{"id":55162,"date":"2024-08-12T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=55162"},"modified":"2024-08-08T09:00:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T16:00:29","slug":"is-all-vanity-the-puzzle-of-ecclesiastes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/is-all-vanity-the-puzzle-of-ecclesiastes\/","title":{"rendered":"Is All Vanity? The Puzzle of Ecclesiastes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The opening sentences of Ecclesiastes are probably among the most depressing opening sentences of any work of literature, ancient or otherwise. \u201cVanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity\u201d (Eccl. 1:2<\/a>). There doesn\u2019t seem to be too much of a point to anything and one wonders how that opening line can entice someone to read beyond the first page. But the Christian knows that God inspired the words of the Preacher. So, what does God intend for us to learn from Ecclesiastes? Let\u2019s see how Doug O\u2019Donnell wrestles with the puzzling message of Ecclesiastes in the Reformed Expository Series<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Message of Ecclesiastes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is true that if you look at all the separate parts of Ecclesiastes, the book is an enigma. It is confusing. Ecclesiastes is like a thousand-piece puzzle taken from the box, thrown on the floor, and kicked around by the kids. But if you discipline the children, quiet the house and your heart, start to lift the scattered pieces from the ground, lay them on a clean table, and slowly, humbly, and prayerfully (as one should always approach God and his Word) piece the pieces together, a clear picture emerges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The obvious edge pieces are all filled with the unmistakable and undesirable word vanity.<\/em> In Hebrew it is the word hebel,<\/em> which is the same Hebrew spelling as the name of the first man to die, Abel (Gen. 4:8<\/a>), and it is an example of an onomatopoeic word! As Daniel Fredericks notes: \u201cOne must aspirate twice with the initial he<\/em>-sound, then again with the soft bet,<\/em> pronounced as \u2018-vel\u2019. So the speaker illustrates what the nature of a breath is simply by saying the word.\u201d This word is found thirty-eight times throughout the book, most prominently at the bookends\u2014\u201cVanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity\u201d (Eccl. 1:2<\/a>; cf. 12:8<\/a>). This word is translated in various ways, including \u201ctemporary,\u201d \u201ctransitory,\u201d \u201cmeaningless,\u201d \u201csenseless,\u201d \u201cfutile,\u201d \u201cephemeral,\u201d \u201ccontingent,\u201d \u201cincomprehensible,\u201d \u201cincongruous,\u201d \u201cabsurd,\u201d \u201cempty,\u201d and more visually as \u201ca striving after wind,\u201d \u201ca bubble,\u201d \u201csmoke that curls up into the air,\u201d \u201cmist,\u201d or \u201cbreath\u201d\/\u201dmere breath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Man is like a breath [hebel<\/em>]; his days are like a passing shadow. (Ps. 144:4<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath [hebel<\/em>]! (Ps. 39:5<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However we are to translate hebel<\/em> (in most contexts, I like \u201cbreath\u201d best), listen to a short list of Solomon\u2019s long list of mist. What is like your hot breath on a cold day disappearing into the air?<\/p>\n\n\n\n