Vanity of vanities: of life only perceived under the sun.

For a while I was teaching a devotional with my carpenter friends at Las Ponas S.A.C. in Trujillo, Peru. We worked our way the book of Ecclesiastes and I began to pick up on an important perspective from Solomon that he doesn't come out and say explicitly but I believe is extremely important to see in order to understand this book.

On a simple view of Ecclesiastes, you might think that it is a very pessimistic book. You might think the author is actually saying that life is not worth living and that everything is broken. But upon a deeper view it becomes clear that he is saying nothing of the kind. He is saying the opposite. It becomes clear when you notice how many times he repeats the phrase, "under the sun."  The author is actually saying that life is totally worth living when we understand that there is more to life than just what is under the sun. When our eyes are opened to the reality that there is an eternity and a God who made us to enjoy and glorify, then life is wonderful. But if we only live for this side of eternity and think that only what we see under the sun is all there is, then life is vanity of vanities.  The Lord Jesus came and shed light on this reality. He was the wisdom spoken of both in Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. He is the one who helps us see beyond the Sun and recognize that there is much more to life than just eating and drinking. The gospel of John says it like this in chapter 1, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth...And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."

The whole book can be understood seeing it in light of the last two verses:
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 ESV)