Seeking Purpose…Finding Futility

Part 1: Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?

Seeking AnswersA Study in Ecclesiastes

Lesson 11, January 8, 2012

Today’s Scripture

Ecclesiastes 1: 1-6 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

Today’s Scripture

Ecclesiastes 1:7-11 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Thought for Today

Human life is everywhere a state in which much is to be endured, and little to be enjoyed.

-- Samuel Johnson (1759)

Would You Affirm or

Would You Deny This Statement?

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.

-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903))

-- ??????

"Solomon has put the key to Ecclesiastes right at the front door: 'Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?' (1:2-3). Just in case we missed it, he put the same key at the back door (12:8).“

Thomas Constable, Notes on Ecclesiastes, 2010

Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?

The meaning and usage of the English word “vanity” which was translated from the Hebrew word “hebel”

Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?To understand the message of Ecclesiastes, we must consider:

“ ... [the Holy Spirit] deliberately chose a word [the Hebrew word ‘hebel’] with a calculated ambiguity; [the Holy Spirit through Solomon] skillfully employed it in a variety of contexts so that several associated meanings could be communicated without the use of synonyms ... For [Solomon] ‘hebel’ is a neutral term expressing brilliantly in its figurative nuances, the limitations of human activity and human wisdom”

-- R. Cover, “Vanity in Ecclesiastes,” Th. M Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary,

1978, p.76.

Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?

Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?Synonym Verses Subject Antonym

profitless 2:1; 2:15 pleasure or wisdom profitable

perplexing or enigmatic 6:2; 8:10; 8:14

observations “under the sun”

contradict established moral

order

solution or solvable

transient or fleeting

11:10; 6:12; 7:6; 9:9; 3:19 man’s life permanent

futile 1:2; 12:8; 2:19, 21, 23; 7:6

events under the sun, laughter of

fools, and leaving an estate to heirs

fruitful

unknown or obscure 6:1-4; 11:8 to a stillborn child

or to death well-known

Some Synonyms for “Vanity”• absurd/absurdity• anxious• breath-like• empty/emptiness• enigmatic• ephemeral• fleeting• foolishness/folly• frailty• fruitless• futile• impermanent• insignificant• intransigent• joyless• limited• meaningless/meaninglessness

• nothingness• obscure• paradox• perplexing• pointless• profitless• substance-less• transient• transitory• unbeneficial• unfulfilling• unknown• unsatisfying• uselessness• valueless• vapor• worthless/worthlessness

Some Antonyms for “Vanity”• abiding• accomplished/accomplishment• advantage (“that which matters"; "that which counts“)• beneficial• fulfilling• gain• good (more recently "point“)• joy• known• meaningful• permanent• profit/profitable (Hebrew word for profit = "left over“)• satisfying• significant• strength• substance• tranquil• useful• valuable

Some New Testament Usages of “Vanity”• Matthew 6:7• Matthew 16:26-27• Mark 7:7• Luke 12:15-28• John 3:8• Acts 4:25• Romans 1:21• Romans 8:20• 1 Corinthians 1:20-21• 1 Corinthians 3:20• Ephesians 4:17• Ephesians 5:6• 1 Timothy 1:6• 1 Timothy 6:20• 2 Timothy 2:16• Titus 1:10• Titus 3:9• James 1:26• 1 Peter 1:18• 2 Peter 2:18

The meaning and usage of the English word “vanity” which was translated from the Hebrew word “hebel”

The meaning and usage of the word “All”

Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?To understand the message of Ecclesiastes, we must consider:

“It must be emphasized that [Solomon] nowhere uses ‘hebel’ pejoratively or with morally negative connotations.”

-- R. Cover, “Vanity in Ecclesiastes,” Th. M Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary,

1978, p.76.

Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?

Solomon’s observations and conclusions are limited in their scope to “under the sun”

Solomon’s seemingly negative conclusions always grow out of observations of the senses (“I saw…”, “I have seen”, etc)

Solomon never speaks of God, God’s work, God’s revelation, or man as God’s creature as being “vanity”

Solomon commends some things as having merit in life “under the sun” such as the fear of God, enjoyment of life, and proper use of wisdom

Vanity of Vanities, Is All Vanity?“All” in “All is vanity…” does not mean everything in the Universe: