Death Comes To All

Introduction:

There’s a strange comfort and a haunting chill that comes when we hear the words: “The same event happens to the righteous and the wicked.”

Koheleth is pulling no punches. Everyone dies.

This fact levels us—it humbles kings and commoners, it erases fame, and it silences ambition. Death is coming.

Ecclesiastes 9:1–6

Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 NIV

1 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them. 3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. 4 Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion! 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. 6 Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.

The Limits of Human Understanding

“But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.” (v.1)

Koheleth begins not with cynicism, but with awe. We may not know what tomorrow brings—love or hate, fortune or suffering—but we know that “our deeds are in the hand of God.”

And yet, we wrestle with the mystery of divine justice. We can't interpret God’s favor or disfavor based on whether life goes well or poorly. This is what David Hubbard and Lloyd Ogilvie point out: “We cannot look at what happens to us in the ups and downs of life and tell from them how God feels toward us.”

Koheleth sees both the righteous and the wicked dying.

So what’s the conclusion?

That we need to let go of the assumption that outward circumstances reveal inward standing before God.

Application: Be cautious when interpreting someone’s suffering or success as divine reward or punishment.

You are not the judge.

God is.

The Certainty of Death

“This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all.”

Death is the certainty that interrupts our myths of invincibility. He even calls it “evil”—not morally wrong, but grievous and painful.

The pain isn’t just in dying, but in what happens in the human heart because of death:

“The hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live.”

As David Moore and Daniel Akin remind us, apart from grace, our hearts are bent on madness. Keddie puts it forcefully: “The worst madness in the world is the mind-set and heart commitment that runs from God.”

That’s the tragedy Koheleth sees: People live in denial of death, and therefore live in denial of God.

People will do anything to avoid talking about death—age-defying creams, euphemisms like “passed away,” and entertainment that glorifies youth. But avoiding death doesn’t cancel its reality. It only blinds us to it—and more dangerously, to the God who holds life and death in His hand.

The Value of Life

“He who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.” (v.4)

This is where Koheleth makes his pragmatic turn.

Even with all the evil and uncertainty of life, to be alive is to have opportunity. Opportunity to repent. To rejoice. To work. To love. To worship.

In the ancient world, a lion symbolized power and glory. A dog, meanwhile, was considered unclean and lowly. But even the lowliest living person has more potential than the mightiest corpse.

Application: Life may be filled with suffering and contradiction, but it is also the space of possibility. As long as we draw breath, we can turn to God. We can change. We can leave a legacy. We can love our neighbor. We can forgive. We can grow.

Resolving the Contradictions

So, how do we make sense of the tension between “Life is better than death” (9:4–6) and Koheleth’s earlier statements that death is preferable (4:2; 6:3; 7:1–2)?

Koheleth is not afraid to contradict himself—because life is filled with contradictions. Wisdom is both a blessing and a burden. Life is a gift and a struggle. He reflects honestly on both.

Life is better, because it’s not final. Death is final under the sun, but the biblical story doesn’t end there. Jesus has stepped into death—and defeated it.

We see the same contraditiotion and thought in

Philippians 1:21 CSB

21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Gospel Connection: Jesus and the Madness of Death

Jesus, the truly wise and righteous One, also faced death—the same event that happens to all. But in His case, death was unjust. And yet it was also substitutionary—He died in our place, so we could live not just under the sun but under grace.

Koheleth couldn’t yet see the cross. But we do. And so we live differently—not in dread of death, but with hope beyond it.

Next Steps: Live With Urgency and Purpose

Death is coming. That’s not morbid; that’s motivational.

Don’t waste time on petty grudges.

Don’t delay in reconciling.

Don’t postpone obedience.

Don’t hoard your talents or gifts.

If death is inevitable, then today matters. Eternity starts now.

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” —Psalm 90:12

Bibliography

Hubbard, David A., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. Vol. 16 of The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1991. Moore, David G., and Daniel L. Akin. Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Edited by Max Anders. Vol. 14. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2003. Lohfink, Norbert. A Continental Commentary: Qoheleth. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003. Cone, Christopher. Life Beyond the Sun: An Introduction to Worldview & Philosophy through the Lens of Ecclesiastes. Ft. Worth, TX: Tyndale Seminary Press, 2009.

Bulletin Notes:

Sermon Title: Death Comes to All Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 Theme: Death is inevitable, and it challenges our priorities. Key Points:

Death doesn’t reveal your standing with God (vv.1–2).

Death is certain and sobering (v.3).

Even a hard life is better than a wasted death (vv.4–6).

Life is for living—urgently and purposefully.

Application: Live each day in the light of eternity—faithful, joyful, and aware that time is a gift.

Questions for Further Discussion:

Why is it tempting to interpret our life circumstances as signs of God’s favor or disfavor?

How does the certainty of death reshape your priorities today?

What does Koheleth mean when he says a “living dog is better than a dead lion”?

In what ways does the gospel give us hope beyond Koheleth’s observations?

Let me know if you'd like a companion Bible study for this sermon or a visual handout for notes during the message.

🎥 YouTube Description:

Title: Death Comes to All | Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 | Living with Eternal Urgency

Description: In this message from our series Ecclesiastes: The Quest for Meaning, Pastor Ryan teaches from Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 and confronts the unavoidable reality: death comes to all. Whether righteous or wicked, wise or foolish, we all face the same end. But this truth doesn't lead to despair—it calls us to live with urgency and purpose. Learn how the certainty of death reorients our priorities, and how the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives hope beyond the grave.

📖 Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 🎯 Theme: Death is inevitable, and it challenges our priorities. 📝 Application: Live urgently and faithfully in light of eternity.

🔔 Subscribe for more teachings: [Laughlin Church YouTube Channel] 🌐 Learn more: laughlinchurch.com 📱 Download our app: laughlinchurch.com/download-the-app

📖 Companion Bible Study (3 Days)

Title: Living in Light of the End Based on Ecclesiastes 9:1–6

Day 1: In the Hand of God

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:1–2

Reflection: Koheleth reminds us that even when life seems unpredictable, “the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.” We can’t discern God’s favor or disfavor based on earthly outcomes. The same things happen to all—death does not discriminate.

Word Study – “Hand” (Hebrew: יָד / yad): This word often signifies power, possession, or care. To be in God's hand is to be under His sovereign oversight, even if we don’t understand the outcomes.

Questions for Meditation:

Have I tried to interpret God's love based on my circumstances?

What does it mean to rest in God's hand even when life doesn’t make sense?

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to help you trust Him when outcomes seem random or unjust. Thank Him that His hand is steady even when your world is not.

Day 2: The Madness of Denial

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:3

Reflection: Koheleth observes that people live with “madness” in their hearts—living as if death isn’t real or won’t happen to them. This denial leads to destructive choices and spiritual numbness.

Quote for Thought:

“Sane sinners are in the grip of the most awesome insanity on earth.” – Keddie

Word Study – “Madness” (Hebrew: הֹלֵלוֹת / holeloth): This word implies folly, delusion, or irrational behavior. It’s not mental illness—it’s spiritual insanity: living without regard for God or eternity.

Questions for Meditation:

In what ways does our culture distract us from thinking about death?

How might accepting the reality of death lead to wisdom?

Prayer Prompt: Pray for a heart that walks in truth, not denial. Ask God to protect you from the folly of living without eternal perspective.

Day 3: Better to Be a Living Dog

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:4–6

Reflection: Koheleth concludes that being alive—even as a "dog" (despised)—is better than being a dead "lion" (majestic but lifeless). As long as we are alive, we have opportunity to hope, to act, to love, and to turn to God.

Word Study – “Hope” (Hebrew: בִּטָּחוֹן / bitachon): This word can also mean trust, confidence, or security. Hope, in the biblical sense, is not wishful thinking—it’s a posture of expectancy grounded in God’s promises.

Questions for Meditation:

What does it mean to live with Gospel urgency?

What might God be calling you to do while you are still “among the living”?

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to help you live each day with purpose. Pray that you wouldn’t waste your life but use it for God’s glory.