Solomon said?

Question

Life is meaningless, a vain chasing after the wind and feeding on it.

What is the "wind", that he refers to?

Answer 1

What evidence does Solomon present in support of his premise? As we might expect, he directs us toward reality and points out several examples of vanity "under the sun."

1] The passing of generations (v. 4). People are born, and people die. So the cycle goes. "But the earth remains forever." And since the Fall of Adam and Eve, even the earth has been "subjected to futility" (Rom 8:20; cf. Gen 3:17-18). So neither man, who is impermanent, nor creation, which is permanent, escape the futility of existence.

2] The cycles of nature (vv. 5-8a). The ceaseless rhythm of nature also demonstrates that activity in and of itself produces nothing of ultimate value-indeed, it brings only wearisome monotony. For example, the sun rises and sets, only to rise again and repeat the process (Eccles 1:5). The "swirling" wind blows to the south, then to the north, but it never arrives at a fixed goal or finds lasting rest (v. 6). Even the rivers accomplish nothing of lasting worth, for they flow into the sea yet never fill it. And once they have arrived at their destination, they continue to roll along, only to evaporate and become rain that falls to the earth, hence beginning the cycle again (v. 7). No wonder Solomon writes, "All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it" (v. 8a).

3] The curiosity of man (v. 8b). Another example of vanity is man's quest for knowledge. When his curiosity is aroused, he seeks answers to his questions. But these answers only raise more questions, which place man on a treadmill to know still more. And so the cycle goes, never bringing any true satisfaction or rest.

4] The absence of something new (vv. 9-11). Finally, without denying human creativity, Solomon points out that "there is nothing [completely] new under the sun" (v. 9b). "That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done" (v. 9a). Perhaps an example will help explain what Solomon is driving at here: Man's journey to the moon and the discovery of America, though different, were both explorations of distant places, involving adventure and risk. And the invention of dynamite and of the atomic bomb shared the element of discovering an 'explosive.' Thus what is true in the realm of nature --the constant repetition of previous accomplishments --is in essence true of the activity of people.

All things produce only indescribable weariness and lack of satisfaction. But people fail to acknowledge the absence of newness because they do not remember former events and accomplishments (vv. 10b-11).

C. The searcher and his pursuits (vv. 12-18).

At this juncture, Solomon turns our focus from his general observations about nature and man to some specific conclusions about his own pursuits. He informs us that when he was king "over Israel in Jerusalem," he determined "to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven" (vv. 12-13a).

The Hebrew term for seek carries the idea of theoretically investigating the roots of a matter, whereas the word translated explore conveys the thought of experientially examining all sides. In short, Solomon set out to research thoroughly every approach to life and then to actively immerse himself in each one.

To many people, this would seem an exciting and rewarding adventure. But Solomon discovered that, in reality, it is simply not so. He describes it as "a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with" (v. 13b). He concludes that "all the works which have been done under the sun" are "vanity and striving after wind" (v. 14).

Even the search for wisdom, madness, and folly turned out to be a meaningless, endless chase after the wind (v. 17). Why? "Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain" (v. 18). What a bleak picture! But the quest for satisfaction can be no other way if we seek happiness without God at the center of our lives.


III. Thinking Through the Practical Ramifications

Solomon has delivered a despairing yet accurate report of life as lived solely from a horizontal perspective. Fortunately, however, two thoughts emerge from his observations that point to something better.

A. If there is nothing but nothing under the sun, our only hope must be above it. Just as we are born with the need to satiate our hunger, so we have an innate need to find purpose and value in life. It stands to reason that if we cannot satisfy our drive for meaning and worth on a purely horizontal plane, then we must be able to fulfill it on the vertical level.

Our frustration and despair should turn our eyes from earth to heaven, from man to God, from ourselves to Christ. Only above the sun does hope shine eternal. B. If a man who had everything investigated everything visible and found nothing of value, then the one thing he needed must have been invisible.

Like Solomon, we could explore every visible realm of stimulation and still find no satisfaction. But would that mean that there is no lasting joy to be had? Not at all! What it does indicate is that the physical realm was never designed to bring us the happiness we long for.

The visible world was created to direct us to the One who desires to abundantly satisfy our thirst for contentment --the invisible God (Mt 6:25-34; Ac 14:15-17; Rom 1:19-20; Heb 11:3, 6). And He promised that if we come to Him by accepting His Son as our Savior, then in union with Him we will never thirst again (Jn 4:13-14).

Before we finish reading even the first three verses of Ecclesiastes, we can sense futility. As Solomon muses, life can be as frustrating as chasing after wind. Let's dig a little deeper into the first chapter of this book. An understanding of the text is often enhanced by asking questions about the verses. Questions like:

Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?

"And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven" (Ecc 1:13a). Once that noble goal was accomplished, Solomon had to conclude that human wisdom does not bring relief from life's frustrations. How does intellectualism affect your life? Are you placing a higher value on the quest for knowledge than you should? Or have you mistakenly opted for the opposite extreme, concluding that "ignorance is bliss?"

Do you feel you have a healthy, balanced approach toward learning? Perhaps this lesson has taught you something about intellectualism. If so, what did you learn? Some years ago, C. S. Lewis penned words that are directly relevant to the conclusion of our lesson. Note carefully what he said:

"Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in
myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

Answer 2

Wind refers to the literal wind, but is used to illustrate the vanity of life that Solomon found in life. You may chase the wind, but you will not catch the wind.

Solomon's conclusion was that life lived without God is empty and vain. Leave God out and you will merely chase the wind.

Answer 3

Since we cannot catch the wind, it would be rather vain (stupid) to run after it and try to feed on it. It is too elusive and not very filling. By chasing life instead of just living it, we are just chasing our own tails and achieving nothing in the process. The wind is that elusive thing that in never attainable and that the whole world spends so much time seeking. That one thing that will make them wonderful, special, or talented. What is so remarkable, God did that for us when He created us in the first place. We are trying to improve something that we cannot do. Therefore we are chasing the wind (or our tails) and getting nothing and nowhere.

Answer 4

He meant literal wind, ever try to chase or catch the wind?

Answer 5

I don't know about Solomon, but Shakespere said - - - -Life is but a walking shadow. A poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing.

Answer 6

I agree that the wind would represent desires..things we often chase are money, fame, love from men/women!

Answer 7

The "wind" can be anything that is of a temporary nature. Money, fame, power, etc...

He ended the book by saying that man's all is to know God and obey Him.

Answer 8

Things of this world.. Wealth, power... The things that just don't matter... Jim

Answer 9

If you mean the biblical Solomon, if he had existed, he would have said many things. But the books in the bible allegedly written by him were actually written by Jews who lived long after Solomon's time.

Answer 10

worldy things