All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness. Though he be ever so ingenious, though he be a wise man in other things, and can fathom the counsels of kings themselves and trace them by their footsteps. He had earlier said unto them, "No man takes My life from Me, I give My life" ( John 10:18 ). 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. Where the word of the king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What are you doing? _ 1. 3. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does. They begin to scoff at it, even as Peter said they would. Abject in his fear before Moses, he was ready to promise anything; insolent in his pride, he swallows down his promises as soon as fear is eased, his repentance and his retractation of it combined to add new weights about his neck. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandmen 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Timothy 4:4; 1 Timothy 6:17; Ecclesiastes 2:24; Work even when one cannot understand the working of God. Solomon next mentions seeing the wicked buried (verse 10). Not so. And thus, they give their hearts over to evil because they think that God is too remote to care. The beginning of verse 8 says that no one can retain the spirit in the day of death. But he also knows that often the opposite is true (14). And it's probably true. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. Some translate the word ruach here as breath (of life) rather than spirit, but that would not change the point here. Same kind of experiences to both. We come now to the last part of the books third major section, which began in chapter 6, dealing with explaining and applying the plan of God in light of it seeming to be unfair. his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? serving the king, followed by a number Ecclesiastes 7:19-8 He would have us not to fret and perplex ourselves about it, or make ourselves uneasy, but cheerfully to enjoy what God has given us in the world, to be content with it and make the best of it, though it be much better with others, and such as we think very unworthy (Ecclesiastes 8:15; Ecclesiastes 8:15): Then I commended joy, a holy security and serenity of mind, arising from a confidence in God, and his power, providence, and promise, because a man has no better thing under the sun (though a good man has much better things above the sun) than to eat and drink, that is, soberly and thankfully to make use of the things of this life according as his rank is, and to be cheerful, whatever happens, for that shall abide with him of his labour. In the midst of a miscarriage, a failed friendship, or job loss, the preacher would remind us that 'there is a time for. But it is tragic when people misinterpret God's patience and God's kindness. He saw wicked men to whom it happened according to the work of the righteous, who prospered as remarkably as if they had been rewarded for some good deed, and that from themselves, from God, from men. better H2896 sun H8121 eat H398 (H8800) drink H8354 (H8800) merry THE ONE END OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 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.". No man has any power over the spirit. lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content. A righteous man has prospered; an unrighteous man has prospered. of the greatest virtue and merit: or, by God's providence, who s "SO. 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 . God's ways are above ours, nor is he tied to his own former ways, but his judgments are a great deep. Solomon in Proverbs 10:7 Proverbs 10:7The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.American King James Versionwrote, The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. Perhaps the frustration in Ecclesiastes 8:10 Ecclesiastes 8:10And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.American King James Versionis simply that the wicked were able to die and receive a proper burial after a long life without having to face up to what theyd doneall the while having been permitted in life to be regularly in Gods temple, a sacrilege and mockery of religion. So we should not expect that corrupt people coming together to form a government would result in righteous rule. Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state But that does not seem to be the main point of these verses in Ecclesiastes 8. God does see. Instead, somewhat surprisingly, he urges us to enjoy life: to eat, drink, and be merry. righteous, determines to give up himself to sensual lusts and [23] All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. H8055 (H8800) remain H3867 (H8799) labor H5999 days H3117 life H241 CHAPTER 8 ADVICE WITH REGARD TO SERVING THE KING. That it was all labour in vain, Ecclesiastes 8:17; Ecclesiastes 8:17. 1. He would have us to take occasion hence, not to charge God with iniquity, but to charge the world with vanity. Here he shows, 1. of it; this the wise man praised and recommended to good men, as In Encountering Ecclesiastes, James Limburg relates what fellow biblical scholar and commentator Roland Murphy said to him in response to the issue of the author of Ecclesiastes being often referred to as a great doubter: The great doubter? Because He doesn't execute His sentence speedily, because He doesn't immediately come down to the fist of judgment upon a man, a man many times thinks he's getting away with his evil. 1-17. A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. [11] Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby. The highest wisdom is another world. Thinks that he has been clever and has hid his sin from God, or worse yet, thinks that God is condoning what he has done. Let us be ever thankful for the days of our lives. for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun ( Ecclesiastes 8:15 ). John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely "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.". He, for his part, had applied his heart to know this wisdom, and to see the business that is done, by the divine Providence, upon the earth, to find out if there were any certain scheme, any constant rule or method, by which the affairs of this lower world were administered, any course of government as sure and steady as the course of nature, so that by what is done now we might as certainly foretel what will be done next as by the moon's changing now we can foretel when it will be at the full; this he would fain have found out. [29] For our God is a consuming fire. It will help us through the quandary that still remains for this age. Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes. of That both he himself and many others had very closely studied the point, and searched far into the reasons of the prosperity of the wicked and the afflictions of the righteous. Mirth - Better, Gladness, or joy (as in Ecclesiastes 2:10). 5:18; Ecclesiastes 9:7 To be merry This he speaks of sensual delights. Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Adam Clarke Bible Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - College Press Bible Study Textbook Series, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - ETCBC data on Hebrew bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll), Ecclesiastes 8:15 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Geneva Study Bible Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Hawker's Poor man's commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - John Darby's Synopsis, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - John Trapp Complete Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Mark Dunagan Commentaries, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Sermon Bible Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Summarized Bible Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - The Biblical Illustrator, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - The Pulpit Commentaries, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes. This is the perspective that must be maintainedalong with understanding what the future will bring. 1. condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of mind, Read the Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:1 The book of Ecclesiastes is the most exhaustive investigation ever made as to the value and profit of various lifestyles. "But it shall not be well with the wicked.". 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. 3. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. The Preaching the Word commentary notes: Usually the Preacher tells us what he saw, but this time he chooses a different verb and tells us something that he knows. This is not something that he has seen from a distance, but something he has grasped with the rational conviction of his own mind. God's not willing that any should perish but that all should come into repentance. sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? These seeming anomalies in the moral government of God are part of People are soon forgotten after they die. let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Paul said, "Who are you to say unto Him that has created you, 'Why hast Thou made me thus?'" pleasant, and not distress themselves about things they cannot Might as well enjoy what you got now, because man, it's going to be tough later. ( Ecclesiastes 8:5-7 ). All rights reserved. CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man,. Man in this world is the property of _labour._ 3. with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth _There is a vanity which is done upon the earth_ Either by wicked 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 ). He's very loving. His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. Who is as the wise man? However, some take visiting the holy place here as having occurred repeatedly during the life of the wicked people now being buried. They will wait for a suitable opportunity to act, then act in such a way that, though they do not disobey the king, neither do they sin against their conscience (2-5).Despite the compromise he recommends, the writer knows that people remain uneasy about the outcome and about the future in general. Chapter 8 is similar. III. When the Pharaoh of the Exodus saw there was respite, he hardened his heart. Ecclesiastes 8:1. [24] That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? But this wording requires a text emendation. Here are given the four uncertainties mentioned above, the verse means that, "Not even great wealth will enable the wealthy to defy these limitations." [15] No discharge in war regards the uncertainty that threatens one who may be drafted into a war by some absolute monarch. Yes, there is vanity under the sun. American King James Version). reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their Drawing upon a variety of resourcesincluding commentaries, sermons, treatises, and confessionsmuch of which appears here for the first time in English, this volume provides resources for contemporary preachers, enables scholars to better understand the depth and breadth of Reformation commentary, and seeks to help readers find comfort in . Men hardened in sin, because not presently punished; but they shall not escape, but it shall go ill with them, Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; as it doth also sometimes with the righteous, whilst the wicked prosper, Ecclesiastes 8:14. But if they find the kings command unreasonable, wisdom will show them a way out. This is added as another evidence of man's misery. verba Ecclesiastes filii David regis Hierusalem. Fear God. 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). The wise man is able to interpret all this in a proper framework, gaining a vital sense of what God is working out despite not being able to grasp the reasons for all the challenging details. And they give their hearts and their lives over to evil to live an evil life. Ecclesiastes 8:15 "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." King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Ecclesiastes 8:15 Context TEXT 8:14-17 The Preacher is growing more and more confident about this joy. (9 sessions) This study is part of the LifeLight Bible study series of in-depth studies of Bible books. He maintains his patience, moreover, in spite of the moral burdens he carries that might otherwise cause him to act impetuously (v. 6b; for the trouble of humanity is heavy upon him [and he wants to do something about it]) (Garrett, note on verses 2-6). We then come to Ecclesiastes 8:9 Ecclesiastes 8:9All this have I seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man rules over another to his own hurt.American King James Version. God's judgment will come, and thus, I surely know it will be well with those that fear God. For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear you God. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 1. ( Ecclesiastes 8:1-4 ). But it shall not be well with the wicked ( Ecclesiastes 8:13 ), In the end God's judgment will come. 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