Something New Under the Sun

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.

There are some who think that the book of Ecclesiastes is a depressing book. The writer—an old man, called Qohelet (the Preacher)—seems to be musing on a life of achievement, that he now thinks is meaningless.

The key to understanding where Qohelet is coming from is his oft-repeated phrase “under the sun”. By using the phrase “under the sun”, Qohelet deliberately creates a hypothetical, human-centered world, where God is not in control. Over and over again, throughout the book, he shows logically that a world without God, “under the sun”, cannot explain what he already knows. In argument after argument, he shows that the obvious consequence of a world without reference to God is absurd. Then, in just one place, in chapter 1:9, he states that there is nothing new under the Sun. Yet, his whole argumentation, from a worldly, godless viewpoint, is, I submit, designed to lead us to consider that there is something new under the Sun. There is, in fact, a breakthrough, to what must be “over the Sun” – that is the realm of God. By showing that there is no meaning to a world without God, Qohelet implicitly informs us that true meaning is found only by referencing everything in our lives with God.

For this reason, he concludes his book, by twice reminding us to “Remember your Creator”. In a book, reminiscent of any guidebook on Presuppositional Apologetics, Qohelet is insisting that by reference to the Creator everything around us makes complete sense.

Prayer:
Thank You, Father, that You are in complete control of this world. Forgive me for the times, when I have lived my life, as if You were not there. Help me to make You central to all that I do. Amen.

Notes:
Image: Adobe Stock Photo, licensed to author

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