2. Human effort 2:18–23
Study Notes
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 1:1 The words. The matters of the book are the crucial issues for Solomon's faith. They resemble the subject matter of Ps. 39 and 49. the Preacher. The title of one who gathers the assembly together for instruction. See Introduction: Title.
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 1:2 Vanity of vanities. Solomon's way of saying "the greatest vanity." Cf. the discussion of "vanity" in Introduction: Interpretive Challenges.
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 1:3 gain. Advantage to or gain from one's labor. A very important and repeated word for Solomon (cf. 3:19; 5:9, 11, 16; 6:7, 11; 7:11– 12; 10:10). Solomon looks at the fleeting moments of life and the seemingly small gain for man's activity under the sun. The only lasting efforts are those designed to accomplish God's purposes for eternity. toil. Work is not just one's livelihood, but all of man's activity in life. under the sun. The phrase appears about 30 times to describe daily life.
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 1:4–7 These pictures from God's creation illustrate and underscore the futile repetition of human activity.
The "Vanities" of Ecclesiastes
The "Vanities" of Ecclesiastes (1:2; 12:8) 1. Human wisdom 2:14–16 2. Human effort 2:18–23 3. Human achievement 2:26 4. Human life 3:18–22 5. Human rivalry 4:4 6. Human selfish sacrifice 4:7–8 7. Human power 4:16 8. Human greed 5:10 9. Human accumulation 6:1–12 10. Human religion 8:10–14 ©1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.