The words of the preacher, in the sense of one who, from rich stock of his knowledge, gives wise and profitable, the reference being to Solomon. the son of David, king in Jerusalem, the capital of the entire kingdom of Israel and Judah at that time. The fact that Solomon does not mention his given name is easily accounted for by the fact that the entire book breathes the spirit of repentance, together with admonitions and warnings, such as are to be expected from an aged and experienced man rather than a king. Vanity of vanities, the most utter vanity, saith the preacher., thereby announcing the theme of the book, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. that is all earthly nature and everything pertaining to temporal things has been perverted in consequence of sin, so that it no longer serves the original purpose of God., but the vain objects of sin.What profit, what lasting value, what enduring advantage, has a man of all his labor, the toil and exertion with which he fatigues himself, which he takes under the sun? The author does not say that man's labor is useless, but that, in itself, it has no enduring, eternal value. While the sun runs his course with unfailing regularity, the doings of men seem altogether changeable and variable. The work of their hands is good, if done in the Lord's service, but the misery and hardships connected with it set the imprint of vanity upon their entire life. One generation passes away, sinking down into the dust of death, and another generation comes, replacing those who are laid in the grave; there is a continual going and coming; but the earth abides forever., it stands the same, as long as the Lord so decrees. In the midst of the turmoil of changing centuries, calmly remaining while generations come and Go.
The sun also rises, and goes down steadily pursuing its course and hasten to his place where he arose, to come up again in the east, governing time as the Lord ordered, Gen. 1,16. The wind goes toward the south and turns about unto the north., following fixed laws of the universe; it whirls about continually, in an ever returning change and the wind returns again according to his circuits, in courses whose general regularity has been learned even by human observers. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea in not full, it does not overflow on account of immense body of water which it constantly receives; unto the place from where the rivers come. where they return again, in a constant evaporation and condensation, the cycle of ocean, clouds and fog, rain and dew, springs creeks, and rivers continuing without intermission. all things are full of labor. full of trouble, full weariness, fatigue on account of the curse following sin., Gen.3 19; man cannot utter it, the endlessness and burden of human troubles cannot be told by human tongue, it is beyond man's ability to express it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing,nor the ear filled with hearing. the senses become wearied in trying to master the endless succession of impressions and phenomena
which press upon them from all sides in the course of this sinful existence. the thing that has been, that which has happened. The misery and the toil of life, and human nature changed since the fall of man and the abuse of God's gift and the transgression and the dissatisfaction of man's heart are ever the same. Is there anything where of it may be said, see, this is new? Their is no remembrance of former things, men forget the lessons, when records are not kept of the past to teach them. Even the greatest cataclysms of the world have gone unheeded.
I the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem, over the entire nation, as Solomon states as he looks back over his long reign. And I gave my heart to seek and search out wisdom , applying the wisdom given him by the lord with all zeal, concerning all things that are done under heaven, the acts and lives of men everywhere; this sore travail,, namely, the zealous searching with steady
endeavor to inquire into the works of men, has God given to the sons of men, to be done.
Now Solomon states the results of his study; I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, in careful study and he concludes all is vanity and vexation of the spirits, which bring about no lasting good for the affliction of the mind with which men strive to go forward cannot bring them lasting good fortune and true happiness, and fall short of the mark. That which is crooked cannot be made straight. human beings cannot alter what has been determined by God. Now king Solomon communed with his own heart, in a careful contemplation or consideration of the difficulty presented, saying, lo, I am come to great estate, being possessed of incalculable wealth, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem 2 Chron. 1, 12; Yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge, andwas a vexation of the spirit and I gave my heart to know wisdom, on its positive side, and to know madness and folly, the error and foolishness of men. For in much wisdom is much grief. Lack of knowledge or deliberate ignorance is a way of saving a person from much sorrow, for he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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