The Vanity of Natural Rhythms

Ecclesiastes Study, 2024

Series Title: Ecclesiastes: The Pursuit of Purpose

Message #2

Ecclesiastes 1:3-11.

ETS: Natural rhythms provide nothing new, thus not providing a source for purpose.

ESS: Our purpose is not in the natural rhythms of life.

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to realize that their purpose is not found in the natural rhythms of life.}

PQ:

What lessons can we learn from the rhythms of nature?

UW: lessons

TS: Let us examine two lessons learned from the rhythm of nature, now.

The ESV Study Bible gives a great, concise statement about this section of verses: “The endless repetition of natural seasons and cycles never produces anything “new” (v. 9) and thus appears to be without direction or purpose.” (ESV, 1197)

Daniel Akin commented on the phrase found in verse 3, “under the sun.” He wrote, “And under the sun is an important phrase found about 30 times in the book. It means Solomon is looking at the question of meaning from an earthly perspective. If this world is all there is— if there is no God, no afterlife, and no final judgment— then everything is meaningless.” [Akin, ECC. 3:1-11)

The rhythms of nature prove the emptiness and boringness of life from an earthly perspective. [vv. 3-7]

Notice the introduction of this idea surrounding natural rhythms or patterns:

“A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” (v. 4)

The essence of this verse is that the earth basically remains unchanged and not impacted by humans for years and years. It is an endless cycle of repeat.

Notice the demonstration of the emptiness of the rhythm of the natural life:

The sun rises and sets…hurrying back to its place.

The wind gusts from place to place…returning to its cycle.

The sea is constantly filled by streams flowing inward…yet it is never full, and the streams return to their origin to flow again.

Thought for us: Our purpose cannot be found in the rhythms of nature. The prove the emptiness of the pursuit of purpose from an earthly perspective.

The rhythms of human life prove the emptiness of life from an earthly perspective. [vv. 8-11]

Notice verse 8 — it introduces the overwhelming lack of being able to describe the vanity found in seeking purpose in the rhythms of the earthly life.

In parallel form to the three facets of nature mentioned in verses 4-7, verse 8b utilizes three facets of the human being that provide the same conclusion:

There are not enough words to say to provide purpose or satisfy the human longings.

There are not enough sights to see to provide purpose or satisfy the human longings.

There are not enough words to hear to provide purpose or satisfy the human longings.

Verses 9-10 do not deny the reality of innovations and advancements of “new things”. However, the backdrop is that in lieu of the world, nothing is truly new— it is a variation of something that has already been.

Verse 11, again, does not deny the reality that some people have made great impacts during the lifetime on earth. However, it affirms that nothing is truly lasting beyond a few generations.

“The fundamental events of life remain the same: birth, marriage, family, work, and death.” (Garrett, Ecclesiastes, 288)

“The human race is the same bunch of sinners it has always been, and nothing we have done really makes a difference.” (Akin, Ecclesiastes, ECC. 4:9-11)

Thought for us: The rhythms of human life prove the emptiness of life from an earthly perspective.

Conclusive thoughts:

The circle is often used to symbolize eternity or an unending cycle. Such is the summary of this section in Ecclesiastes: life apart from God is an unending cycle of emptiness, dissatisfaction, and lack of purpose/direction.

Jesus poses a similar question to the preacher here in Mark 8:36 “36 For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life?”

The context of such question implies that one who seeks to find his/her purpose in this life— will lose their life trying, seeking, and finding. Yet, the person who seeks his/her purpose in Jesus— denying themselves, taking up their cross daily, and following Jesus— will truly find their purpose, meaning, and gain their life.

Reflective Questions:

[1] Are you searching for purpose outside of God?

[2] Can you recall a time in your life when your pursuit for purpose was caught up in worldly things (or this life)?

[3] How can you begin pursuing purpose in God today?

[4] How can you help someone else begin pursuing purpose in God today?

Consulted Resources:

[1] Duane A. Garrett, “Ecclesiastes,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).

[2] Daniel L. Akin and Jonathan Akin, Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), Ec 1:3–11.

[3] A. R. Fausset, A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Job–Isaiah, vol. III (London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited, n.d.).

[4] James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998).

[5] Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000).

[6] Michael A. Eaton, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 18, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1983).

[7] James Parks, Wordplay in the Bible (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2021).