In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon shared about, “when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets. Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it”, and in chapter twelve and verse eight of his book Solomon said, “vanity of vanities, says the preacher” where we read,
Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.
The verse reads, “Vanity of vanities, says the preacher;” Solomon began with the words, “vanity of vanities” which means “vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness belonging to vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness”, “says the preacher” or “utters, declares and proclaims the minister, public speaker and collector of sentences”. Solomon repeated his words which he used in chapter one and verse two of this book in which he as the public speaker made a declaration concerning emptiness belonging to emptiness.
The verse goes on to say, “all is vanity.” Solomon added the word, “all” or “each, every, the whole and everything” “is vanity” which means “exists as vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness”. Solomon declared everything to be as vapor, breath and unsatisfactory emptiness.
When we think through Solomon’s words in this verse, we see how after instructing the “young man” concerning death and living his life before the effects of aging take place, he resorted to his beginning phrase about all the things of life. God wants us to live the life He has given to us in a manner that is pleasing to Him and us, 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 equip us with His Holy Spirit so we are guided into His truth and empowered to live according to that truth so our days and years will never be known as “vanity of vanities”.
Next time Solomon says, “because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge”, 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".
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