Vanity of Vanities, "Why", and Fear

I’m trying to understand Ecclesiastes – which is to say I’m trying to understand “Why”. Every so often I turn to the pages between Proverbs and Song of Solomon and take a good read of one of my favorite books of the Bible. Written by Solomon (the author calls himself a “son of David” and a “King over Israel in Jerusalem” – since Solomon was the only son of David to rule over all of Israel, and not just Judah, we can safely assume it’s him). There are a couple things I’ve gathered (among many!) about Solomon from the book of 1 Kings - firstly he’s a son of David and Bathsheba and, secondly, he is the wisest man ever. God asks Solomon when he becomes king what He can give to him, Solomon doesn’t ask for riches or a long life (as he could have), but instead he asks for “an understanding mind to govern your people, that I [Solomon] may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" (1 Kings 3)
This pleases the Lord, and He replies saying “I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.”
Solomon was a great King, 1 Kings explains his kingdom and the things that Solomon did. The act he is likely most renowned for is the building of the First Temple, which he oversaw. Somewhere in his ruling he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, and I am glad he did. If you haven’t noticed this blog is titled Vanity of Vanities, with the subtitle of “All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” Both are quotes from Ecclesiastes, along with the quote at the right side of the blog. Lately, I have been finding myself reading this more and more – which I suppose is not a bad thing (whoever said you can read the Bible too much?), but I must be careful with this particular book. The reason is that Ecclesiastes isn’t the happiest piece of writing, nor is it hopeful. It is very philosophical and makes a lot of broad sweeping statements about mankind and the nature of the soul – and, well, “why”. Why we are here – the meaning of life.
Ecclesiastes is full of wisdom, though Solomon ironically says that wisdom is meaningless (although much greater than foolishness), he says repeatedly that things are “meaningless” and that there is “nothing new under the sun”, that “all is vanity” and that we all toil uselessly out of selfishness. That wealth is useless, honor is useless, wisdom is sorrow; foolishness is death, that we cannot truly know truth, he speaks of time and love, good and evil – that we are all from dust and that we will all return to it.
So why do I speak of it? Why do I title my blog “Vanity of Vanities” as if it is not vain of me to do so? and meaningless! Do I want my blog to be meaningless? Solomon is wise, and he states at the beginning of the book of Proverbs (which he also wrote) that the beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord. The last line of the book of Ecclesiastes is this “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.”
Solomon states that all is meaningless, that all is vanity, that all is worthless and a “chasing after the wind” but that the most important thing to do, and the best thing above all, is to fear the Lord. The only hope we have is in fearing the Lord, the only meaning we have is in fearing the Lord, that because God is the Creator and Ruler of all – all Powerful, Merciful, Perfect, and Just – that to do anything else but fear Him is complete foolishness and done in vain. The wisest man ever comes to the conclusion in his life of leadership, wealth, lovers, power, righteousness, sin, honor, purpose, joy, pain, sorrow – that it’s all but naught if it’s not done in fear of the Lord.

I want to urge this to myself, that all my toiling under the sun comes to nothing without a genuine fear of God, that is - all that is counted is what is done for Him. I want to make it very clear that I don’t say that we are saved by the things we do (justification through works is not right nor biblical). The only way to truly fear God is to submit our lives fully to Jesus Christ in faith, and declare Him to be the eternal Lord and Saviour of our souls. Which He is. Jesus had not yet entered the world as a man when Solomon wrote any of his books, therefore Solomon was under the Old Covenant (which only means his approach was according to the time, if he was saved it was not by works but by faith). Jesus brought in the New Covenant made in His blood, as He died on the cross for our sins. The greatest act of love and mercy. Fear does not mean we cannot laugh or have joy, nor does it mean we must always be trembling (though there is a time for all these things), but it means submission and acknowledgment. It means we consciously do all things for the glory of Him who is deserving of all glory. We suffer for God, we love for God, we work the land and sing for God, we wake and sleep for God, we toil and laugh and play and love for God, for Jesus. I blog for Jesus, who died for my sins on the cross, that I can blog. I do it in fear, that God, who has gifted me with certain things, would be glorified by those things – I don’t do it unwillingly! But in great joy! For the God whom I fear is a good and perfect and loving God, who is just and justly merciful, and there is nothing I would rather do than fearfully do all things for Him.

“Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God” – Ecclesiastes 8:12

I would love to be asked questions.