February 20, 2024

Death is imminent, no one escapes it.

Ecclesiastes 9

Aaron Gabaldon
Tuesday's Devo

February 20, 2024

Tuesday's Devo

February 20, 2024

Tuesday's Devo

February 20, 2024

Tuesday's Devo

February 20, 2024

Big Book Idea

God defines where true meaning is found.

Key Verse | Ecclesiastes 9:2a

It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.

Ecclesiastes 9

Death Comes to All

1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. 2 It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, 1 9:2 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks and the evil to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.

Enjoy Life with the One You Love

7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

8 Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain 2 9:9 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a vapor or mere breath (see note on 1:2) life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, 3 9:10 Or finds to do with your might, do it for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Wisdom Better Than Folly

11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. 14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Footnotes

[1] 9:2 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks and the evil
[2] 9:9 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
[3] 9:10 Or finds to do with your might, do it
Table of Contents
Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Timeline

Author

The author of Ecclesiastes calls himself “the Preacher” (1:1). Some interpreters have concluded that this was Solomon, while others think he was a role-playing writer later than Solomon. Either way, the book claims that its wisdom comes from the “one Shepherd” (12:11), the Lord himself.

Theme and Interpretation of Ecclesiastes

The theme of Ecclesiastes is the necessity of fearing God in this fallen, confusing world. Each human being wants to understand all the ways God is acting in the world, but he cannot, because he is not God. And yet the faithful do not despair but cling to God, even when they cannot see what God is doing. The Lord deserves his people’s trust. They can leave everything to him while they seek to understand what it means to “fear God and keep his commandments” (12:13). This is true wisdom.

Key Themes

  1. The tragic reality of the fall. The Preacher is painfully aware that the creation has been damaged by sin (7:29; Rom. 8:20, 22). He speaks as one who eagerly awaits the resurrection age (Rom. 8:23).
  2. The “vanity” of life. The book begins and ends with the exclamation, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Eccles. 1:2; 12:8). The phrase pictures something fleeting and elusive. All the endeavors and pleasures of earthly life are only temporary. When one sees the consequences of sin in this fallen world, one is left in utter frustration, anger, and sorrow. The more one tries to understand life, the more mysterious it becomes (1:12–18).
  3. Sin and death. By sinning, human beings forfeited the righteousness they originally had before God (7:29), and thus all people are sinners (7:20). Death was a result of the fall. The Preacher is only too aware of this dreadful reality that affects everyone (e.g., 2:14–17; 3:18–21; 6:6).
  4. The joy and the frustration of work. God gave Adam work to accomplish prior to the fall, but part of the punishment of his sin was that his work would become difficult (Gen. 2:15; 3:17–19). Both realities are seen in the Preacher’s experience, as he finds his work to be both satisfying (Eccles. 2:10, 24; 3:22; 5:18–20; 9:9–10) and aggravating (2:18–23; 4:4–8).
  5. The grateful enjoyment of God’s good gifts. The Preacher spends a great deal of time commenting on the twisted realities of a fallen world, but this does not blind him to the beauty of God’s world (3:11). Nor does it cause him to despise God’s good gifts of human relationships, food, drink, and satisfying labor (5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7, 9). These are to be received humbly and enjoyed fully as blessings from God.
  6. The fear of God. The fact that “all is vanity” should drive people to take refuge in God, fearing and revering him (7:18; 8:12–13; 12:13–14).

Outline

  1. Introduction and Theme (1:1–3)
  2. First Catalog of “Vanities” (1:4–2:26)
  3. Poem: A Time for Everything (3:1–8)
  4. Fear God, the Sovereign One (3:9–15)
  5. Second Catalog of “Vanities” (3:16–4:16)
  6. Fear God, the Holy and Righteous One (5:1–7)
  7. Life “Under the Sun” (5:8–7:24)
  8. The Heart of the Problem: Sin (7:25–29)
  9. More on Life “Under the Sun” (8:1–12:7)
  10. Final Conclusion and Epilogue (12:8–14)
The Global Message of Ecclesiastes

The Global Message of Ecclesiastes

Life in a Broken World

The book of Ecclesiastes explains the world in all its complexity, confusion, and frustration with striking honesty. “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity,” declares the Preacher, echoing the cries of many who have seen, experienced, and recognized the dreadful fallenness of our world (Eccles. 1:2). The global reality both then and now is that our broken world is filled with oppression of the powerless (4:1), oppression of the poor (5:8), and violation of justice and righteousness (5:8). There is nothing new under the sun (1:9), no lasting earthly glory (1:11), no ultimately fulfilling pleasure (2:1–11), and no certainty in life except that it will end in death and judgment (2:14–16; 3:18–20; 6:6; 12:14).

In a fallen world there are many painful and complicated questions, but the message of Ecclesiastes is that there is an answer. That answer is not an easy one, but it is simple: fear the Lord (Eccles. 3:14; 5:7; 12:13–14). Though this world is filled with oppression and injustice, ultimately it will be well for those who fear God (8:12) and it will not be well for the wicked (8:13).

This world is filled with both blessings and challenges, neither of which provides ultimate answers or clarity about the meaning of life. If this world is all there is, then all is vanity. But when we trust the Lord in the face of circumstances that discourage us from doing so, we have a sure hope that we will one day be restored to him. Indeed, from a whole-Bible perspective, there is one who is the way (John 14:6), who is the comforter (2 Cor. 1:3), who is wisdom itself (1 Cor. 1:24). We will not easily figure God out, nor can we fathom all that he does (Eccles. 3:11). He is not a subject to be scrutinized or solved, nor are his ways easily comprehended (8:17). But God has spoken to us in his Son, who gives us the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

Purpose in Life and the Purpose of Life

The message of Ecclesiastes is that however difficult things may be because of the curse upon mankind in this fallen world, there is purpose and grace for all. There is enduring hope and satisfying life as we walk with God. The very gifts of God that, apart from God, prove hollow and disappointing, can be enjoyed truly and satisfyingly—not as the main purpose of life but as a means to know God in a deeper way. Our message to the world is that there is purpose in life regarding the blessings we receive from God such as food, drink, and work, but that these blessings are not the purpose of life.

Purpose in life. There is a proper place, time, and perspective for each season in life and for each blessing from God (Eccles. 3:1–8). The blessings of common grace are to be recognized as coming from the very hand of God. Work and its enjoyment are blessings from God (2:24; 3:22; 5:18–20). There is purpose in life for work, but neither work itself nor the hoarding of possessions are the purpose of life. When work becomes the governing purpose of life, when envy is our driving force, or when we seek satisfaction in wealth, we are left disappointed (2:18–23; 4:4). There is purpose in life for other gifts of common grace such as food, drink, and relationships (2:24–26; 3:12–13; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7, 9). The proper enjoyment of such gifts comes from God, who alone satisfies (3:13; 5:19).

The purpose of life. This then is the purpose of life: to fear God, who is sovereign (Eccles. 3:11, 14), holy in heaven (5:2, 7), and judge of all (12:13–14). He is the Giver of gifts and the one who grants even the ability to enjoy these gifts (5:19). In receiving such gifts of life we are to find our greatest joy in him (5:20).

The Global Church’s Mission to a Broken World

The book of Ecclesiastes provides a brutally honest and refreshing message for the global church to proclaim to the world. In one sense the Christian message is other-worldly, yet it also addresses the sober realities that face each society and every individual in every generation. The message of the gospel not only affirms the disappointments of life, it also offers the only true hope for meaningful living.

The Giver and the gifts. There is a Creator to be worshiped (Eccles. 12:1). He has made all things. Life is to be enjoyed as being from him and to him. The world must recognize the blessed common grace they have received in creation, life, work, and possessions. They should enjoy such blessings, but not as the purpose of life. The global church has a message of hope for a world that is “striving after wind” (1:14). Clinging to the gift rather than worshiping the Giver is meaningless. The wealthy are not to be envied, for they find neither ultimate satisfaction nor eternal security in their wealth (5:10–17). It is far better to enjoy fellowship with the Giver rather than simply enjoying his gifts, however good they may be.

The ultimate gift. Enjoyment of God is available ultimately because he sent his Son to die on behalf of sinners. There is none who is righteous before God (Eccles. 7:20). No one can escape death (2:16; 9:3, 12). God’s ways cannot be easily or fully fathomed (3:11), but he has indeed revealed himself clearly and gloriously in the person of his Son Jesus Christ (John 14:9). In the Son we have seen the one who both demonstrates and also empowers what it means to truly fear and enjoy God. There is grace abundant for all who recognize the vanity of their selfish living and remember and fear their Creator (Eccles. 12:1) and Redeemer (Isa. 54:5).

A sure hope. While Ecclesiastes sobers us with the reminder that this fallen world is filled with injustice, it also offers hope. Christians are to be active in seeking justice and encouraging the oppressed within society (Isa. 1:17). But we need not despair at the imperfect justice of this world because God will bring final and perfect justice one day (Eccles. 3:17). For the oppressed and the victims of injustice this is indeed good news. It is not vanity to fear and follow God (8:10–13). To those in the global church who suffer under persecution for the sake of the gospel there is the comfort that God does indeed see them, take care of them, and remember them.

A sovereign Lord. There is one who is in control. God is in control when times are good and when times are bad (Eccles. 7:14). We are not in control—which is a great blessing, despite the ways in which we often seek to control our lives. Our message to the world is to abandon striving after control and to embrace the one who is in control. Every building and work of art will one day turn to dust, but there is one who is eternal and whose works last forever (3:14). Our message to the world is to abandon the quest for self-glory and the accumulation of possessions and to embrace the blessed and wise God-centered life of sober hope.

This is the glorious Christian vision for life that the church must embrace and display for the world to see.

Ecclesiastes Fact #1: Ecclesiastes

Fact: Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes encourages God’s people to trust him in a fallen and often confusing world, in which sin and heartache touch every corner of the globe. We are to “fear God and keep his commandments” (12:13), even when we cannot understand everything that is going on around us.

Ecclesiastes Fact #2: Vanity, vanities, and vain

Fact: Vanity, vanities, and vain

The words vanity, vanities, and vain occur nearly 40 times in Ecclesiastes. Their literal meaning is “vapor” or “breath,” so they are used to describe things that can be fleeting or elusive, like the search for meaning and purpose in life.

Ecclesiastes Fact #5: “Eat, drink, and be merry”?

Fact: “Eat, drink, and be merry”?

“Eat, drink, and be merry”? Ecclesiastes advises those who serve God to enjoy his gifts of food, drink, comfort, married life, and honest work (9:7–9; compare 2:24–26; 3:13; 5:19–20).

Study Notes

Eccles. 9:1–6 No matter how difficult or humble a person’s circumstances may be, those circumstances are to be preferred to dying, because a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Study Notes

Eccles. 9:7–10 When godly people find enjoyment in life, they know that it is due to God’s “approval” or “favor” (v. 7; compare 2:24–26; 3:13; 5:19–20).

Study Notes

Eccles. 9:11–12 From the human perspective, many things appear to be the result of pure chance.

Study Notes

Eccles. 9:13–16 The Preacher gives an example of wisdom’s ability to produce a remarkable victory. Even when such wisdom is forgotten or despised, it is still to be valued over earthly might.

Study Notes

Eccles. 9:13–18 Wisdom can achieve much good and is worth pursuing. Yet its benefits can be undone by evil.

Eccles. 9:17–18 Just as one wise man can successfully overcome the worst odds, so also one sinner destroys much good.

S3:037 Ecclesiastes 9

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Ecclesiastes 9

We all die; no one can escape that. Even Christ died that we may have life, but He did not stay dead! So what's the point of life if we all die? As believers, we know death isn't the finality of our souls. We know we will be in heaven, so why do we have to struggle through the daily grind of a job that we may not like, a car that isn't nice, or a house that is too small?

Life itself is a gift. Remember Eden? Perfection. That was God's plan all along, but we sinned and ruined it. That doesn't mean that God changed His plan with creating us, though. Life is still meant to be enjoyed, and we are still called to work hard. "But I said, 'I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.'" (Isaiah 49:4)

Sometimes, life seems so bleak, and we wonder why we have to suffer the toils of this sinful world. I want you to read Solomon's words again: "But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion." (Ecclesiastes 9:4) Once we die, we have no keepsakes, no money, no possessions; we are forgotten. That does not mean that you are left in some abyss. You will either be in heaven with God or in hell without Him. But Solomon's point here is that it is better to live than to die even if life is toilsome.

Enjoy life, it is a gift! Enjoy memories, the people around you, the things that God has given you to steward, and the sunshine even when it is 100°. Enjoy delicious food and amazing adventures. God has given us so much in life to enjoy when we center our lives around Him. 

This month's memory verse

Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

– Exodus 34:6b

Discussion Questions

1. How often do you compare your possessions or wealth with those of the people around you? How can you turn from comparison to praising the Lord for His provision?

2. What causes you to doubt how blessed you are with God's precious gift of life? Read Psalm 139:13-16 to remind you of how God values your life.

3. How can you live differently, knowing that your worth isn't found in your abilities or possessions?

 

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

MS

Michael Scaman

The next day a new substitute teacher and he is the philosopher Albert Camus. His topic is Eccesiastes 9. In this text, we confront the uncertainties of life while striving to find value in our existence and wisdom amidst the chaos. Ecclesiastes reminds us that life's path is riddled with uncertainty, where the righteous and the wicked alike are subject to the capricious whims of fate. Whether we are met with love or hate, joy or sorrow, it all remains shrouded in the enigmatic grasp of destiny. Yet, even in the face of life's unpredictable nature, we are urged to cherish the vitality of existence. Like a living dog, humble though it may be, still roams under the sun, so too do we find solace in the simple yet profound value of life itself. Embrace life's simple pleasures with gusto. In the midst of the chaos, amidst the clamor of existence, there lies the divine sanction to revel in joy, love, and companionship. As we navigate life, we are confronted with the eternal struggle between wisdom and folly. While chance may reign supreme, wisdom remains a steadfast guide in our journey. It is the beacon of clarity amidst the darkness, offering solace in the face of uncertainty. In a world where the wise are often overlooked and their words left unheard, we recognize that wisdom holds the key to understanding life's mysteries and navigating its complexities. Seek wisdom. Shun folly. In conclusion, Cherish the value of existence, revel in life's joys. Seek solace in the enduring wisdom that guides us through the darkness. But will we be like a fictional person I made condemned to eternally roll a boulder uphill only to have it roll back down, symbolizing the futile struggle of human existence? Even an absurdity. He stares in the air and says 'perhaps I met the limits of my absurdity?' Bell rings. Mary rolls her eyes and whispers to the other kids, "Meaning can be found in God. Not absurd!."
HS

Hugh Stephenson

I have had many people tell me that God just wants us to be happy. In a message several years ago I was told God wants me to be Holy, as that has the best chance of making me happy in a way that was enduring. More on this below. The verse that stood out to me is the first verse I read…verse 1 1- But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. So is this all just God’s random action with no real underlying reason or purpose? And what is a world view anyway?
HS

Hugh Stephenson

So, how important is a world view? And how important is a Christian world view? One of the early learnings in the Prodigal Ministry is how to think about these questions. If I have an accurate world view then I can better understand what has happened and why. In other words, I no longer think about having a prodigal as some kind of punishment God is putting me through. Neither do I ask myself, “Why is He punishing me when I have done everything I was supposed to do.” But that’s exactly what I thought when Amy and I went to Prodigal for the first time, just over 11 years ago. I’m not sure how to describe what my world view was other than to call it “transactional”. DO GOOD GET GOOD 

DO BAD GET BAD Reflecting…that’s the message I got growing up. Stay in line and follow the rules and your life will be a lot easier. But I had no intention of following the rules as long as I could be certain my parents wouldn’t find out when I didn’t. I had a perfect batting average my whole adolescent life…until February of my Senior year in high school. (Too long of a story for here.) Also, the Christian World View will sometimes allow for DO GOOD GET GOOD to be true. Even more confusing is when DO BAD GET GOOD happens. So, with the Christian World View, where does that take me in terms of the three big questions- Who is God? Who am I? Why am I here? Here’s a “Sunday School Answer” I was taught a few years back- Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. This is from - THE WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM What this leaves me short of is how to understand and orient towards real hardship and tragedy. In this, the suffering verses teach me a lot. The great teacher on this is Hebrews 12.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

For me, it boils down to how can I get to the point where my answer is as close as possible to Jesus’s when He was literally sweating blood? Luke 22:42-44 - "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Jesus was one with His Heavenly Father. That’s the only way He could accept the penalty of every sin past, present, and future. He knew the Father’s love so well and so deeply that He knew what the answer had to be. Even though the cost would be almost more than he could bear. But it would be worth it. In recent years my favorite passage in the Bible has become John 13-17. This is the end of Jesus’s time with the disciples. The time for The Passion to begin is very, very close. He talks at length about the need for unity with God. And then prays the High Priestly Prayer. https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-high-priestly-prayer.html In this prayer I see that unity with God is why I am here. That’s the return to an Eden like relationship. It’s the way it was always supposed to be. And will be again. It is only when I am on that path that I can bear the hardships of this fallen world. It’s the only way I got through the very early death of my mother, father, and sister. It’s the only way I was able to learn what God wanted me to learn through more than a decade of a very tough prodigal situation. In recent times- it’s the only way I can read the news without losing my temper. More importantly, it reinforces the need for me to pray for the world. So, what does a John 17 life look like? Please read the wiki on Horatio Spafford. He knows what it looks like- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Spafford The amazing Phil Wickham knows also and sings of it at the Dove Awards in Nashville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLTZydWnAc0 “There will be day…”. Yes, there will. Until then may we all serve with endurance and perseverance in the Army of the People of God Eccles. 9:1–6 The Unpredictability of Life and Certainty of Death. No one knows whether a person’s life in this world will be pleasant or difficult, regardless of whether the person is righteous or wicked. Nevertheless, in spite of this apparent “randomness,” one can be assured that the godly person is in the hand of God (v. 1).
GJ

greg jones

Good morning Aaron. Really like the last paragraph. Hugh’s comments from yesterday about those things and a need to know purpose when those things are abundant to enjoy life more fully resonate with me also. Reading Solomon’s words again Ecclesiastes 9:4. “That does not mean that you are left in some abyss. You will either be in heaven with God or in hell without Him. But Solomon's point here is that it is better to live than to die even if life is toilsome.” Solomon, like the rest of the Old Testament isn’t concerned with heaven or hell. Unless maybe you’re reading a KJV translation. In the KJV translation when the Hebrew word Sheol is used the translators would sometimes use the word hell and other times use the word grave depending on context. The Hebrew doesn’t make distinctions in context it consistently uses the word Sheol to describe the place all the dead go to. For an example in Proverbs the book we just finished Sheol is mentioned nine times. Seven times in the King James Sheol is translated as “hell” and twice it is translated as “the grave”. The ESV consistently uses the word Sheol nine times in Proverbs. The NIV like the KJV never uses the word Sheol. Also like the KJV the NIV uses “the grave” as a translation for Sheol some but never hell. Instead it uses a word like death or a term like realm of the dead. The concept of a separate heaven and hell as a gathering place for the dead in Judaism shows up as a new feature in the NT. Like synagogues, Rabbis, demon possessions and some other things it is a new development in the evolution of Judaism between the time of Old and New Testament. That later development works it way into the first English translation of the OT by how the translators make a distinction between the grave and hell depending on who’s being talked about. In psalms for example if David talks about dying he goes to Sheol and KJV translates as grave. If he talks about his enemies dying and going to Sheol the KJV translates as hell. KJV and NIV translations of Sheol The verses in Proverbs (ESV is always Sheol) Proverbs 1:12 KJV-grave NIV-grave Proverbs 5:5 KJV-hell NIV-grave Proverbs 7:27 KJV-hell NIV-grave Proverbs 9:18 KJV-hell NIV-realm of the dead. Proverbs 15:11 KJV-hell and destruction NIV-death and destruction Proverbs 15:24 KJV-hell NIV-realm of the dead Proverbs 23:14 KJV-hell NIV-death Proverbs 27:20 KJV-hell and destruction NIV-death and destruction Proverbs 30:16 KJV-grave NIV-grave
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks, Aaron! A friend recently posted on Twitter: Working on a talk. What are some Bible verses we will never see embroidered in a pillow or gracing the front of a calendar or featured as “quote of the day”? This morning I read v. 4, "A live dog is better than a dead lion." Yeah, we'll never see THAT on a plaque or a coffee cup at Hobby Lobby! But then I came across v. 7--"Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do." I had to smile. Prohibition (1920-1933) had a HUGE impact on the American church, and there are denominations that proudly take a firm no-alcohol stance. Do they skip this verse when preaching exegetically through Ecclesiastes?
AL

Amy Lowther

1. It is always interesting to note what people have, but God helps me remember what I have. When you value yourself and see yourself like God, your value will be good and come from within you not from comparing yourself to others. 2. Extreme pain can make me forget how blessed I am with God’s precious gift of life. 3. I experience LESS stress and GREATER happiness. Aaron - Thank you for sharing your ideas. You made an excellent point in saying, “Life itself is a gift”. Things in life should be appreciated and respected like God prefers.