When we read the book of Ecclesiastes written by Solomon, the repeated phrase,
“Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity,”
draws a sigh from every reader.
If we look at the biblical cause of Solomon’s fall:
1. Disobedience to God's Word leads to sin
God gave a clear warning to the kings:
“You shall not intermarry with them… for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” (1 Kings 11:2)
However, Solomon had hundreds of foreign wives and concubines. Eventually, he built high places and worshiped their gods.
2. The longer one enjoys grace, the more pride can creep in
Solomon once humbly confessed, “I am only a little child and do not know how to go out or come in” (1 Kings 3:7).
But over time, he began to trust in his own wisdom and wealth.
What began as God’s blessing slowly turned into his own glory, leading to spiritual numbness and disobedience.
3. Wisdom cannot protect us from sin
Though Solomon became the very image of "wisdom,"
wisdom alone cannot prevent a person from falling.
If the heart turns away from God, all the knowledge in the world cannot stop spiritual decline.
This shows that what matters more than “knowledge” is a heart that loves God.
The phrase “under the sun” appears approximately 26 times in Ecclesiastes.
Here is one verse that struck my heart as I meditated with the Holy Spirit:
“What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?”(Ecclesiastes 1:3)
And further:
- “There is nothing new under the sun.” (1:9)
- “All is vanity and a chasing after wind.” (1:14)
- “All toil under the sun is meaningless.” (2:11)
- “All work under the sun brought me grief.” (2:17)
- “What do people get for all their toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?” (2:22)
- “I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race under the sun...” (3:16 and many more)
Then Ecclesiastes 9:11 states something very profound:
“I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.”
Let’s break down some of the key Hebrew words:
- Swift (קַלִּ֨ kal) – quick, fast
- Runner (מֵּרֹ֜וץ merots) – one who runs
- Strong (גִּבֹּורִ֣ gibbor) – mighty, warrior
- Battle (מִּלְחָמָ֗ה milchamah) – war
- Wise (חֲכָמִ֥ hakham) – wise
- Bread (לֶ֨חֶם֙ lechem) – food, bread
- Discerning (בִּין bin) – understanding
- Wealth (עֹ֔שֶׁר osher) – riches
- Knowledge (יֹּדְעִ֖ yada) – knowledge
- Favor (חֵ֑ן chen) – grace, favor, beauty
This verse feels both true and paradoxical.
Isn't it usually the fastest who wins?
The strongest who triumphs?
The wise who gets food, the discerning who becomes rich, and the knowledgeable who receives favor?
Yet Solomon says it’s not always so under the sun.
Time and chance happen to them all. (Eccl. 9:11)
God grants time and opportunity to everyone,
but the real issue is that we often fail to recognize or seize them.
“As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” (Eccl. 9:12)
The word “their time (עֵת et)” here means a set moment, an opportunity, an appointed time.
While some may interpret “their time” as death, Solomon hints that God grants general grace and moments to all people.
So we must look at how Jesus and the apostles interpreted “the times” in the last days.
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)
But is that all?
What about
“As fish get caught in a net and birds in a snare...”
This suggests disaster overtaking those unaware.
In Hosea 9:5, it says:
“The prophet is a watchman for my God, yet a fowler’s snare is on all his paths,
and enmity in the house of his God.”
(Snare פַּ֤ח pach – bird trap; Enmity מַשְׂטֵמָ֖ה mastemah – hostility, hate)
Those who were once God’s servants become trappers of souls,
appearing as prophets, but with twisted motives.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:8–12:
“All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death...
Many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other.
False prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”
Summary:
Solomon teaches us that life “under the sun” follows no predictable formula.
Even if we strive with all our strength, wisdom, and effort, it may not yield what we expect.
Yet this doesn’t mean our efforts are useless—God has allowed labor and wisdom.
But when we focus only on earthly pursuits, we may miss the true moment God has prepared for us.
And in these last days, false prophets and deceptive voices may lead us away from Christ’s commands—especially His command to love.
