Much of life is
mysterious. Much of what happens in the world and in our lives leaves us
puzzled. The Universe in which we live is mysterious. Man’s capability to
understand complex things, and yet not understand them, is mysterious. The causes of every human action are so complex, and
so deeply hidden in unconscious motivations that it is impossible to know why
anything ever happened. As we concluded the 8th chapter we saw that,
“man cannot find out the work that God
does under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it
out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out” (8:17).
The mysteries of
God’s providences occupy much of Solomon’s mind as he pursues the mysterious nature
of wisdom. There is an apparent limit
to man’s wisdom and understanding. In this
chapter Solomon makes further observations concerning our life under the sun. As
we now listen and engage with the Word
of God in worship, I want us to thank God
throughout for the fact that in this
life we are not in the hand of mystery, but we are in His hands.
1. 9:1-2 Solomon observes that the righteous are firmly kept in the good hands of God, but life in all its forms, happens to one and all.
The opening statement of our chapter sets the tone, and it is one of
Solomon’s wonderful discoveries: “But all of this I laid to heart, examining
it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God“ (9:1).
Solomon is about to make some sobering
statements concerning human nature, but before he does that he makes
this important observation: “the
righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.” Thank God for this! This is
very comforting to know. Whatever
happens in this life under the sun, the righteous, believers in God are not in
the hand of fate. They are in the hand
of God.
Having said that, Solomon goes on to observe, that this does not mean
that believers are thereby separated from the common experiences of all
mankind. Again and again as God’s children we need to remind ourselves that we
do not yet live in heaven. We live in a fallen world in which sin distorts and
Satan destroys. We see in a mirror dimly. We know in part (1 Cor. 13:12).
And so, as believers in God, along with every other person under the
sun, we are subjected to the experiences of love and hate (9:1b). The righteous and the wicked, the good and the evil, the
clean and the unclean, those that sacrifice to God and those that dont, the
good and the sinner - ALL experience the ups and downs of life in a fallen
world.
God’s love for his own is not defined by the common things that happen
to us. God’s love is shown in His providential care for His people through it
all. So thank God that we are in His
hands.
2. 9:3 Solomon observes that all men have essentially an evil heart and madness is in their hearts while they live.
This observation
flies in the face of so many who maintain that all people are essentially good.
Solomon, in his deep searching does not come to such a conclusion. He knows the
heart of man. He understands the theology and consequence of the fall[1].
He knows the irrational madness of men. Charles Bridges asks, “And
what worse madness is human nature capable of than fleeing from God, from His mercy, from
heaven, serving the devil, engaging in
the world of vanity and sin, living
under the curse of God and on the brink of damnation? And yet more awful is the
thought, that … madness is in their hearts while they live. They persist in
this course to the end. Time will soon be a blank and a shadow- eternity is a
present reality where the madmen will be
brought to their senses in hopeless conviction. As sure as the Bible is true –
this is true. ”After that they go to the dead!” … Alas, not the blessed dead
that die in the Lord (Rev. 14:13). Awful beyond thought or conception is the immortality of
hell.[2]
Thank God then, that when
we have put our faith and trust in Him through Jesus Christ,
our evil hearts are dealt with, and we obtain a righteousness
that is not our own.
3.
9:4-6 Following this Solomon observes that death comes
indiscriminately to all men and from this perspective the living are better off than the dead.
These verses must be
read in context. Remember that Solomon is deeply aware of man’s evil nature and
madness. Now here is his reasoning: While
there is life, while we are joined with the living, there is hope. Solomon had
not been given the developed doctrine of heaven and hell which we receive in
the New Testament from the lips of the Lord Jesus and His apostles. But this is
what he understands: Living is better than facing the unknown dark future of the dead, and so
he quotes this Proverb, “A living dog is
better than a dead lion”. A dog was considered the lowest of animals, while
the lion the greatest. So, it is better to be a living dog, for a dog has life.
A dead lion has nothing.
Thank God that with the more complete revelation in
Christ and the NT, we know that the dead in Christ are better off than those
that are alive in this sinful world. While we live then, we have opportunity to prepare ourselves for eternity
– for heaven.
4. 9:7-10 How to live in the meantime: Enjoy the enjoyable providences of life.
Here is good advice for believers: While evil is real and madness is real, and love and hate are real, because this world is a fallen world, remember that the righteous and truly wise are in the hand of God (9:1). This is our foundational truth and the key to living our lives as believers in this world. So in the light of this, Solomon counsels believers, “Don’t be gloomy; don’t get morbid”! Be joyful (see also 8:15). Yes, death is a reality, and it is good to keep ultimate realities in mind), but live while you live! Enjoy what God gives you now.
(i) Enjoy your food and drink (9:7). The first word in v.7 is ‘go !’ No time to waste in this matter! Get on with it.
(ii) Enjoy getting dressed, and enjoy making yourself pretty and all ‘oiled up’ with lotions, perfumes etc. (9:8)
(iii) Enjoy your marriage (9:9)
(iv) Enjoy whatever your hand finds you to do, and do it with all your might (9:10)
Thank God that He commands us to be joyful always[3].
Thank God that in Christ our joy is so much fuller than simply enjoying earthly
pleasure. Thank God also that Sheol (9:10)
holds no terrors for believers. The Hebrews thought that
Sheol was a pit deep under the earth
(Deut. 32:22) where the all men went
after death. They thought of it as a “land
of forgetfulness” (Ps. 88:12)
and darkness (Job 38:17), where men
exist as shadowy replicas of their former selves (cf. Isa 14:9,10). Note that the Bible teaches the doctrine of the immortality of
the soul! You are not dead when you are dead.
It is clear that in the Bible there is progressive revelation
concerning the nature of the afterlife, and Jesus and the NT
make it clear that justified
sinners go to an eternal heaven and
unreconciled sinners go to an
eternal hell.
5.
9:11-12 Solomon observes how God's providences so
often surprise us.
(i)
9:11a The
race is not always to the swift; One would
think that the fastest runner should always win the race. Not so! Something happens in the race. They fall;
someone cuts in before them; they start too late; they tear a hamstring.
(ii)
9:11b Nor the battle to the strong. One would think that the most powerful army should
be always victorious. Not so! The Bible illustrates the fact that an army of
Philistines can be put to flight by one Jonathan and his armour bearer[4]. Leviticus
26:8 teaches that with God’s
help “ five of you shall chase a hundred
and a hundred of you shall chase ten
thousand…”
(iii)
9:11c One would
think that wise men should always be well off. But this is not always so - even
bread is not always to the wise;the intelligent and the knowledgeable
are not always rich .
(iv)
9:11d Man is not in charge
of time and chance.
Everything happens according to
the counsel and foreknowledge of God, and according to the time He
determines. At one time, when Peter was strong
and assertive, Jesus warned him: “Truly,
truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk
wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and
another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (John 21:18).
Matthew Henry says, “A sovereign providence breaks men's measures, and blasts their hopes,
and teaches them that the way of man is not in himself, but subject to the
divine will. We must use means, but we must not trust them; if we succeed, we must give
God the praise ; if we do not succeed,
we must rest in his will and take our
lot…. “ Let us therefore never be secure, but always ready for changes, that,
though they may be sudden, they may be no surprise or terror to us.” Again
we say, Thank God that
He is in charge and that we are in His hands!
6. Finally, in 9:13-18 Solomon observes that wisdom
makes a man very useful, even though this fact earns him little or no
gratitude. But the wisdom of such a man in the nation is to be preferred over
a foolish ruler in a nation of fools.
Here is an example
of a poor man who by his wisdom delivered a city in a time
of war. This city was not saved by the strength of its own army. It had no
army; there were only a few men in it, and yet one poor man, of no rank and standing
in the city delivered it by his wisdom.[5] Sadly,
though he had been instrumental in saving the city from destruction, ultimately
no one remembered him; he was not
rewarded. He was not honoured. And yet wisdom, says Solomon,
(i)
It is better than
might (9:16). God’s
wisdom will engage God for us, and if God be for us, who can be against us?
(Rom. 8:28). Also remember that although this life isn’t always fair, remember that God sees and remembers our
works. Christians know that their
rewards are in heaven.
(ii)
Wisdom has unusual authority (9:17). The words of wise men heard in quiet are
better than the shouting of a ruler
among fools. What is spoken wisely
does not have to be shouted! It is the truth, and if it is the truth then it is owned by God , and even if no one hears
you, God approves of you!
(iii)
Wisdom is better than
weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much
good (9:18). War is mindless.
Men of wisdom negotiate peace and save lives. But here is another reality. One
man can do a lot of damage! One Achan brought trouble on the whole of
Israel (Joshua 7). The history of
the world is full of such illustrations – particularly in the political
realm.
So thank God, that through many puzzling circumstances and difficulties we may know today that we are in His hands. This life under the sun with all its sin and injustices and uncertainties are in the hands of our Great Redeemer, whose wisdom supersedes our own. Trust Him. Trust His Word. Think and meditate on His Word that you may be able to see, and understand, and live life as fully as you can, while we wait for His delivery from this vain life under the sun.
Biblical perspective delivers us from hopelessness,
depression, anxiety and all the psychological ills to which our present age is
so prone. In the light of this let us then draw near to Jesus, and rejoice again
that His broken body and shed blood entirely secures our future ! Amen.
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