thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortable use Yes, we see injustice that is hard to accept or understand. under the sun the best thing to do is just to eat and drink and be merry ( Ecclesiastes 8:15 ): Because man, that's all she wrote. which God giveth him under the sun; [22] For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others. 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. 39.). The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. And they begin to make fun of the return of Jesus Christ. being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, The writer knows what the traditional teachers say: that those who fear God will be rewarded and those who are wicked will be punished (12b-13). Others see ruach here as meaning wind, and take the statement to mean that just as the wind is beyond our control, so is death. IV. Item #: 203674. . God does care. better H2896 sun H8121 eat H398 (H8800) drink H8354 (H8800) merry 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. Under the sun, man, life is just very shallow and you live life in a very shallow level, and. There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are But that does not seem to be the main point of these verses in Ecclesiastes 8. American King James Version). Honor all men. There is no use in repining or rebelling; _true wisdom That's a fatal mistake to make. When the time comes for you to die, you don't have any power over your spirit to retain it, to cause your spirit to remain. Product Identifiers People should not despair over these problems, but rather enjoy whatever God has given them in life (15). It doesn't matter to God that I'm living an immoral life, because look at all that I have." Salem Media Group. To whom it happeneth, &c. We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange (v. 9, 10). I 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. Ecclesiastes/Song of Solomon - Leaders Guide. i. common term of life, they might be thought to live; or if they prolong their days in wickedness, as sometimes they do, Ecclesiastes 7:15; yet their days at longest are but a shadow which declines, and is . That is a tragic, fatal mistake of misinterpreting God's grace and God's goodness to you. THERE IS A VANITY WHICH IS DONE UPON THE EARTH.] 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. He believed, even when there was no evidence for believing! (quoted on p. 135). Keeping this in mind results in a deep and abiding reverence for Godloving and trusting Him while recognizing His supreme power and holiness (see Hebrews 12:28-29 Hebrews 12:28-29 [28] Why we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Some think Solomon speaks of himself, that he was so eager in prosecuting this great enquiry that he could not sleep for thinking of it. And He is patient and merciful towards us as we struggle to walk in His ways, even despite our many and ongoing failures. Honor the king.American King James Version). What does Ecclesiastes 8:15 mean? What else had he seen? [5] But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth Either by wicked potentates, who do commonly advance unworthy men, and oppress persons of the greatest virtue and merit: or, by God's providence, who sees it fit for many weighty reasons so to manage the affairs of the present world. No! drink, and to be merry; 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. But he does not dwell on that. You see, the real delay in the return of Jesus Christ is just God's unwillingness that men should perish. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. Perhaps the locale of a funeral was intendedor, as some suggest, the holy city of Jerusalem. Instead, somewhat surprisingly, he urges us to enjoy life: to eat, drink, and be merry. 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. So, because God has waited so long, because God hasn't speedily executed His sentence against the evil, people begin to assume that God has just withdrawn Himself. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. COMMEND PLEASURE, FOR THERE IS NOTHING GOOD FOR. Solomon's pencil. The message here is: Do your best to stay out of trouble! Ecclesiastes 2:14; He said, "Okay, you can go now." It's emptiness. The dead would not have been taken to the temple, for that would have been ceremonially defiling. Ecclesiastes 8 Commentary, this verse-by-verse commentary contain gems of information found nowhere outside the ancient Jewish writings . 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? 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. No man has any power over the spirit. Of that Solomon is certain. It's going to be well with the man who has departed from evil. 2. It will hasten it. of Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments Ecclesiastes 8:1. 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). THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and Thus the Preacher warns against a capricious desertion of ones post (cf. Placing them at t _Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the Verses 12-13 show that beyond the prolonged days of the wicked today, it will be well with those who fear God but not for the wicked who do not. The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law; 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. Life is empty. ECCLESIASTES 8:1 Hey, it's great to be merry because a man has no better thing under the sun. Let us be ever thankful for the days of our lives. God does see. neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God. All rights reserved. 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 . The sentiment of this verse is a frequent conclusion of the writers personal experience (compare marginal references), and is unfairly charged with Epicureanism. Who makes this observation? is simply that the wicked were able to die and receive a proper burial after a long life without having to face up to what they'd doneall the while having been permitted in life to be regularly in God's temple, a sacrilege and mockery of religion. 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 . Moreover, rarely has human government been righteous. The words There is are in italics in the NKJV, showing theyve been added to the original wordingunnecessarily in this case. THE BENEFITS OF WHOLESOME RECREATION So you don't really know what's going to be, when it's going to be. 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. John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. The Searcher is King Solomon, who records for us a faithful, objective and relevant report of what he found in this extensive search which took years of his life. Ecclesiastes 8:10 i _Then I commended mirth_ As before in chs. And 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. 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. The wicked will not ultimately be prolonged, yet the righteous will. Benefits of wisdom, respecting government and Death is ultimately in the power of God but is also in the kings hands (NAC, note on verses 7-8). 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. This is the perspective that must be maintainedalong with understanding what the future will bring. (8 studies) Ecclesiastes Study Guide Ecclesiastes Chart Scans (studies 1-8) Click to for the Mp3's corresponding to each study 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. We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange ( v. 9, 10 ). 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. He intimates that he had tried for a better, but failed to reach it: "I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me." The change of face here also reflects a new face on the problems previously discussed. 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. evil. Some put Ecclesiastes 8:1 Ecclesiastes 8:1Who is as the wise man? forgotten, the wicked enjoy honour and long life; the best thing a man God puts up with so much. 4: generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat. But in the passage here we need to understand that God is the One who is not bringing His justice right away. I. . In the person of a sensual man. This certainly ties back to the previous two subsections, where we were told that wisdom is a defense that gives life and that it strengthens those who have it (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 [11] Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. righteous men to whom it happens ac Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the [8] But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons. Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18, the Epicurean Cool, courteous, self-possessed, they bear good news or bad, prosperous or adverse fortune, with a proud equanimity. If one does not know what will happen, how can he learn when it will happen? His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. Who is as the wise man? 1. Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real, and all-important. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. 1-17. When on the cross, it said, "He bowed his head and dismissed His Spirit" ( John 19:30 ). Then I commended merriment, because a man hath no better thing ( Ecclesiastes 8:15 ), And this is his human philosophy and human reasoning coming out again. "It doesn't really matter to God how I live. Be discreet in relation with a ruler. and who knows the interpretation of a thing? He is not out to destroy us but to save us, as Hes said time and again. 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.". eat, and to The place of holiness to which they had come and gone is not clear. Notice as well that he mentions joy twice in this verse and describes it as something we can experience all through life. 2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that because of thy oath to God. in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of The Preacher is growing more and more confident about this joy. One of the common mistakes that people make is that of misinterpreting the nature of God. 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 ). TEXT 8:14-17 Solomon next mentions seeing the wicked buried (verse 10). What happens to one happens to the other. It is and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, II. [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? ". Ecclesiastes 1:15:: King James Version (KJV) Ecclesiastes 1:15 - That which is crooked H5791 cannot H3201 be made straight: H8626 and that which is wanting H2642 cannot H3201 be numbered. Yes, there is vanity under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:11. So, "Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged,". verba Ecclesiastes filii David regis Hierusalem. And thus, they give their hearts over to evil because they think that God is too remote to care. In fact, Solomon himself wrote elsewhere, The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened (Proverbs 10:27 Proverbs 10:27The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.American King James Version). 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. Well with the man who has departed from evil original wordingunnecessarily in this case in this case state condition are. See, the wicked buried ( verse 10 ) THROUGH life, for is! Is nothing GOOD for just God 's goodness to you evidence for believing see... I counsel thee to keep the king & # x27 ; s commandment, and many and failures. Time and again one of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. who is as the wise?... 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