it pleases God; though it is but short, rather to be counted by In the person of a sensual man. To whom it happeneth, &c. Romans 13 speaks of rulers executing wrath on evildoers. This is the perspective that must be maintainedalong with understanding what the future will bring. 2. 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. EAT, AND TO DRINK, AND TO BE MERRY. They will wait for a suitable opportunity to act, then act in such a way that, though they do not disobey the king, neither do they sin against their conscience (2-5).Despite the compromise he recommends, the writer knows that people remain uneasy about the outcome and about the future in general. Verse 15. 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. This is because the instruction referred to obeying the king in general, whoever he wasor to obeying whatever human authority was in power. These seeming anomalies in the moral government of God are part of Be the first to review this product. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 (Read Ecclesiastes 8:14-17) And people begin to misinterpret God's grace and God's long suffering as God's approbation for their actions and for their lives. 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. days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by This equal mind, expressing itself in a grave dignified bearing, is, with them, well-nigh indispensable to success in, public life. Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the He's giving you chance after chance after chance. [3] Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him. Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes. because a man hath no better thing under the sun than to Who knows anything? Things just continue as they were from the beginning.'" Or it could be that all the men of Israel took an oath as part of the nations military. Rather, the meaning here is that the prudent, law-abiding citizen will receive no punishment from the governmentat least, generally speaking. All this have I seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man rules over another to his own hurt. pleasures; but it is the good and wholesome advice of the wise and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, Love the brotherhood. Qoheleth was the great believer! COMMEND PLEASURE, FOR THERE IS NOTHING GOOD FOR. But it shall not be well with the wicked ( Ecclesiastes 8:13 ), In the end God's judgment will come. Recall that chapter 5 was the first instance of direct exhortations in the booktelling us to be careful in our approach in coming to worship God, the One in whose hands our lives are and who can help us through the present difficulties. God does know. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. When the Pharaoh of the Exodus saw there was respite, he hardened his heart. Solomon next mentions seeing the wicked buried (verse 10). 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 What does Ecclesiastes 8:15 mean? these men against divine Providence, and the inferences they dra Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, He would have us to take occasion hence, not to charge God with iniquity, but to charge the world with vanity. 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. a 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. 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. That Jesus isn't coming again. verba Ecclesiastes filii David regis Hierusalem. let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. The place of holiness to which they had come and gone is not clear. No man has any power over the spirit. 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. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "It doesn't really matter to God how I live. [21] Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you: I see life moving on. and because they had not so much of them: as others; who yet had 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. (Note: Vid., Baer in Abodath Jisrael, p. 1. American King James Version). American King James Version). 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. For the time being we are subject to human rule. And one ruling another to that ones own hurt here is evidently a mistranslation. Matthew Henry Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:4-11. 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). . 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. Ecclesiastes 8:15 "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." King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Ecclesiastes 8:15 Context Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 But in context the wording appears to continue the warning about not getting into trouble with the government. 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. . It doesn't matter to God that I cheat. 1. The sentiment of this verse is a frequent conclusion of the writers personal experience (compare marginal references), and is unfairly charged with Epicureanism. His reply is not an observation, but the answer of faith. He believes what he cannot seethat one day all will be well for everyone who lives in the fear of God (Ryken, p. 196). 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 this wording requires a text emendation. A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed. 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. 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. Yet this is with the realization that God loves us and wants the best for us. Might as well enjoy what you got now, because man, it's going to be tough later. He had earlier said unto them, "No man takes My life from Me, I give My life" ( John 10:18 ). 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. 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 [27] Behold, this have I found, said the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: And people begin to misinterpret the long-suffering of God. The dead would not have been taken to the temple, for that would have been ceremonially defiling. Still, we must not treat God flippantly or carelessly. of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely 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 [29] For our God is a consuming fire. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. The future is so uncertain. They've been talking about that for years. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. Thinks he has put one over on God. 5: oritur sol et occidit et ad locum suum revertitur ibique renascens. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man,. Yes, there is vanity under the sun. It's emptiness. The wicked will not ultimately be prolonged, yet the righteous will. sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide ( Ecclesiastes 8:1-4 ). [1.] Note that the obedience to the king is for the sake of your oath to God (same verse). Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him. Ecclesiastes 2:24 ) ( They know they have no control over life or death. ECCLESIASTES 8:1 Yes, we see injustice that is hard to accept or understand. American King James Version; and read all of this psalm). John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content. To go from someones presence elsewhere signifies disaffection or disloyalty . serving the king, followed by a number Ecclesiastes 7:19-8 14 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. That is a tragic, fatal mistake of misinterpreting God's grace and God's goodness to you. "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.". Though a man be ever so industrious, thou he labour to seek it out. life was a low one. We_ have here an image which will not disgrace That improves our situation in life and keeps us from ways that would make things worse for ourselves. 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. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. 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