Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Love the brotherhood. God will judge. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of 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. Recall that this comes on the heels of Solomon presenting humanity as corrupt in chapter 7. The first part of Ecclesiastes 8:3 Ecclesiastes 8:3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him.American King James Versiontells us not to be quick to leave the ruler. We_ have here an image which will not disgrace A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed. 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. _Who is as the wise man; and who knoweth the The Preacher is careful to set forth pleasure as a gift from God, to be earned by labor, and received with thankfulness to the Giver, and to be accounted for to Him. 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 . Therefore, consider ye actually this time as God's patience in order that men might be saved. Ecclesiastes 8:15 in all English translations. dispensations of Providence_._ _Howeve Who is as the wise man? God is exceedingly long-suffering. Vengeance comes slowly, but it comes surely. . We must get ready for sudden evils, and especially for sudden death ( v. 6-8 ). Though a man be ever so industrious, thou he labour to seek it out. God's purpose must be Yes, there is vanity under the sun. 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. 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. can do is to enjoy life while he has it. he asks. 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. No man has any power over the spirit. Its just a matter of timeand probably much less time than most imagine. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 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: another world. 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 PROBLEM OF THE American King James Version). Who is as the wise man? 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. 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; Post mortem nulla voluptas.". Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real, and all-important. righteous, determines to give up himself to sensual lusts and CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man, Ecclesiastes 8:1. There is a serenity that comes with things starting to make senseand with trusting that God knows whatHes doing when things still dont. reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their MAN UNDER THE and who knows the interpretation of a thing? I commend joy, he says (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), and the word he uses for commend is a Hebrew word for praise (shabach). It doesn't matter to God that I'm living an immoral life, because look at all that I have." In this division, dealing with the evidences of the vanity of life, This is not some kind of terror of God, but a profound respect that does include, as with children who love their caring parents, a healthy fear of disappointing and, yes, incurring judgment, recalling that God chastens every son He loves (Hebrews 12:5-11 Hebrews 12:5-11 [5] And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him: THE BENEFITS OF WHOLESOME RECREATION "But it shall not be well with the wicked.". No fault is to be found with God; but, as to the world, This is vanity upon the earth, and again, This is also vanity, that is, it is a certain evidence that the things of this world are not the best things nor were ever designed to make a portion and happiness for us, for, if they had, God would not have allotted so much of this world's wealth to his worst enemies and so much of its troubles to his best friends; there must therefore be another life after this the joys and griefs of which must be real and substantial, and able to make men truly happy or truly miserable, for this world does neither. Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Summarized Bible Commentary CONTENTS: Wisdom recommended as an antidote against the temptations and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. Yet that is only for now. 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 The NIV renders the phrase in verses 5 and 6 as proper time and procedure. The New American Commentary notes: The wise man thus waits for the proper moment to make his case or take a stand and does not waste his influence on a lost cause (v. 3b). Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state (Note: Vid., Baer in Abodath Jisrael, p. 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. and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments Ecclesiastes 8:1. But this wording requires a text emendation. No man has any power over the spirit. 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 would have us to take occasion hence, not to charge God with iniquity, but to charge the world with vanity. God's judgment will come, and thus, I surely know it will be well with those that fear God. 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. You can't really come to the king and say, "Hey, what are you doing?" Therefore men fear him ([Job] 37:22-24) (note on 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). 39.). Nay, [3.] 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. That improves our situation in life and keeps us from ways that would make things worse for ourselves. These seeming anomalies in the moral government of God are part of observing that no difference is made between the righteous and Koheleth seems to have had a suspicion all the time that his view of life was a low one. The Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the To whom it happeneth, &c. The beginning of verse 8 says that no one can retain the spirit in the day of death. 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. THERE IS A VANITY WHICH IS DONE UPON THE EARTH.] for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun ( Ecclesiastes 8:15 ). Honor the king. I see life moving on. Honor all men. the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortab Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. 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 . Mirth therefore, and a contented enjoyment of God's gifts, preferable to immoderate care and search, Ecclesiastes 8:15. . What does Ecclesiastes 8:15 mean? American King James Version). It is He had earlier said unto them, "No man takes My life from Me, I give My life" ( John 10:18 ). Same kind of experiences to both. 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. Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes. [19] Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. Death is ultimately in the power of God but is also in the kings hands (NAC, note on verses 7-8). 196-197). Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear you God. We must always remember just who we are dealing withand the awesome gravity of thatrealizing that this is for our ultimate good. This present life must be reckoned by days; this life is given us, and the days of it are allotted to us, by the counsel of God, and therefore while it does last we must accommodate ourselves to the will of God and study to answer the ends of life. There is no specific reference to the government being righteous here, and the verses appear to end with the problem of human rule doing harm (verse 9), which we will return to. It's going to be well with the man who has departed from evil. 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. 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. [22] For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others. [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. 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. 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. III. 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. The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14) 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. 4: generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat. And one ruling another to that ones own hurt here is evidently a mistranslation. 3: quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quod laborat sub sole. Most people, including many Christians, go through life hardly realizing that they are constantly in the presence of God. But if they find the kings command unreasonable, wisdom will show them a way out. In the midst of a miscarriage, a failed friendship, or job loss, the preacher would remind us that 'there is a time for. 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). Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). And it's probably true. Ecclesiastes 2:24 ) ( Ecclesiastes 7:19-8. The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. pleasant, and not distress themselves about things they cannot the Book of Proverbs. His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. Who is as the wise man? 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. Under the sun, man, life is just very shallow and you live life in a very shallow level, and. Ecclesiastes 8:11. Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. He doesn't strike immediately, but oftentimes forestalls judgment for months, for years. We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange (v. 9, 10). THE ONE END OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. One aspect of God's nature is His tremendous patience with rebelling man. 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). i. They begin to scoff at it, even as Peter said they would. Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 2. sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide 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. This joy will make labor more enjoyable. 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. better H2896 sun H8121 eat H398 (H8800) drink H8354 (H8800) merry DEATH OF THE WICKED. [2.] (8 studies) Ecclesiastes Study Guide Ecclesiastes Chart Scans (studies 1-8) Click to for the Mp3's corresponding to each study So you know, live it up now. Where the verse says they were forgotten, many others render this they were praised, reasoning that the positive eulogizing of the wicked after all their evil must be the vanity or frustration mentioned. 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. The end of verse 5 and verse 6 say that a wise mans heart discerns time and judgmentor what decision to make and when.
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