Book of Ecclesiates

SUMMARY

The Preacher continues his observations about the vanity of riches in this chapter (cf. 5:13-20). He describes a sad, but very common situation: a man blessed with riches, wealth and honor so that he has all that he desires; yet God does not let him have it, and it is consumed by someone else! Such a man, even if he has a hundred children and lives two thousand years, is described as no better than a stillborn child (1-6).

His reflections on riches lead the Preacher to conclude that man's labor might feed his mouth, but it does not really satisfy the soul. It is better to have the sight of the eyes (i.e., to enjoy what you see), than to have the wandering of desire which is vanity and grasping for the wind. Since man cannot change that he is subject to life's vanities and unable to contend with God, accumulating many things may only increase vanity in this life. By asking who knows what is good in this short life, and who can tell what will happen in this life after we are gone, the Preacher implies that only God (and not the accumulation of wealth) provides the answer to the vanity of life "under the sun" (7-12).

Two Main Objectives

1. A said situation

2. Reflection on Riches

Ecclesiastes 6:1–6 ESV

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. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?

What does the Preacher see as a common affliction among men? (1-2)

Someone is given riches, wealth, and honor, but God does not give him the ability to enjoy it.

He is not able to fully enjoy all that God has given him. The "foreigner" mentioned here can be an enemy, a disease or a depressed spirit, but something is in the way of his contentment. We know that his lack of full devotion to the Lord is what has blocked his enjoyment and peace. He has everything, but he cannot enjoy it.

How is a stillborn child better than one who suffers such an affliction? (3-6)

The stillborn has more rest, never having seen the sun nor the turmoil of this life.

He has lost children and even replacing them with many others cannot create the joy he is missing.

Long life or short life are the same, they both end in death.

Contrast with Job

Ecclesiastes 6:7–12 ESV

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

What is not satisfied by all the labor of man? (7)

The soul of man

What is better than the wandering of desire? (9)

The sight of the eyes (i.e., enjoying the present, the good that one has)

He is weary of not being satisfied with what he has, and wearier still of continually wanting more. Better he should be content with what he has, but he is not.

In the final verses he makes some realistic observations concerning his own life and condition.

What is unchangeable about man? (10)

He cannot contend with Him (i.e., God) who is mightier than he

Why is man no better by accumulating riches alone? (11)

Because many things increase vanity

God's ways are not our ways.

So What then is our job knowing this?

We do not have to understand. Our job is to believe and obey

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

What is the comfort in this?

His way is always the best for us in the end.

Solomon finishes in verse 12 by saying that no one knows what life will bring, how it will end or what will come after. What is not said is that God knows and cares, and faith is what He wants, not debate.

What is man unable (without help from God) to determine? (12)

What is good in this life, which is passes like a shadow

What will happen after him in this life

How is vanity increased, how can one decrease vanity?

Mary Love: Vanity increase with excessive pride in your own abilities, in your appearance or your achievements

Vanity decrease with humility and gratitude. Understanding that all you have, all you do and all you know is because of God’s grace and mercy

Stephanie Sherrod: Things increase the vanity of life.  Man cannot decrease vanity as the living is always subjected to vanity.