The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?
A generation goes and a generation comes,
But the earth remains forever.
If ever there was a book of the Bible that is relevant today (and of course they all are) it is the book of Ecclesiastes. Vanity, vanity all is vanity. It feels that way sometimes. Perhaps it is simply the self-imposed “home sheltering” a.k.a. quarantine that is getting to me. But life looks different this side of an economic crisis, and a medical epidemic, and a global pandemic.
Vanity (used 5 times in verse 2) is the Hebrew word, havel. It is translated breath, vapor, vain, pointless, empty. Life is but a vapor or a breath. It often appears to be vain or empty of reason or purpose. It can feel transitory and hence pointless. The reason it seems that way is that it is that way… At least that is one way of perceiving life.
Fortunately, there is another angle of vision that reduces the reality of temporary vanity and perceives ultimate victory.
It is true that man is like a breath (Psalm 62:10, 144:4; Job 7:16) and it is true that life under the sun can seem ultimately devoid of ultimate purpose. (Eccl. 2:11,17, 3:19, 12:8) But mark it well, the Lord our God is there and He is not silent. His purpose is to restore the creation, redeem man, reestablish order and return to rule and reign.
Do not miss the end of Ecclesiastes:
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (12:14)
Martin Luther had two days marked on his calendar: Today and That Day. We live today under the corruption of the curse and in the shadow of sin. We live between the day of ruin and the day of restoration. We sometimes wait anxiously, but ever faithfully, for That Day – The Coming of the Lord.
Today, we are living by the clock that ticks away moment by moment as we await a remedy for the virus and redemption in the financial market. But we must also live by a compass that, regardless of how we feel, points us to what we know. And we know that God is too kind to be cruel and too wise to ever make a mistake.
If we can trust Him with the final hour then we can trust Him with the next minute.
Serving Him with you until He comes for us,
Fred Chay, PhD
Managing Editor, Grace Theology Press
