What a state this wise man was in (v1-6) – he considers in his heart that the righteous and wise are in God’s hand. Of course we are, that is correct and true, but then he seems to fall back to the situation that all things come alike to all whether they know love or hatred, whether they are righteous or wicked, good, clean or unclean, sinner or not. In a way this is fatalism. However, sadly, many people, including church people, think we are all going to the same place – heaven. I’ve heard it said often especially at funerals. I suppose they are trying to be kind and not suggesting that anyone has gone to hell. I remember one minister saying, “We’ll all get there in the end.” I didn’t ask where he meant but if that is true why spread the gospel at all?
What Solomon says really makes sense if we are purely looking at things ‘under the sun,’ from an earthly and worldly point of view. However, we need to remember that this life is not all that there is, there is an afterlife and God has made this clear to us all. We will spend eternity either with Him in heaven or apart from Him in hell.
He says, “The living know they will die, but the dead know nothing.” “Better to be a living dog than a dead lion.”
Whilst the living may know they will die, it is then incumbent that we all make preparation. Hope is given to us only through a saving faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. Once we are dead it is too late to make preparation for eternity, it is destined whilst we are here on earth. It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
Solomon seems to be trying to make us feel better and says, “Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; “ (v7) That is the best the world can do. We should, however, seek to enjoy life as a gift from God. We do not have to be miserable, in fact a Christian should be the happiest person around because we have Christ. I know that everything does not go smoothly when we become a Christian but we do have Christ and His Holy spirit in our lives and that should make the difference. He goes on, “For God has already accepted your works.” This seems to be saying that there’s nothing we can do about it. However, We can be sure that God sees our works, not that they gain salvation for us, but that there will be rewards if we have done well.
He reminds of the value ‘white garments and anointing oil’ things which bring comfort and the comfort of having a wife, whom you love (v9) and to live joyfully with her all the days of your life. These things can help, especially a loving relationship with your wife. Do not take her for granted and remember that God has give her to you. These things do not always remove the toil of life but they certainly help and it is a great advantage to be able to share together as you face life. I’m not sure how Solomon viewed this having so many wives and concubines. One would have thought that that only brought problems, but maybe he is advising us of the ideal from his own experience.
If we find something to do, we should put all our effort into it – ‘do it with all our might’ because this only lasts for this life and it should help us to gain the benefit (v10). Spurgeon said, “No man ever served God by doing things tomorrow.” “Man was not created to be idle, he was not elected to be idle, he was not redeemed to be idle, he was not quickened to be idle, and he is not sanctified by God’s grace to be idle.”
Having said some helpful things which are given to us by God, he then seems to return to the meaningless of life. “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;” (v11) If those things happened, life maybe worth living but sometimes something happens unforeseen which gets in the way. An athlete may be the fastest but he may pull a hamstring or have a fall. In other words he is saying as the verse goes on, “But time and chance happen to them all.” Things may happen to get in the way and take things out of our hands. We don’t know our time, fish can get caught in a net, birds in a snare and these things can happen to us suddenly. (v12). How much better to be able to rely on our ever loving, Almighty God rather than time and chance.I don’t know if this is a story told by Solomon or if it was something which really happened. He tells of a little city where there few men and a great king attacked it and built traps around it. A poor wise man was found in the city and he delivered the city. The man was soon forgotten (v13-15). Fame is soon forgotten whatever we have done.
Solomon’s reaction (v16) is that “Wisdom is better than strength.” He mourns that the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words not heard. He says that, “Words of the wise spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools (v17).” How important a wise whisper can be when compared to the loud shouts of a fool and how often do we fail to recognise wisdom. We can shout as much as we want in our folly but quiet words of wisdom are far more important, even better than weapons of war but we must be careful that “One sinner can destroy much good (v18).” How easy it is for one person to pull down a good thing by one careless word or act. The Bible gives us examples of this – Achan’s sin in Joshua 7 caused the defeat of the whole Israelite army.
