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These things will be seen the better when we are definitely analyzing the subject
matter of the book. The unity that is discovered by reading the seven occurrences of
Koheleth together is of importance in directing us both to its consistency and theme.
#3. The Theme Traced.
Without resurrection, all is vanity.
pp. 122 - 127
What is the theme of the book of Ecclesiastes? Is it the quest for the summum bonum,
"that good" (2: 3)? Is it the quest for the origin and purpose of evil? We feel it best to
defer any answer until we have set before the reader one or two of the most prominent
features of the book. Then possibly the Scriptures will have provided their own
explanation. We know what Koheleth's summary is, for it is written both in the preface
and the conclusion:--
"Vanity of vanities, All is vanity" (i.2, 12: 8).
The word "all" must be limited to its context as in other places, for of all the words
that have made havoc of theology this seems one of the chief. "All means all" may be a
most untruthful conclusion. All means as many as the context intends and no more.
Whatever the writer has in view, his conclusion concerning it is, "All is vanity". Before
reading on in Ecclesiastes, let us see what has been written elsewhere concerning vanity.
Psa. 39: 4-6.--This Psalm of David, we trust, is clear from any of the insults
heaped upon the portion of Holy Scripture we are studying--this is not "under the sun" in
the sense often intended:--
"Lord , make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may
know how short lived I am. Behold, Thou, Lord, hast made my days as an handbreadth
and mine age is as nothing before thee. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether
(or, only all) vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: Surely they are
disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them."
Here, it will be observed, the vanity of man is seen in the one great fact that stands at
the end of his career--DEATH. Death writes vanity over the whole creation of man. His
labours are spent in accumulating that which some unknown person shall use.
Psa. 49: 6-20:--
"They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches:
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,
that he should still live for ever and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die,
likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.....like
sheep they are laid in the grave."