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V 1–7: GOD There is a temporary burst of sunlight through the clouds. The Preacher concentrates on God in the first half of this chapter. In contrast to his observations ‘under the sun’, he urges people to walk prudently when worshipping Him, to hear rather than make rash sacrifices, to watch careless speech, to remember that God is in heaven and sees things ‘under the sun’, to pay vows made to God, and, perhaps the most important thought in two words, to ‘fear God’. Knowing that God is in sovereign control of affairs, and of the individual, sets a perspective for living. V 8–9: GREED Returning to the earth, he sees the vanity of greed which is so often accompanied by perversion of justice by those in high positions. V 10–12: GAIN Material gain is also vanity. It never brings satisfaction and the only point of having possessions is to be able to say, ‘I have got them.’ Ironically, compare the sweet sleep of a man who is tired through labouring and the sleeplessness of a man who is concerned about the future of his riches. V 13–17: GOODS Everyone who is born must die. He will take nothing with him when he has to go. So what profit is there in piling up goods which, in any case, give him sorrow, sickness and anger? V 18–22: GOOD A little more sunshine breaks through for a while. When Solomon sees the things he has as gifts from God, it changes his picture of them. He knows it is good to enjoy them joyfully for a temporary period, during his early life.