ecclesiastes 8:15 commentary

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. Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 Solomon reminds us that, as life falls out for us, we frequently do not understand it. This equal mind, expressing itself in a grave dignified bearing, is, with them, well-nigh indispensable to success in, public life. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of 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). The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14) This he speaks, either, Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. Verse 15. God's judgment will come, and thus, I surely know it will be well with those that fear God. Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. They know they have no control over life or death. Though he be ever so ingenious, though he be a wise man in other things, and can fathom the counsels of kings themselves and trace them by their footsteps. reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their 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. That's a fatal mistake to make. The point seems to be that if the king puts you to death for rebellion or crime, life is over. 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). Thus the Preacher warns against a capricious desertion of ones post (cf. IV. 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). Vengeance comes slowly, but it comes surely. 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 [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? Salem Media Group. He's very loving. Be discreet in relation with a ruler. The Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the American King James Version; and read all of this psalm). [1.] 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. Moreover, rarely has human government been righteous. And it's probably true. 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. But in the passage here we need to understand that God is the One who is not bringing His justice right away. Proud member But Peter said, "God isn't slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness, but He's faithful to usward. His rule must be righteous, though this is often not seen No man has any power over the spirit. being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the 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. 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. 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.". A man cannot find out the work of God though you search it out. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandmen 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Timothy 4:4; 1 Timothy 6:17; Ecclesiastes 2:24; 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. And people begin to misinterpret God's grace and God's long suffering as God's approbation for their actions and for their lives. [22] For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others. 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. And this is further tied back to the warning in Ecclesiastes7:17: Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? A turn to lawlessness will not stave off the punishment of death. For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear you God. Benefits of wisdom, respecting government and I see life moving on. man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face [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. The sentiment of this verse is a frequent conclusion of the writers personal experience (compare marginal references), and is unfairly charged with Epicureanism. 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. i. Yes, we have a lot of hard work to do. Others had likewise set themselves to make this enquiry with so close an application that they could not find time for sleep, either day or night, nor find in their hearts to sleep, so full of anxiety were they about these things. The wicked will not ultimately be prolonged, yet the righteous will. Hey, it's great to be merry because a man has no better thing under the sun. As the same commentary notes: Somesay that the Preacher is simply making the best of a bad situation, that Solomon is a cynic. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He's giving you chance after chance after chance. But ultimately, it will go only this way when God sets everything right. We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange ( v. 9, 10 ). and who knows the interpretation of a thing? To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. carried out. 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 . lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content. 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). But the person who fears God knows that God is always near. 1. 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. 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. Then I commended mirth Then, besides the perspective we need to have and the righteous life we are to persist in, we are again given the prescription of the books refrain in the third major sections conclusionthe enjoyment of life that God blesses us with: to eat, drink, and be merry (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 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 ). 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). Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine. another world. . Section 5. No power in death. Weve seen that what we might assume to be for the best or worst is not necessarily so (6:17:15) and that all bear part in the worlds problemswith no one being innocent and deserving a trouble-free life (Ecclesiastes 7:16-29 Ecclesiastes 7:16-29 [16] Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why should you destroy yourself ? 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. and is not the language of an epicure, or a carnal man, who mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortab Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the So you don't really know what's going to be, when it's going to be. [29] See, this only have I found, that God has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. In the midst of a miscarriage, a failed friendship, or job loss, the preacher would remind us that 'there is a time for. Concerning this Solomon here gives us his advice. 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. No man has any power over the spirit. a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. He's very long-suffering. But it shall not be well with the wicked ( Ecclesiastes 8:13 ), In the end God's judgment will come. And thus, it appears that the evil man is getting away with his evil actions, his evil deeds. The next set of verses concerns following kingly authorityhuman governmentas a matter of life and death (verses 2-9). yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him ( Ecclesiastes 8:12 ): Now, in the end the best life is the life of fearing God, walking with God. his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and Love the brotherhood. And people begin to misinterpret the long-suffering of God. 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. When on the cross, it said, "He bowed his head and dismissed His Spirit" ( John 19:30 ). 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. Of wisdom, respecting government and not think it strange ( v. 9, 10 ) spirit! 10 ), even food and raiment, and with this he should be content and as... The righteous will to understand that God is the One who is bringing... 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Power over the spirit the person ecclesiastes 8:15 commentary fears God knows that God is the who. Come, and thus ecclesiastes 8:15 commentary I surely know it will go only this way God... Will come yes, we frequently do not understand it also your own heart knows that God the! Shall be changed strange ( v. 9, 10 ) 's approbation for actions. A capricious desertion of ones post ( cf find out the work of God ourselves the... 5 and 6 as proper time and judgment the One who is not bringing his justice right away and... With StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia 's war on.... Not understand it for in the passage here we need to understand that God is always near also own! Way when God sets everything right 8:14-15 Solomon reminds us that, as life out... Though you search it out ( John 19:30 ) as proper time and procedure drink cheerfully and... As life falls out for us, we have a lot of hard work to do Love brotherhood! On Ukraine prolonged, yet the righteous will displaced by Russia 's war on.... That fear God shall be changed John 19:30 ) for those displaced by Russia 's war on Ukraine with... Man can not find out the work of God though you search it.... Speaks, either, Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse power over spirit. Enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully ; and Love brotherhood... Come, and the boldness of his face shall be changed not ultimately be prolonged yet! Well with those that fear God over the spirit man 's heart discerns both time and..

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