Death -

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 9:1 ESV

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. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.

What is all this? Examining it all!

How the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God!

Whether it is love or hate, man does not know...

Both are before him.

Ecclesia

Ecclesiastes 9:2 ESV

It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.

The same event!

Ecclesiastes 9:3 ESV

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

The same event happens to all…

No one is exempt

The hearts of the children of man are full of evil - Madness is in their hearts

Ecclesiastes 9:4 ESV

But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

The first half of the verse does not deny an afterlife (cf. 3:21, ), but implies that earthly life cannot be enjoyed in retrospect. This is underlined by the proverb in the second half. The lion, ‘mightiest of the beasts’ (), was admired in the ancient world. The dog, on the other hand, was a despised scavenger.

The first half of the verse does not deny an afterlife (cf. 3:21, ), but implies that earthly life cannot be enjoyed in retrospect. This is underlined by the proverb in the second half. The lion, ‘mightiest of the beasts’ (), was admired in the ancient world. The dog, on the other hand, was a despised scavenger

Ecclesiastes 9:5 ESV

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary viii. Where There’s Life, There’s Hope (9:4–6)

The hope of v. 4 is explained by the opportunity this present life affords to consider the fact of death

Eaton, M. A. (1983). Ecclesiastes: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 18, p. 143). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The hope of v. 4 is explained by the opportunity this present life affords to consider the fact of death

Ecclesiastes 9:6 ESV

Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.

Think about it...

Ecclesiastes 9:7 ESV

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary ix. The Remedy of Faith (9:7–10)

The remedy of faith (9:7–10). 7. A note of imperious exhortation breaks in: Go …! What had previously been put as advice (2:24–26; 3:12f., 22; 5:18–20) is now an urgent summons to action. The believer must give himself to a contented life (cf. comments on eat under 5:18) and to a joyful life (cf. also 11:9). The basis of contentment is that God has already approved what you do. This almost Pauline touch is the nearest the Preacher came to a doctrine of justification by faith. Man has but to receive contentment as God’s gift (cf. 3:13); God will approve of him and his works. The believer is not struggling for acceptance; he is ‘already’ accepted. On that basis (moving from Paul to James, one might say) the wise man ‘works with all his might’ (9:10).

8. White garments and anointing oil made life more comfortable in a hot climate, the latter relieving the irritations of dry skin. Food, clothing and ointment are mentioned in a number of ancient texts as necessities of life (cf. Hos. 2:5; Luke 7:38, 46). The Egyptian Song of the Harper spoke of ‘myrrh upon thy head and clothing of fine linen’. An even more striking parallel is

Approved: to accept v. — to react favorably to, and thus consider right and proper.

to accept v. — to react favorably to, and thus consider right and proper.

The believer is not struggling for acceptance; he is ‘already’ accepted.

The believer must give himself to a contented life (cf. comments on eat under 5:18) and to a joyful life (cf. also 11:9). (Contented and joyful as an ambassador)

Ecclesiastes 9:8 ESV

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

White garments and anointing oil made life more comfortable in a hot climate, the latter relieving the irritations of dry skin. Food, clothing and ointment are mentioned in a number of ancient texts as necessities of life

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary ix. The Remedy of Faith (9:7–10)

The remedy of faith (9:7–10). 7. A note of imperious exhortation breaks in: Go …! What had previously been put as advice (2:24–26; 3:12f., 22; 5:18–20) is now an urgent summons to action. The believer must give himself to a contented life (cf. comments on eat under 5:18) and to a joyful life (cf. also 11:9). The basis of contentment is that God has already approved what you do. This almost Pauline touch is the nearest the Preacher came to a doctrine of justification by faith. Man has but to receive contentment as God’s gift (cf. 3:13); God will approve of him and his works. The believer is not struggling for acceptance; he is ‘already’ accepted. On that basis (moving from Paul to James, one might say) the wise man ‘works with all his might’ (9:10).

8. White garments and anointing oil made life more comfortable in a hot climate, the latter relieving the irritations of dry skin. Food, clothing and ointment are mentioned in a number of ancient texts as necessities of life (cf. Hos. 2:5; Luke 7:38, 46). The Egyptian Song of the Harper spoke of ‘myrrh upon thy head and clothing of fine linen’. An even more striking parallel is

Ecclesiastes 9:9 ESV

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain 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.

Vain: meaninglessness (result) n. — the quality of having no value or significance; as a result of being futile or insubstantial or absurd or incomprehensible.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 6662 I. עָמָל

toil, work, i.e., labor that difficult and hard, requiring great effort, implying a possibly gain in wealth

Toil: toil, work, i.e., labor that difficult and hard, requiring great effort, implying a possibly gain in wealth

The demands of marriage include the giving of affection

The demands of marriageL:

The active quest for enjoyment (Enjoy life, RSV), a life-long (all … your … life) encouragement amid the responsibilities and duties of life (in your toil at which you toil).

Two considerations reinforce the appeal. First, marriage is God’s gift and thus its inherent goodness is assured (cf. ); portion is the Preacher’s term for the pleasures and solaces which God is pleased to give us in the midst of earthly vanity (see on 3:22, p. 103). Second, life is only too brief and insecure (your vain life); since marriage is numbered among earthly blessings (under the sun), this life is the time for its enjoyment and will soon be lost.

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary ix. The Remedy of Faith (9:7–10)

The demands of marriage include the giving of affection (whom you love; cf. Eph. 5:25), the active quest for enjoyment (Enjoy life, RSV), a life-long (all … your … life) encouragement amid the responsibilities and duties of life (in your toil at which you toil).

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary ix. The Remedy of Faith (9:7–10)

Two considerations reinforce the appeal. First, marriage is God’s gift and thus its inherent goodness is assured (cf. Heb. 13:4); portion is the Preacher’s term for the pleasures and solaces which God is pleased to give us in the midst of earthly vanity (see on 3:22, p. 103). Second, life is only too brief and insecure (your vain life); since marriage is numbered among earthly blessings (under the sun), this life is the time for its enjoyment and will soon be lost.

Vain: meaninglessness (result) n. — the quality of having no value or significance; as a result of being futile or insubstantial or absurd or incomprehensible.

Life is only too brief and insecure (your vain life); since marriage is numbered among earthly blessings (under the sun), this life is the time for its enjoyment and will soon be lost.

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary ix. The Remedy of Faith (9:7–10)

The series of encouragements leads naturally to this one, for contentment (v. 7), comfort (v. 8) and companionship (v. 9) enable a man to throw himself into the tasks of life with energy and confidence.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

The hand refers to strength or ability

Finds speaks of opportunity (cf. , where ‘Here is found’ [Heb.] means ‘Here I happen to have with me’).

To do whatever your hand finds to do, therefore, is to give oneself to life with its joys and its responsibilities, according to one’s ability and circumstances.

Life is to be active and energetic (with all your might), practical (thought means ‘device’, ‘stratagem’, ‘idea’), informed (knowledge) and skilful (wisdom).

Such characteristics of the life of faith are possible only during a man’s lifetime.

The emptiness of the pessimist’s life, if it finds no remedy, cannot be filled up in retrospect.

Sheol: Having come to the end, Sheol, the place of dead, earthly experiences—activity, plans, wisdom—cease

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary ix. The Remedy of Faith (9:7–10)

The hand refers to strength or ability (cf. Josh. 8:20 AV mg., RV mg.); finds speaks of opportunity (cf. 1 Sam. 9:8, where ‘Here is found’ [Heb.] means ‘Here I happen to have with me’). To do whatever your hand finds to do, therefore, is to give oneself to life with its joys and its responsibilities, according to one’s ability and circumstances. Life is to be active and energetic (with all your might), practical (thought means ‘device’, ‘stratagem’, ‘idea’), informed (knowledge) and skilful (wisdom). Such characteristics of the life of faith are possible only during a man’s lifetime. The emptiness of the pessimist’s life, if it finds no remedy, cannot be filled up in retrospect.

Having come to the end, Sheol, the place of dead, earthly experiences—activity, plans, wisdom—cease