And they give their hearts and their lives over to evil to live an evil life. And people begin to misinterpret God's grace and God's long suffering as God's approbation for their actions and for their lives. 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. and because they had not so much of them: as others; who yet had The statement There is no release from that [or the] war could refer figuratively to the march into death that all face or simply be metaphoric for Theres no getting out of this. Then the final line, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it, would tie back to the turn to wrongdoing in verse 3. in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 Solomon reminds us that, as life falls out for us, we frequently do not understand it. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. [21] Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you: 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. _Who is as the wise man; and who knoweth the We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange ( v. 9, 10 ). Though 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: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. [17] Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ But this wording requires a text emendation. 21st Century King James Version. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. II. So, again, the problems of human government must be navigated with wisdom and righteousness to improve life where possible and to avoid making matters worse than they already are. That shall abide with him during the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 meaning Although life is mysterious, Solomon has discovered by submitting to the God of Mystery, rather than trying to make sense of the world through human experience, he can enjoy and appreciate the best life has to offer. He doesn't strike immediately, but oftentimes forestalls judgment for months, for years. That is because people end up sitting on death row for decades. Viewed by itself, and apart from its conte ECCLESIASTESNOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 8:14 It is a puzzling VANITY that If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses. The wicked go unpunished and, even when they are dead and buried, people still praise them for their achievements in life (9-10). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. But in the passage here we need to understand that God is the One who is not bringing His justice right away. 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. 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). 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.". All rights reserved. This he speaks, either, heads and be cheerful, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God in Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine. 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. $15.99 As low as $8.00. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him. 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). [26] And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Thinks he has put one over on God. 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 ). Eat, drink, and be joyful, for tomorrow we die! 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. God's judgment will come, and thus, I surely know it will be well with those that fear God. days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by 2. The beginning of verse 8 says that no one can retain the spirit in the day of death. him from his labour. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Some see it as a worthless cause, calamitous outcome or anything the king would not like. Solomon's pencil. These seeming anomalies in the moral government of God are part of Who makes this observation? Then I commended mirth Life under the sun. [8] But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons. 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. 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 . And the word forgotten does work here. Jesus made clear that we are to fear not mere human beings who can take only our immediate lives but to fear Him who is able to remove us from existence forever (Matthew 10:28 Matthew 10:28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.American King James Version; Luke 12:4-5 Luke 12:4-5 [4] And I say to you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. God will judge. It is Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. 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 it was all labour in vain, Ecclesiastes 8:17; Ecclesiastes 8:17. Ecclesiastes 8:1. Solomon in verse 2 says to keep the kings command, not My commandhe being the king. Not so. He would not have us to be surprised at it, as though some strange thing happened, for he himself saw it in his days, Ecclesiastes 8:14; Ecclesiastes 8:14. 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 . He's very patient. Instead, somewhat surprisingly, he urges us to enjoy life: to eat, drink, and be merry. Yes, there is vanity under the sun. 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: He believed, even when there was no evidence for believing! (quoted on p. 135). 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). physical senses, but also frequently to religious joy. If one does not know what will happen, how can he learn when it will happen? Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged ( Ecclesiastes 8:12 ), Remember he was talking about how he saw that the ungodly man was living a long life, the righteous were dying young and the ungodly were living long. Mirth therefore, and a contented enjoyment of God's gifts, preferable to immoderate care and search, Ecclesiastes 8:15. 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. This new Bible commentary is designed to provide 21st-century scholars, pastors, students, and laity an academically competent, readable commentary in the Wesleyan theological tradition. Honor the king (1 Peter 2:17 1 Peter 2:17Honor all men. 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. Placing them at t _Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 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. Who is as the wise man? 39.). alter; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days Now in chapter 8, Solomon tells us to exercise wisdom and righteousness to help reduce and manage problems in many cases, maintain proper perspective and find joy in life and ultimate reward from God. Rather, the meaning here is that the prudent, law-abiding citizen will receive no punishment from the governmentat least, generally speaking. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 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). . Honor the king. Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state MAN UNDER THE Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. God does know. 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. 5: oritur sol et occidit et ad locum suum revertitur ibique renascens. This is because the instruction referred to obeying the king in general, whoever he wasor to obeying whatever human authority was in power. 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 ). He had earlier said unto them, "No man takes My life from Me, I give My life" ( John 10:18 ). their present condition and circumstances, and be cheerful and 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. the Book of Proverbs. 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; [23] All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. Some translate the word ruach here as breath (of life) rather than spirit, but that would not change the point here. The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14) [2.] The wicked will not ultimately be prolonged, yet the righteous will. They know they have no control over life or death. The point seems to be that if the king puts you to death for rebellion or crime, life is over. 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. This joy will make labor more enjoyable. 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. But the person who fears God knows that God is always near. Ecclesiastes 2:14; We must get ready for sudden evils, and especially for sudden death ( v. 6-8 ). 2. Love the brotherhood. One of the common mistakes that people make is that of misinterpreting the nature of God. As Peter is talking about the second coming of the Lord, he said, "Hey, in the last days there are going to be scoffers that are going to come saying, 'Where is the promise of Jesus coming again? 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. Ecclesiastes 8:15 in all English translations. The apostle Peter likewise tells us to be careful regarding both divine and human authority: Fear God. But he also knows that often the opposite is true (14). He would have us to take occasion hence, not to charge God with iniquity, but to charge the world with vanity. Read full chapter. Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Summarized Bible Commentary CONTENTS: Wisdom recommended as an antidote against the temptations and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. Though he be very confident of success, though he think to know it, yet he shall not; he cannot find it out. American King James Version, Ecclesiastes 7:19 Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.American King James Version). The second part of verse 3 says, Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he [the king] does whatever pleases him. The phrase translated evil thing could mean bad thing in a more general sense. dispensations of Providence_._ _Howeve Who is as the wise man? 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. American King James Version). And they begin to make fun of the return of Jesus Christ. 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 . Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real, and all-important. Koheleth seems to have had a suspicion all the time that his view of life was a low one. It has a spirit of hopeless despair; it has no praise or peace; it seems to promote questionable conduct. THE PROBLEM OF 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. 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. ". Chapter 8 is similar. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God gi _No good for a man, &c. Some commentators think the wise man here What does Ecclesiastes 8:15 mean? 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. Work even when one cannot understand the working of God. CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man, Ecclesiastes 8:1. Though a man be ever so industrious, thou he labour to seek it out. Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18, the Epicurean Verse 1 extols having wisdom. They've been talking about that for years. This is not speaking of understanding that there will be a future judgment from God, though that is mentioned later in chapter 8. 1-17. Ecclesiastes 8:10 i _Then I commended mirth_ As before in chs. So, "Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged,". If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the 1. 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:) 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 labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it ( Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 ). [7] If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? No! If moral evil is in view, perhaps the sense is becoming a civil lawbreaker. Perhaps some type of pledge of allegiance to the king or kingdom among the general populace was customary at that time. 196-197). can do is to enjoy life while he has it. I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. And thus, they give their hearts over to evil because they think that God is too remote to care. 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. Ecclesiastes 8:15 Parallel Verses [ See commentary ] Ecclesiastes 8:15, NIV: So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. and who knows the interpretation of a thing? [25] I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: [19] Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. To whom it happeneth, &c. righteous men to whom it happens ac Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the Vengeance comes slowly, but it comes surely. So you know, live it up now. Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). 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). ( Ecclesiastes 8:5-7 ). "There is no man that hath power, etc." ( Ecclesiastes 8:8 ). 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! 1. The next set of verses concerns following kingly authorityhuman governmentas a matter of life and death (verses 2-9). 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. God puts up with so much. 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 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. The wise are therefore observant for the opportune circumstance in which to speak or act as it presents itself. American King James Version; and read all of this psalm). The problem with this view is that it does not do full justice to what the Preacher says. [24] That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? And one ruling another to that ones own hurt here is evidently a mistranslation. Qoheleth was the great believer! TEXT 8:14-17 Verse 11 explains why evil grows worse and worsebecause justice is not swift. He is instead, in great mercy, giving everyone more time to repentand He is letting us see how far we will drift without His intervention. But he does not dwell on that. 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). There is a serenity that comes with things starting to make senseand with trusting that God knows whatHes doing when things still dont. (8 studies) Ecclesiastes Study Guide Ecclesiastes Chart Scans (studies 1-8) Click to for the Mp3's corresponding to each study Verse 15. Mirth - Better, Gladness, or joy (as in Ecclesiastes 2:10). 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. . Let us be ever thankful for the days of our lives. So you don't really know what's going to be, when it's going to be. 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 It will hasten it. Notice that the Preacher is giving us a God-centered perspective and that in verse 15 he is talking about the days of our life as a gift from God. Things happen to both good and evil men. Ecclesiastes 8:15 Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament "And I commended joy, that there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and enjoy himself; and that this accompanies him in his labour throughout all the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun." Matthew Henry Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:4-11. Yet these words of the Preacher show us the futility and foolishness of a life lived without an eternal perspective. 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. Koheleth seems to have had a suspicion all the time that his view of life was a low one. Things being so, as was related, mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortab Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the [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? drinking, and all manner of carnal deli Ecclesiastes 8:15 commended H7623 (H8765) enjoyment H8057 man H120 The writer returns to the sentiment expressed already (Ecclesiastes As mentioned previously, the seer and psalmist Asaph, a contemporary of Solomon, wrestled with how the righteoussuffered while the wicked prospered, then stating, When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for meuntil I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end (Psalms 73:16-17 Psalms 73:16-17 [16] When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? 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. 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. Romans 13 speaks of rulers executing wrath on evildoers. And let us truly rejoice. Add To Cart. To go from someones presence elsewhere signifies disaffection or disloyalty . 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? Or it could be that all the men of Israel took an oath as part of the nations military. 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. THE ONE END OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. Who knows anything? For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? CONTENTS: Wisdom recommended as an antidote against the temptations of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with Sermon Bible Commentary Ecclesiastes 8:1-15. So God is very kind. Verse 12 seems to support the past perpetuation of the wicked as the frustration, as it mentions the sinners days being prolonged. One aspect of God's nature is His tremendous patience with rebelling man. If, for example, people work in the kings palace, they will do what the king says, partly because they have sworn before God to be obedient and partly because they will be punished if they disobey. 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. and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, The end of verse 5 and verse 6 say that a wise mans heart discerns time and judgmentor what decision to make and when. 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).
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