Ecclesiastes 9
A Common Destiny for All (9:1–12)
1–6 In this chapter the Teacher continues to show us the limits of human reasoning; human (or natural) wisdom gives us practical insights into life, but it cannot explain life’s meaning.
For example, we humans cannot control our destiny; whether people love us or hate us is mainly in God’s hands (verse 1). Everyone ends up in the same place, the grave (Ecclesiastes 2:14; 3:20); this is true whether a person is bad or good, whether he is honest and speaks on oath or whether he is dishonest and refuses to take an oath (verse 2). Because good and evil seem to be rewarded alike, people are encouraged to do evil (verse 3); what’s the advantage in doing good! All we have is this life, and then we’re gone. Yet we can at least “hope for the best” (verse 4). The dead have no hope whatever; everything about them is forgotten, ended (verses 5–6). And indeed, from an earthly perspective, all this is true.
7–10 Therefore, says the Teacher, seize the moment! Enjoy your food and drink, because God’s favor is now (verse 7). Always be clothed in white—live cleanly—and anoint your head with oil—as for a festive occasion (verse 8). Enjoy your wife, your family, and your work (verse 9), because when you die you’ll enjoy them no longer (verse 10). This is the classic statement of purely humanistic “wisdom” (see Isaiah 22:13; 1 Corinthians 15:32). Fortunately for us, God’s wisdom—revealed through Scripture and the Holy Spirit—is much, much greater.
11–12 Here the Teacher gives a further example of natural “wisdom”: everything in life is determined by chance, by fate.21 Speed, strength, wisdom and brains do not determine the outcome of our lives; the fastest man in the race can stumble and fall. At any moment, evil times can come upon us unexpectedly (verse 12).
Wisdom Better Than Folly (9:13–18)
13–18 In this section, the Teacher tells a story illustrating both the benefits and the limitations of wisdom. First, his story shows the superiority of wisdom over strength (Ecclesiastes 7:19): the poor wise man prevailed over the powerful king (verses 14–15). Later on, however, the wise man was forgotten and his wisdom was despised (verse 16). Wisdom may be better than weapons of war (verse 18), but it can be shouted down by fools—even by one sinner.
