Bible Commentaries
Ecclesiastes 8

Verses 10-15

XXVII

OTHER METHODS APPLIED

Ecclesiastes 5:10-8:15.

The fourth method applied was riches with the result that they were found to be insufficient because, (1) they cannot satisfy; (2) consumers of wealth increase with wealth; (3) the owner can only look at it; (4) he cannot sleep like & laborer; (5) riches may hurt the owner; (6) they may perish in an unlucky venture; (1) the owner begets a son when he is bankrupt; (8) in any event he is stripped of it all at death; (9) it causes him to lead a worried life.

The conclusion of this matter is found in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. According to this conclusion, it is good and comely for one to eat and drink and enjoy good in all his labor, but he must keep in mind that this is the gift of God; he will not much remember the days of his life, but it does not matter provided they were filled with the good which brings joy to his heart.

Another observation on riches is noted in Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, viz: that the man who has immense wealth may not be able to eat of his bounty) and like one multimillionaire, may offer a million dollars for a new stomach, but there are some things that money cannot buy. He must stand by and see another consume what he has not the ability to enjoy. In Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 the author reasons that an untimely birth would be better than the condition of a man, blessed with a hundred children and a long life, if his soul be not filled with good.

The reasons assigned in Ecclesiastes 6:7-12 for this failure of riches are,

(1) All labor is for his mouth, therefore, the eternity in his soul cannot be satisfied in this way (Ecclesiastes 6:7-9).

(2) The greatest is but a man and cannot contend against God; neither can anyone tell man what shall be after him (Ecclesiastes 6:10-12).

The fifth method applied was the golden mean, on which he says that a good name is better than precious oil (Ecclesiastes 7:1); that it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, because sorrow makes the heart better (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4); that the reproof of the wise is better than the laughter of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:5-7); that the end of a thing is better than the beginning of it and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8); that it is not good to be hasty to get angry, for that is like a fool (Ecclesiastes 7:9); that we should not talk of "the good old days," for this is not wise (Ecclesiastes 7:10); that wisdom is more excellent than wealth because wisdom preserves life to him that has it (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12); that it is not good to try to make all the crooked things straight (Ecclesiastes 7:13); that man should be joyful in his prosperity and considerate in his adversity, for they both come from God (Ecclesiastes 7:14); that since it sometimes happens that the righteous die while the wicked live, be not righteous over much, nor too wise, nor too wicked, nor too foolish, but hold somewhat to both (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18); that wisdom is stronger than ten rulers and this golden mean plan is great because there is not a righteous man in the earth that sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:19-20); that a man should not try to find out what people say about him, lest he might hear something bad about himself (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22).

The result of all this golden mean philosophy is that this theory is unsatisfactory and there is a higher wisdom attainable (Ecclesiastes 7:23-25). It is unsatisfactory because of its failure in the following particulars:

(1) Because woman is more bitter than death. There is one man of a thousand, though fallen, but there is not one woman of a thousand. Why? because he gave only one thousandth part of himself to each of them and for that reason he ought not to have expected a whole in return (Ecclesiastes 7:26-29).

(2) Because it is a failure when applied to public affairs (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9) saying, (a) Do not rebel, (Ecclesiastes 8:1-2); (b) Do not resent oppression (Ecclesiastes 8:3-4); (c) Leave the case to God’s retribution (Ecclesiastes 8:5-7) ; (d) The evil ruler will die and there is DO furlough in that warfare (Ecclesiastes 8:8).

(3) Because there are rulers who rule over men to their hurt (Ecclesiastes 8:9-10).

(4) Because the mills of the gods grind too slowly for the correction of this evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13).

(5) Because, though ultimately it is well with the righteous and evil with the wicked, yet here and now we do see wicked men get the crown of the righteous and vice versa (Ecclesiastes 8:14). The conclusion of all this, then, is that he commanded mirth, because he saw no better thing under the sun than for man to eat and drink and be joyful all the days of his life (Ecclesiastes 8:15).

QUESTIONS

1. What is the fourth method applied and with what results?

2. Why were riches insufficient?

3. What is the conclusion of this matter?

4. What is observation on riches noted in Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 and what reasonings based thereon in Ecclesiastes 6:3-6?

5. What reasons are assigned in Ecclesiastes 6:7-12 for this failure of riches?

6. What is the fifth method applied?

7. On this golden mean what says he of a good name?

8. What of the house of mourning and the house of feasting?

9. What of the reproof of the wise and the laughter of fools?

10. What of the beginning and end of a thing and the patient and proud in spirit?

11. What of anger?

12. What of "the good old days"?

13. What of the advantage of wisdom over wealth?

14. What of the crooked things?

15. What of prosperity and adversity?

16. What of the righteous and the wicked?

17. What of wisdom and rulers and why is this golden mean great?

18. What of things said about you?

19. What is the result of all this golden mean philosophy?

20. Why is this golden mean unsatisfactory?

21. What is the conclusion of all this?

XXVIII

THE MEANS USED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

CONDEMNED AND THE FINAL CONCLUSIONS

Ecclesiastes 8:16-12:14

There are three reasons given in Ecclesiastes 8:16 to Ecclesiastes 9:6 as to why the means used were condemned, to wit:

1. They were wearisome; wore out the life finding the solution (Ecclesiastes 8:16).

2. Finite wisdom could not fathom it (Ecclesiastes 8:17 to Ecclesiastes 9:1) compare 1 Corinthians 1:19 f.

3. Death comes alike to all (Ecclesiastes 9:2-6) Here comes a bundle of conclusions expressed in Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, thus: (1) Go on and eat and drink; (2) Dress well and keep yourself in trim; (3) Live in domestic felicity with one woman; (4) Do with your might whatever comes to your hand, for no one can work after death.

The fourth reason assigned for failure is that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Everything in life is uncertain and there are snares set for man’s destruction everywhere (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12).

We find further observations in Ecclesiastes 9:13 to Ecclesiastes 10:4 illustrating this principle and the conclusion therefrom. This is the case of the poor wise man who delivered a city and was forgotten, yet his wisdom was better than strength. It was a case of wise words in the quiet which are better than the cry of a man who rules among fools. It was true then and it is true now, that "wisdom is better than weapons of war." "But one sinner destroyeth much good." Like dead flies in the ointment, he spoils whatever he touches, as his folly outweighs wisdom and honor. In meeting all these things it is well to keep in mind that "gentleness allayeth great offenses." But there are certain drawbacks to this passive resistance, get forth in Ecclesiastes 10:5-15, as follows:

(1) The promotion of fools. The ruler sets folly in great dignity and puts the more influential in low places. He puts servants on horses and causes princes to walk like servants (Ecclesiastes 10:5-7).

(2) A man’s labor turns against him. He that digs a pit may fall into it, or whoso breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent, or whoso hews out stones may be hurt by them. A dull tool requires more strength, but the wise can direct to more profit. It is too late to send for the charmer after you are bitten by the serpent (Ecclesiastes 10:8-11).

(3) The foolishness of fools overbalances the wisdom of the wise. The fool begins in foolishness and ends in madness; he multiplies words to no purpose and throws everything into confusion (Ecclesiastes 10:12-15).

The last reason assigned for condemning the means is that the king may be a child, given to revelry, drunkenness, and slothfulness, and when this is so it is, "Woe unto the land I" What follows is set forth in three proverbs thus: By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. A feast is made for laughter, And wine maketh glad the life; And money answereth all things. Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; And revile not the rich in thy bed chamber; For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, And that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

If the means of solution be discarded, the first thing to do, then, is to "Cast thy bread upon the waters" (Ecclesiastes 11:1) which refers to the ancient method of sowing on the overflow of the Nile, which came annually, a-"d covering the seed by driving oxen over them, the only way it could be done. The spiritual significance of this is the investment of a life in doing good.

The second thing to do is to "Give a portion to all" (Ecclesiastes 11:2), i.e., Do good as you purpose in your heart while opportunity is afforded you. But there is a warning given in Ecclesiastes 11:3-5: Don’t watch the wind and the clouds, for the man who watches the clouds is fearful and will not succeed. Do not hesitate because you do not understand the principles and methods of God’s providences.

The next thing enjoined is to work at all seasons (Ecclesiastes 11:6-8). Remember there will be dark days, but be diligent in view of the passing of your opportunity. Then comes a solemn warning to the young in Ecclesiastes 11:9 to Ecclesiastes 12:8. Let them in their joys, remember the judgment; that God will bring everything into judgment; that old age will come when they will have no pleasure in it if their lives are spent in folly; that the grave and the judgment are the final destiny of man. Here we have in Ecclesiastes 12:3-8, the great figure of the human body, with the following expressions: "The keepers of the house," which are the hands that have grown weak and palsied; "the strong men," which are the legs, giving way under old age; "the grinders," which are the teeth, and most of them gone, having lost them on account of extreme age; "those that look out of the windows," which are the eyes, having grown dim with age; "the doors," the mouth which is not closed because of the absence of the teeth; "the grinding," which is the sound of the chewing, now low because the teeth are gone; "rising up at the voice of a bird," which is early rising in the morning, at first cock-crowing, because unable to sleep; "the daughters of music," which are the tongue and the ears, the tongue no longer able to make music and the ears no longer able to hear and appreciate it; "they shall be afraid of that which is high," which means that he is afraid to go up on anything high, as to ascend a ladder; "terrors shall be in the way," which means that he is always finding bugbears in the way, such as wagons, carriages, streetcars – afraid of things that he did not notice in early life; "the almond-tree shall blossom," means that he is now covered with silvery locks, very much like the almond-tree just before putting out, covered with its silvery blossoms; "the grasshopper shall be a burden," which means one of two things, viz: (1) a little weight, as the weight of a grasshopper upon him, becomes a burden; (2) much more probable, that he now, in his stiffness, resembles the grasshopper dragging himself along; "desire shall fail," i.e., the appetite is almost gone and he does not relish things that he once did; "man goeth to his everlasting, home," which means his final destiny, he is very near the end now; "mourners go about the streets," which refers to the hired mourners, according to the custom in the East, or friends and relatives; "before the silver cord is loosed," i.e., the spinal cord which resembles silver in color; "the golden bowl," which means the brain pan; "the pitcher is broken at the fountain," which refers to the heart, very much like a pitcher in shape; "the wheel broken at the cistern," which refers to the aorta, just above the heart, where it acts like a wheel and pumps the blood up from the heart; "the dust returneth to the earth as it was and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it," referring to death, at which the body returns to dust of which it was made and the spirit goes to God.

In Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 we have an account of what the Preacher did further: "And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth."

Then follows a proverb and a warning in Ecclesiastes 12:11-12: "The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh."

What, then, the real good thing to do and why? The answer is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: "This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

The impress of this book upon the world’s literature has been marvelous. It has made a most wonderful impress upon the world’s greatest authors. In Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Tennyson’s In Memoriam are many references to this book. In fact, this book exploded the philosophies of the Epicureans and Stoics long before these philosophies were developed by the ancient Greeks.

QUESTIONS

1. What are three reasons in Ecclesiastes 8:16 to Ecclesiastes 9:6 as to why the means used were condemned ?

2. What conclusions are expressed in Ecclesiastes 9:7-10?

3. What is the fourth reason assigned in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12?

4. What are the observations in Ecclesiastes 9:13 to Ecclesiastes 10:4 illustrating this principle and what are the conclusion therefrom?

5. What are the drawbacks of passive resistance, set forth in Ecclesiastes 10:5-15?

6. What is the last reason assigned and what are the proverbs based thereon?

7. If the means of solution be discarded, what is the first thing to do and what does it mean?

8. What is the second thing to do and its meaning?

9. What warning given in Ecclesiastes 11:3-5?

10. What is the next thing enjoined?

11. What is warning to the young in Ecclesiastes 11:9 to Ecclesiastes 12:8?

12. On Ecclesiastes 12:3-8, the great figure of the human body, answers (1) What "the keepers of the house"? (2) What "the strong men"? (3) What "the grinders"? (4) What "those that look out of the windows"? (5) What "the doors"? (6) What "the grinding"? (7) What the meaning of "rising up at the voice of a bird"? (8) What "the daughters of music"? (9) What is the meaning of "they shall be afraid of that which is high"? (10) What is the meaning of "terrors shall be in the way"? (11) What is the meaning of "the almond-tree shall blossom"? (12) What is the meaning of "the grasshopper shall be a burden"? (13) What is the meaning of "desire shall fail"? (14) What is the meaning of "man goeth to his everlasting home"? (15) What is the meaning of "mourners go about the streets"? (16) What is the meaning of "before the silver cord is loosed"? (17) What is the meaning of "the golden bowl"? (18) What is the meaning of "the pitcher is broken at the fountain"? (19) What is the meaning of "the wheel broken at the cistern"? (20) What is the meaning of "the dust returneth to the earth as it was and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it"?

13. What did the Preacher further do?

14. What proverb and what warning is in Ecclesiastes 12:11-12?

15. What, then, is the real good thing to do and why?

16. What can you say of the impress of this book upon the world’s literature?

17. What are the philosophies exploded in this book?