Contemplative Bible Reading

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (New Living Translation)

History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.

So, what’s the use? The Bible tells us that nothing changes. Injustice, hate, sin—they just roll on and roll over us.

The key phrase in this verse is “under the sun.” That doesn’t mean “during the day when the sun is shining.” It means “life without God.” God was in the heavens up there with the sun. “Under the sun” was “down here where there was no God, no Creator.” (The writer wrote an exaggerated error to make a point.)

God, however, is here. One day God sent himself in the form of His Son to be with us and make us right with God. I don’t understand that statement, but I know it to be true.

History didn’t repeat itself.

God and His Son changed history forever. Thanks to God for this unfathomable act of grace.