Ecclesiastes Chapter 1
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1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
15 [That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
18 For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Matthew Henry's Bible commentary for Ecclesiastes Chapter 1...
The name of this book signifies "The Preacher." The wisdom of God here preaches to us, speaking by Solomon, who it is evident was the author. At the close of his life, being made sensible of his sin and folly, he recorded here his experience for the benefit of others, as the book of his repentance; and he pronounced all earthly good to be "vanity and vexation of spirit." It convinces us of the vanity of the world, and that it cannot make us happy; of the vileness of sin, and its certain tendency to make us miserable. It shows that no created good can satisfy the soul, and that happiness is to be found in God alone; and this doctrine must, under the blessed Spirit's teaching, lead the heart to Christ Jesus.Solomon shows that all human things are vain. (1-3) Man's toil and want of satisfaction. (4-8) There is nothing new. (9-11) The vexation in pursuit of knowledge. (12-18)1-3 Much is to be learned by comparing one part of Scripture with another. We here behold Solomon returning from the broken and empty cisterns of the world, to the Fountain of living water; recording his own folly and shame, the bitterness of his disappointment, and the lessons he had learned. Those that have taken warning to turn and live, should warn others not to go on and die. He does not merely say all things are vain, but that they are vanity. VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. This is the text of the preacher's sermon, of which in this book he never loses sight. If this world, in its present state, were all, it would not be worth living for; and the wealth and pleasure of this world, if we had ever so much, are not enough to make us happy. What profit has a man of all his labour? All he gets by it will not supply the wants of the soul, nor satisfy its desires; will not atone for the sins of the soul, nor hinder the loss of it: what profit will the wealth of the world be to the soul in death, in judgment, or in the everlasting state? 4-8 All things change, and never rest. Man, after all his labour, is no nearer finding rest than the sun, the wind, or the current of the river. His soul will find no rest, if he has it not from God. The senses are soon tired, yet still craving what is untried. 9-11 Men's hearts and their corruptions are the same now as in former times; their desires, and pursuits, and complaints, still the same. This should take us from expecting happiness in the creature, and quicken us to seek eternal blessings. How many things and persons in Solomon's day were thought very great, yet there is no remembrance of them now! 12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and mourn. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour.
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Shoshanahim's comment on 8/04/2010, 1:19pm...
It was known to the writer of Ecclesiastes how this world had ended in the first timeline. In Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, it illustrates the time of trouble when the sun, moon, and stars will be veiled by the violent ejection of dust and thick smoke from a huge caldera (see Ecclesiastes 12:2 and Revelation 6:12; 9:2). A great star (comet of Revelation 8:10; 9:1) is likened to an eagle (see Ecclesiastes 12:4; Isaiah 46:11). When the ravenous bird (comet) enters Earth’s atmosphere, it causes a great sound of thunder. Its voice cries out like a thundering trumpet (see Ecclesiastes 12:4; Isaiah 27:13; Zechariah 9:14; Revelation
11:15). The voice heralds the time of the latter-day literal and figurative resurrection for the latter-day righteous who believed this new doctrine (see Ecclesiastes 12:4; Daniel 12:1; Hosea 6:2; Revelation 11:11-13).
Isaiah was also told how our world will end. In Isaiah 13:6, it states that the day of the Lord (who personifies a comet) is at hand. At that time, the light of the sun, moon, and stars will be veiled when dust and smoke explode from a huge volcano’s crater (see Isaiah 13:10). These prophecies were written over two thousand years ago. God’s written word is able to declare what is going to take place in the last generation because God (personifying each scroll that records and plays over each generation) has seen the end already take place in the first timeline (see Isaiah 46:10). The same catastrophic event of a great star’s (personified as the return of God) impact – which causes an immense volcano to explode and release dust, smoke, hot ash, and then lava – is written in the writings of the prophets. However, the written prophecies in the Old Testament, which are to be fulfilled in our day, are written as if they could have happened during events that took place in each prophet’s generation.
With this in mind when reading the Old Testament prophecies, take into consideration that the past types are mixed-in with future, yet to be fulfilled, prophecies (see Job 14:12, 13; Psalm 18:7-9; Ecclesiastes 12:2-5; Isaiah 24:17-23; Jeremiah 4:23-28; Ezekiel 32:7, 8; Joel 2:1, 30-32; Amos 5:16-18; Micah 3:6; Nahum 1:3-6; Habakkuk 3:3-16; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Haggai 2:6; Zechariah 14:3, 4, 12; Malachi 4:1; Revelation 19:11, 20).
Mild Bill's comment on 4/28/2010, 6:54pm...
"Jesus died for a purpose and one must find out the reason"
Linda,
Jesus paid a debt he didn't owe, because we had a debt we couldn't pay. God the father established the blood sacrifice for sin in the garden of Eden when he killed animals to provide a covering for sinful Adam and Eve(Gen3:21). God provided a substitute for Issac when he saw that faithful Abraham would kill his son as he commanded him to do(Gen22:1-13). God provided a lambs blood for the protection of a household in Egypt at the first Passover(Exodus12:1-13). God accepted a lambs blood sprinkled on the mercy seat of the tabernacle as atonement for the sins of the nation of Israel(Lev16:29-34). All these pictures are of Jesus, who is the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world(Heb9:11&12). Did he die for you? Was his death on the cross a substitute for you? Did he pay for your sins?
To know "about" him is not enough. You must personally know him as your saviour.
Salvation comes at a cost. God gave his only begotten Son,That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life(John3:16)
Linda's comment on 4/27/2010, 12:52pm...
Excellent Reggie, it sound like you are in the right direction, (overcome), it takes a Revelation of Jesus to understand the word of God along with a God Called Ministry.... take care and if you have not found the truth, seek and you shall. Because right here upon earth I have found the true Body of Christ as the scriptures states...... There is a purpose and a reason Jesus died for us....
Linda's comment on 4/27/2010, 12:48pm...
Hi Laura, when the bible says hate it's different then what hate means to us, as he stated he hated Esau but he blessed him so find out the true meaning of hate, Jesus ways are not our ways neither is his thoughts our thoughts, find the truth and it shall make you free... Seek and you shall find, search the Scriptures......
Linda's comment on 4/27/2010, 12:43pm...
I second Rochelle, Jesus died for a purpose and one must find out the reason, everything he did are pictures and types for us, when he healed the blind, healed the sick, raised the dead (Lazarus), it takes a God Called Ministry, to know the misteries of the kingdom, Jesus was taught of his father and the Apostles was taught directly by Jesus, one must find the way the truth, the light to see Jesus again and get rid of sin completely out of their lives, as stated in the Book of Revelations, "He that Overcome", they should receive a new crown a white rob as stated in Corinthians I can go on, but I urge you to find the right ministry to place your soul in their hands you only get one Soul, and that's it.... Seek and you shall find, look for the true Body of Christ... (How can he preach accept he be God Called.... Linda I'm so thankful I found the Body of Christ right upon this earth and the truth, now I am striving to see Jesus one day in (Third Heaven) as mention in the New Testament...
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