Ecclesiastes
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Ecclesiastes 5
Ecclesiastes 5
1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.
1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Commentary · verse 1
2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool’s voice with a multitude of words.
2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
Commentary · verses 2-3
A fool was not careful and caring with his words because a fool had no understanding.
4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.
5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Commentary · verses 4-5
When you make a vow (SAY), pay it (DO). It was better to not vow at all than to vow and not pay. When you SAY you will do something, you ought to DO it.
6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.
6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Commentary · verses 6-7
Again, Solomon's approach was not one of profitability, but of limiting unprofitability. Solomon showed how to be less unprofitable in our dealings with God. Solomon, like Job, did not think we could interact with God in a profitable manner.
8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
Commentary · verses 8-9
Solomon did not stay on the topic of God very long. Verses 8-9 began about the oppression of the poor but transitioned to the role of the king being "to be served" and not "to serve." Solomon was not facilitating the purpose and progress of others. He was not being a leader. In fact, Solomon was aware that the poor were oppressed and his rationalization was that God saw it so the king did not need to deal with it. The king was served by the field. Solomon rationalized why he did not need to strengthen the arm of the poor and needy. He had completely justified himself in doing the four causes of judgment. There was no way for Solomon to recover from this. Everything we will read from this point on was an effect of a person who was completely justified in his own eyes...
Doctrines on this passage
10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.
11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes?
10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
Commentary · verses 10-11
Solomon was focused on the satisfaction he received from physical things. He was right that this satisfaction died. However, we ought to seek satisfaction by making the spiritual our cause...our focus. Solomon also rationalized why he did not give to the poor: because it would only lead to dissatisfaction. It was almost like Solomon was telling the poor not to have anything because he had everything and it made him unhappy. Solomon ought to have helped the poor not be poor, which would have allowed them to focus on spiritual things instead of earthly things for survival. It also would have caused Solomon to focus on spiritual things.
12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:
12The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
Commentary · verses 12-13
Solomon saw keeping your riches to yourself as a grievous evil. Verse 12 almost implied the poor who worked were less unprofitable than the rich because at least they got a good night's sleep. Again, this would be a rationalization for why Solomon could convince himself he was helping the poor by not giving to them.
14and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
Commentary · verses 14-15
Man would take nothing with him when he was dead. Solomon was focused on the physical, so all of his conclusions resulted in unprofitability. However, it is possible to have spiritual reward that lasts for eternity after we physically die.
16And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.
18Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.
16And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
Commentary · verses 16-18
"Fullness of Bread" - "good for food" (Eve).
19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
Commentary · verse 19
Solomon was justifying himself.
20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Commentary · verse 20
Solomon began this chapter talking about how we cannot be profitable interacting with God. However, the chapter quickly turned into a rationalization for why Solomon did not need to help the needy. Solomon was not settled with his own answer to the problem of the poor and needy. It was almost like Solomon's unconscious brain knew the solution to his problem was helping the needy...and it (and God?) kept bringing him back to this contradiction regardless of whatever Solomon was focused on.
Be reverent when going to God and be ready to hear (listen, obey, understand). Solomon now turned his focus from others to God...