◄ Ecclesiastes 1:4 ►
Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
Study Bible
Generations come and generations go
This phrase reflects the transient nature of human life, emphasizing the cyclical pattern of birth and death. In biblical context, it echoes the themes found in other wisdom literature, such as the Book of Job and Psalms, which often highlight the brevity of human existence compared to the eternal nature of God. Historically, this understanding would resonate with ancient cultures that observed the repetitive cycles of life and death, often marked by oral traditions and genealogies. The phrase also connects to the genealogical records in Genesis, where the lineage from Adam through Noah and beyond illustrates the passing of generations. This cyclical view underscores the futility of human endeavors without divine purpose, a central theme in Ecclesiastes.

but the earth remains forever
This part of the verse contrasts the fleeting nature of human life with the perceived permanence of the earth. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the earth was seen as a stable, enduring entity, created by God and sustained by His power. This idea is supported by other scriptures, such as Psalm 104:5, which speaks of God setting the earth on its foundations so it can never be moved. Theologically, this permanence points to God's sovereignty and the order He established in creation. While the earth's permanence is emphasized, it is important to note that in the broader biblical narrative, the earth is subject to God's ultimate plan, including its renewal and restoration as prophesied in Revelation 21:1, where a new heaven and a new earth are promised. This reflects the hope of redemption and the eternal kingdom of God, where the temporal and eternal intersect through the work of Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
- Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. He reflects on the nature of life and the human experience.

2. Israel
- The nation where Solomon reigned as king. The cultural and historical context of Israel during Solomon's time influences the themes of Ecclesiastes.

3. Jerusalem
- The city where Solomon built the temple and reigned as king. It serves as a backdrop for his reflections on life and eternity.
Teaching Points
The Transience of Human Life
Human generations are temporary, emphasizing the need to focus on eternal values rather than temporal achievements.

The Permanence of Creation
The earth's enduring nature serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the stability found in His creation.

Eternal Perspective
Believers are encouraged to adopt an eternal perspective, recognizing that while human life is fleeting, God's purposes endure.

Stewardship of the Earth
As the earth remains, Christians are called to be responsible stewards of God's creation, caring for it as a reflection of His eternal nature.

Hope in God's Unchanging Nature
The constancy of the earth points to the unchanging nature of God, offering hope and assurance in a world of change.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the transient nature of human generations affect your priorities and decisions in life?

2. In what ways can the permanence of the earth remind us of God's eternal nature and promises?

3. How can we balance the understanding of life's brevity with the call to be good stewards of the earth?

4. What other scriptures reinforce the idea of God's unchanging nature, and how can they provide comfort in times of change?

5. How can adopting an eternal perspective influence your daily actions and long-term goals?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 8:22
- This verse speaks of the enduring cycles of nature, similar to the theme in Ecclesiastes 1:4 about the earth's permanence.

Psalm 90:1-2
- These verses highlight God's eternal nature and the transient nature of human life, paralleling the message in Ecclesiastes.

Isaiah 40:8
- This verse contrasts the fleeting nature of human life with the enduring word of God, echoing the permanence of the earth mentioned in Ecclesiastes.
Sermons
The Summary of a Life's ExperienceJ. Willcock Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
The Vanity of Man's LifeD. Thomas Ecclesiastes 1:3, 4
The Stability of NatureW. Clarkson Ecclesiastes 1:4-7
Opposite Ideas of LifeHomilistEcclesiastes 1:4-10
The Abiding EarthU. R. Thomas.Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
The Durability of the Earth Contrasted with Human MortalityJ. Foster.Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
The Earth Permanent, Man TransitoryJ. A. Jacob, M. A.Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
The Law of CircularityH. Macmillan, D. D.Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
The Passing of HumanityH. Macmillan, D. D.Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
The Passing of HumanityS. Hillyard.Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
What Passes and What AbidesA. Maclaren, D. D.Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
People
David, Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Abideth, Age, Forever, Generation, Generations, Goes, Passeth, Remains, Standeth, Standing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

     5916   pessimism

Ecclesiastes 1:3-4

     5465   profit

Ecclesiastes 1:4-5

     8331   reliability

Library
Two views of Life
'This sore travail hath God given to the sons of man, to be exercised therewith.--ECCLES. i. 13. 'He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.'--HEBREWS xii. 10. These two texts set before us human life as it looks to two observers. The former admits that God shapes it; but to him it seems sore travail, the expenditure of much trouble and efforts; the results of which seem to be nothing beyond profitless exercise. There is an immense activity and nothing to show for it at the end …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

What Passes and what Abides
'One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.'--ECCLES. i. 4. 'And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'--1 JOHN ii. 17. A great river may run through more than one kingdom, and bear more than one name, but its flow is unbroken. The river of time runs continuously, taking no heed of dates and calendars. The importance that we attach to the beginnings or endings of years and centuries is a …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Past and the Future
'The thing that hath been, it is that which shall he; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.'--ECCLES. i. 9. 'That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.'--l PETER iv. 2, 3. If you will look at these two passages carefully you will, I think, see that they imply two different, and in some respects …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Eusebius' Birth and Training. His Life in Cæsarea Until the Outbreak of the Persecution.
Our author was commonly known among the ancients as Eusebius of Cæsarea or Eusebius Pamphili. The former designation arose from the fact that he was bishop of the church in Cæsarea for many years; the latter from the fact that he was the intimate friend and devoted admirer of Pamphilus, a presbyter of Cæsarea and a martyr. Some such specific appellation was necessary to distinguish him from others of the same name. Smith and Wace's Dictionary of Christian Biography mentions 137 …
Eusebius Pamphilius—Church History

Introduction to vita S. Antoni.
(Written between 356 and 362) The Life of St. Antony is included in the present collection partly on account of the important influence it has exercised upon the development of the ascetic life in the Church, partly and more especially on the ground of its strong claim to rank as a work of Athanasius. If that claim were undisputed, no apology would be needed for its presence in this volume. If on the other hand its spurious and unhistorical character had been finally demonstrated, its insertion would …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

"And Hereby we do Know that we Know Him, if we Keep his Commandments. "
1 John ii. 3.--"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." This age pretends to much knowledge beyond former ages, knowledge, I say, not only in other natural arts and sciences, but especially in religion. Whether there be any great advancement in other knowledge, and improvement of that which was, to a further extent and clearness, I cannot judge, but I believe there is not much of it in this nation, nor do we so much pretend to it. But, we talk of the enlargements of …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Literature.
In making the following thread to the rich literature on Constantine the plan has been to confine almost wholly to Monographs, since to refer to all histories, encyclopædias, and the like which treat of him would be endless. Only such few analyzed references are introduced as have special reasons. Even with this limit it cannot be at all hoped that the list is exhaustive. Considerable pains has been taken, however, to make it full, as there is no really extended modern list of works on Constantine, …
Eusebius Pamphilius—The Life of Constantine

Temporal Advantages.
"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."--1 Tim. vi. 7, 8. Every age has its own special sins and temptations. Impatience with their lot, murmuring, grudging, unthankfulness, discontent, are sins common to men at all times, but I suppose one of those sins which belongs to our age more than to another, is desire of a greater portion of worldly goods than God has given us,--ambition and covetousness …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Of the Imitation of Christ, and of Contempt of the World and all Its Vanities
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,(1) saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ; and they teach us how far we must imitate His life and character, if we seek true illumination, and deliverance from all blindness of heart. Let it be our most earnest study, therefore, to dwell upon the life of Jesus Christ. 2. His teaching surpasseth all teaching of holy men, and such as have His Spirit find therein the hidden manna.(2) But there are many who, though they frequently hear the Gospel, …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Order of Thought which Surrounded the Development of Jesus.
As the cooled earth no longer permits us to understand the phenomena of primitive creation, because the fire which penetrated it is extinct, so deliberate explanations have always appeared somewhat insufficient when applying our timid methods of induction to the revolutions of the creative epochs which have decided the fate of humanity. Jesus lived at one of those times when the game of public life is freely played, and when the stake of human activity is increased a hundredfold. Every great part, …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

Messiah's Easy Yoke
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. T hough the influence of education and example, may dispose us to acknowledge the Gospel to be a revelation from God; it can only be rightly understood, or duly prized, by those persons who feel themselves in the circumstances of distress, which it is designed to relieve. No Israelite would think of fleeing to a city of refuge (Joshua 20:2. …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, for Growth in Knowledge.
It is a commanded duty, that we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. iii. 18; and the knowledge of him being life eternal, John xvii. 3, and our measure of knowledge of him here being but imperfect, for we know but in part, it cannot but be an useful duty, and a desirable thing, to be growing in this knowledge. This is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, to be increasing in the knowledge of God, Col. i. 10. Knowledge must be added to virtue; and it layeth a ground for other Christian …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Joy
'The fruit of the Spirit is joy.' Gal 5:52. The third fruit of justification, adoption, and sanctification, is joy in the Holy Ghost. Joy is setting the soul upon the top of a pinnacle - it is the cream of the sincere milk of the word. Spiritual joy is a sweet and delightful passion, arising from the apprehension and feeling of some good, whereby the soul is supported under present troubles, and fenced against future fear. I. It is a delightful passion. It is contrary to sorrow, which is a perturbation …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Ecclesiastes
It is not surprising that the book of Ecclesiastes had a struggle to maintain its place in the canon, and it was probably only its reputed Solomonic authorship and the last two verses of the book that permanently secured its position at the synod of Jamnia in 90 A.D. The Jewish scholars of the first century A.D. were struck by the manner in which it contradicted itself: e.g., "I praised the dead more than the living," iv. 2, "A living dog is better than a dead lion," ix. 4; but they were still more …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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