for me?

The rest of today’s reading, which acts as an introduction to the book, offers several examples of “vanity”, of how — in the grand scheme of things — nothing ever really changes, and progress is illusory:

• Generations come and go, but the earth remains the same. (Ecc. 1:4)
• The sun rises and sets, then does it all over again. (Ecc. 1:5)
• The wind goes round and round and comes back to where it started. (Ecc. 1:6)
• Rivers all run to the sea, but the sea never fills up. (Ecc. 1:7)
• Etc.

It all seems like so much futility with nothing new under the sun. (Ecc. 1:9)

Stay tuned.

Forty-two. Yes, 42. If that just made you chuckle or brought a smile to your face, then you know what I’m talking about. If you are bewildered, then I’d like to refer you to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which started as a BBC comedic sci-fi radio series, followed by a TV show and then a series of books and a movie. In The Hitchhiker’s Guide, the number 42 is extremely significant. In fact, it is given as the “The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything.” Unfortunately, no one knows the question. We come to learn that the earth was built as a giant computer meant to discover that Ultimate Question. But just as the earth is about to produce the computed result, it is destroyed by a Vogon constructor fleet to make way for a hyperspace bypass. I find the humor in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to be hilariously funny, but as you might imagine, there is also despair, because overarching everything is futility, meaninglessness, absurdity.

And that brings us to Ecclesiastes: Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. (Ecc. 1:2) That opening statement fairly well sums up “the Preacher’s” observation of life. To many, that sure doesn’t sound like Christianity — or does it? Like Job, Ecclesiastes recognizes hard realities — particularly the hard reality of death that is common to all. This book provides a sobering (some would even say cynical) assessment of the full spectrum of human endeavors and pursuits. It recognizes that in the face of death, self-interested “accomplishments” are all for nought. Nothing ever really satisfies or provides personal gain in any enduring fashion. Ecclesiastes thus stands firmly against any sugar-coated, “pie in the sky” view of human existence.

So what’s the difference between Ecclesiastes and The Hitchhiker’s Guide, aside from the former being ancient and the latter being a good deal more humorous? Both see a lot of futility and absurdity in life. But whereas The Hitchhiker’s Guide evidently never finds any real meaning in life (certainly not when 42 is the Ultimate Answer), Ecclesiastes suggests that it is life without God that is meaningless.

We’ll get more into the details as we go through Ecclesiastes, but for now I commend to you the attached paper, “Two Themes in Ecclesiastes” by Deacon Todd.

By the way, “Ecclesiastes” is the romanized transliteration of the Greek translation of the Hebrew “Kohelet” (or “Koheleth“, or “Qoheleth“, or “Qohelet“), translated here in the ESV as “Preacher”. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes. Let’s see what this Preacher has to say.

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One more thing…

The midterm elections are upon us, and there’s one verse in Ecclesiastes that is highly relevant, but that we won’t reach until after November 8. That verse is Ecc. 10:2: A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. Just sayin’… 🙂

Psalm 124

Our fifth “Song of Ascents” and the last until December 1. The title also lists “of David”, but my Study Bible suggests that it only resembles a Davidic psalm and was probably written sometime after Israel returned from exile – escaped the snare, as it were (v. 7).

There are three deliverances mentioned by the writer: from water (vv. 4-5), from wild beasts (v. 6), and from a bird trap (v. 7), in addition to being …swallowed up alive… (v. 3) where the writer probably had Jonah in mind. I can imagine that the psalmist could have been referring to the escape from Egypt through the Red Sea (the waters), their victories over their many enemies during the Kingdom years (the “wild beasts” defeated by David and his descendants), and their release by their Babylonian captors (the trap).

For me these deliverances bring to mind my own “escapes”, especially as I look for those escapes, not necessarily life-threatening, but times when I was delivered from unfortunate circumstances. My most prominent escape was when the Lord delivered me from myself (my greatest enemy), when I was “born again” in May 1975. I had actively resisted that deliverance for more than three years – and how I wish I could have those three years back! It’s a good exercise, to think back on our “escapes”, a challenge that I offer the rest of you. What have been your greatest deliverances?

Psalm 123

The fourth of the “Songs of Ascents”. Psalm 123 reads more like a lament than a song of ascents! It’s got the psalmist’s situation (contempt of the proud, v. 4), his cry for help (v. 3), and an expression of confidence in Who the Lord is (v. 1). However, the Psalm is missing any justification of the writer’s innocence and, most importantly, thanksgiving for the Lord’s deliverance for the writer from his situation. So, much like a lament, but not complete in the lament model. Still, it’s unusual as a Song of Ascents.

Have you ever felt the “contempt of the proud” (v. 4)? Have you had someone belittle you when you were, in fact, in some lower state or position than the person who was making you feel diminished? Have you been the “butt of the joke”, been made to feel humiliated? There’s an old line that is supposed to make us feel better: “Consider the source!” That is, tell yourself that the proud person is simply reflecting his/her own insecurity. Bad advice. Diminishing that other person does nothing but bring that bad situation down to a lower level. The better path is the one the psalmist chooses, to recognize God for Who He is, enthroned in the heavens (v. 1) and to look to the LORD our God, till He has mercy upon us. (v. 2) This God Who is the eternal Creator made each and every one of us in His image; there is no basis for anyone to be overly proud or to apply that pride in diminishing another person. Don’t let yourself be belittled – and “for heaven’s sake”, don’t be the belittler!!

Psalm 122

A clear topic today, folks – Jerusalem. I can picture Galileans singing this song as they began their three-day journey to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the annual feasts. We could even imagine Jesus as a boy or as a young man joining in praying and singing this Psalm. Carol and I have been with the crowd on the National Mall in Washington, DC a number of times for the Fourth of July. It’s a happy crowd, everywhere, that turns absolutely joyous when the fireworks begin. And I can remember my first-ever trip to Washington, the first time I saw the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial – how much I embraced the thought of my country, my citizenship, our independence. Again, joy. That’s about as close as I can come to relating to this Psalm and the joy in Israeli hearts as they began their journey and especially as they arrived at the Temple, as their eyes beheld the beauty of the gates and the columns. What joy they must have felt!

Psalm 121

A second “Song of Ascents”. There are a number of very familiar verses in this short Psalm – for me, verses 1-4, 6, 8. I am particularly fond of verse 4: Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. It’s comforting to know that our God is a 100% God. Part of His eternal nature is that, for us, He is a 24/7 God. I say “for us” in that “time” is a concept that we apply for ourselves that does not constrain God in any way! All of our four kids did Study Abroad semesters or other time in Europe on their own. I remember saying that God could watch over them in Europe better than Carol and I could watch over them in our basement. He is always “awake” for me, for you, and for those you love. Sweet!

Psalm 120

Only seven verses, following on Psalm 119’s 176 verses! Today’s psalm begins with the heading, “A Song of Ascents”. We see this today and we’ll see it for the next fourteen psalms (Psalms 120-134). Scholars have suggested one of two meanings for these headings. The first is a suggestion that these psalms are prayed or sung by someone who is walking up the steps leading to the Temple. It could also include the whole of the journey for someone who lived in Jerusalem as they walked to the Temple, since the Temple was built on a high hill, Mount Moriah. (See the sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22.)

I’m more attached to the second argument, that travelers from afar would pray and sing these psalms as they journeyed to Jerusalem for one of the annual feast days. That understanding rings true in today’s Psalm, since the psalmist mentions his sojourn in Meshech and his dwelling in Kedar (v. 5).

I’ve mentioned before how the psalms can trigger a different interpretation in my head, different from what the psalmist meant or what Biblical scholars say. Today, another one of those cases. In today’s first four verses the standard interpretation is that the psalmist is being verbally attacked by an adversary – a straightforward explanation. But I saw it as the psalmist speaking to himself about his own tongue! It could be that with his tongue he is lying or slandering or simply twisting words to win his point. How often I have later regretted something that I have said! Maybe the psalmist feels the same way. Read what the Apostle James has to say about “the tongue” (James 3:1-12). Powerful! It’s this connection that makes me wonder if today’s psalmist has his own problem with his own tongue: A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! (v. 4)

Psalm 119:161-176

Psalm 119, Day 11, the end. It seems fitting to me that the focus I see in today’s reading is praise. See Ps. 119:164,171,172,175. This has been a joyful 11-day trip for me through Psalm 119. Seeing the psalmist’s use of all those synonyms and his alphabetic acrostic mode… Even though we don’t see the Hebrew, we know it’s there, and what an effort the psalmist made to put it together!

We do need to praise God regularly for His Law – His Statutes, His Decrees, His Precepts, His Commandments, His Ordinances, His Testimonies, His Word, His Ways – however we see them. Francis Schaeffer once wrote a book entitled How Should We Then Live? A good question. Psalm 119 provides the answer, 176 verses worth! Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. (v. 165)