💨Lost in the Smoke

Ecclesiastes-An overview; Parallels: Proverbs 20:24, James 4: 13-17

The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the “Wisdom Books” (along with Proverbs & Job) of the Old Testament. These books give guidance to “living a meaningful life”. Proverbs advises that building wisdom & doing right will give us a better life. Ecc, is a bit more bleak.

There are 2 voices in Ecc, the Author & the Teacher. The Teacher (thought to be Solomon) questions the meaning of life on Earth & he teaches of 3 observations: Time, Death, & Chance. He calls this life under the sun “Hevel” (usually translated to “meaningless” or “Vanity”). The Teacher uses this phrase almost 40 times.

✝️Fortunately the Author gets the last word & leaves us with hope & a similar lesson of Proverbs, to Fear God, Follow his commands & leave your future to Him.

Every day I couldn’t get this constant voice out of my head, telling me “I was wasting my time & that I needed to do something big”. I felt I had to pack my calendar & not “miss” anything. On holiday & I would have the agenda planned to visit every “important” spot in that country/city. I couldn’t handle just sitting & having a coffee with a friend as I had something at work or something to do. Even moving to the laid back country of The Netherlands, I couldn’t find that “off button” on what I was to be doing with my life. Nothing was giving me real joy. Then God led me to the wisdom of Ecclesiastes. Although Ecc 2 & 5 are included as PWP passages in my testimony, it is the entire book that continues to guide me in my prayers & ponderings of life.

In studying Ecc, I find that using the phrase “meaningless” in place of “Hevel” does not do justice to the actual Hebrew word. The Hebrew translation is “wisp of smoke or vapour”. The Teacher is telling us that there is meaning in life, but it is ever changing, mysterious & uncontrollable. The warning: We can get lost in the smoke of life & fail to see the present life we are living in.

📣When reading Ecclesiastes try using the Hebrew meaning of “Hevel” instead of “meaningless” & see if it changes how you feel about the Book & the Teacher.

All Glory & praise to God our Father &His son Jesus Christ for our salvation. Our time on Earth is fleeting, but each of us have our gifts & a plan laid out for us when we turn to you to be our guide. Today, let us let go of the worry of the future & lay it in your hands & listen for your direction. In your name we pray, Amen.