Ecclesiasties 1 

As is my practice, I go back and forth between the New Testament and the Old.  So, I finished the wonderful story of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus as told by John.. so that we can know and believe and live... and return to the Old Testament.. to the Book of Ecclesiastes, and read, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity."

It is a startling, pessimistic and yet honest account from the "Preacher". Setting his mind on "wisdom and knowledge".. the Preacher makes these observations.. 

"A generation goes and a generation comes."

".. the sun rises and the sun sets.."

"Blowing towards the south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along."

"All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full."

His conclusion is stark.. "All things are wearisome; Man in not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun." 

We cannot argue with his point there.. but.. we can look ahead.. 

The Preacher says, "I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.. "  And we say.. "Nothing is impossible for our God!"

He didn't see the day that Jesus came.  He didn't know.. with all his wisdom and knowledge.. that God would do a new thing.. something far above anything he could have imagined!

Oh how thankful we are that there was something "new" under the sun!  There was Jesus!  He can make the crooked straight.. He can fill what is lacking!  He is above the wisdom of all men.. indeed His "foolishness" is greater than all the wisdom of mere men.  As Paul wrote, "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." ( I Cor. 1:18)

Paul goes on.. "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." ( v20-21)  And.. ".. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." (v27)

Father, all we can say is "thank You!"  Thank You that life is not "vanity".. we have a purpose.. we have a Savior who came to free us from the wearisome ways of the world.. and to give us abundant life in His love and grace. We do not strive after wind.. we strive after Christ.. clinging to the One who gave His life that we might truly live. Praise God! Amen!