Ecclesiastes is a wisdom book, and it is presented as the musings of a Preacher/Teacher. An interesting phrase is stated in chapter 1, verse 2, and then repeated in chapter 12, verse 8:
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!
Is that a helpful reflection on earthly life?
Ecclesiastes 1.2-4
1 The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What do people gain from all the toil
at which they toil under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
12 Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with the rain; 3 in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly; 4 when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low; 5 when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper bud falls; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets; 6 before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity
Chapter 3 contains the famous statement regarding the fact that “there is a time for everything.” Reading the writings of this philosopher may help us to reflect on life.
Prayer
Let me consider what others have thought about the earthly experience, as I contemplate my own days here. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
