Ecclesiastes 4-9
Ecclesiastes 4-9
The Teacher set forth the argument that because sin had so devastated life “under the sun,” or, “under heaven,” satisfaction in the daily-grind of life is reserved for those who fear God. He “observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun” (4.1), and concluded that sin had so spoiled any hope of satisfaction apart from God that if one were not going to fear Him, it would be better if they had never been born (4.2-3)! In light of this reality, He made several observations about the level of one’s satisfaction in life, and their fear of God:
- Those who do not fear God will not be satisfied by wealth (4.4-16). The teacher looked over the vocational pursuits of man and recognized that in many cases one is devoted to their work out of a sense of jealousy of a friend. This prompted the Teacher to probe the relationship between the isolated rich man and one who is poor but has companions. His conclusion? “There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. ‘So who am I struggling for,’ he asks, ‘and depriving myself from good?’ This too is futile and a miserable task” (v. 8)
- Those who fear God pray in reverence, avoiding rash vows (5.1-7). The Teacher warned: “Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do…do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few” (vv. 1, 2)
- Only by fearing God can one enjoy their wealth (5.8-6.12). Here the Teacher observed the wealthy, sad man who didn’t fear God in the abundance of his life. He died in misery, causing the Teacher to propose that “a stillborn child is better off than he” (6.3). The Teacher further observed that: “The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income” (5.10), and yet, “The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much” (5.12)! These two scenes cemented the idea for the teacher; only by fearing God could one enjoy any abundance. He concluded that, “it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward” (5.18). Indeed, it is a “tragedy” (6.1) if one has riches from God but is not able to enjoy them in the few days he has here, “under the sun” (6.1, 12)
- Only those who fear God can interpret the extremes of life, and enjoy a sense of balance in it (7.15-22). The Teacher proposed that fearing God served to protect one from the excesses that entrap those who live in a sinful world
- The fear of God protects one from unfulfilling sexual relations (7.23-29). If one does not fear God, his sexual appetite may lead him to “the woman who is a trap, her heart a net, and her hands chains” (v. 26). Who can escape such a one? It is only the one who pleases God; but the Teacher noted that “the sinner will be captured by her” (v. 26)
- Those who fear God live at peace with the civil authorities (8.1-17). The Teacher observed: “Although a sinner commits crime a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before Him. However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God” (vv. 12-13). This reality provided the Teacher an opportunity to restate the implication of his thesis: “I commended enjoyment, because there is nothing better for man under the sun except to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the years of his days that God gives him under the sun” (v. 15)
- In light of the immanence of death, one should fear God and enjoy life (9.1-18). Since even the wisest person will end just as the fool, the Teacher urged his audience: “Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works…Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going” (vv. 7, 10)
The Teacher’s statement that one should exercise self-control when approaching God’s throne, because “God is in heaven and you are on earth” (5.2), gets to the heart of his argument. He understood that life on earth, “under the sun,” is lived in a dominion of futility and spiritual imperfection. The argument of Ecclesiastes is a product of its age—the long period of preparation for the days of the Messiah, fulfillment, spiritual perfection. The thrust of the storyline of Scripture is that something new has arrived in Jesus, a new situation, the formation of a new people with new resources and new access to God. While we yet long for the consummation of this new creation when Christ returns, it is nonetheless the case that Jesus’ death and resurrection marked a fundamental turning in salvation history, when the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve would no longer dominate life “under the sun” for all who believe in Him. The author to the Hebrews sought to fortify his audience as they endured the opposition of those whose hearts were set fully on life “under the sun,” those who didn’t fear God. His exhortations excel the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, for the new age had dawned; he wrote:
“Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He has inaugurated for us, through the curtain (that is, His flesh); and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb 10.19-23).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com