Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 8, 14, ESV 2025).
My Musings – The Book of Ecclesiastes is itself seemingly a book that is “full of weariness.” “Vanity of vanities,” that is to say vanity to the highest extreme. Or as some translations say, meaningless, useless, or futile. When we think of vanity we think in modern terms of excessive pride, self-importance or conceit. But in the Biblical sense it means that a “life apart from God, even at its best, has no ultimate significance and consequently is valueless,” (Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, 1996).
To use another term for valueless, unredeemable. “Everything that is done under the sun” to find redemption or satisfaction is empty, “a striving [or chasing] after the wind.” “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it [will be unless] born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7–8, NIV 1984). You will grow “full of weariness” trying to catch it. One might as well try and “reach the unreachable star.” It is an impossible quest. “Apart from [God] who can [reach] it.” (Ecclesiastes 2:25, ESV 2025).
My Advice – “The eye is not satisfied…nor the ear filled” by “[anything] that is done under the sun.” Only by what “is done under the [Son].” That must be “[our] quest, to follow that star.” We could not reach it on our own. We could “try [but our] arms are too weary.” It is “The Impossible Dream.” But made possible only because He reached down to us. Through that “one man, scorned and covered with scars.” Take His hand.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NIV 1984).
Various quotes from “The Impossible Dream,” from MAN OF LA MANCHA, lyrics by Joe Darion.
The Brew Is A Musing 