Nothing New Under the Sun

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;

 there is nothing new under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 1:9

These words are attributed to King Solomon who lived more than 900 years before Jesus was born.  That would have been almost 3000 years ago.  Can those words possibly be as true today as they were when written? Uhmm, makes you stop to think about it.  Lots of things change.  Change and new developments are ever before us. 

Wars and rumors of wars ... nothing new.  Man's inhumanity to man ... nothing new.  Births and deaths ... nothing new.  Marriage and divorce ... nothing new.  Sexual misconduct, fornication, adultery, homosexuality ... nothing new.  Children dishonoring parents ...  nothing new.  Prayer and prayerlessness ... nothing new. Rulers and leaders more concerned about themselves than those they are to serve and lead ... nothing new.  Corrupt government ... nothing new. Deadly emotions plaguing us ... nothing new.  People destroyed from a lack of knowledge ... nothing new. 

New knowledge and discoveries of what has always been.  New ways of doing the same things.  Success and prosperity ... nothing new.  Great leaders ... nothing new.  Great exploits by those who know their God ... nothing new.  Justice and fairness and equity prevailing ... nothing new.  Love, love for neighbor as for self ... nothing new.  Just maybe Solomon was onto something, you think? 

To get our attention, Solomon repeats the point (see Ecclesiastes 3:15 & 6:10a).  Since there is nothing new under the sun, God has already shown us, through his word, how to respond to every situation and circumstance that we face.  We've already been given the words to speak, no matter what or who is before us.  Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun.