All Articles For Ecclesiastes

The Word of God in Ecclesiastes now moves to the conclusion of the book. But first it sets before us the objective theme and the inspiration of the book. That theme is: Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity (Eccl. 12:8). The transitory character of life under the sun has been the object of contemplation. We labor and toil under the sun. The world presents itself as rich and beautiful, for God made it and His handiwork is revealed by the things that are made. But that world also lies under the curse and judgment of God upon...

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them (Eccl. 12:1). The preceding verses contained an exhortation to those in the days of youth. Our text continues that thought and completes it. The calling is to “remember,” not in the sense of looking at what is past, which belongs to the elderly, but in the sense of holding in mind. Hold in mind, as constantly before your mind, thy Creator. Do so now, in the present, and daily,...

In this section of Ecclesiastes, Solomon is drawing a series of conclusions from the truth that death closes the door of life as the one event that comes to all, whether the righteous or the wicked. In natural man this truth stirs him to sin (Eccl. 9:3). For the believer, it means that his life in this world is shaped by the transitory vanity of life under the sun. The first conclusion, therefore, is that our focus must be to serve God with thanksgiving, rejoicing in marriage and in our daily bread and labor as our portion under the sun...

Previous article in this series: February 1, 2018, p. 202. We saw last time that one event, namely death, comes upon all, both the righteous and the wicked without distinction. This shapes the lives of the sons of men, who are fallen in sin and who shall die. The reason it shapes the lives of men lies in the finality of death and the contrast between the living and the dead. In setting forth this truth and its implications, Solomon turns, first of all, to a description of this contrast in its various elements. This is similar to his approach...

We saw last time that Solomon has reached a certain limitation in the wisdom he sought. He has just said, “Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it out” (Eccl. 8:17). God’s works transcend man’s understanding, and beholding those works under the sun there is much hidden from us in God’s counsel....

Previous article in this series: December 1, 2016, p. 105. Ecclesiastes 8:1-5 “Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed” (Eccl. 8:1). The conclusion reached in the preceding chapter is that wisdom, which is of God, true spiritual wisdom and understanding, is a rare gift of God in a fallen world. Fallen man walks after his own carnal wisdom, which is the folly of sin. The problem is “…God hath made man upright; but they have sought...

Previous article in this series: November 15, 2016, p. 85. Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:27-29 In the preceding verses, Solomon spoke of the limits of his wisdom and understanding of God’s works and, concerning man, of sin and its deceitfulness....

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Eccl. 5:2 When thou enterest the house of God! . . . . For that occasion, the Word of God in this connection sounds a threefold warning. The house of God, to which the text refers, was, of course, in the first place, the old dispensational temple, the sanctuary of Israel, where the people of God were wont to worship, to offer their prayers, to bring their...

Previous article in this series: October 1, 2016, p. 8.   All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: and I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from...

Previous article in this series: August 2016, p. 443. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. Ecclesiastes 7:19-22 The Word of God is a light in a world of darkness and sin. The knowledge of that Word, directing us to God Himself, also shines on the works...