Ecclesiastes 5 - Introduction
_VANITIES IN DIVINE SERVICE, IN MURMURING AGAINST OPPRESSION, AND IN RICHES. JOY IN PROSPERITY IS THE GIFT OF GOD._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VANITIES IN DIVINE SERVICE, IN MURMURING AGAINST OPPRESSION, AND IN RICHES. JOY IN PROSPERITY IS THE GIFT OF GOD._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BE MORE READY TO HEAR, &C.— _For, to be ready to obey is a better sacrifice than the gift of fools; because they know not when they do evil._ It is plain that Solomon intended to oppose the course which he advises us to take when we go into the house of God, to that which is generally pursued by... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A DREAM COMETH THROUGH THE MULTITUDE OF BUSINESS— _For as a dream bringeth abundance of trouble, so does the voice of an ignorant_ [_or unguarded_] _man abundance of words._ Desvoeux.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE HATH NO PLEASURE IN FOOLS— For it is the property _of fools_ to have _no_ fixed _will._ Desvoeux. The Hebrew is, _For no will in fools;_ and so the LXX render it.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUFFER NOT THY MOUTH TO CAUSE THY FLESH TO SIN, &C.— _Let not thy mouth weakly excuse thee to no purpose, and do not say before the messenger_ [who is sent to require from thee what thou hast vowed] _it was a mistake._ Solomon advises any man who has made a vow to accomplish it, and not to look for... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN THE MULTITUDE OF DREAMS, &C.— From the 2nd to this verse we have Solomon's second admonition to this purpose. Let no one rashly call by oaths upon Him who dwells in heaven, to be a witness of what passeth upon earth; and, to avoid the occasions of swearing, be sparing of your words; for the v... [ Continue Reading ]
MARVEL NOT AT THE MATTER— _Marvel not at such a dispensation of Providence._ Desvoeux.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING HIMSELF, &C.— _The king is served on account of the field._ Desvoeux. Houbigant renders the verse, _And when these things are so, it is advantageous for the land that there be a king who may destroy the oppressor of the province._ In this and the foregoing verse is contained the third admon... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LOVETH ABUNDANCE, &C.— _And he who loveth numerous company, no income shall be sufficient for him._ See Desvoeux, p. 281.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SLEEP OF A LABOURING MAN, &C.— The sixth and last instance, wherewith this fourth proof, and the whole argument in support of the first proposition, is concluded, is that of the insufficiency of riches to make a man happy, whether he loves money for the sake of money, or is fond of it only as it... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A SORE EVIL— _There is an aggravation of evil:_ see Ecclesiastes 5:16 and ch. Ecclesiastes 6:2. This verse contains the second general proposition. Earthly goods, and whatever we can acquire by our utmost trouble and labour in this world, are so far from making us lastingly happy, that they... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOSE RICHES PERISH— _For those very riches perish, notwithstanding the constant trouble taken to preserve them; a man begot a son, and not any thing in his hand._... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HIS DAYS ALSO HE EATETH— The first proof of the second proposition is comprized in Ecclesiastes 5:14 and is taken from the instability of riches. The longer one has been in possession of a plentiful fortune, the more it vexes him to see it, notwithstanding all his assiduity and care, dwindling a... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN, &C.— _Behold that which I have observed to be good; that which I have observed to be proper,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ECCLESIASTES 5:19_. EVERY _MAN ALSO TO WHOM,_ &C.— _And indeed any man, to whom God,_ &c. (_for this very thing is certainly a gift of God_) Ecclesiastes 5:20 _will not much remember the days of his life._ Solomon means to say, that time floweth unobserved by men who enjoy a constant prosperity. No... [ Continue Reading ]