Take Life as it Comes, (Eccle 9:1-11)

Contents

Introduction. 1

Wisdom literature. 1

Ecclesiastes. 1

Take Life as It Comes, Ecclesiastes 9:1-11. 3

Conclusion. 5

 

Introduction

Ecclesiastes is one of the most unusual book and perhaps most difficult to understand books of the bible. It has a spirit of hopeless despair; it has no praise or peace; it seems to promote questionable conduct. Yet these words of the preacher show us the futility and foolishness of a life lived without an eternal perspective. In this paper, we shall discuss in details, the pericope: “Take Life as it Comes, (Eccle 9:1-11)”. To achieve this, we shall discuss briefly wisdom literature in general, the book of Ecclesiastes, and finally; Eccle 9:1-11, Take life as it comes.

Wisdom literature

Wisdom literature is a genre of literature common in the ancient Near East. It consists of statements by sages and wise men that offer teachings about divinity and virtue. Although this genre uses techniques of traditional oral story-telling, it was disseminated in written form.[1] The Wisdom books in the Bible, in their probable order of writing, are Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes (also called Qohelet), Ben Sira(also called Sirach or Ecclesiasticus), and the Wisdom of Solomon. The first three are included in Jewish and Protestant Bibles. The Septuagint and the Bibles of the Eastern Churches and the Roman Catholic Church include all five books. These books were probably written by sages, what we might call “the Israelite intelligentsia.” The sages also served as diplomats, palace bureaucrats, counselors, advisors to the king, educators, and scientists. The sages wrote and edited the Wisdom books over the course of almost a thousand years.[2]

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Qohelet, which refers to someone related to an assembly, such as a preacher or teacher; St. Jerome gave Qohelet the name of “Preacher.” [3] The title Ecclesiastes is a Latin transliteration of the Greek translation of the Hebrew Kohelet, the pseudonym used by the author of the book.[4] it is an Old Testament book of wisdom literature that belongs to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the Ketuvim (Writings). In the Hebrew Bible, Ecclesiastes stands between the Song of Solomon and Lamentations and with them belongs to the Megillot, five scrolls that are read at various festivals of the Jewish religious year. The common Christian English translations follow the Septuagint in placing Ecclesiastes between Proverbs and the Song of Solomon, an order reflecting the old tradition that Solomon wrote all three.[5]

The actual author of Ecclesiastes is unknown, but the superscription (1:1) attributes the book to qohelet (commonly translated “preacher,” Greek ekklēsiastēs), who is identified as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” Though these words can only refer to Solomon, the frequency of Aramaic forms and the book’s rationalistic contents date it sometime about the second half of the 3rd century BC.[6]

The book is concerned with the purpose and value of human life. Qohelet believes in God and in an ethical code and in God’s judgement on human behavior. But God’s plan is hidden from man, who seeks happiness without ever finding it here on earth. For everything is “vanity under the sun.” It is in giving thanks to the Creator that one makes life worthwhile. The Book of Ecclesiastes is a reality check for the modern world! [7]. In other words, the book is a musing by a King of Jerusalem as he relates his experiences and draws lessons from them, often self-critical. The author, introducing himself as the son of David, discusses the meaning of life and the best way to live. He proclaims all the actions of man to be inherently hevel, meaning “vain” or “futile”, (“mere breath”), as both wise and foolish end in death. Kohelet clearly endorses wisdom as a means for a well-lived earthly life. In light of this senselessness, one should enjoy the simple pleasures of daily life, such as eating, drinking, and taking enjoyment in one’s work, which are gifts from the hand of God. The book concludes with the injunction: “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone” (12:13).[8]

The author writes about many things that are not fair in this world. This include:

• People are cruel to other people, but they suffer no punishment.
• People work hard, but they do not benefit from their efforts.
• Good people suffer, but bad people receive rewards.
• Both good people and bad people die in the same manner.
• Wise people and foolish people all die.[9]

Take Life as It Comes, Ecclesiastes 9:1-11.

The author began by expressing the fact that he has reflected deeply about men, and what lies ahead of them and discovered that God controls everything, human actions, love and hate and also discovered that no one knows what lies ahead of him. Only God knows all. He further expressed the fact that death awaits everyone, both the good, the bad, the righteous and the wicked, and everyone. To emphasize the value and importance of life, he used an analogy to express it, saying that a live dog is better than a dead lion. In the ancient near east, Lion is so much honored while dogs are despised and seen as useless, but even at that, the live dog is better than a dead lion because, the dead lion has no consciousness, it doesn’t feel anything, it knows nothing, and is gone forever. The hope of all men is to stay alive. The lion was highly regarded but the dog was despised; nevertheless, a living dog is better that a dead lion because with life comes knowledge, reward (verse 5), and continued activity on earth (verse 6).[10] The authors point was that it is better to be alive and have no honor, than dead and receive honor, because the living person also has consciousness and hope. The living can enjoy life, but the dead cannot. However, the inequities in life and the certainty of death should not make us give up on living. Life is better than death.[11]

Solomon recommended the present enjoyment of the good things God allows us to experience in life (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). This was his conclusion, since our future on the earth is uncertain, and since after we die, we cannot enjoy these things. In particular, we should enjoy food and drink (Ecclesiastes 9:7), clean clothing and perfume ( Ecclesiastes 9:8), and marital companionship ( Ecclesiastes 9:9), among other of life’s legitimate pleasures. This list includes some luxuries as well as the necessities of life (cf.Ecclesiastes 5:19).[12] “God has already approved your works” (Ecclesiastes 9:7) means such enjoyment is God’s will for us. This encouraging word does not contradict the fact that we are the stewards of all God entrusts to us. However, this verse should help us realize that it is not sinful to take pleasure in what God has given us, even some luxuries. We need to balance gratefulness and generosity, keeping some things and giving away others. This balance is not easy, but it is important.

Solomon’s second recommendation was diligent work. .He viewed work as is a privilege that the dead do not have.[13] Man’s labors on the earth give him the right to enjoy the food and drink he has earned.

Conclusion

From the discussion so far, we can see that life is something that will not last forever. One day we shall cease to be. The author of the Ecclessiastes suggests that we make good use of life while we still have it, we should enjoy it and be merry, because the privililedge of life is what the dead doesn’t have, and when we die, we equally lose all the joy of life. he emphasized the fact that life is to be enjoyed because God has approved it, and also emphasize that we should work deligently, because it is part of the priviledge the dead doesn’t have.

REFERENCE

Constable, Thomas. DD. “Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:4. “Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/ecclesiastes-9.html

David Penchansky, “What Is Wisdom Literature?”, n.p. [cited 6 Jun 2018]. Online: https://www.bibleodyssey.org:443/en/passages/related-articles/what-is-wisdom-literature

Ecclesiastes, http://www.bible-studys.org/Bible%20Books/Ecclesiastes/Ecclesiastes%20Chapter%209.html

Encyclopedia Britannica,  Qohelet, the Preacher. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ecclesiastes-Old-Testament

Hilda Bright and Kitty Pride, “The teacher Searches for the Purpose of our Lives”. https://www.easyenglish.bible/bible-commentary/ecclesiastes-lbw.htm

http://biblescripture.net/Ecclesiastes.html

Wikipedia, Ecclesiastes, last edited 24^th May, 2018. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes

Wikipedia, Wisdom Literature. Last Edited 11^th May, 2018. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom_literature

---

[1] Wikipedia, Wisdom Literature. Last Edited 11^th May, 2018. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom_literature

[2] David Penchansky, “What Is Wisdom Literature?”, n.p. [cited 6 Jun 2018]. Online: https://www.bibleodyssey.org:443/en/passages/related-articles/what-is-wisdom-literature

[3] http://biblescripture.net/Ecclesiastes.html

[4] Wikipedia, Ecclesiastes, last edited 24^th May, 2018. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes

[5] Encyclopedia Britannica,  Qohelet, the Preacher. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ecclesiastes-Old-Testament

[6] Encyclopedia Britannica,  Qohelet, the Preacher. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ecclesiastes-Old-Testament

[7] http://biblescripture.net/Ecclesiastes.html

[8] Wikipedia, Ecclesiastes, last edited 24^th May, 2018. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes

[9] Hilda Bright and Kitty Pride, “The teacher Searches for the Purpose of our Lives”. https://www.easyenglish.bible/bible-commentary/ecclesiastes-lbw.htm

[10] Ecclesiastes, http://www.bible-studys.org/Bible%20Books/Ecclesiastes/Ecclesiastes%20Chapter%209.html

      [11] Constable, Thomas. DD. “Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:4. “Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/ecclesiastes-9.html

      [12]  Constable, Thomas. DD. “Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:4. “Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable”.      https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/ecclesiastes-9.html

[13]  https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/ecclesiastes-9.html