Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 begins with a proclamation that the words that follow are indeed the words of King Solomon. During his later years, Solomon looked back on his life, his flair, and his folly. He determined that they all seemed meaningless.
The Basics of Ecclesiastes
Solomon wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes as an account of his vast experience for the benefit of others who would read it. This introductory chapter condensed the message of this book into one short sentence: All works of human design are pointless and passing.
Solomon depicts all things as variable and wavering. He stated that the human soul is just as restless as the sun, wind, and river currents. He also asserted that human nature and pursuits have always been and will always be unchanged.
Solomon’s Realization
In Ecclesiastes Chapter 1, Solomon gives a personal account of his endeavors in what he referred to as “chasing after the wind.” In his quest for exponential wisdom, he not only realized how pointless his pursuits were, but also how exhausting they were both physically and spiritually. Although he had gained more knowledge than anyone in Israelite history, he realized that he neither had personal gratification nor the power to alleviate other people’s misery.
Pros and Cons of Seeking Wisdom
According to Solomon, the quest for knowledge had pros and cons. The closing remarks of Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 affirmed that seeking wisdom also unearthed human corruption and desolation. Such a discovery aggravated the king’s spirit. Gaining and applying insight was accompanied by a fair share of what he called madness and folly.
This chapter concludes by echoing the message initiated in the preceding verses: that wisdom can never seem satisfactory. Increasing knowledge in ungodly ventures means compounding more cause for sorrow and mourning.
Ecclesiastes 1 (King James Version)
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.