1. "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities,
all is vanity."
(Eccl. 1:2 - NKJ)

2. Vanity – hebel (Hebrew)
vapor, breath
fleeting, empty, worthless, deceitful
absurd

3. Vanity – hebel (Hebrew)
Old Testament usage:
Idols
Brevity of human life
Pointlessness of living a pure life
Multiple applications
Worthlessness
A concept with many nuances

4. Vanity Manifested 1:3-11 – The vanity of working but getting nowhere
Eccl. 1:
8 All things are full of labor; man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

5. Vanity Manifested
1:12-2:11 – The vanity of advancing but not obtaining
Wisdom
Fun and frolic
Projects and possessions
Entertainment

6. Vanity Manifested
1:12-2:11 – The vanity of advancing but not obtaining
Eccl. 2:
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

7. Vanity Manifested 2:18-23 – The vanity of losing by gaining Eccl. 2:
18 Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?…

8. The lot of the rich, poor, wise, fool, righteous, wicked
Vanity Manifested
Vanity was everywhere he looked:
Power for the oppressors, no comfort for the oppressed
Evil for the just, reward for the wicked
Time and chance happens to all
The lot of the rich, poor, wise, fool, righteous, wicked

9. Eccl. 5:
16 And this also is a severe evil-- just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
17 All his days he also eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.

10. Vanity manifested by Ziggy

11. “Vanity” is what Koheleth saw, “under the sun” is where he saw it
Interpreting the Message
The key to understanding the message that “all is vanity” is to view it in light of the setting in which the observations are made… “life under the sun”.
“Vanity” is what Koheleth saw, “under the sun” is where he saw it
1:3, 9, 14
2:11, 17, 20
3:16

12. Interpreting the Message
His observations about vanity are limited to life on earth.
A totally secular viewpoint.
Most of his observations are about life without heaven’s insights or foresight.

13. Life on earth, under the sun…
An absurd, meaningless venture, which, in spite of hard work, in spite of prudence, in spite of discipline, in spite of talent and skill, leaves us with nothing.

14. The Point of the Message
Eccl. 3:
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
The book is a latent apologetic

15. Islands of Faith and Hope
3:11, 14-17
5:1-2
8:12-13
12:13-14

16. Islands of Faith and Hope
He painfully sees what is happening “under the sun”, but He knows God is above it all.
The book is layered, not contradictory.
Ground (dirt) level > Vanity
Bedrock > GOD!
Darkness with brief flashes of light

17. The point of life is to trust in God with hope that our life will have meaning though everything about our earthly, physical experience tells us that it’s all in vain.

18. Koheleth and the Messiah
Isaiah 49:
3 "And He said to me, 'You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.'
4 Then I said, 'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, and my work with my God.'"

19. Koheleth and the Messiah
Luke 24:21
21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

20. Koheleth and the Messiah
Christ showed that though an earthly existence may seem to be futile, it doesn’t have to be.
He paved the way to victory over vanity.

21. Koheleth and the Apostle
Romans 8:18-23
II Corinthians 4:16-18
I Corinthians 15:50-58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Philippians 2:15-16

22. People have never been more empty on the inside.
Eccl. 2:
10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, …
People have never been more empty on the inside.
Ecclesiastes has never been more relevant.