Or it could be that all the men of Israel took an oath as part of the nations military. Love the brotherhood. Matthew Henry Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:4-11. American King James Version). Furthermore, the verses in chapter 8 do not seem to speak of human government rectifying problems so much as of us taking care to not run afoul of government (we will see similar verses in this regard in chapter 10). [18] It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all. The point seems to be that if the king puts you to death for rebellion or crime, life is over. Then I commended merriment, because a man hath no better thing ( Ecclesiastes 8:15 ), And this is his human philosophy and human reasoning coming out again. So I know that in the long run that life is the best. This is because the instruction referred to obeying the king in general, whoever he wasor to obeying whatever human authority was in power. The statement There is no release from that [or the] war could refer figuratively to the march into death that all face or simply be metaphoric for Theres no getting out of this. Then the final line, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it, would tie back to the turn to wrongdoing in verse 3. Many claim that the death penalty is an ineffective deterrent to capital crime today. God does see. Where the word of the king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What are you doing? the WICKED appear to escape judgment and receive blessings. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. In order to keep with what He said, "No man takes My life," when He was hanging there on the cross after He cried, "It is finished" ( John 19:30 ), "Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit" ( Luke 23:46 ), He bowed His head, and it said, "And He dismissed His Spirit." a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. So God is very kind. 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. 8 Who is as the wise man? [6] For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and whips every son whom he receives. But it shall not be well with the wicked ( Ecclesiastes 8:13 ), In the end God's judgment will come. [29] For our God is a consuming fire. Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 Solomon in verse 2 says to keep the kings command, not My commandhe being the king. American King James Version, Ecclesiastes 7:19 Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.American King James Version). and who knows the interpretation of a thing? eat, and to PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. Wisdom can enable a person to avoid the kings wrath (Ecclesiastes 8:2-9), but it cannot enable him or her to understand fully why God deals with people as He does (Ecclesiastes 8:10-17). 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. There is no use in repining or rebelling; _true wisdom God has given him; this is what had been observed before, ( H8055 (H8800) remain H3867 (H8799) labor H5999 days H3117 life H241 CHAPTER 8 ADVICE WITH REGARD TO SERVING THE KING. American King James Version; and read all of this psalm). The problem with this view is that it does not do full justice to what the Preacher says. And thus, it appears that the evil man is getting away with his evil actions, his evil deeds. Ecclesiastes 8:15 Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament "And I commended joy, that there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and enjoy himself; and that this accompanies him in his labour throughout all the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun." People should not despair over these problems, but rather enjoy whatever God has given them in life (15). Who knows anything? The only one who really did exercise that kind of power over his spirit was Jesus Christ. Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. There is no man that has power over his spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath 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 ( Ecclesiastes 8:8 ). [12] 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. Yes, there is vanity under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 meaning Although life is mysterious, Solomon has discovered by submitting to the God of Mystery, rather than trying to make sense of the world through human experience, he can enjoy and appreciate the best life has to offer. 3:22 ) ( 5:18 ) ; 2. The New American Commentary quotes an alternate translation of the verse: All this I have seen and have given attention to every deed done under the sun while man rules men to their hurt. This is the terrible human condition of today. and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, 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 As has been pointed out before, some take a low view of the refrain. We see the just troubled and perplexed in their own minds, the wicked easy, fearless, and secure,--the just crossed and afflicted by the divine Providence, the wicked prosperous, successful, and smiled upon,--the just, censured, reproached, and run down, by the higher powers, the wicked applauded and preferred. fearing God, enjoyment through God commended. 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. And the same is true of God. righteous men to whom it happens ac Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow| Learn more With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments Ecclesiastes 8:1. He is not out to destroy us but to save us, as Hes said time and again. No fault is to be found with God; but, as to the world, This is vanity upon the earth, and again, This is also vanity, that is, it is a certain evidence that the things of this world are not the best things nor were ever designed to make a portion and happiness for us, for, if they had, God would not have allotted so much of this world's wealth to his worst enemies and so much of its troubles to his best friends; there must therefore be another life after this the joys and griefs of which must be real and substantial, and able to make men truly happy or truly miserable, for this world does neither. Let us be ever thankful for the days of our lives. the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. This is added as another evidence of man's misery. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 14 $15.99 As low as $8.00. Yet this is with the realization that God loves us and wants the best for us. [19] Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. Moreover, rarely has human government been righteous. 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. pleasures; but it is the good and wholesome advice of the wise 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. Fear God. He had earlier said unto them, "No man takes My life from Me, I give My life" ( John 10:18 ). Though he be very confident of success, though he think to know it, yet he shall not; he cannot find it out. There is no man that has power over his spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath 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 ( Ecclesiastes 8:8 ). Add to Wish List Add to Compare. man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face physical senses, but also frequently to religious joy. Mirth therefore, and a contented enjoyment of God's gifts, preferable to immoderate care and search, Ecclesiastes 8:15. You can't escape it. The Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the physical senses, but also frequently to religious joy. Verse 15. One of the common mistakes that people make is that of misinterpreting the nature of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24 ) ( 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 ). sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide 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 It's emptiness. And they begin to make fun of the return of Jesus Christ. And this is further tied back to the warning in Ecclesiastes7:17: Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? A turn to lawlessness will not stave off the punishment of death. People are soon forgotten after they die. It will hasten it. He believed, even when there was no evidence for believing! (quoted on p. 135). can do is to enjoy life while he has it. Proud member The future is so uncertain. ASV Therefore men fear him ([Job] 37:22-24) (note on 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). American King James Version). It doesn't matter to God that I cheat. Ecclesiastes/Song of Solomon - Leaders Guide. That both he himself and many others had very closely studied the point, and searched far into the reasons of the prosperity of the wicked and the afflictions of the righteous. And one ruling another to that ones own hurt here is evidently a mistranslation. man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with You can't really come to the king and say, "Hey, what are you doing?" Ecclesiastes 8:15 KJ21 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 from his labor the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. Life under the sun. [23] All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. Or possibly the reference is to a general promise to obey God, with this including the requirement of following Israels divinely appointed kingor maybe even any nations ruler, since, as Paul later points out in Romans 13, all governing authorities are in power because of God and are to be obeyedexcept when there is a conflict with Gods law, which must come first (Acts 5:29 Acts 5:29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.American King James Version). The Preacher is careful to set forth pleasure as a gift from God, to be earned by labor, and received with thankfulness to the Giver, and to be accounted for to Him. But ultimately, it will go only this way when God sets everything right. The message here is: Do your best to stay out of trouble! God is exceedingly long-suffering. Nor does it mean that the person will be afforded protection by the government, though he or she well may, as all do to some extent. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does. Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. God doesn't really know." I know that, whatever God does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God does it, that men should fear before him. 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