The Strand Study Bible

ECCLESIASTES ECCLESIASTES 4:8a Solomon’s description here is that of a miser –one who sacrifices relationships just to amass wealth. He doesn’t make money to have it; he makes it to hoard it ( neither is his eye satisfied with riches ). 4:8b After the miser has taken account of all of his fortune (that’s just sitting there) he is heard talking to himself saying, “Because I am a hoarder, I don’t profit from my money, and because I don’t plan to help others with it ( For whom do I labor ), they are not going to profit from my money. Why then have I gathered all this money to myself?” 4:9 Verses 9-12 are all about the importance of unity ( Two are better than one ), whether it be in business (vs 9) or in need (vs 10) or in marriage (vs 11) or in life (vs 12). 4:12 Unity ( a threefold cord ) is the work of the HOLY SPIRIT (Psa 133) and it will always make for a better life (Eph 4:30-5:2, Jn 13:34-35 and I Jn 4:7-21). 4:13 A youth, who is teachable, though poor and ignorant, is better off than an educated king who will no more be admonished . Corrupted by long terms of power, learned officials who are no longer teachable are often dethroned (vs 14). 4:15 Solomon said, “I looked at my own current administration ( I considered all the living which walk under the sun ); and I compared it to the next generation (I Ki 11:11) that is sure to come after it ( with the second child that shall stand up in his stead )… and this is what I observed” – vs 16… 4:16 Solomon concludes, “There is no end of governing ( There is no end of all the people ). Monarchs rule for awhile, and then new monarchs come along that rule differently. Democracy rules for awhile, and then dictators come along after it. The Democrats rule for awhile, and then Republicans come along that rule differently… there is no end of governing.” Solomon goes on to conclude, “… even of all that have been before them: they also that come after (them) shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit . Meaning, Solomon’s way of governing won’t be accepted ( shall not rejoice in him ) by the next generation… just as the breeze of popular favor soon dies away, and the hero is soon forgotten. The Pulpit Commentary notes: 1016 Simply put, status is meaningless –it comes and goes ( Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit ). Political careers, which appear to lift others above us, are as meaningless as the Roman emperors –they come and go. The only thing that lasts is wisdom… and whether you’re teachable. NOTE – Men and their movements are like men and their ministries –they come and go ( even of all that have been before them ). 5:5 God warns us not to make vows ( Mt 5: 33- 34 ). Why? Because whenever you break your promise, you lose God’s presence (Psa 15:1-4). If you don’t want to keep starting over and over again, learn to keep your word (Prov 20:25, Deut 23:21-23). Better yet , stop promising (vowing) all together ( Mt 5: 33- 37 and Jms 5:12), and start developing character in your life. People have it backwards. They vow (promise) in order to obtain character when in fact it takes character to make and keep a vow. 5:6 This word ( angel ) is the Hebrew word malahch . According to the Englishman’s Hebrew-Chaldee Concordance , this word is translated “ kings ” (once), “ ambassadors ” (4 times), “ messenger/messengers ” (98 times), and “ angel/angels ” (105 times). 3 In every other case, whenever the word “malahch” is translated “angel” in its singular form (whether it be “angel” or “angel of the Lord” or “angel of God” or “angel of his presence”), it is always in reference to the SECOND PERSON of the Triune Godhead ( CHRIST – Mic 5:2 ). 5:7 Those whose only aim in life is “temporal success” ( the multitude of dreams and many words ) will find their life at the end of their life to be full of vanity; and no one knew that better than Solomon did ( Eccl 1:2 ). Thus Solomon encourages us to pursue the eternal perspective ( but fear thou God ), and learn what it really means to be successful ( Josh 1:8b ). NOTE –The reason focusing on temporal success is always a poor choice is because it leads to injustice at every level of the social order (vs 8). And although we enjoy blaming Wall Street for our economic woes, in reality it is Main Street’s love for success that fuels Wall Street’s greed. So… be it Wall Street or Main Street, those who long to be successful in this world always create injustice at every level of society. 5:8 We shouldn’t be surprised ( marvel not at the matter ) at the oppression of people by those in charge. However, we may take comfort in the fact that governmental leaders are subject to God ( for he that is higher than the highest regardeth – Rom 13:1 and Jn 19:1-11), and nothing occurs that God does not allow to happen. Even the devil (who is the god of this world – II Cor 4:4) has to get permission from God to persecute people (Job 1:6-12). The fickle and short-lived character of all earthly fame should convince us of the futility of making the desire of the applause of men the ruling motive of our lives… The sense of disappointment at the vanity of human fame should dispose our hearts to find satisfaction in the favour of God, by whom all our good deeds will be remembered and rewarded. 2

1 Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary . Vol 3. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co. 1983. Print. 2 The Pulpit Commentary . Grand Rapids, MI, Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1950. Print 3 Wigram, George. Englishman’s Hebrew-Chaldee Concordance of the Old Testament , Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Book House, 1980. Print.