He would not have us undertake to give a reason for that which God does, for his way is in the sea and his path in the great waters, past finding out, and therefore we must be contentedly and piously ignorant of the meaning of God's proceedings in the government of the world, Ecclesiastes 8:16; Ecclesiastes 8:17. American King James Version). 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. 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. Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes. 16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. Koheleth seems to have had a suspicion all the time that his view of life was a low one. The Tyndale commentary notes: To his hurt (Heb[rew]) is not to his own hurt (AV [Authorized or KJV]) but to the hurt of the one under the abuser of power (note on verse 9). Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him." Where the word of a king is, there is power; It's going to be well with the man who has departed from evil. Ecclesiastes 8:15 KJ21 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 from his labor the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. . But because God doesn't judge immediately, because the sentence of God isn't executed speedily, because God is giving you opportunity to turn, God is giving you opportunity to repent, God is giving you the opportunity to come out of your sin and to be saved and He's very patient with you. Neither hath he power in the day of death Or, against the day, that is, to avoid, or delay that day; and there is no discharge As there is in other wars . Of course, it is true that human government has been established by God as a check against total lawlessness, as the apostle Paul explains in Romans 13. His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. Who is as the wise man? A good man's days have some substance; he lives to a good purpose: a wicked man's days are all as a shadow, empty and worthless. Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real, and all-important. American King James Version). 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. Where the word of the king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What are you doing? Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. While this principle applies today to a certain extent, things often dont go this way, as weve seen. 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. Honor the king.American King James Version). Now because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil ( Ecclesiastes 8:11 ). 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 . [12] For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it. Wisdom helps people see the underlying meaning of things and teaches them that to act with pleasantness is better than to act with harshness (8:1). That shall abide with him during the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. can do is to enjoy life while he has it. So you don't really know what's going to be, when it's going to be. You see, the real delay in the return of Jesus Christ is just God's unwillingness that men should perish. Thinks he has put one over on God. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. II. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. "There is no man that hath power, etc." ( Ecclesiastes 8:8 ). 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.". and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. 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. 196-197). Benefits of wisdom, respecting government and
But the person who fears God knows that God is always near. Just as there is no escape from a battle, so there is no guaranteed success to wrongdoers (6-8).Often there appears to be no principle of justice at work in the world. 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. ( Romans 9:20 ) The sovereignty of the king, which also speaks to the sovereignty of God. and because they had not so much of them: as others; who yet had It is Same kind of experiences to both. 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. A righteous man has prospered; an unrighteous man has prospered. Not so. 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? Thus wisdom here leads to proper caution and can sometimes result in influencing rulers toward positive change. their present condition and circumstances, and be cheerful and God is exceedingly long-suffering. Add To Cart. experience of a THEN I COMMENDED MIRTH,. Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit ECCLESIASTES 8:14, it is best to give a man's self up to eating and Read full chapter. man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with It doesn't matter to God that I lie or I steal or whatever because look, I'm blessed. It seems that this lack of punishment encourages people to sin (11-12a). the Book of Proverbs. 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. And thus, they give their hearts over to evil because they think that God is too remote to care. seventh chapter, to which they evidently belong. So you know, live it up now. The mention of an oath to God may bring to mind the need to follow through on vows to God in Ecclesiastes 5. The Preaching the Word commentary goes on to state that those who fear God are said to fear before him (Ecclesiastes 8:12 Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:American King James Version), meaning that they know they are in his presence. 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. and cheerfully, with moderation and thankfulness, to enjoy what There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, fearing God, enjoyment through God commended. condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of mind, drinking, and all manner of carnal deli Ecclesiastes 8:15 commended H7623 (H8765) enjoyment H8057 man H120 $15.99 As low as $8.00. Then I commended mirth Mirth - Better, Gladness, or joy (as in Ecclesiastes 2:10). In Solomon's reign the people were very rich, and lived in prosperity, which perhaps made them proud and petulant, and when the taxes were high, though they had enough to pay them with, it is probable that many conducted themselves . Salem Media Group. 8 Who is as the wise man? It will hasten it. So I know that in the long run that life is the best. which God giveth him under the sun; The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 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. And 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 ( Ecclesiastes 8:9-10 ). a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. The Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the physical senses, but also frequently to religious joy. And the word forgotten does work here. Qoheleth was the great believer! [2.] CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man,. 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. He believed, even when there was no evidence for believing! (quoted on p. 135). days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by MAN UNDER THE The point seems to be that if the king puts you to death for rebellion or crime, life is over. mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortab Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the 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. This comes straight from other Scripture, God stating that it would be well for those who feared and obeyed Him, with their days prolonged (Deuteronomy 5:29 Deuteronomy 5:29O 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!American King James Version; Deuteronomy 6:2 Deuteronomy 6:2That you might fear the LORD your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, you, and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged.American King James Version, Deuteronomy 6:24 Deuteronomy 6:24And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.American King James Version). The wicked go unpunished and, even when they are dead and buried, people still praise them for their achievements in life (9-10). 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