Title: Vanity, Vanity, Vanity, Wow (1)
In vain, in vain, in vain, wow (1)
Text/ Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, 12:8
1. Introduction
Through the view of humanity shown in Psalm 8 last week, we said, “Man is a vain, finite, and useless being that has no choice but to return to the dust because he is essentially created from dust, and at the same time, he is a vain, finite, and useless being who can rule the entire universe created by God. I have meditated on the fact that I am a noble and noble being who has been given the power of delegation to rule.”
Previously, when I was studying Old Testament theology at Yonsei University, in the first hour of the first semester in March, Professor Park Jun-seo said, “Jews traditionally read and meditate deeply on the book of Ecclesiastes at home during the first week of the new year, which seems to have something to do with Psalm 8.” I've never heard of it. I think it's a very meaningful tradition.
2. A strange and whimsical book - Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes is unique from other Bible books in its structure. In Ecclesiastes 1:1, an editor appears and introduces, “These are the words of the evangelist, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem.” And let the reader listen to the evangelist's own words until verses 1:2-12:8. And after the evangelist's words are over, an editor appears again from Ecclesiastes 12:9 and concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with Ecclesiastes 12:14.
* Havel habalim hakol habel (1:2 Hebrew original)
* The evangelist said, Vanity, vanity, vanity, vanity, all things are in vain. For what profit is a man to all his toil under the sun? Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3) - The evangelist's first words
*Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, said the evangelist, vanity, vanity, all things are vanity; all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 12:8) - The evangelist's last words
However, what we want to pay attention to here is that the first words of the evangelist himself in Ecclesiastes 1:2 and the last words of the evangelist himself in Ecclesiastes 12:8 are literally the same. The evangelist 徹頭徹尾 (everything - from the first head to the last) the life of those who live under the sun - the labor itself havel - futile - 虛中之虛 - useless - meaningless - ) was seen. Judging from the flow of the Old Testament as a whole, these words of the evangelist are very strange and absurd.
3. In vain, in vain, in vain, but wow-waw!
first. In Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Habel Habalim Haqkol Havel”, the Hebrew word translated as vain is “havel” in the Korean Bible, “vanity”, and in the English Bible KJV-Vanity (transience, transitivity, vanity, etc.), NIV-Meaningless (meaningless), GNB-Useless (useless, useless) in vain).
It can also be translated as emptiness-futility, but in a more Hebrew sense the word “havel” is “fog-vapor-breath” ( breath)”.
second. Vanity, vanity, vanity of all beings in this world!
The evangelist testifies and testifies from his own life experience of what people who exist under the sun do. Wisdom - adding knowledge (Ecclesiastes 1:17) - Alcohol - Woman - wife - concubine - business - money - servant - gold - silver - palace - luxurious villa - kingship - leaving many riches to posterity - outstanding academic achievement - All the toil and anguish of not sleeping to achieve something (Ecclesiastes 2:1-26), etc. All these things are “vain and vain, vanity and vain, as after a chasing wind.”
I saw an officer of any company's leading live with my dad before the geese. Education - money - honor He was a person who lacked nothing. However, after a while it was found that the man was suffering from a divorce from his wife, problems in relationships with children, and physical illness. Indeed, all his toil was to catch the wind.
third. But - wow!
The evangelist nevertheless said, “But wow!” He does. It is true that every man's life under the sun is thus vain and vain and vain. “But - wow!” That's what you said.
All that God does is forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing less to be done from it, and I knew that God did these things, that men might fear before him (Ecclesiastes 3:14). Many things are vain, and many things are spoken, but you must fear God (Ecclesiastes 5:7) - It is good that you hold this one, and that you do not let go of your hand in that, for he who fears God will escape from all these things. (Ecclesiastes 7:18) - A sinner does evil a hundred times and lives a long life, but I also know that it will be well with those who fear God and fear him (Ecclesiastes 8:12) Fear and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
That is, all life of those who exist under the sun is vain, vain, and vain. “But - wow!” He said that those who fear God can find the fullness of existence in the vanity of existence.虛中之充滿 (full of emptiness) - empty fullness!