Seeing All the Works Under the Sun - Ecclesiastes 1:14

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem,  and I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith”, and in chapter one and verse fourteen of his book Solomon said, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun”, where we read,

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; 

and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

The verse reads, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun;” Solomon began with the words, “I have seen”  or “I, Solomon, have perceived, discerned, distinguished and observed” “all the works” which means “each, every, the whole and every one of the acts, deeds, labors and pursuits” “that are done under the sun” or “which are performed and produced beneath the sun in the sky”. Solomon said he observed every act, deed and labor that was performed beneath the sun in the sky.

The verse continues, “and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Solomon added the words, “and, behold” or “and lo, look and consider”, “all is vanity” which means “each, every, the whole and everything exists as vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness” “and vexation” or “and longing, striving and grasping” “of spirit” which means “belonging to the wind, breath, trouble or sorrow”. Solomon concluded that every work performed beneath the sun in the sky lead to emptiness and trouble.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon continued on his pursuit for everything “under the sun” and concluded that nothing satisfies and all of it leads to sorrow. In the grand scheme of things, eternally, God knows this. His idea is to give us eternal value, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and satisfy us according to His eternal perspective about everything.

Next time Solomon says, “that which is crooked cannot be made straight”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".