Vanity of Vanities - Ecclesiastes 1:2

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon began with the words, “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem”, and in chapter one and verse two of his book Solomon said, “vanity of vanities; all is vanity ”, where we read,

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

The verse reads, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, …” Solomon began with the words, “vanity of vanities” or “vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness belonging to vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness”, “says the preacher” which means “utters, declares and proclaims the minister, public speaker and collector of sentences”. Solomon the public speaker made a declaration concerning emptiness belonging to emptiness.

The verse continues, “… vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”  Solomon added the words, “vanity of vanities” or “vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness belonging to vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness”; “all is vanity” which means “each, every, the whole and everything exists as vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness”. Solomon declared everything to be as vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon began to relay the idea that everything in the world has a sense of emptiness to it. He will proliferate on this idea with examples and specifics as we study his words, but for now let us consider that God knows what is eternally best for us. He is aware that we will be eternally separated from Him because we have sin in our lives, and for this reason He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we surrender to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into the truth that leads to everlasting age-abiding life both on earth and with Him forever in Heaven.

Next time Solomon asks, “What profit has a man of all his labor”, 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".