The Strand Study Bible

ECCLESIASTES 8:9

ECCLESIASTES 9:4

1021

16 When I applied mine heart to know 2 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:) 17 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 labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. 1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either 3 love or 4 hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is 5 one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Step #7 to better living - Learn to enjoy living, not life (that is, we are to learn to enjoy the life God’s given us) Date Written - c. 970 BC/AM 3030 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9 The futility of life Date Written - c. 970 BC/AM 3030

9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein 1 one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. It is vanity to a society when evil men are not punished 10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity. 11 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. 12 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: 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 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. Learn to better your life through your work (See - Eccl 2:24 & 3:13,22) 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. Beware of excessive devotion to secular literature

1. or, “a tyrant” 2. that is, “earthly, secular wisdom” - Eccl 12:12 3. that is, “the happy events in life” 4. that is, “the sad events in life” 5. that is, “death and the grave” - Eccl 2:14 & 6:6

8:11 The purpose of “execution” (capital punishment - Rom 13: 1- 4 ) was intended to deter crime. Despite claims to the contrary, capital punishment does deter crime, for the person “executed” will not do it again. God instigated the death penalty ( Gen 9:6 ). 8:12 Sometimes the wicked do prosper ( and his days be prolonged )… but it’s never for very long (vs 13). 8:14 Sometimes the fortunes of the righteous and the wicked are reversed: the righteous ( just men ) get what the wicked deserve and the wicked get what the righteous deserve. 8:16 What Solomon was saying here was that the “study of life” ( to know wisdom ) is never ending (Eccl 12:12-13). 8:17 If you’re having a difficult time knowing what God is doing with you, join the club. The inability of man to understand God’s work is universal ( yet shall he not be able to find it ). 9:1 Solomon knew and understood that life was futile and that fate makes no distinction among men. Whether they are kings or paupers, it is God ( are in the hand of God ) who allows what will take place in one’s life to take place. 9:2 a “ All things come alike to all ” means that men cannot direct the course of their lives; for it is all in the hands of God (Job 1:6-19). 9:2 b “ as is the good, so is the sinner ” means that both the saint and sinner share a common lot –happiness, sadness, and death. 9:4 The living have one slight advantage over the dead –they’re still living . Fact: The dreams of the broken are mightier than the wishes of the deceased. At first glance, this may appear to be a pointless advantage, especially if you’re living a “dog’s life.” However, the point is: If you’re still alive, then you still have an opportunity to accomplish something positive for God. As long as a man is still living, there is that one possibility that he may be moved to live for God. It is always better to “fail” doing something for God than to “excel” at doing something for self. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: A flawed diamond is still more valuable than a perfect brick