ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tu’apulelulu ‘Okatopa 19, 2023

Mega-Vanity! 

Muna ‘o e muna

ECCLESIASTES 1:1-2

THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING IN JERUSALEM. VANITY OF VANITIES, SAYS THE PREACHER, VANITY OF VANITIES! ALL IS VANITY.

KOHELETI 1:1-2

1 KO E ngaahi lea ‘a Koheleti foha ‘o Tēvita na‘e tu‘i ‘i Selusalema. 2 Muna ‘o e muna–ko e lea ia ‘a Koheleti–muna ‘o e muna! ko e muna ‘a e me‘a kotoa.

Havel havalim, vanity of vanities. So begins one of the most bizarre-and philosophical-books of the Bible. Its English title is Ecclesiastes; in Hebrew it's Qoheleth; but Vanity might have been a more fitting title, considering that the word populates eleven of the twelve chapters. Hevel means "breath," and, by extension, "vanity" (something as insubstantial as breath) and "idols" (things without essence). "Vanity of vanities" is a Hebrew superlative like "servant of servants" ("abject slave" Gen. 9:25) or "forever and ever" ("everlastingly" Isa. 34:10). It means something like "utter futility" or "mega-vanity." What is utter futility? Life "under the sun" (v. 3). It's all as

vain as "chasing after the wind" (v. 14 NIV).

This book drops an atomic bomb onto every one of our private towers of Babel. We are so easily bloated with self-importance and our delusions of grandeur. Vanity of vanities! Foolishness! Rather, during our time under the sun, let us lose ourselves in the life of Christ-and thus find true life, true meaning in the King of kings and Lord of lords. In him, we receive a treasure to which nothing in this world can compare.

Breathe in us, Holy Spirit, your life-giving and hope-bestowing grace, that we might serve you all our days.