The Vanity of Human Wisdom

I recently completed a class on Ecclesiastes--one of my favorite books.  Of course most are familiar with the reframe of "Vanity of Vanities" all is vanity.  However, this may not mean what you think at first.  Being in the winter of my life, the thought that all of life is "vanity" is not a comforting thought.   And, if you are young as all of your grandkids are, this thought is not very inspiring.  Why would God ( Yahweh) leave such a negative thought for us to live by?   And, the conventional wisdom is just "just fear God and keep his commands" , but you life is still just vanity.  I don't think this is the essence of the book.

Rather,  Qohelet ( the Preacher) examined or searched for a "wise way of living" using all of the wisdom of the sages and accumulated by men.  That search is "vanity" and a striving after wind. For all men die.

die.  The key to understanding is found in the book of Proverbs--the other principle wisdom book.  

“Proverbs 8: "22The

Lord brought me forth (WISDOM) as the first of his works,before his deeds of old;23 I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....

32 “Now then, my children, listen to me;  blessed are those who keep my ways.33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. 34 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death"

death." He concludes the Ecclesiastic with this statement: 

13 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty."

So, if you try to live by man's wisdom only you will find life itself is vanity.  If on the other hand, you seek the Wisdom of God (there at the Creation), life is not vanity.

A corollary of the book is the fact the you will never figure out the Ways of God --no matter your search.  

So, what is the advice to those of you who are young? It is:  

Remember your Creator

    in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

    and the years approach when you will say,

    “I find no pleasure in them”—

2 before the sun and the light

    and the moon and the stars grow dark,

    and the clouds return after the rain;

3 when the keepers of the house tremble,

    and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

    and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4 when the doors to the street are closed

    and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds,

    but all their songs grow faint;

5 when people are afraid of heights

    and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

    and the grasshopper drags itself along

    and desire no longer is stirred.

Then people go to their eternal home

    and mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

of all mankind