There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. What does this mean? c. I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. Remember that one treason makes a traitor; one leak sinks a ship; one fly spoils the whole box of ointment. 9 All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. It is the final lesson which he would have us learn, not the errors through which he reached it. People were created to be eternal. Our only real guarantee is the treasure in Heaven given to us through the work of Christ, and we would do well to prioritize that in our hopes and actions. We can’t take it with us, but that doesn’t matter because those who are in Christ have an inheritance waiting for us. The Preacher tries one thing after another, and tells his experiences. Ecclesiastes 8:8 NIV - As no one has power over the wind to - Bible Gateway. We typically think of the Bible as a place to find encouragement, but then you read the first couple verses and it says this: “Meaningless! The teacher shares one key piece to satisfaction in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 reminds us that the world keeps on moving, with or without our influence. In this article, we will explore 8 leadership principles from the book of Ecclesiastes and seek to better understand the meaning of Ecclesiastes for people today. One aspect of teamwork is the ability to seek, find, and listen to others who are smarter than you. And so if you want to be remembered, if you want to be immortalized, then pursue the only one who can actually grant it. We must all die, no flight or hiding-place can save us, nor are there any weapons of effectual resistance. The American Dream puts great emphasis on building material wealth and security. Kohelet - Ecclesiastes - Chapter 8 « Previous Chapter 7. At the same time, we must recognize that we live in a sinful world where bad things do happen. Who knows the explanation of things? One might say that this question is even more troublesome, because in a very real sense, there are no just men, and all can be seen as wicked in some way. i. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.Â. The form collects name and email so that we can add you to our newsletter list for future updates. “The shining face generally speaks of favour (cf. Perhaps you finish a project at work and feel a humble sense of pride in the quality of it. You could be the most ethical person in the world, and still lose your job. Ted used to say something like, “I don’t need a u-haul truck for where I’m moving.”. Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: Here Solomon begins to undermine his once-so-certain premise of life lived without an eternal perspective. “Many passages in the Old Testament witness to the limits which loyalty to God must set on courtly tact and submissiveness.” (Kidner). Here it speaks of the wise man who is visibly gracious in his demeanour, and (as the next phrase says) whose gentleness is obvious in his facial expression.” (Eaton), Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Ecclesiastes 3:8 "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." For instance, if you work hard to start a business and hire the best people, create an awesome culture, and have a great product then surely you will have a successful business, right? I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. That’s it! Work may be stressful, the commute might be killing you, school can be tough, and the world may feel like it’s falling around you. Revelation 21:8 goes on to explain how things will be horrible for those who reject God. This also makes us reflect on our obedience to God as the Great King. You can work your whole life to build up wealth and security, but ultimately you will die and lose everything. 1 Who is like the wise man, and who knows the meaning of a thing? Ultimately, God is our rock in all things. 6 n There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man o to whom p God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he q lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God r does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. You can check these in your browser security settings. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. I can think of few skills more important to a leader than discerning the truth and identifying wise counsel. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. i. 8 As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death. Ecclesiastes 7:8. Ecclesiastes frequently discusses the many things in life that are like vapor, but the book isn’t just about chaos and struggle. In fact, people who are unsatisfied with their wealth has become so prevalent that there is an actual word for it, affluenza. Chapter 8. 2. I saw the wicked buried… they were forgotten in the city where they had so done, die, and their evil is soon forgotten instead of being memorialized in infamy. Yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God. It appears that the Jewish princes and chiefs took an oath of fidelity to their kings. : With the meaninglessness of life so plain to the Preacher, all he could counsel was to make the best of a bad situation and enjoy life the best way possible. Ecclesiastes 7:5. “I have seen wicked men buried and as their friends returned from the cemetery, having forgotten all the dead man’s evil deeds, these men were praised in the very city where they had committed their crimes!” (Living Bible). a. 8. i. And yet I think the message of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is still fairly positive. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. At first glance, Ecclesiastes feels like a bit of a downer, but further study reveals a book that helps us to find joy and purpose in a world where things are broken and chaotic. We do this primarily not to honor the king or government authority (though this is part of our obligation). Solomon knew that wisdom makes a man happier, even in an under the sun premise (makes his face shine… the sternness of his face is changed). All things are full of labour] The Hebrew dabar may mean either “word” or “thing,” and so the sentence admits equally of this or the nearly equivalent rendering, All things are weary with toil and All words are feeble, and each gives, it is obvious, a fairly tenable meaning. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 1. We all want to be remembered. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Ecclesiastes is a pretty unique book of the Bible, and many people struggle to understand its meaning. We hardly need Qoheleth to point out that this is the very question that defeats us.” (Kidner), ii. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. You can’t “retain your spirit”. For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! And no one has power in the day of death. So then, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). This does not mean that working with others guarantees you massive success. 1. *We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, 15 Leadership Principles from the Book of Nehemiah, Seems like a lot of people today believe the 10 commandments are actually 9 commandments …, We are living in difficult times. And who knows the interpretation of a thing? Countless people have experienced this in 2020, when the Covid-19 virus took hundreds of thousands of lives and crippled much of the world’s economy. But Ecclesiastes doesn’t promise us this, because the author knows that life does not have many guarantees. a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. Peshitta, Targum, and Talmud attribute the authorship of the book to King Solomon. Things that look solid may actually be just a vapor, and life can often take unexpected turns that don’t seem to make any sense. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. The business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night: “The very busyness of life worries us into asking where it is taking us, and what it means, if it does mean anything. Let’s dive into some leadership principles from the book of Ecclesiastes: Early in the book of Ecclesiastes we find these words: The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. b. We think we’re smarter than everyone else and forget how to listen. Throughout the passage, the teacher reminds us to find pleasure and enjoy the simple things in life: Steve Jobs famously said, “I want to make a ding in the Universe.” Most of us are like Steve – we want to change the world and make an impact that everyone can see or feel. In this verse the character and condition of sinners are contrasted with those of the righteous. They were despotic; they still are so.” (Clarke). The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. We are conquerors through Jesus and his work. Study the bible online using commentary on Ecclesiastes 3 and more! As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. Ecclesiastes 8:1. Who is as the wise [man]? All this added to the sense of life’s meaninglessness for Solomon. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Yet one must say that it sounds self-serving coming from Solomon, who was a king himself. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it." The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. i. Though the misery of man increases greatly. In other words, it makes it much easier to know when something comes from the Lord. He recognizes that man. Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is as the wise man? Life will be hard, but you will never be alone. A person’s wisdom illuminates his face and makes his stern face [] brighten up.. 2 I say, “Keep the [] command of the king because of the oath [] before God. e. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. Let your garments be always white. Her emotional intelligence is far superior to mine, and I often find the most efficient way to do something. This also is vanity and a striving after wind…, one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.”, It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise. But what happens when a global pandemic shuts your business down and cuts off your entire revenue for months? No matter how smart you are, you won’t get to the bottom of it. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8:6-8 (Read Ecclesiastes 8:6-8) God has, in wisdom, kept away from us the knowledge of future events, that we may be always ready for changes. And even from a human perspective, time is viewed as orderly. Adding to the challenge is how sweet the “song of fools” can sound. We can have it all, but still not be satisfied. Ecclesiastes is a phonetic transliteration of the Greek word Ἐκκλησιαστής (Ekklesiastes), which in the Septuagint translates the Hebrew name of its stated author, Kohelet (קֹהֶלֶת). iii. Having others support you means someone can help you when you stumble, cover your mistakes or inadequacies, and even protect you against external threats. I said that this also is vanity. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Secondly, reading God’s word helps tune your ears to the truth. The Hebrew word literally means “vapor” or “smoke,” but there is obviously a metaphorical meaning here, which is why it gets translated as “meaningless” by the NIV and “vanity” by the ESV. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. this video overview from the Bible Project, What is truth? I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. You can also change some of your preferences. Who is like a wise man? He conquered the grave, he conquered sin, and when you put your faith in his work, his status gets applied to you. All this I have seen… there is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt. For he does not know what will happen, for every matter there is a time and judgment, ; but he also knew that we don’t know what those times are. Embrace your powerlessness, and let it drive you to greater dependence on the Lord. Now, as we move on to chapter 3 for our Ecclesiastes 3 Meaning article, it seems like God gets back out of the picture again. b. And of course, remember your ultimate partner in life. Ecclesiastes 8. This also is vanity. “This may be spoken of rulers generally, who, instead of, ; tyrants and oppressors, who come to an untimely end by their mismanagement of the offices of the state. It leads to countless people who are unsatisfied, exhausted, and wishing for more. 8 No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; no one is discharged during battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. a. It is strange that, with such constant failure of His love to win, God should still persevere in it.” (Maclaren). 16-17 When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking, you’ll still never figure out the meaning of what God is doing on this earth. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT. Primarily, we honor government authority for the sake of our oath to God. Often times, as we get older we become more stubborn. Ecclesiastes is a tough book at times, but it carries an important message about the human condition and the world affected by sin. Ecclesiastes 8:2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. : The Preacher knew that part of man’s misery on this earth was to be ruled by others oppressively. We live in a broken world right now, but He is putting the broken things back together and one day we shall know perfect peace, joy, and satisfaction. . You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. This world is not perfect and provides us with frequent reminders, and we need people who can provide steady leadership through chaotic times. Because the 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. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. As leaders we can get distracted by the big picture, but Ecclesiastes calls us to find joy in the small things, because all of life is fleeting and nothing is guaranteed. I want it to say, “fear God and keep His commandments and lots of good things will happen to you.” I’d be happy if it said, “fear God and you will know great happiness.”. “This may be spoken of rulers generally, who, instead of feeding, fleece the flock; tyrants and oppressors, who come to an untimely end by their mismanagement of the offices of the state. So who can tell him when it will occur? And in the context, I think this is … When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. One might say that this question is even more troublesome, because in a very real sense, there are no. Thanks to the work of Jesus, eternity is within our grasp. In the Pixar movie Coco, the afterlife exists for people who are still remembered by their family and loved ones. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, We know that someday He will put the broken things back together, and in the meantime, we can trust that He is using the challenges that we face to shape us to become more like Him. , but certainly not perfectly; and not all are wise. Therefore, if you want to be an effective spiritual leader, your duty is to do one thing: fear God and obey his commandments. 9 Principles of Discernment for Leaders, 5 Strategies for Growing Humility in Leadership, Permission to Weep, Cry, and Mourn (Even if You’re a Leader), The Meaning of the Garden of Eden for Leaders Today, Modern Christian’s Guide to Keeping the Sabbath, Leadership Principles: Pray for Everything, Ecclesiastes 2:10 says, “my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil”, Ecclesiastes 3:22a says, “So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot.”, Ecclesiastes 5:18 says, “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.”, Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 says, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Ask God to provide wise people in your life who will guide you well and point you to Christ, and never forget how much you need Him. “You have sworn obedience to him; keep your oath, for the engagement was made in the presence of God. Everyone wants to listen to good advice. But it will not be well with the wicked: In context, we can suppose that the Preacher said this as a hope or a wish, rather than with real confidence. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. You may go through seasons of loneliness, but God loves you and can be a constant presence in your life when other relationships fail you. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Under the sun, he saw that death allows no winners, and there is no release from that war. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Life will still be confusing at times and there will still be pain, but ultimately God is the only sure place to find meaning and He will (one day) put all the broken things back together. and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? In these verses we see time viewed from a human perspective. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. Take it!” In other words, if you fight an amazing battle, people will remember you forever! 2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. It doesn’t matter if you do memorable things or live wisely, it doesn’t matter if you do nothing memorable and live as a fool. Instead of trying to seize control of the “hebel” all around us, we should instead focus our lives on fearing God and doing what is right. or government authority (though this is part of our obligation). There are just men to whom it happens according to the wicked, : Solomon, speaking from his eternity-excluding viewpoint, felt this made life meaningless (, Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous, : Perhaps even more of a problem to the Preacher was the question, “Why do, seem to be blessed?” The strength of this question also made life seem meaningless (, i. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. in some way. All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt. Revelation 21:5-7. ‘The conclusion of the whole matter’ is what he would commend to us, and to it he cleaves … The things worth treasuring in life are spiritual not material. He that bought us with his blood deserves to be obeyed in all things with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength.” (Spurgeon). b. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. All these things relate to Asiatic despots, and have ever been more applicable to them than to any other sovereigns in the world. Read Ecclesiastes 3 commentary using Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). This may seem like a scary thing, and frankly it can be. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God: The Preacher understood what the Apostle Paul would later write in Romans 13 – that we should obey government authority as part of our obedience to God. Because of this, the bulk of his kingdom was torn away from him and his children. Neither hard work (toil), persistent endeavour (seeking), skill or experience (wisdom) will unravel the mystery. d. No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death: If the lack of wisdom discouraged Solomon in Ecclesiastes 8:6-7, he found the powerlessness of man in the face of death to be yet more despairing. No man hath power over the spirit — That is, over the soul of man; to retain the spirit — To keep it in the body beyond the time which God hath allotted to it. All this I have tested by wisdom. i. If an author of the Bible recognizes that wisdom is far off and difficult to find, than we must also come to terms with our own lack of wisdom. (10-13) Why are the deeds of the wicked soon forgotten? Taken alone, the ingredients might kill you, but properly blended, they bring healing. a. The work of ministry, parenting, politics, business, education – all of these tend to be more successful and more enjoyable when done with others. Ecclesiastes 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. While we may think we’re in control, the reality is there are so many things outside of our control. Meaningless!” says the Teacher. Ecclesiastes 8:8. So how do you ensure that we are in the group that “conquers” and not the group that gets rejected by God? This Book of Ecclesiastes is the record of a quest after the chief good. &c.] Who is as the first man, that was made upright, and was a wise man? Why do good men and women suffer? In a New Covenant context, we do it as part of our obedience to God. For he does not know what will happen: The Preacher understood that for every matter there is a time and judgment; but he also knew that we don’t know what those times are. The challenge, of course, is recognizing wise advice and separating it from advice that simply supports what you already believe. I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. With his under the sun premise, Solomon despaired that the wicked dead are not punished after death. And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. : Good will come to those who obey and honor the king. who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Rather, everything will be “beautiful for its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), even the most difficult experiences of life. Who is like a wise man: Solomon searched for a wise man, who knew the interpretation of a thing. a. (1-4) Wisdom in obeying and honoring the king. Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 opens with some sober words: There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. i. Next » Chapter 9. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”. Navigating life under the sun requires mature attention to values. Ecclesiastes 8. 3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Ecclesiastes reminds us that the ability to enjoy things and be satisfied comes from God. A time to love, &c.— The third proof the proposition laid down in the beginning, and comprised in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is taken from the endless vicissitude of things in this world, and especially of those which depend on our choice. We can agree with Solomon’s advice here, from both an Old Testament and New Testament perspective. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. Revelation 2:6 "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." And yet, often leadership can be a lonely position. c. Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, “What are you doing”: This is a reason why it is wise to obey a king. Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Life can be hard and doesn’t always make sense, but there is still room for joy and happiness. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”,  life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.”. But then you have a moment of laughter with your child or your friend or your spouse, and suddenly things aren’t so bad. There are just men to whom it happens according to the wicked: Solomon, speaking from his eternity-excluding viewpoint, felt this made life meaningless (vanity). There are several practical ways to help you identify the truth, but here are three quick tips: When it comes to recognizing that you lack wisdom, remember the words of Ecclesiastes 7:23-24: All this I have tested by wisdom. Sound depressing? We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. This verse reminds us: don't waste your life over unimportant things. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.” These things may just be moments, but those moments are blessings and should bring us joy. So I commended enjoyment: With the meaninglessness of life so plain to the Preacher, all he could counsel was to make the best of a bad situation and enjoy life the best way possible. b. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? We can receive everything we want, but have no ability to enjoy them. Neither hard work (, ) will unravel the mystery. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. Because for every matter there is a time and judgment. As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death. First, Ecclesiastes reminds us to enjoy things as they come. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, In many ways, I want more out of this conclusion. We also recognize that we are always to obey God rather than man if the two contradict (Acts 4:19). He received wise counsel about leading the people but didn’t like it, so instead he turned to some friends who would endorse whatever he wanted. He is “the bread of life” (John 6:35) and “the fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13). This also speaks of the hardened response many make to the mercy and forbearance of God toward them. And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, Ecclesiastes approaches this rather bluntly: Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also.