Ecclesiastes 8:17 Komentář

Solomon, in this chapter, comes to recommend wisdom to us as the most powerful antidote against both the temptations and vexations that arise from the vanity of the world. Here is, I. The benefit and praise of wisdom (Ecc 8:1). II. Some particular instances of wisdom prescribed to us. 1. We must keep in due subjection to the government God has set over us (Ecc 8:2-5). 2. We must get ready for sudden evils, and especially for sudden death (Ecc 8:6-8). 3. We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange (Ecc 8:9, Ecc 8:10). The impunity of oppressors makes them more daring (Ecc 8:11), but in the issue it will be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked (Ecc 8:12, Ecc 8:13), and therefore the present prosperity of the wicked and afflictions of the righteous ought not to be a stumbling-block to us (Ecc 8:14). 4. We must cheerfully use the gifts of God's providence (Ecc 8:15). 5. We must with an entire satisfaction acquiesce in the will of God, and, not pretending to find the bottom, we must humbly and silently adore the depth of his unsearchable counsels, being assured they are all wise, just, and good (Ecc 8:16, Ecc 8:17).

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 8 The preacher begins this chapter with the praise of wisdom, from its excellency and usefulness, Ecc 8:1; and advises men, if they would live quietly and comfortably, to honour and obey the king that rules over them, and not be rebellious against him, since he has great power and authority, Ecc 8:2; and not be anxious about things to come, since there is a set time for everything, and future things cannot be known nor frustrated; and, particularly, there is no avoiding the hour and stroke of death, Ecc 8:6; Though there are times wherein wicked men rule over others, it is to their own hurt, and they must die; and though they may be pompously buried, yet are soon forgotten, Ecc 8:9; and the reason of their insolence is the delay of justice; yet there will come a time when it shall be well with them that fear God, and ill with the wicked, though they may live long in wickedness; and for the present it may befall good then what wicked men deserve, and wicked men may have that which might, be thought more proper for good men, Ecc 8:11; wherefore this should give no uneasiness; but men should cheerfully and freely enjoy what they have with thankfulness, there being nothing better than that under the sun, Ecc 8:15; and the chapter is concluded with observing the unsearchableness of divine Providence, Ecc 5:16.

Then I beheld all the work of God,.... Not of creation, but of Providence; took notice of it, contemplated on it, considered it, and weighed it well; viewed the various steps and methods of it, to find out, if possible, at least, some general rule by which it proceeded: but all so various and uncertain, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: he can find out that it is done, but not the reason why it is done: the ways of God are in the deep, and not to be traced; they are unsearchable and past finding out; there is a a depth of wisdom and knowledge, in them, inscrutable by the wisest of men, Psa 72:19; because, though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; Noldius and others render it "although"; not only a man that, in a slight and negligent manner, seeks after the knowledge of the works of divine Providence, and the reasons of them; but even one that is diligent and laborious at it is not able to find them out; they being purposely concealed by the Lord, to answer some ends of his; yea, further, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it; a man of a great natural capacity, such an one as Solomon himself, though he proposes to himself, and determines within himself to find it out, and sets himself to the work, and uses all the means and methods he can devise, and imagines with himself he shall be able to find out the reasons of the divine procedure, in his dispensations towards the righteous and the wicked; and yet, after all, he is not able to do it. The Targum is, "what shall be done in the end of days;'' wherefore it is best for a man to be easy and quiet, and enjoy what he has in the best manner he can, and submit to the will of God. Next: Ecclesiastes Chapter 9

"When I applied my heart to see wisdom and work which takes place on earth- for even day or night its eyes see no sleep. And I perceived all the work of God. Indeed man cannot fathom the events that occur under the sun, inasmuch as man tries strenuously to search, but cannot fathom it. And even though a wise man should presume to know, he cannot know it. "He searches for the causes and understanding of the world, why this or that is done, and for what reason the world is steered by good or bad turns of events; why one is born blind and frail, another born healthy and with sight; why one is poor, another rich; why one is of high birth, another inglorious. Nothing else is of use, unless he is tortured in his search, and has an argument instead of anguish, but he does not find what he is looking for. And when he says that he knows, then he has the beginning of ignorance in him, and starts to sink into deeper madness. But he shows later that justice is the cause of all things, why things happen the way they do, but that those causes hide in secret and are not able to be understood by men. <h2>CHAPTER 9</h2>

(Ecc. 8:1-17) Praise of true wisdom continued (Ecc 7:11, &c.). "Who" is to be accounted "equal to the wise man? . . . Who (like him) knoweth the interpretation" of God's providences (for example, Ecc 7:8, Ecc 7:13-14), and God's word (for example, see on Ecc 7:29; Pro 1:6)? face to shine-- (Ecc 7:14; Act 6:15). A sunny countenance, the reflection of a tranquil conscience and serene mind. Communion with God gives it (Exo 34:29-30). boldness--austerity. changed--into a benign expression by true wisdom (religion) (Jam 3:17). MAURER translates, "The shining (brightness) of his face is doubled," arguing that the Hebrew noun for "boldness" is never used in a bad sense (Pro 4:18). Or as Margin, "strength" (Ecc 7:19; Isa 40:31; Co2 3:18). But the adjective is used in a bad sense (Deu 28:50).