Oh, life is so unfair! At least that’s what Solomon is saying. But it’s very true because life is extremely unfair. Everything is equal and fair in a perfect world, but we don’t live in that world.
In this passage, the king of Israel reminisces over a young, poor man who replaces an old king. The young man is youthful and wise, and the old king has become foolish and stubborn, not receiving advice from anyone anymore. Therefore, as unfair as it may seem, the poor yet youthful man becomes ruler of the kingdom. He started out on the low end of life only to be raised to the highest position among his people. Many other poor people live in the kingdom, and presumably so do other rich people, but somehow this man rose to power and is now ruling over them.
He is made ruler over many, and eventually some of those people and possibly more will no longer like him and be content with his rule. Once that happens, yet another king will take his place. Vanity! Unfair!
But that’s how life is. It’s not always fair, and so much of it is vanity because of the injustice and seeming unfairness that occurs around us.
But it’s comforting to know that God is always fair and always faithful. Psalm 36:5 says, “Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your
