Read Ecclesiastes 1:1–3
Questions from the Scripture text: Whose words are these (Ecclesiastes 1:1)? Whose son was he? What position did he hold? What does he observe in Ecclesiastes 1:2? How much, does he say, is vanity? What does Ecclesiastes 1:3 ask about a man having? From how much of his labor? Where did he toil in it?
What will Ecclesiastes teach us? Ecclesiastes 1:1–3 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the book of Ecclesiastes is going to tell us about how, even in a fallen world, life can be profitable.
Toil is part of the fall (Ecclesiastes 1:3, cf. Genesis 3:17–19). But is that the last word for sinful, fallen man?
The answer of the book of Ecclesiastes is “no!” The theme of the book is not meaninglessness, like so many seem to have concluded. In fact, it is exactly the opposite! Each section of the book has a concluding statement that asserts the goodness and joy of life as lived in the memory and fear of the Lord (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:24–26, Ecclesiastes 3:12–13, Ecclesiastes 5:18–20, Ecclesiastes 9:7–10, Ecclesiastes 11:7–10, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). The book asserts that the Lord gives to us our portions under the sun, and that in His saving grace, He super-adds the gift of the joy as well.
One help for understanding the message of the book is the proper translation of the root that is repeated five times in Ecclesiastes 1:2. Its basic meaning is mist/vapor, but the emphasis is on transience/change rather than emptiness (as translations like “vanity” or “meaningless” would imply). If we’re here one moment, and gone the next, without what seems like lasting impact, what is the profit/purpose?
As someone instructed by the Westminster Shorter Catechism would expect, the Scripture’s answer everywhere, and especially in Ecclesiastes, is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!”
And there’s no better candidate to be the Spirit’s instrument for telling us this than “the preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:3).
“Preacher” here comes from a root that means more “to gather/assemble” than “to proclaim.” He is speaking as one who beckons us, like lady wisdom in Proverbs 1:20ff and Proverbs 9:1ff.
Solomon also speaks as one that, if purpose and joy could be had in the things under the sun, from the things under the sun, then certainly it would have been Solomon who had them!
But he also speaks as the “king in Jerusalem.” The reason that fallen man can still have purpose and joy is because of the Seed of the woman, Who would crush the serpent’s head (cf. Genesis 3:15); the Seed of Abraham, in Whom all of the families of the earth would be blessed (cf. Genesis 12:3, Genesis 18:18, Genesis 26:4); the Prophet like Moses, Who would teach and lead the way into God’s everlasting rest (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15–18); and, the Forever-King on David’s throne (cf. 2 Samuel 7:10–16). It is this last, of Whom Solomon would be keenly aware. He’s temporarily occupying a throne that belongs to Another, and this Other is the One Who makes it possible for us to have everlasting joy in a transient world.
As we work through this little book of the Bible, we will be rushing forward to the conclusion that fearing God and keeping His commandments is our all, and that we should learn to remember Him and enjoy Him from our earliest possible days. This book, as a whole, is a great call to worship God with our entire life, and we look forward to its calling us into His public worship for several weeks to come.
What are some of the most toilsome tasks in your life? What are some of the most mundane/unimpressive gifts that you enjoy in life? How can a finite, fallen person have purpose and pleasure in such things?
Sample prayer: Lord, we are so grateful to You that our short lives in this fallen world are from Your hand and in Your hand. Through Christ, You have given us a glorious redemption. And, in Him, You have made us to enjoy all things as gifts from You, and to employ all things in service to Your glory. What a glorious life You have given us, even under the sun. For, You have given us to live it in fellowship with You, Who are above the sun. Grant, now, that we would have that fellowship with You in Your worship, by Your Spirit, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am With You” or TPH73C “In Sweet Communion, Lord, with Thee”
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