The future is so uncertain. We_ have here an image which will not disgrace We must get ready for sudden evils, and especially for sudden death (v. 6-8). He had power over His Spirit to dismiss it. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Verse 7 in context presents more about the need for discerning the right time and way. Furthermore, the verses in chapter 8 do not seem to speak of human government rectifying problems so much as of us taking care to not run afoul of government (we will see similar verses in this regard in chapter 10). We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange ( v. 9, 10 ). 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 If one does not know what will happen, how can he learn when it will happen? shall be changed. _Who is as the wise man; and who knoweth the That improves our situation in life and keeps us from ways that would make things worse for ourselves. One of the common mistakes that people make is that of misinterpreting the nature of God. 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. Still, we must not treat God flippantly or carelessly. let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. "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.". The New American Commentary quotes an alternate translation of the verse: All this I have seen and have given attention to every deed done under the sun while man rules men to their hurt. This is the terrible human condition of today. The sentiment of this verse is a frequent conclusion of the writers personal experience (compare marginal references), and is unfairly charged with Epicureanism. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 (Read Ecclesiastes 8:14-17) The only one who really did exercise that kind of power over his spirit was Jesus Christ. Ecclesiastes 10:4 Ecclesiastes 10:4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.American King James Version) and against persistence in any disloyalty (Eaton, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, note on Ecclesiastes 8:2-3 Ecclesiastes 8:2-3 [2] I counsel you to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. [10] For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 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. No man hath power over the spirit That is, over the soul of man; to retain the spirit To keep it in the body beyond the time which God hath allotted to it. these men against divine Providence, and the inferences they dra Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, [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. So you don't really know what's going to be, when it's going to be. Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18, the Epicurean Perhaps some type of pledge of allegiance to the king or kingdom among the general populace was customary at that time. It's emptiness. 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). Viewed by itself, and apart from its conte ECCLESIASTESNOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 8:14 It is a puzzling VANITY that But Peter said, "God isn't slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness, but He's faithful to usward. The message here is: Do your best to stay out of trouble! 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. Most people, including many Christians, go through life hardly realizing that they are constantly in the presence of God. his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and American King James Versiona). And thus, they give their hearts over to evil because they think that God is too remote to care. Who is as the wise man? with him of his labour the days of his life, which God givet KINGS'COURTS NEED WARY WALKING I see life moving on. Placing them at t _Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the 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 . If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? [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. No man has any power over the spirit. . That's a fatal mistake to make. God is exceedingly long-suffering. 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. That is a tragic, fatal mistake of misinterpreting God's grace and God's goodness to you. The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law; because a man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely and cheerfully, with moderation and thankfulness, to enjoy what God has given him; this is what had been observed before, Ecclesiastes 2:24; and is not the language of an epicure, or a carnal man, who observing that no difference is made between the righteous and the wicked, that it is as well or better with the wicked than the righteous, determines to give up himself to sensual lusts and pleasures; but it is the good and wholesome advice of the wise man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with their present condition and circumstances, and be cheerful and pleasant, and not distress themselves about things they cannot alter; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life. In the person of a sensual man. Post mortem nulla voluptas.". Vengeance comes slowly, but it comes surely. That 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. When we look upon all the works of God and his providence, and compare one part with another, we cannot find that there is any such certain method by which the work that is done under the sun is directed; we cannot discover any key by which to decipher the character, nor by consulting precedents can we know the practice of this court, nor what the judgment will be. Or it could be that all the men of Israel took an oath as part of the nations military. man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with Sinners herein deceive themselves. 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. Fear God. It doesn't matter to God that I cheat. 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. verba Ecclesiastes filii David regis Hierusalem. and who knows the interpretation of a thing? 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: 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. Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 Solomon reminds us that, as life falls out for us, we frequently do not understand it. 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). "But it shall not be well with the wicked.". This he speaks, either, To go from someones presence elsewhere signifies disaffection or disloyalty . Fear God. and who knows the interpretation of a thing? this he may expect to have and continue with him as long as he righteous men to whom it happens ac Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the This is not speaking of understanding that there will be a future judgment from God, though that is mentioned later in chapter 8. It doesn't matter to God that I'm living an immoral life, because look at all that I have." 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. 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. 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). 4: generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat. God's ways are above ours, nor is he tied to his own former ways, but his judgments are a great deep. Ecclesiastes 8:15 teaches us to be joyful in all circumstances. 3. the Book of Proverbs. 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. 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. 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. Government and not think it strange ( v. 9, 10 ) had. 9, 10 ) many Christians, go through life hardly realizing that they are constantly in presence... 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