APR 7

Ecclesiastes 1:14
Memorise 2 Peter 2:7-8
“behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit”

Another statement that we see repeated over and over again, and often used together with the word ‘vanity’, is the phrase ‘vexation of spirit’. This phrase and the word vexation itself are unique to the book of Ecclesiastes, and occurs a total of 10 times in it. To vex something or someone, would be to anger, agitate, harass, or even to afflict. This is the thought put forth by Solomon here. He says that as he experiences and observes things in this world, not only does he consider them to be vain and empty, but often times his spirit is vexed, troubled by the futility that he sees in life apart from God. When we examine the word for vexation in the Hebrew, we see an even more vivid image. The word comes from a root word which means to feed or even devour. The picture presented here is one whereby a person’s soul is fed upon or ravaged by the things that happen around him, causing anguish, grief and pain!

This is the godly response of a sanctified man, as he views the wicked, sinful and carnal world around him. He cannot rejoice and be enamored by it, but rather his soul should be vexed, and much troubled by the gross abominations that he sees around him. Even a worldly man like Lot, who in many areas of his life compromised, and loved the world, but because he was justified, the Bible describes his soul as being vexed continually by all the wickedness that he saw around him, as he stayed in the wicked city of Sodom. As Peter described him as ‘…just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)’ (2 Peter 2:7-8).

That too was the response of Solomon as he viewed life and all the pleasures that it seemed to offer. As he gave himself up to experimenting with all things under the sun, he was constantly frustrated by the wickedness and futility of it all. He could only conclude at the end of it all that it was but vanity, and also that his spirit was vexed.

Dear Teen, is that how you regard the world around us? Or are you so caught up and in love with the world that it seems so exciting, enticing and attractive? Realise that the temporal things of this world will not last. Do not waste your life chasing after these empty things, for it will only result in grief, disappointment, and a vexation of the spirit!

Thought: Do the sins of the world cause vexation or exhilaration?
Prayer: Lord, help me to flee the temptations of this world.