in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of ". The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law; Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes. drink, and to be merry; There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous: so I said that this also is vanity ( Ecclesiastes 8:13-14 ). The beginning of verse 5 says that the person who keeps the kings command will experience nothing harmful. This does not mean nothing bad will ever happen to the person. And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The king stands as the authority. shall be changed. A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed. We don't have that power. Ecclesiastes 2:14; [9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? [17] Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before your time? Then I commended mirth,. Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortable use of it; this the wise man praised and recommended to good men, as being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, and because they had not so much of them: as others; who yet had reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their heads and be cheerful, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God in another world. 3. In view of these contradictions, Solomon again recommended the enjoyment of life, not in a pleasure-mad way but in the sense of enjoying the fruits of ones labor (cf. 2: vanitas vanitatum dixit Ecclesiastes vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas. Proud member They begin to scoff at it, even as Peter said they would. Fear God. I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Yet these words of the Preacher show us the futility and foolishness of a life lived without an eternal perspective. for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun ( Ecclesiastes 8:15 ). It will hasten it. Not so. a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.American King James Version;with the previous subsection, but it rather seems to be in answer to all the previous dilemma, ending with the bleak, sinful condition of man at the end of the last chapter. It may seem unfair because the evil are prospered and the righteous are persecuted. And thus, it appears that the evil man is getting away with his evil actions, his evil deeds. The mention of an oath to God may bring to mind the need to follow through on vows to God in Ecclesiastes 5. Or possibly the reference is to a general promise to obey God, with this including the requirement of following Israels divinely appointed kingor maybe even any nations ruler, since, as Paul later points out in Romans 13, all governing authorities are in power because of God and are to be obeyedexcept when there is a conflict with Gods law, which must come first (Acts 5:29 Acts 5:29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.American King James Version). Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine. This joy will make labor more enjoyable. The words There is are in italics in the NKJV, showing theyve been added to the original wordingunnecessarily in this case. The preacher begins this chapter with the praise of wisdom, from its excellency and usefulness, Ecclesiastes 8:1; and advises men, if they would live quietly and comfortably, to honour and obey the king that rules over them, and not be rebellious against him, since he has great power and authority . [28] Which yet my soul seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Wise and good men have, of old, been perplexed with this difficulty, how the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous can be reconciled with the holiness and goodness of the God that governs the world. His reply is not an observation, but the answer of faith. He believes what he cannot seethat one day all will be well for everyone who lives in the fear of God (Ryken, p. 196). That is because people end up sitting on death row for decades. drinking, and all manner of carnal deli Ecclesiastes 8:15 commended H7623 (H8765) enjoyment H8057 man H120 The problem with this view is that it does not do full justice to what the Preacher says. Yes, we have a lot of hard work to do. [6] For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and whips every son whom he receives. Wisdom can enable a person to avoid the kings wrath (Ecclesiastes 8:2-9), but it cannot enable him or her to understand fully why God deals with people as He does (Ecclesiastes 8:10-17). Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun. Product Identifiers It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all. You see, the real delay in the return of Jesus Christ is just God's unwillingness that men should perish. The beginning of verse 8 says that no one can retain the spirit in the day of death. What else had he seen? There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. Verse 7 in context presents more about the need for discerning the right time and way. COMMEND PLEASURE, FOR THERE IS NOTHING GOOD FOR. God's ways are above ours, nor is he tied to his own former ways, but his judgments are a great deep. A righteous man has prospered; an unrighteous man has prospered. because a man hath no better thing under the sun than to Solomon next mentions seeing the wicked buried (verse 10). He had earlier said unto them, "No man takes My life from Me, I give My life" ( John 10:18 ). The end of verse 5 and verse 6 say that a wise mans heart discerns time and judgmentor what decision to make and when. Same kind of experiences to both. Sinners herein deceive themselves. (Note: Vid., Baer in Abodath Jisrael, p. We see the just troubled and perplexed in their own minds, the wicked easy, fearless, and secure,--the just crossed and afflicted by the divine Providence, the wicked prosperous, successful, and smiled upon,--the just, censured, reproached, and run down, by the higher powers, the wicked applauded and preferred. Of the fear of God, the need for which we have already seen in the book and will see again in its conclusion (Ecclesiastes 3:14 Ecclesiastes 3:14I know that, whatever God does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God does it, that men should fear before him.American King James Version; Ecclesiastes 5:7 Ecclesiastes 5:7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear you God.American King James Version; Ecclesiastes 7:18 Ecclesiastes 7:18It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all.American King James Version; Ecclesiastes 12:13 Ecclesiastes 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.American King James Version), the Tyndale commentary states: In the wisdom tradition the fear of God is the awe and holy caution that arises from realization of the greatness of God: Splendourterrible majestypowerjusticerighteousness. He's giving you chance after chance after chance. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than, For that shall abide with him of his labor, and that this should accompany him in his labor, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Recall that this comes on the heels of Solomon presenting humanity as corrupt in chapter 7. 39.). Who knows anything? It doesn't matter to God that I lie or I steal or whatever because look, I'm blessed. He believed, even when there was no evidence for believing! (quoted on p. 135). Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ man's present life is under the sun, and is continued as long as it pleases god; though it is but short, rather to be counted by days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and this he may expect to have and continue with him as long as he lives, even food The wicked go unpunished and, even when they are dead and buried, people still praise them for their achievements in life (9-10). the Book of Proverbs. I see life moving on. He doesn't strike immediately, but oftentimes forestalls judgment for months, for years. 15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. But this wording requires a text emendation. But if they find the kings command unreasonable, wisdom will show them a way out. [19] Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. There is a serenity that comes with things starting to make senseand with trusting that God knows whatHes doing when things still dont. Thinks he has put one over on God. Thus the Preacher warns against a capricious desertion of ones post (cf. The Preacher is growing more and more confident about this joy. But he does not dwell on that. John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. and cheerfully, with moderation and thankfulness, to enjoy what Our present life is a life under the sun, but we look for the life of the world to come, which will commence and continue when the sun shall be turned into darkness and shine no more. verba Ecclesiastes filii David regis Hierusalem. There is no man that has power over his spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it ( Ecclesiastes 8:8 ). Honor the king. ( Romans 9:20 ) The sovereignty of the king, which also speaks to the sovereignty of God. Verse 12 seems to support the past perpetuation of the wicked as the frustration, as it mentions the sinners days being prolonged. it pleases God; though it is but short, rather to be counted by The only one who really did exercise that kind of power over his spirit was Jesus Christ. So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. And they begin to make fun of the return of Jesus Christ. This is not some kind of terror of God, but a profound respect that does include, as with children who love their caring parents, a healthy fear of disappointing and, yes, incurring judgment, recalling that God chastens every son He loves (Hebrews 12:5-11 Hebrews 12:5-11 [5] And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him: All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man rules over another to his own hurt. Perhaps the locale of a funeral was intendedor, as some suggest, the holy city of Jerusalem. So I know that in the long run that life is the best. That is all the fruit he has for himself of the pains that he takes in the business of the world; let him therefore take it, and much good may it do him; and let him not deny himself that, out of a peevish discontent because the world does not go as he would have it. i. The future is so uncertain. So, "Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged,". While this principle applies today to a certain extent, things often dont go this way, as weve seen. reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their man's present life is under the sun, and is continued as long as [20] For there is not a just man on earth, that does good, and sins not. If one does not know what will happen, how can he learn when it will happen? He is not out to destroy us but to save us, as Hes said time and again. Recall that chapter 5 was the first instance of direct exhortations in the booktelling us to be careful in our approach in coming to worship God, the One in whose hands our lives are and who can help us through the present difficulties. Yes, we see injustice that is hard to accept or understand. The sentiment CHAPTER 8 EAT, AND TO DRINK, AND TO BE MERRY. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the 3: quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quod laborat sub sole. Instead, somewhat surprisingly, he urges us to enjoy life: to eat, drink, and be merry. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Still, the language resembles the skeptical precept (1Co 15:32), introduced only to be refuted; and "abide" is too strong language, perhaps, for a religious man to apply to "eating" and "mirth.". Then, besides the perspective we need to have and the righteous life we are to persist in, we are again given the prescription of the books refrain in the third major sections conclusionthe enjoyment of life that God blesses us with: to eat, drink, and be merry (Ecclesiastes 8:15 Ecclesiastes 8:15Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun.American King James Version). A Practical Verse-by-Verse Study of ECCLESIASTES - It is Don's interpretation that the book of Ecclesiastes describes Solomon's futile way of living as he heads down that slippery spiral of wine, women and song. A man cannot find out the work of God though you search it out. HIM IN HIS TOILS THROUGHOUT THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE WHICH GOD HA 14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where To go from someones presence elsewhere signifies disaffection or disloyalty . 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. One of the common mistakes that people make is that of misinterpreting the nature of God. No! We must keep in due subjection to the government God has set over us (v. 2-5). Dr. Walter Kaiser, whose overall outline weve been following, describes the chapter 8 subsection as follows: The removal of a large proportion of the apparent inequalities in divine providence comes from righteous government. This summary, however, does not appear to be quite accurate. 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