The Story: The metaphors in this section of Solomon’s poetic narrative appear to relate to culture and work. Some day the pleasures of gold, silver, and honest work will all be in the past and will lose their thrall. If Rehoboam makes these his aim, trusting in things for meaning, purpose, and happiness, then dark days await him, indeed. One day he’ll be in the grave and his spirit will stand before God to give an account of his stewardship. Verse 8 is what the fool can expect to hear, while the righteous will be greeted in eternity with, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The Structure: I frequently hear reports of men who can’t wait to retire. They have so many plans, so many things they want to do. But many of them become couch potatoes – bored, lifeless, unmotivated, and at a loss for how to spend their days, now that they have nothing to do. Some of those who retire die shortly thereafter, because everything they’ve lived for being gone, they have no reason to continue in this life. When asked what he would do after he retired, Alabama football coach Bear Bryant answered, “I’ll probably just die.” He did, three months after retiring. Solomon’s quotation of “Vanity of vanities” in verse 8 – like Poe’s, “Never more!” – creates a nice inclusio for the book of Ecclesiastes as a whole (cf. 1.2), as well as an ominous warning of the eternal displeasure of God that awaits those who neglect Him and follow their own course in life.

What do you anticipate hearing when your spirit returns to God? “Well done?” Or “Vanity of vanities!”? On what are you basing that anticipation?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “Remember to Fear the Lord: Ecclesiastes 12,” simply click here.

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved