Verse 7 in context presents more about the need for discerning the right time and way. another world. lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content. and who knows the interpretation of a thing? Men hardened in sin, because not presently punished; but they shall not escape, but it shall go ill with them, Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; as it doth also sometimes with the righteous, whilst the wicked prosper, Ecclesiastes 8:14. No power in death. 6 MAN UNDER THE THE BENEFITS OF WHOLESOME RECREATION But it shall not be well with the wicked ( Ecclesiastes 8:13 ), In the end God's judgment will come. The Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the physical senses, but also frequently to religious joy. Things being so, as was related, 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. eat, and to What happens to one happens to the other. Yes, we have a lot of hard work to do. It has a spirit of hopeless despair; it has no praise or peace; it seems to promote questionable conduct. [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: Of that Solomon is certain. But he does not dwell on that. Thinks he has put one over on God. Read full chapter. The place of holiness to which they had come and gone is not clear. (Note: Vid., Baer in Abodath Jisrael, p. Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments Ecclesiastes 8:1. If one does not know what will happen, how can he learn when it will happen? Solomon in verse 2 says to keep the kings command, not My commandhe being the king. Ecclesiastes 2:24 ) ( Salem Media Group. [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. Ecclesiastes 2:14; a 196-197). He said, "Okay, you can go now." He saw just men to whom it happened according to the work of the wicked, who, notwithstanding their righteousness, suffered very hard things, and continued long to do so, as if they were to be punished for some great wickedness. 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. Verse 15. submission to things as they are. "There is no man that hath power, etc." ( Ecclesiastes 8:8 ). 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. CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man, Ecclesiastes 8:1. One of the common mistakes that people make is that of misinterpreting the nature of God. We should respect and follow that rule, with the benefits of doing so and the avoidance of an approach that will bring more troubles on us than would otherwise ensue. ECCLESIASTES 8:14, it is best to give a man's self up to eating and His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. Who is as the wise man? What else had he seen? People are soon forgotten after they die. It will help us through the quandary that still remains for this age. 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. (Needing to give such instruction without any self-serving appearance could be part of why Solomon referred to himself as the Preacher throughout the book rather than as king.). evil. him from his labour. "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.". Product Identifiers Thus wisdom here leads to proper caution and can sometimes result in influencing rulers toward positive change. God puts up with so much. EAT, AND TO DRINK, AND TO BE MERRY. 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. 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. Here he shows, 1. 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. He would have us to take occasion hence, not to charge God with iniquity, but to charge the world with vanity. _ 1. And people begin to misinterpret God's grace and God's long suffering as God's approbation for their actions and for their lives. This is added as another evidence of man's misery. The wise man is able to interpret all this in a proper framework, gaining a vital sense of what God is working out despite not being able to grasp the reasons for all the challenging details. His rule must be righteous, though this is often not seen Matthew Henry Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:4-11. Mirth therefore, and a contented enjoyment of God's gifts, preferable to immoderate care and search, Ecclesiastes 8:15. being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, 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: Ecclesiastes 8:10 i _Then I commended mirth_ As before in chs. Things happen to both good and evil men. Now because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil ( Ecclesiastes 8:11 ). Ecclesiastes 8:13. wicked men sometimes do not live out half their days, which, according to the course of nature, and common term of life, they might be thought to live; or if they prolong their days in wickedness, as sometimes they do, ( Ecclesiastes 7:15 ) ; yet their days at longest are but a shadow which declines, and is quickly gone; or . It's going to be well with the man who has departed from evil. 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. 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 and is not the language of an epicure, or a carnal man, who These seeming anomalies in the moral government of God are part of God is exceedingly long-suffering. Eat, drink, and be joyful, for tomorrow we die! Honor all men. One day, God will set things right. 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. Life under the sun. A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Summarized Bible Commentary CONTENTS: Wisdom recommended as an antidote against the temptations and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. 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 the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, God's purpose must be Wise and good men have, of old, been perplexed with this difficulty, how the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous can be reconciled with the holiness and goodness of the God that governs the world. He maintains his patience, moreover, in spite of the moral burdens he carries that might otherwise cause him to act impetuously (v. 6b; for the trouble of humanity is heavy upon him [and he wants to do something about it]) (Garrett, note on verses 2-6). his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and God's judgment will come, and thus, I surely know it will be well with those that fear God. Proud member This is the perspective that must be maintainedalong with understanding what the future will bring. 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