Ecclesiastes 1:7 – 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.

 

Thought:  The Bible often speaks of scientific information in very elementary terms.  All rivers run into the sea, but it never fills up.  Why?  Because it is from the sea that we get rivers.  The sea evaporates and rain waters the earth.  This water is collected by the rivers and taken to the sea again.  Simply, inspiration has described the water cycle.  How was Solomon aware of such a cycle?  Two things are evident from this verse:  Solomon’s inspiration and the intricate design of the world in which we live.

 

Psalm 104:6-9

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The Bible is not intended to be a science book.

1.       It often speaks of scientific information in elementary terms.

2.       However, when it speaks of scientific information, it is always accurate.  It NEVER contradicts true science.

 

B.      Here, Solomon discusses the water cycle of the earth.

 

    

 

1.       All the rivers run into the seas.

a.       Mississippi River:  “From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it flows generally south for 2,340 miles (3,770 km) to the Mississippi River Delta in the Gulf of Mexico.  With its many tributaries, the Mississippi’s watershed drains all or parts of 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains” (Wikipedia, “Mississippi River”).

b.      The Gulf of Mexico never fills up.  The Mississippi River never ceases to flow.  NOTE:  The oceans exhibit what one referred to as an “eternal sameness” (K&D, e-sword). “Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth” (Ps. 104:9).

c.       WHY? 

1)      Evaporation: the process of changing a liquid or solid into a vapor

2)      Condensation:  the changing of liquid into tiny droplets of water (cloud formation)

3)      Precipitation:  “to fall headlong,” the water droplets become too heavy and fall to the earth in the forms of rain, sleet, or snow

2.       The rivers return to the place from whence come.  They come from the seas and they return unto the seas.

3.       NOTE:  The oceans and seas make up 2/3s of the earth’s surface.  These bodies of water are the largest contributor to weather upon the planet.

Ecclesiastes 1:8 – All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

 

Thought:  Solomon has just given three examples of things that are continuously happening.  When he says:  “All things are full of labor,” he is referring to such things.  He could have enumerated many more.  There is constant labor or activity in the world.  Man cannot tell of all that goes on.  The eyes and ears cannot take it all in.  For hundreds and thousands of years, the world has been working.  Men have come and gone.  The cycle is vicious.  Is there any purpose to it all?  Or, is all just vanity?

 

Romans 8:22

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon has spoken of three things that are regular occurrences on the earth.

1.       The rising and setting of the sun

2.       The circuit of wind

3.       The hydrologic cycle

 

B.      As Solomon investigated these things, he found “all things are full of labor.”

1.       All of the activities that are involved to bring these three things to pass is immense.

2.       Man’s reaction to these marvelous things is threefold:

a.       Man cannot utter it.

1)      Volumes and volumes of books have been written on the functions of the earth.

2)      Men and women have given their lives to research, but have not begun to uncover all the secrets of the earth.

b.      The eye is not satisfied with seeing.

1)      Man is never satisfied with seeing what the world offers.

2)      When one dies, another is there to take his place to continue to research, study and discover all the earth does.

c.       Nor the ear filled with hearing.

1)      Lectures and books and articles continue to pour from the presses on the functions of the earth.

2)      People cannot get enough when it comes to trying to comprehend this wonderful planet upon which we live. 

d.      LESSONS: 

1)      The incomprehensible nature of the earth is understood when a Creator is included. 

2)      People are fools who study this planet and conclude that there is no God (See Ps. 19:1-4a).

 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 1:9 – 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.

 

Thought:  The author continues to show the monotonous nature of the world.  What has been done in the past is being done today.  What is being done today will be done in the future.  Yes, there are technological advances, but the basics of life do not change.  Men eat and drink.  Men work.  Mankind marries and has children.  Men go to school.  Men get sick.  Men give and get.  Men die.  There is nothing new under the sun.  My friend, is this really all there is to life?

 

Genesis 26:18-19

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The basics of life for all mankind do not change.

1.       Men are born.  They grow up.  They struggle through life.  They die.

2.       The earth rotates on its axis.  Day comes.  Then, the night comes.  Then, the day comes again.

3.       There is work.  There is toil.  There is hardship.  There is struggle. 

4.       Men eat and drink.  They get educated.  They marry and have families.  They pursue careers.  They give and get.  There are good days, and there are bad days.  All ultimately are overcome by death.

5.       Clarke:  “Every thing in the whole economy of nature has its revolutions; summer and winter, heat and cold, rain and drought, seedtime and autumn, with the whole system of corruption and generation, alternately succeed each other, so that whatever has been shall be again. There is really, physically, and philosophically, nothing absolutely new under the sun…” (e-sword).

 

B.      Men engage in study and research.  Men experiment and fail.  Men experiment and succeed.  Knowledge increases.  Technology advances.  But, “there is no new thing under the sun.”  “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 1:10 – Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new?  It hath been already of old time, which was before us.

 

Thought:  The answer to the writer’s question is:  “No.”  There is nothing that is truly “new” under the sun.  Take God out of the world and there is not much here to interest us.  Take the spiritual world out of the equation and there is nothing much for which to live.  Take hope away from the world and man lives a fairly miserable existence.  Men will try to convince themselves that life holds meaning if these things do not exist, but when he comes to the end of life, he discovers that he was wrong.  So sad!

 

Acts 17:16-21

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Question:  “Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new?”  Answer:  “No.”

 

B.      The thoughts of men are the same.

The personalities of men are the same.

The actions of men are the same.

The successes of men are the same.

The sins of men are the same.

The accomplishments of men are the same.

The emotions of men are the same.

The struggles of men are the same.

The desires of men are the same.

The end of all men is the same.

 

C.     Argument:  “Well, we have gone to the moon.”  The result is different, but there are many things that are identical to endeavors of the past:  a vision, acquiring of knowledge, trial and error, work, progress over time, success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 1:11 – 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.

 

Thought:  Each generation has very little remembrance of the generation that has passed.  A person may remember a grandparent, or, perhaps, a great grandparent.  Beyond this, there is little remembrance.  Even those remembrances involve little information.  Most individuals in our society are very ignorant of our history.  Everyone is wrapped up in the “now.”  When this generation passes, the next will only have faint memories of our history.  Is all that we are doing really that important?

 

Exodus 12:24-27

 

Commentary:

 

A.     How many people have wished that they had talked to their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles more?  How many wish they had questions answered about the past which shall never be known?

 

B.      “There is no remembrance of former things.”

1.       We do not remember aspects of our family.

2.       We do not remember much about our growing up.

3.       We do not remember history unless you are a history buff of some sort.

 

C.     The same will be true in the future.  “Neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.”

1.       Our children and grandchildren will not remember very much about us.

2.       How many young people under the age of 20 know very much about 9/11?

 

D.     What are some questions that parents would be wise to answer and put in writing for their children so they will have some connection to the past?

1.       When and where was I born?

2.       Why did you give me that name you gave me?

3.       Can you give me the names of my ancestors as far back as you can remember?

 

E.      Remember, if we do not focus and pass these things on to our children, they will be forgotten quickly by the next generation.