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전도자(코헬렛)는 ‘모든 것이 헛되다’라고 선언합니다. 이것은 비관주의가 아니라, 하나님을 모르는 ‘해 아래 세상’의 허무함에 대한 진술입니다. 

[ 전도서 1:1 - 1:11 ] (찬송486장)

헛된 인생사에 대한 진술 

1다윗의 아들 예루살렘 왕 전도자의 말씀이라 2전도자가 이르되 헛되고 헛되며 헛되고 헛되니 모든 것이 헛되도다 3해 아래에서 수고하는 모든 수고가 사람에게 무엇이 유익한가

 해 아래 새 것은 없다 

 4한 세대는 가고 한 세대는 오되 땅은 영원히 있도다 5해는 뜨고 해는 지되 그 떴던 곳으로 빨리 돌아가고 6바람은 남으로 불다가 북으로 돌아가며 이리 돌며 저리 돌아 바람은 그 불던 곳으로 돌아가고 7모든 강물은 다 바다로 흐르되 바다를 채우지 못하며 강물은 어느 곳으로 흐르든지 그리로 연하여 흐르느니라 8모든 만물이 피곤하다는 것을 사람이 말로 다 말할 수는 없나니 눈은 보아도 족함이 없고 귀는 들어도 가득 차지 아니하도다 9이미 있던 것이 후에 다시 있겠고 이미 한 일을 후에 다시 할지라 해 아래에는 새 것이 없나니 10무엇을 가리켜 이르기를 보라 이것이 새 것이라 할 것이 있으랴 우리가 있기 오래 전 세대들에도 이미 있었느니라 11이전 세대들이 기억됨이 없으니 장래 세대도 그 후 세대들과 함께 기억됨이 없으리라

 도움말

2절) ‘헛되다’로 번역된 ‘헤벨’은 ‘입김’ ,‘수증기’, ‘한숨’을 뜻하는 단어이다. 

8절) ‘피곤하다’로 번역된 ‘여게임’은 ‘지치다’라는 뜻일 수도 있지만, 단순히 ‘일하다’ ‘수고하다’로 번역될 수도 있다.

[ Ecclesiastes 1:1 - 1:11 ]

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.  

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

The preacher declared that all of mankind’s labours were in vain. He saw that all creation ended up back in the same place despite their endless toiling and declared that mankind also toiled in vain. No matter how much time and how many generations may pass, the world remains unchanged. Although civilisation has developed rapidly in a material sense, the labours of former generations are forgotten by later generations, rendering them meaningless (vv. 1-11).  

What lesson is God teaching me?

Vv. 2-3 The preacher began by speaking of ‘vanity’. The ‘all’ that he referred to as ‘vanity’ (v. 2) comprises all the works of mankind. However, this doesn’t mean that the preacher had become resigned to nihilism, defeatism or pessimism. Instead, he was humbly shining a light on the limits of human life. In response to the preacher’s cry of ‘vanity’ (hebel), let’s take a moment to catch our breath and reflect on the limited nature of the swinging pendulum of our lives.  

Vv. 4-11 The outward appearances of things may change but their essence is immutable. The world may be able to change its garment of civilisation, but its greedy and violent nature can never be changed. No amount of advancement in science, technology or social order can give us happiness. True change can only occur when God’s image is restored within mankind.   

Prayer

Lord, help me not to rely on this meaningless world but to recognise the true meaning of a life of abiding in you.