©John Yerkes
Chapter 1:3-11 (ESV) - What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
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.
Question to consider: What are some ways in which people strive for immortality?
In response to his initial teaching that all of creation is as meaningless as the vapor of a vapor, the Preacher (Qoheleth) provides a poetic list of examples that prove the meaninglessness of our strivings outside of our relationship with God. It is the question that has driven many atheists mad— what is the point?
We live in an interesting time in which there are tech billionaires who have gained the pinnacle of worldly success and are desperately trying to make a lasting impact through their inventions or in their attempts to colonize planets or in spreading their genes by fathering many children by different mothers or even in their attempts at immortality through neuro-technology or health supplements. In the US, we live in an interesting time in which presidents rule by executive decree so each new term of office is spent dismantling the efforts of the previous president. Each new term causes one group of people to rejoice and another to despair, and each group longs for the day in which the other group is no longer able to regain power.
However, in their efforts, the billionaires and politicians ultimately have to agree with the Qoheleth. Within a couple of generations, they’ll be lucky if anyone even remembers their name. Whether it is the passing of days, the blowing of the wind, or the rushing of water, everything goes round and round in an unending cycle. Even our bodies require daily food and are never satisfied by what we see or hear or experience. We desperately search for some new experience or idea, but there are no new experiences or ideas. All of it is meaningless.
This idea would cause me to despair if not for the fact that the wise Solomon was wrong. Generations after this was written, the LORD spoke through the prophet, Isaiah, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19) Of course, this new thing would be that the word of the LORD would take on flesh (become incarnate) and fulfill the Law. He would then offer Himself as a perfect sacrifice so that those who call upon His name would be reconciled to God.
Qoheleth stated that “the earth remains forever,” but knowing this, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) Qoheleth stated, “All things are full of weariness,” but knowing this, Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Qoheleth asked, “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” Knowing this, Jesus said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:20)
If we put our hope in the things of this world, we reap a harvest of despair. If we put our hope in Christ, we reap a harvest of righteousness.
Dear heavenly Father, let the wisdom of Solomon help us to realize that the things of this world are fleeting, but the hope of Christ is eternal. We look forward to the day in which there is no more unrest, strife, sin, and death. Come Lord Jesus! Amen.