In our study of Ecclesiastes chapter nine, we look at an earthly life lived without hope for eternity. They say that the most dangerous man is one that has no hope and we will see how that is true.
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I applied myself to all of this, sifted through it and concluded that the righteous and the wise, along with their deeds, are in God's hands - a person cannot know whether these people and deeds will be rewarded with love or with hatred; all options are open.
Solomon refers to chapter eight and the fact that he found out that wisdom has its limits when it comes to men. His conclusion is that, apart from God, no man knows what awaits him when he dies.
Anything can happen to anyone; the same thing can happen to the righteous as to the wicked, to the good and clean and to the unclean, to someone who offers a sacrifice and to someone who doesn't offer a sacrifice; it is the same for a good person as for a sinner, for someone who takes an oath rashly as for someone who fears to take an oath. This is another evil among all those done under the sun, that the same events can occur to anyone. Truly, the human mind is full of evil; and as long as people live, folly is in their hearts; after which they go to be with the dead.
There are many who believe that this world (the "here and now") is all that there is and that we all just die and decay away. This describes a life without consequences for our actions and so can lead to all kinds of evil things in this world. This is a lie from Satan and his desire is for people to believe this and be condemned to the judgment of Hell.
For as long as a person is linked with the living, there is hope - better to be a living dog than a dead lion! For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; there is no longer any reward for them, because all memory of them is lost. What they loved, what they hated and what they envied all disappeared long ago, and they no longer have a share in anything done under the sun.
Those who believe that this earthly existence is all there is will hold onto it at all costs. The "hope" that Solomon speaks of here is the false hope that the devil peddles and not the hope that we have in Christ. We must remember that Solomon is describing life for those who are apart from God.
So go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God has already accepted your deeds. Let your clothing always be white, and never fail to perfume your head. Enjoy life with the wife you have loved throughout your meaningless life that he has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for that is your allotted portion in life and in your labor that you work at under the sun. Whatever task comes your way to do, do it with all your strength; because in Sh'ol, where you will go, there is neither working nor planning, neither knowledge nor wisdom.
This passage speaks of the rich and the fact that they can enjoy the things of this life but, at the end of their days, they still go to the grave. If you believe that this world is all that there is, then, you will work at it to get the most out of it. There are those who spend their entire life trying to get more so that they can stay ahead of others and be considered "successful".
Yet another thing I observed under the sun is that races aren't won by the swift or battles by the strong, and that food doesn't go to the wise or wealth to the intelligent or favor to the experts; rather, time and chance rule them all.
Next, Solomon tells us of those who put their hope in luck or chance. In our world today it seems like everywhere you look there is a lottery or gambling and people with the "hope" of striking it rich. Many times they do win but it is only temporary as they tend to spend it foolishly and it goes quickly.
For people don't know when their time will come any more than fish taken in the fatal net or birds caught in a snare; similarly, people are snared at an unfortunate time, when suddenly it falls on them.
When you start thinking that life is just like a giant game of chance, then, you get to the point of living like today is your last day. That may sound good and it actually could be if you served Christ like He was coming back today. But, that is not what Solomon is speaking about. He is talking about people without Christ living it up like there is no tomorrow and no eternity to answer for our actions.
Here is something else I have seen as wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me: there was a small town with few people in it; and a great king came to attack it; he surrounded it and built massive siege-works against it. Now there was found in it a man who was poor but wise, and by his wisdom he saved the city; yet afterwards, nobody remembered that poor man. So, although I say that wisdom is better than strength, nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised; nobody pays attention to what he says.
Solomon tells a parable that compares wisdom and strength. In this we see a picture of the remnant of God's people and the role of a prophet. Many times the prophet was ignored or down-right despised as he shared a message from God. Most of the time, God used poor men to deliver the message that had the power to save the people.
A wise man speaking quietly is more worth heeding than the shouts of a ruler commanding fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but a person who makes a mistake can destroy much good.
Have you ever noticed that fools are usually the loudest and proudest of speakers? They will speak as though volume and quantity of words make up for their lack of wisdom. A wise man or woman will build up others while a fool/sinner will destroy.
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