DCLM Daily Manna 18 September 2026: Nothing New
KEY VERSE: “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 1:8-11
8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
READ OTHER DCLM DAILY DEVOTIONAL HERE
The fashion industry is characterised by cyclical trends, where past styles and aesthetics regularly reappear, often with slight modifications, creating the illusion of “new” while referencing the past. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the “20-year rule,” where fashion trends tend to resurface after a two-decade gap. Fashion trends are not always forward-looking; they often revisit past styles, incorporating elements from different eras and subcultures. The core idea is that humanity is cyclical, and new discoveries or experiences are often simply variations of what has already occurred.
Well, not everyone might agree with this assertion. Yet, Solomon wrote from experience and was also inspired by the Spirit of God. He had seen it all. In his quest to know the particular things that man should pursue here on earth, he went to bizarre lengths, sampling everything that gave him pleasure, including marrying a staggering 700 wives in addition to 300 concubines. In the end, he concluded that all is vanity. He planted vineyards, built houses and orchards, he had slaves, he was the richest king of all climes and was the wisest man of his day.
The world is too distracted to settle down and consider what is said in this passage about the transient nature of things. People are busy pursuing what they perceive would give them joy and pleasure. The fashion craze is buzzing globally. In our mad pursuit of new things, we end up eventually with nothing but an empty display of our carnality. Models have removed every bit of clothing, until they now almost appear naked. Music icons are adored by a revelling crowd who have no time to pay attention to satanic emblems on display in their shows. They distance themselves from the Scriptures and are quick to reject anything they suspect is designed to take away their ‘freedom’. The women want to kill their unborn babies in the name of maintaining control over their bodies. And politicians, in a desperate bid to win elections, enshrine these excesses in their manifestos.
It is time to sit down and take a critical look at the emptiness Solomon speaks about. There is a void and emptiness deep down in our hearts. This void can only be filled by God Himself. If only we can take a break and think deeply, we’ll agree with Solomon that truly, there’s no new thing under the earth. Solomon concludes later in this last book authored by him that the best thing to do is to fear God and keep His commandments, which he describes as the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14).
The Bible in One Year: Numbers 26–28
Thought for the day: It is foolhardy to pursue passing earthly gains at the expense of heavenly, permanent glory.
DCLM Daily Manna 18 September 2026
