Hevel and Hope: Finding Meaning in the Vapor
There are several books in the Old Testament that are considered poetic: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Job. Some scholars also place Lamentations in this category. Usually Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job fall into a section of the poetry books that is called wisdom literature.
In an earlier devotion I suggested that Job is sometimes hard to read. Ecclesiastes is similar and often avoided by some because of a particular word that can be translated meaningless, vanity, or folly. When you read Ecclesiastes and hear that so many things in life are meaningless or folly, you soon find yourself moving on to another book of the Bible that might have more encouragement!
The Hebrew word that is repeated often is hevel, and it appears 38 times in this 12-chapter book. After reading that things in life are meaningless, one can easily miss the greater meaning of this word and this book of wisdom. The root meaning of hevel is vapor. A vapor is something that is temporary like a puff of smoke or air. Hevel is temporary or short lived.
For a great overview of the book of Ecclesiastes, check out this video from Bible Project:https://bibleproject.com/videos/ecclesiastes/.
When you keep in mind the big picture—that in contrast to eternity, all of our time here on earth is hevel, or very brief, like a vapor—you realize that what we do isn’t meaningless. On the contrary, what we do with the little time and influence we have is important and all connected to the sovereignty of God.
What we learn from Job and Proverbs is also true in Ecclesiastes. Good and bad things happen to both those who are righteous and those who are not. The divine movement of God is always working toward establishing the kingdom of God forever. One day the thin line that separates heaven and earth and all that is good will finally be removed. And as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, we will all see clearly one day, just not yet. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (v. 12)
Probably the most familiar passage in Ecclesiastes is the first eight verses of chapter three. At times we would prefer that it is otherwise, but we know it is true that there is indeed a time for everything, including the things we would prefer to avoid. But the teacher of Ecclesiastes reminds us of this:
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.”
The longer we live and the more we pray, consume God’s word, and practice our discipleship, the more we find comfort and joy in the simple things and the harder things we face in life because we know that God is with us in each moment. And we know that God is always working his perfect redemption and restoration plan with us and through us even on our hardest days.
Father, today we want to be filled with your wisdom. We understand that our lives are just a puff or vapor in the context of eternity. We surrender our time and work to you today and ask that you fill us with your Spirit and show us where and how we can best serve you today. All for your glory! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, 3:1-22 ESV
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