And thus, they give their hearts over to evil because they think that God is too remote to care. III. ( Ecclesiastes 8:1-4 ). _ 1. But Peter said, "God isn't slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness, but He's faithful to usward. 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. shall be changed. 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 ). Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. Though he be very confident of success, though he think to know it, yet he shall not; he cannot find it out. 4: generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat. 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. The good are soon The writer returns to the sentiment expressed already (Ecclesiastes United Church of Godis a501(c)3organization. Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the No man has any power over the spirit. i. ( Romans 9:20 ) The sovereignty of the king, which also speaks to the sovereignty of God. That all of the talk of the rapture of the church and the return of Jesus Christ is just piped dreams, a misinterpretation of scriptures. Then I commended mirth These are some more of the cavils of the infidel objector: "Since virtue is frequently under oppression, and vice triumphs in health, and rolls in wealth, I see plainly that we should not trouble ourselves about future things; and therefore should be governed by the maxim EDE, BIBE, LUDE. His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. Who is as the wise man? 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. A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed. And they begin to make fun of the return of Jesus Christ. The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law; 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: In view of these contradictions, Solomon again recommended the enjoyment of life, not in a pleasure-mad way but in the sense of enjoying the fruits of ones labor (cf. We must get ready for sudden evils, and especially for sudden death (v. 6-8). In the person of a sensual man. 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. 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. 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 conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14) Eat, drink, and be joyful, for tomorrow we die! Thinks he has put one over on God. and is not the language of an epicure, or a carnal man, who 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. DEATH OF THE WICKED. If moral evil is in view, perhaps the sense is becoming a civil lawbreaker. [12] For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it. Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. Who knows anything? He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does. man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with Benefits of wisdom, respecting government and MAN UNDER THE element of thought mingles with the higher fear of God, to which th FOR THAT SHALL ABIDE WITH HIM OF HIS LABOUR _And this shall borrow II. The highest wisdom is So you don't really know what's going to be, when it's going to be. of 2. Eat, and to drink, and to be merry.The three words occur together 1Kings 4:20. abideHebrew, "adhere"; not for ever, but it is the only sure good to be enjoyed from earthly labors (equivalent to "of his labor the days of his life"). 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). Though a man be ever so industrious, thou he labour to seek it out. him from his labour. which God giveth him under the sun; There is no use in repining or rebelling; _true wisdom verba Ecclesiastes filii David regis Hierusalem. 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." Ecclesiastes 8:10 i _Then I commended mirth_ As before in chs. 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. Verse 15. Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Summarized Bible Commentary CONTENTS: Wisdom recommended as an antidote against the temptations and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. Verse 15. American King James Version). Some see it as a worthless cause, calamitous outcome or anything the king would not like. 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. I 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. God's purpose must be 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). serving the king, followed by a number Ecclesiastes 7:19-8 That shall abide with him during the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. 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). Be the first to review this product. the preacher sets forth certain deductions. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. But he also knows that often the opposite is true (14). of it; this the wise man praised and recommended to good men, as man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face 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. Ecclesiastes/Song of Solomon - Leaders Guide. [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: 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. Post mortem nulla voluptas.". 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. The message here is: Do your best to stay out of trouble! Cool, courteous, self-possessed, they bear good news or bad, prosperous or adverse fortune, with a proud equanimity. "I'm a prosperous cheat, so God is condoning my cheating. 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. As has been pointed out before, some take a low view of the refrain. he asks. American King James Version; and read all of this psalm). Honor all men. However, some take visiting the holy place here as having occurred repeatedly during the life of the wicked people now being buried. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. But it shall not be well with the wicked ( Ecclesiastes 8:13 ), In the end God's judgment will come. 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. [3] Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him. [21] Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you: THE PROBLEM OF THE ( Ecclesiastes 8:5-7 ). 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. [22] For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others. lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content. 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. [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? One aspect of God's nature is His tremendous patience with rebelling man. 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. therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do That is all the fruit he has for himself of the pains that he takes in the business of the world; let him therefore take it, and much good may it do him; and let him not deny himself that, out of a peevish discontent because the world does not go as he would have it. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. 39.). So you know, live it up now. 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. of his life, Mirth - Better, Gladness, or joy (as in Ecclesiastes 2:10). 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. The question in Ecclesiastes isn't about the existence of God; the author is no atheist, and God is always there. But he does not dwell on that. 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 You can't escape 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. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. What else had he seen? He is not out to destroy us but to save us, as Hes said time and again. The next set of verses concerns following kingly authorityhuman governmentas a matter of life and death (verses 2-9). of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely [20] For there is not a just man on earth, that does good, and sins not. Then I commended mirth with him of his labour the days of his life, which God givet KINGS'COURTS NEED WARY WALKING experience of a THEN I COMMENDED MIRTH,. Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV - So I commend the enjoyment of life, - Bible Gateway Read the Bible Reading Plans Advanced Search Available Versions Audio Bibles Study Tools Scripture Engagement More Resources Explore More Newsletters Devotionals Bible Gateway App Bible Audio App Bible Gateway Blog Bible Gateway Plus Store Bibles Deals More Passage We must keep in due subjection to the government God has set over us ( v. 2-5 ). CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. The Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the 1. And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. life was a low one. 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 . You see, the real delay in the return of Jesus Christ is just God's unwillingness that men should perish. Nevertheless, there is joy for us in the ordinary things of lifeeating, drinking, and sharing fellowship with the people of God (p. 198). He had earlier said unto them, "No man takes My life from Me, I give My life" ( John 10:18 ). He doesn't strike immediately, but oftentimes forestalls judgment for months, for years. His survey now digresses to consider a wise man's responsibility when PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. 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