JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES - THE MEANING OF LIFE.
JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES
THE MEANING OF LIFE
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Taught by: Carolyn Sissom
July 21, 2009
Ecclesiastes means the Preacher. The Preacher has a sermon to preach. He exposes a problem presents a basic outline of its solution. His problem which he is processing is that of Life itself, or the Meaning of Life.
If life is viewed without reference or relationship to God, then the world system in which we find ourselves is in chaos.
The Preacher wisely constructed his sermon, first pointing out the vanity of all things “under the sun” (in the earthly realm) and showing the folly of human wisdom apart from the Divine Wisdom. Then he leads us to the conclusion that only God can bring fulfillment, and thus our hope and trust must be in Him alone.
We know from Proverbs 8 that Wisdom is the Lord’s and only through relationship with Him can it be found.
Through the years, I would dutifully read Ecclesiastes and would be very depressed when I realized that my flesh was still chasing after some of the things that “all is vanity.” The sermon is written for the conversion of the self-sufficient intellectual. I had a little of that in me. One year I read it, and my Spirit leapt with joy. I felt like Solomon got it. Regardless of his backsliding, I believe Solomon is in Heaven. I am not imposing this idea on anyone else. It is simply my conviction.
For those of us who are in relationship with the Lord Jesus as Creator, Maintainer and Sustainer of the universe, we know that as King of Kings and Lord of Lords He has the whole world in His Hands.
The Preacher lays a foundation for commending a God-centered view of life by presenting a critique of all forms of secularism, whether theoretical (“There is no God- Psa. 14:1) or pragmatic (“I don’t care about God”). Both of these views have a strong hold over the minds of many people in the 21st century. The Preacher will have his readers see the grimness of the pessimist viewpoint before he points to a life that derives from God Himself. 2:24: There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw that it was from the Hand of God.
The theme of the book (“vanity of vanities; all is vanity”) is declared here in chapter one, developed in chapters two through eleven, and decided in chapter twelve. Everything around him was the monotony of repetition. With mankind, it is one generation after another: the child, the youth, the man, and then old age. Unceasingly, man has come and gone. In the world of nature, the same principles are seen: spring, summer, autumn, and then the winter of old age, and thus the years come and go.
Solomon considered the circuits of the sun and the wind and the process of evaporation. In the last verse of chapter one, Solomon shows that man is never satisfied. One writer says of this truth, “Man today has discovered speed. Is he satisfied? No! he must have more speed, and more speed. He climbs up into the atmosphere, then up into the ionosphere. Satisfied? No! He must have the moon. Man has legs, he wants a bicycle. He has a bicycle; he wants a car. He has a car; he wants a larger one. He has a larger one, he wants an airplane. This is vanity and vexation.” In 2025, we have lived long enough to see man go to the moon, create a habitation in space, and now they are reaching for the planet Mars.
Can you find a man who is satisfied? If so, you will find a happy man who has found the true meaning of life. If a man/woman is still lusting after “more” then he/she is full of vexation of spirit.
The Preacher makes his case for the emptiness and futility of life (from the viewpoint of the natural man). Men come and go. The cycles of nature and history are ever constantly repeating themselves. There is nothing new. Even the search for wisdom---man’s highest goal is futile unless it is received as a Gift from God.
1. Jesus Christ is seen as the Preacher, the Son of David, the Wisdom of God, and the King of the Jerusalem “from above.” Gal. 4:26: But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 1 Cor. 1:24: But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
2. Jesus Christ is the Greatest Good and the Ultimate Satisfaction for which the believer aspires. He is also the One Shepherd or Teacher from Whom the wisdom of the book comes. Ecc. 12:11: The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. In brief, He is both the Water of Life that quenches our thirst for happiness, and the Wisdom of God that satisfies our desire for knowledge.
3. The Sun (of Righteousness). Ecc. 3:16: I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. Pet. 1:19: … you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts.
4. The one who came to Great Estate. 1:16; Heb. 1:4; 8:6: Being made so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they…But to the Son, He says, Your throne, O God is for ever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
5. The Light that excels darkness. Ecc. 2:13: I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
6. The Man whose labor is in Wisdom Ecc.2:21: For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, … Heb. 4:10: for he that is entered into His rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
7. The One who lifts up His fellow Ecc. 4:10: For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up. Mt. 11:28-30). Come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…
8. The Angel: Ecc. 5:6: Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; neither say you before the angel, that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands.
9. Him that is Mightier. Ecc. 6:10: that which has been named already, and it is known that it is man; neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
10. The Poor Wise Man. Ecc. 9:15: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man: James 3:17: but the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
11. The Sweet Light. Ecc. 11:7: Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
12. The Creator. Ecc. 12:1: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them; Col. 1:16: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.
13. The One Shepherd Ecc. 12: 11: The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies which are given from one shepherd. (Jn. 10: 1-10).
14. The God Who is to be Feared. Ecc. 12:13: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
15. The God Who is the Judge. Ecc. 12:14: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it be evil.
The purpose of the Book is to solicit trust in God by discounting trust in any other. To disillusion those who would put their trust in the things of this world by pointing out the vanity of all earthly things.
Since Vanity is the theme of this book. What is Vanity? Well, it good to know that it is a little more complicated than our concern with our outward beauty.
The word for “Vanity” in Ecclesiastes is “Hebel” (#1892). It means “emptiness or vanity, and figurative for something transitory and unsatisfactory.” It is from #1891 (“Habel”) which is a primary root meaning “to be vain in act, word, or expectation; to lead astray.”
The verb Habal appears five times in the O.T. Of particular interest are the parallel verses Jer. 2:5 and 11 Kgs. 27:15 where the bible says that Israel went after vanities and “became vain.”
Two principles are to be noted:
(1) Every man takes on to some degree the character and nature of the god he worships.
(2) The characteristic of all false gods is that they destroy their worshippers.
There are Ten Vanities described by the Preacher:
Human wisdom; human labor; human purpose; human rivalry, human avarice, human fame, human insatiate, human coveting, human frivolity, human awards.
As ministers of the gospel, we can become slaves to the insatiableness of people. They easily become bored with church and want to be entertained either with more and more dynamic preachers, music, pageantry, and hype. It is “vanity of vanities.” We are to seek the Lord and him only. Everything else is idolatry.
There are Ten empty pursuits apart from God:
Wisdom, Work, Possessions, Status, Companionship, Fame, Wealth, Long life, Feasting, Desires of the flesh.
“Man labors at his toil under the sun; what does he gain?” (1:3- Moffatt)
“Apart from God who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (2:25-RSV)
“Nothing is left to chance, for God assigned each its proper time, but for the mind of man he has appointed mystery, that man (Adam) may never fathom God’s own purpose from beginning to end.” (3:11 – Knox)
“And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (4:12 – The Living Bible)
John 6:63: It is the spirit that quickens: the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are Spirit and they are Life.
The word “vanity” also means:
1. That which passes away more or less quickly and completely.
2. That which leaves no result or adequate result.
3. That which fails to satisfy the mind of man, which craves that which is permanent or progressive.
4. That which is idolatrous, contrasted with that which is living.
5. That which is brief and unsubstantial.
6. That which is unreliable and frail.
7. That which is futile.
8. That which is deceitful.
At the close of chapter one the Preacher after thinking about wisdom and knowledge, has one eye on the alternatives: thus, chapter two is on pleasure-seeking.
Having outlined the problem of futility and shown that human wisdom cannot unravel the enigma, the Preacher now argues that pleasure-seeking also cannot quench man’s spiritual thirst. In chapter Twelve he will give us the conclusion of the matter, but now he is building his foundation for his conclusion.
We are told first of his resolve and then his conclusions. Then follows a detailed account of his endeavors, and the height of splendor and self-indulgence. Then follows his thoughts on life’s ultimate certainty.
In developing this matter, no one had more opportunity or greater ability than Solomon, for he was not only the wisest man, and therefore, able to discern, but he was also the wealthiest man, and, therefore, he had the means whereby he could try everything and so speak from practical experience. But, at the end, all these pleasures failed him, so that he found himself no better than other men. Like them he must die, and after death, what would happen to all that he had collected, labored for, or built, in his wisdom? The man who succeeded him might be a fool and destroy all that he had gained. This, too, is Vanity! So today, people have given money, and preachers have labored and built strong churches in the past. They have instructed men in holy things and have established worthy causes, only to be followed by foolish men who have brought such work to ruin. Businessmen in like manner have established great companies, Statesmen have built up nations. Men have built up assets –fools have destroyed in months that which took years of struggle and sacrifice. Such is the lot of those who spend a lifetime building their kingdoms and not the Kingdom of God.
Everything that is not built on the Kingdom of God will burn as wood, hay, and stubble.
What is man to do with his days? If he lives for pleasure—all that his wealth and status can afford—life is still empty. Wisdom is far better than folly, but in the end, we take nothing with us except the souls we lead to the LORD.
Ecc. 2: 25-26: Who can eat, or who else can hasten hereto, more than I? For God gives to a man that is good in his sight Wisdom, and Knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner He gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that He may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
There was a major turning point at 2:24 as the Preacher looks to God. In 1--2:23, God is scarcely mentioned.
The author is confident that life has meaning. What disturbs him is that man cannot find out that meaning through the natural mind or natural strength.
Chapter three has often been interpreted as a lament of the ceaseless round of life. Instead, it is part of the basic optimism of “Koheleth/Preacher” (The Hebrew name of the book – The Source of all Life).
3:1-8: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Man’s activity fits according to God’s pre-ordained plan. Man should accept whatever circumstances God sends him and find pleasure in them. The realization that he cannot alter what God has prescribed, even if he wants to, keep man in a state of reverence before God.
God has set bounds beyond which man cannot pass. God has set seasons which man cannot violate. What can man do in this restless, ever-changing, never-satisfying world?
It is beyond my literary skills to trace a clear and consecutive argument in the next few chapters. He sticks to the subject but seems to chase rabbits with Proverbs of short sayings dealing with various aspects of life and the meaning of life.
If there is any unity of thought, it would be the wisdom of making the most of life’s varied circumstances by learning to accept, be at peace, and be happy regardless of our circumstances.
The middle section of Ecclesiastes is a guide to life “under the sun,” (carnal) and from the viewpoint of faith (spiritual).
This is why when I would read Ecclesiastes in my early years, I would be depressed. I was still a carnal Christian. I can now rejoice in the awesome Glory of the Wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of man.
Chapter 4 deals with being a work aholic.
Various proverbs are added to show that one who cuts himself off from others is really harming himself, for community with others increases a person’s security.
4:4: Envy: rivalry: I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Sadly, if we are to go forward in Christ, we will all have to overcome the pain of jealousy and competition. It is part of the failure of the human nature which separates people from Christ.
5: 1-10; 20: As our preacher is taking on all of these aspects of life he now deals with religion. First, he warns against thoughtless participation in temple rituals. This must have been far ahead of his time. The person is a fool who offers a sacrifice without either an understanding of what he is doing or a desire to learn the implications of his religion.
5;1: 1-2 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth, therefore let your words be few.
Walk prudently (guard your steps …Be careful! Remember, you are going to worship God. “Listen”: implying understanding.
A person thinking of making a vow must consider his vow carefully before pronouncing it before the Almighty. Too many words will lead to a foolish vow just as too much work will lead to a night of foolish dreams. Vows are not compulsory, but once made they have to be carried out.
5: 8-6: 12: The Preacher now moves on to note the dangers created by greed for money, and points out that the imagined benefits of wealth, sometimes ill-gotten, sometimes ill-used, are but an illusion. To begin with he cites corruption in government.
5: 10-12: He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver. Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, so what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes? The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much. But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
Conventional wisdom taught that he who fulfills God’s will is happy; Ecclesiastes’ wisdom teaches that he who is happy is fulfilling God’s will.
The Preacher introduces in chapter 7 the value of wisdom in an imperfect world.
The quest for satisfaction and the preacher’s understanding of the meaning of life changes again. The Preacher had pursued the material life only to find that it was empty, worthless, monotonous, and vanity. Now he turns to the world of morals for satisfaction and answers. He traveled a path that moralists and philosophers still traverse today. In brief, it is “Be good, get a good name, avoid the house of feasting, and consider the serious things of life. Get wisdom and avoid folly. Be a patriotic citizen, not too good, nor too sinful, avoid excess, strike a happy medium, and use teaching of modern thought. IS THIS NOT THE NATURAL MAN TODAY AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH? ‘DO ALL THINGS IN MODERATION.
THIS IS NOT THE REVELATION OF GOD!!!!! This is the thoughts and considerations of a man who is communing with his own heart (mind, will and emotions, i.e. soul), as contrasted to the union and communion with the Lord in the realm of the Spirit.
His verdict at the end of the chapter is that while God had made man upright, many inventions (of the human mind) have altered the course of things.
The wise man takes account of death as well as life. His outlook on life is serious.
The proverbial units of this section deal with aspects of life that anger or infuriate. This is that which frustrates. Frustration is a demonic spirit. I once knew a woman who continually spoke over and over of how frustrated she was. She continually gave power to the spirit of frustration.
This is a soul that is insecure, has unfulfilled needs, and unresolved problems. Frustration is an emotional response to circumstances where one is obstructed from arriving at a personal goal or agenda. The root is anger and disappointment. In psychology, passive aggressive behavior is a manifestation of this spirit. Biblically speaking we often see this operate in the spirit of Jezebel. The manifestation can be temper-tantrums, or high maintenance people who everyone pampers to keep them from making scenes of violent behavior.
In early proverbs the Preacher deals with death or suffering. Now it is with anger and frustration. 7:9: Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools. This is wisdom to all people who are plagued with temper tantrums or uncontrolled rage.
There are seven proverbs that are comparisons using the words, “Better Than.”
7: 1-3: A good name is BETTER THAN precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is BETTER THAN laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
It is through sorrow that man learns compassion.
7:5: It is BETTER to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
7:8: BETTER is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
7:10: Say not, what is the cause that the former days were better than these? For you do not enquire wisely concerning this. This is a rebuke to every generation that considers the “good old days” of their generation. The Lord is asking us to enquire of him for Wisdom for today.
We then see that Wisdom is indispensable, and that life is under the Hand of God.
7:11-13: Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 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. Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He has made crooked.
In the first half of this chapter seven, the theme of Ecclesiastes is followed up with a question: Will the life of faith survive hard and troublesome times when the “good old days” have gone and the days of adversity have come?
The second half moves from the crookedness of life (7:14) to that of mankind (7:29).
Then the preacher moves into the reasoning’s of the natural man.
He concludes in 8:1 with a further appeal for wisdom. Who is the wise man? And who makes the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
This is seen prophetically by Daniel. 12:3: And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
This verse is a fitting conclusion to the proverbs which have appealed for wisdom in relating to suffering and sin.
The remainder of chapter eight through 9:10 deals with authority, injustice, and the life of faith.
The preacher now faces the grim realities of kingly authority, and the injustices of life, and is perplexed with the enigma of life. As the thought spills over into chapter nine, he mentions the ultimate certainty of death, and again turns to a position of faith as the only remedy.
In this chapter, Koheleth continues to follow the way of morality and wisdom. He sought to see the good that is in man but it did not bring him to any utopia. Instead, he was in another blind alley. Without the oil of the Holy Spirit our morality becomes legalistic. Without the Wisdom and morality of the Word of God, people become “flakey.”
I can relate to this. In the early 1980’s, I began to seek out those who were in the prophetic revelation movement. However, in the Pentecostal culture, there was so little wisdom and morality, that I ran back into the Baptist church because I saw a steadfastness of morality in that denomination. I also chose that church for the education of my children because I decided that steadfastness and morality are necessary to soundness of the Spirit and of life.
Like the writer of Ecclesiastes, I have to say that without the moving of the Holy Ghost, morality and the wisdom of man is a blind alley.
8: 5-7: Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knows not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
In Chapter Nine, the Preacher continues his search for the meaning of life under the sun. Life has never been a respecter of persons. Sorrow and troubles overtake the good and bad alike. John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In this world you will have trials and tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
At this point of the sermon, the Preacher has not come to the realization that there is life after death. He has not yet received the revelation of the triumph of Jesus Christ over death. He is saying that death is the end of all. We know, too, there is a distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous, the clean and the unclean. Fortunately, this statement of despair is disproved at the end of the book, when the Preacher’s eyes are lifted above the sun.
Because the searcher could only see what was in this life and had no conception of a life to come and seeing that to him the grave was the consummation and there was no future loss or gain, there was but one logical conclusion for the natural man. That was to have a good time while you can. This is the only hope of an atheist and unsaved person.
Finally, one further evil is considered---the sin of ingratitude.
9: 16-18: Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him who rules among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
Chapter 10, 11 and 12 are a call to decision. No preacher ever made a better altar call. His emphasis and conclusion are we must respond to God without delay, in whole-hearted faith, whether life is adverse or comfortable, for we are marching towards the day of our death. He has established the theme of faith in the Creator-God who is in control of men and their affairs.
Thus far the Preacher has expounded on the entire problem of empty pursuits apart from God: These include philosophy of men, or all wisdom apart from God. (2) Work (3) Possessions (4) Status (5) Companionship (6) Fame (7) Wealth (8) Long Life (9) Feasting (10) Desires (11) Moralists and (12) Folly.
Chapter Ten is a continuation of chapter nine. Folly is described first in general terms. Then there is a list of comparisons between wisdom and folly.
Chapter eleven continues with exhortation. Throughout the Sermon, the life of faith has been not merely described but commended. The life of indifference and unbelief has been placed on the scales against Faith and been found wanting. Now the Preacher calls for a verdict.
The thrust of these verses is the Preacher’s concern not merely with details, but with life as a whole.
The whole section highlights the nature of commitment to Israelite theism. He uses homely images in emphasizing the urgency of his message. The whole section calls with great urgency for faith in the Preacher’s God, the God of Israel.
Now he is reaching a conclusion. Earlier he thought that life was made up of mere chance; now he is speaking of purpose. What a man sows he reaps (Gal. 6: 6-7). He is confessing that there must be a Divine ordering somewhere, for so much is beyond man’s thinking of control, and yet it is controlled. When he began to recognize a Supreme Controller of the affairs of life, then the gloom began to disappear, and the tragedies began to lessen, so that in Verse 7 he is testifying, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.”
The chapter concludes by noting that in the light of all that has been considered, enjoy life here, but remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many; death comes at the end. Koheleth has also accepted a life beyond the grave, for he says again to enjoy life, but know that for all these things God will bring us back to God.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
There are Seven Principles for abundant sowing and reaping in these verses.
(1) 11:1: Cast your bread upon the waters, for you shall find it after many days. (Prov. 11:24-25; 21:13; 22:9; 38:27; Psa. 4:1-2; Lk. 6:38; 11 Cor. 9:6-11)
(2) 11:2: Give a portion to seven and also to eight; for you know not what evil shall be upon the earth. You will sow much seed to many. (Isa. 32:20)
(3) 11:3: If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. You will empty yourself in a time of rain; you will sow while you are alive. Clouds are full of water, which is life.
(4) 11:4: He that observes the wind shall not sow, and he that regards the clouds shall not reap.” The plowing must be done when the early rains have come, even in the face of a storm or tempest; otherwise, there will be no reaping after the latter rains.
(5) 11:5: As you know not what the way of the Spirit is, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so you know not the works of God who makes all. You will understand that our ways are not His ways. (Is. 55: 8-13)
(6) 11:6 – “In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand; for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or which they both shall be alike good. In the evening of the age, there will be plenty of water, and God will give the increase. (1 Cor. 3:6) in the morning sow your seed and, in the evening, withhold not your seed; for you do not know what shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be good.
(7) 11:7: truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: You will behold the Pattern for giving. His name is Jesus; He is the Sun, the Light (Jn. 8:12). You will cast your bread as long as you see the Sun (as you live and move in Him).
(8) 11:8: But if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many, all that is coming is vanity.
(9) 11:9-10: Rejoice, O young man, in your youth; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these, God will bring you into judgment. Therefore, remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.
“Make the most of the days of your youth…God will call you to account.” NEB
In Chapter 12, “an old and foolish king” (4:13) looks into the mirror and describes himself.
Ecc. 12:1-3: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.” While the sun and the light, the moon, and the stars, are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down. When the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim.
Seeing that everything under the sun is vanity---the decision is to get one’s eyes off those things which are under the sun and focus them on to the Creator who is above the sun!
Mankind needs to look not merely to his well-being, but to his Maker. E Increasing frailty is portrayed in a series of pictures. Old age is pictured here. Yet, the preacher has discovered eternal life beyond the earthly, natural man of the flesh. He has discovered that man has an eternal Spirit and that Spirit will live eternally with God.
He has also realized that it is God who gives the man His Spirit and it is only through accepting God’s gift of life that man will live eternally with God.
12:6-7: Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
In verse 8, the Preacher comes back to his opening words. Having proved his case, he ends his work.
12:8: “Vanity of vanities says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”
The final section, 12: 9-14 gives a brief biographical note on the Preacher. He concludes the whole duty of man:
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end: and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
We have reached the end of the matter.
12:13: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Fear God – hold Him in awe—and obey him.
Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. In closing, he pinpoints the one thing on which man’s life turns: his attitude toward God. There is a Judgment, when good and evil will be sorted out. Man must live in the light of it. The fear of the Lord is where true Wisdom---real life---begins, the Zoe life of God.
12:14: ---For God shall bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.”
(“This is the whole of man, the original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustments to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun.”- AMP)
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. I entered into the labors of F. F. Bruce Bible Commentary; Principles of Present Truth From: Ecclesiastes by Kelley Varner; teachings of Carolyn Sissom on Ecclesiastes. Comments are my own.