Joy at the End of the Tether: The Inscrutable Wisdom of Ecclesiastes

by Douglas Wilson

“Under the sun” is the realm where vanity reigns and should be understood as this world, considered in its own right.

For those who fear Him, He gives the gift of being able to actually enjoy this great big marching band of futility—the

God is the One who gives things, and God is the one who gives the power to enjoy things. These are distinct gifts . . . just as a can of peaches and a can-opener are distinct gifts. Only the first is given to the unbeliever. The believer is given both, which is simply another way of saying that he is given the capacity for enjoyment.

vanity does not refer to an absolute meaninglessness. We see now that it refers to an inscrutable repetitiveness. You

affliction is not always bad and prosperity not always good.