Ecclesiastes 9:11

"I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all."

Solomon observed that the swiftest person does not always win the race. "The idea here is not that the swift loses the race to the slower runner because he is diverted from his goal by some lesser attraction or activity. Neither does it mean that the fast runner is over confident in his ability, or does not try hard enough-like the Tortoise and the Hare. The incident that causes him to lose the race is not of his own doing" (Kidwell p. 234).

The idea is that man can't prepare for everything. "Though. man is well equipped for his work and uses all possible exertions, he may incur failure!" (P.P. Comm. p. 228). In the same vein, the best-prepared army doesn't always win (David and Goliath-1 Samuel 17:47), and wise men aren't always rich. In fact, look what teachers, scientists, etc….make compared to professional athletes and movie stars. In addition, skillful men, men of great ability are often neither rich nor famous. "Reputation and influence do not necessarily accompany the possession of knowledge and learning" (P.P. Comm. p. 229).

"time and chance" -The word "chance" here doesn't mean something gambled, or that one has fallen down on his luck. Rather it means an incident, such as. calamity, disappointment, setback, an unforeseen occurrence. "Not all-powerful fate, but rather God may let things transpire that overthrow those who have apparently had all resources and gifts at their disposal. He may let something meet them and cross their path, events that interrupt their prosperous course" (Leupold p. 220). These are things that man, even with the best human wisdom, cannot foresee or anticipate.

"overtake them all" -to befall, meet, happen to all. Bad or inconvenient things happening isn't. matter of bad luck, in fact there is no such thing as luck. Rather, such things happen to everyone. Hard work isn't always rewarded in this life, and life can be unfair. Even if we do everything right to order to be successful, no man can guarantee success or victory."Time and chance are paired, no doubt because they both have. way of taking matters suddenly out of our hands…for providence operates in secret, and to man's view life is largely made up of steps into the unknown and events out of the blue, any of which may change our whole pattern of existence at. moment….All this counterbalances the impression we get from maxims about hard work, that success is ours to command" (Kidner p. 84).

This also should humble all of us. For without God's providential help, we would probably have much less than we presently have. Time and chance can completely destroy the best ideas, the best laid plans, or something that would have been. million dollar idea in another time and place. The verse stresses Divine Providence and puts at naught all human resources that men conceive of as though they were. guarantee of success in human enterprises.