It is tiring for man to see and experience the same thing over and over again. Ecclesiastes points this out very emphatically here. It is wearisome to think that the circle of life only ensures that the same things happen over and over again. It seems like there’s no end to it. It is always the same questions, difficulties, and problems. Always the same things that only end up making our lives more difficult. That so often drives away people’s peace and joy.
The second part of this verse also shows us something else—it implies that we get bored easily. When we look around us, the variety we see is never great enough. We always desire to see new things all the time. The same is true when it comes to our hearing. We always desire to hear and see new things. Man finds no rest in what he sees or hears. A person without Christ can never find true rest. Life often causes people to become even more restless.
True rest is found in Christ. He invites people to seek rest in him: ”Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.