Ecclesiastes 1:9 - 2:11

9-11

Ecclesiastes 1:9–11 “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.”

There is nothing new in the world, this has been the same. How often do we say now that there is nothing new, everything is a reboot or a remake of something that came before, and the original was a retelling of an older book or play. This has always been the case. There is more than 8 billion people alive on the earth today and secular estimations are up to 117 billion humans have ever lived. How many of them are still remembered? Douglass O’Donnell said in his commentary of this section of Ecclesiastes that John Lennon once said that the Beatles were more popular that Jesus and Christianity was on its way out. How is that now? We may remember John Lennon but there are children today that even if they know of the Beatles they may not be able to name them, what about in another 20 or 50 years? The truth is that after two or three generations the vast majority, like 99.9999% of people will not be remembered anymore. There is no remembrance of former things, and the new things that are hot today will be forgotten all to soon. For all those without Christ as their focus this would be devastating and depressing thinking, but for those who do, we can say yes I am not special or good, and the only good I can do is through the Christ. My legacy and efforts in this world apart from the commandments of God are indeed meaningless and futile and the only name that is and will remembered and be magnified for eternity is Jesus Christ.

12-14

Ecclesiastes 1:12–14 “I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.”

15

Ecclesiastes 1:15 “What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.”

Control

Straightening a twisted steel I beam

Getting ahold of a tornado and making the winds blow straight

You don’t know what you don’t know

16-17

Ecclesiastes 1:16–17 “I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.”

18

Ecclesiastes 1:18 “For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

2:1-3

Ecclesiastes 2:1–3 “I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.”

4-7

Ecclesiastes 2:4–7 “I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.”

8

Ecclesiastes 2:8 “I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.”

Silver and Gold

Singers, men and women

Concubines

9-10

Ecclesiastes 2:9–10 “So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.”

11

Ecclesiastes 2:11 “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”