The Vanity of Politics

The question the Preacher has continually asked is: can we find anything that is ultimately satisfying under the sun? The Preacher’s answer throughout the book of Ecclesiastes has been that there is no gain under the sun. That all is vanity. All is a striving after wind. If you strive after wind, you have a vain pursuit. You can never catch the wind. And if you do catch it, what have you caught? Air. Wind.

That is his perspective. Trying to find satisfaction in the things of the world, we have seen, is useless. That’s what vanity is. He calls it an evil business that God has given to the children of man.

He continues this pursuit this morning

Our lives under heaven, our lives on earth are lived daily in a structured society. We have organized ourselves in a particular way so that we can live together. And this structure includes government and politics.

The Preacher has much to say about political leadership, kings, princes, and government officials, and how they operate.

And he finds this … and this is his primary claim … putting your hope in the long-term gain of politics is a vain pursuit.

Government and politics are necessary and they are a blessing according to the Bible. But this blessing is always diminished and sometimes ruined by sin and the power of self-serving flesh.

This morning we are going to look at six observations from the Preacher about politics, about government, about civil leadership. And we’re going to consider what it means for our current political climate. We’re going to make that application this morning.

~~~