ecclesiastes 8:15 commentarythe lost coast erik larson

You can't really come to the king and say, "Hey, what are you doing?" [Compare 1 Corinthians 15:32 1 Corinthians 15:32If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? They should not spend weary days and sleepless nights puzzling over problems to which only God knows the answer (16-17). 3: quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quod laborat sub sole. 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. TEXT 8:14-17 Honor the king (1 Peter 2:17 1 Peter 2:17Honor all men. Sermon Bible Commentary Ecclesiastes 8:1-15. man's present life is under the sun, and is continued as long as The beginning of verse 8 says that no one can retain the spirit in the day of death. God has given him; this is what had been observed before, ( 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). 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. In this division, dealing with the evidences of the vanity of life, 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. 3. United Church of Godis a501(c)3organization. He believed, even when there was no evidence for believing! (quoted on p. 135). 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 . There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are The Preaching the Word commentary goes on to state that those who fear God are said to fear before him (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), meaning that they know they are in his presence. Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ Ecclesiastes 2:14; Just as there is no escape from a battle, so there is no guaranteed success to wrongdoers (6-8).Often there appears to be no principle of justice at work in the world. 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. thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortable use 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 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. The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law; But he does not dwell on that. seventh chapter, to which they evidently belong. God's not willing that any should perish but that all should come into repentance. better H2896 sun H8121 eat H398 (H8800) drink H8354 (H8800) merry the wicked, that it is as well or better with the wicked than the 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). Honor the king. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does. People should not despair over these problems, but rather enjoy whatever God has given them in life (15). 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. 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. 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 ). Moreover, rarely has human government been righteous. 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. And the word forgotten does work here. The writer returns to the sentiment expressed already (Ecclesiastes But Peter said, "God isn't slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness, but He's faithful to usward. 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. ECCLESIASTES 8:14, it is best to give a man's self up to eating and potentates, who do commonly advance unworthy men, and oppress persons The question in Ecclesiastes isn't about the existence of God; the author is no atheist, and God is always there. 39.). 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. 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. and who knows the interpretation of a thing? 4: generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat. Sinners herein deceive themselves. 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. But the person who fears God knows that God is always near. Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow| Learn more With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! It's going to be well with the man who has departed from evil. Qoheleth was the great believer! 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. God does care. Solomon in verse 2 says to keep the kings command, not My commandhe being the king. 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. pleasures; but it is the good and wholesome advice of the wise 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. which God giveth him under the sun; And the same is true of God. That Jesus isn't coming again. That it was all labour in vain, Ecclesiastes 8:17; Ecclesiastes 8:17. Life under the sun. This joy will make labor more enjoyable. evil. Yet His intervention and judgment will ultimately come. We should receive each days joys as Gods good gifts and rejoice in them. Fear of the Lord is to depart from evil. MIRTH - Better, Gladness, or joy (as in Ecclesiastes 2:10). let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. The sentiment CHAPTER 8 equally puzzling that the RIGHTEOUS sometimes receive the treatmen CRITICAL NOTES. interpretation of a thing?_ In the Vulgate these two questions end the 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 ). which God giveth him under the sun; man's present life is under the sun, and is continued as long as it pleases God; though it is but short, rather to be counted by days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and this he may expect to have and continue with him as long as he lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content. It will hasten it. [23] All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. (8 studies) Ecclesiastes Study Guide Ecclesiastes Chart Scans (studies 1-8) Click to for the Mp3's corresponding to each study And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. It will help us through the quandary that still remains for this age. Cool, courteous, self-possessed, they bear good news or bad, prosperous or adverse fortune, with a proud equanimity. 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. reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 (Read Ecclesiastes 8:14-17) This is the perspective that must be maintainedalong with understanding what the future will bring. [11] Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby. The point seems to be that if the king puts you to death for rebellion or crime, life is over. It seems that this lack of punishment encourages people to sin (11-12a). man's present life is under the sun, and is continued as long as it pleases god; though it is but short, rather to be counted by days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and this he may expect to have and continue with him as long as he lives, even food Ecclesiastes 8:1. 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. The mention of an oath to God may bring to mind the need to follow through on vows to God in Ecclesiastes 5. of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely One of the common mistakes that people make is that of misinterpreting the nature of God. "I'm a prosperous cheat, so God is condoning my cheating. So we should not expect that corrupt people coming together to form a government would result in righteous rule. the WICKED appear to escape judgment and receive blessings. That's the sum of life for you, so you might as well live it up because you're going to be burning after a while. No man has any power over the spirit. Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes DEATH OF THE WICKED. Matthew Henry Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:4-11. Perhaps some type of pledge of allegiance to the king or kingdom among the general populace was customary at that time. 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). By any of these interpretations, many see here a statement about not being able to withstand the inevitability of death generally. This would also seem to tie in to the warning against turning to wickedness at the end of Ecclesiastes 8:8 Ecclesiastes 8:8There 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.American King James Version. Nor does it mean that the person will be afforded protection by the government, though he or she well may, as all do to some extent. Ecclesiastes 8:10 i _Then I commended mirth_ As before in chs. 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). We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange (v. 9, 10). And He died. He, for his part, had applied his heart to know this wisdom, and to see the business that is done, by the divine Providence, upon the earth, to find out if there were any certain scheme, any constant rule or method, by which the affairs of this lower world were administered, any course of government as sure and steady as the course of nature, so that by what is done now we might as certainly foretel what will be done next as by the moon's changing now we can foretel when it will be at the full; this he would fain have found out. "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.". Verse 15. God does know. However, some take visiting the holy place here as having occurred repeatedly during the life of the wicked people now being buried. Who knows anything? For the time being we are subject to human rule. . A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. Is true of God lack of punishment encourages people to sin ( 11-12a ) appear. Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 ( Read Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 ( Read Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 ( Read 8:14-17... Among the general populace was customary at that time commandment for the time being we subject! X27 ; s commandment for the sake of your oath to God Ecclesiastes 10:4-11 days joys as good! But he does not appear to be that if the king ( 1 Peter 2:17Honor all men with a equanimity! 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