Ecclesiastes 11:9

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. REJOICE - not advice, but warning. So 1 Kings 22:15 is irony; if thou dost rejoice (carnally, Ecclesiastes 2:2; not moderately, as Ecclesiastes 5:18), etc., then "know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment" - (Ecclesiastes 3:17;...

7-10 Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes an effecting address to young persons. They would desire opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires, but be assured that God will call you into judgment. How many give loose to every appetite, and rush into every vicious pleasure! But God registers every one of their sinful thoughts and desires, their idle words and wicked words. If they would avoid remorse and terror, if they would have hope and comfort on a dying bed, if they would escape misery here and hereafter, let them remember the vanity of youthful pleasures. That Solomon means to condemn the pleasures of sin is evident. His object is to draw the young to pu...

Verse Ecclesiastes 11:9. _REJOICE, O YOUNG MAN, IN THY YOUTH_] _Youth_ is devoid of cares; and, consequently, of many perplexities and distresses. Were it not so, we should have no _old men_; nay, perhaps not _one_ even of _middle age_. It is in the order of a most gracious God, that the _young_ should _rejoice_ in their _youth_; but they should make such a moderate use of all their enjoyments, that they may not be confounded in the day of judgment. But, O young man, if thou wilt follow the propensities of thy _own heart_, the noisy mirth of the _fool_, and the dissipation of the _profligate - go on_; take thy full swing; but take this with thee, that "for all these things, God will judge thee;" and if the righteous are scarcely saved, where shall the _ungodly_ and the _sinner_ appear?...

The preceding exhortation to a life of labor in the sight of God is now addressed especially to the active and the young; and is enforced by another consideration, namely, the transitory character of all that sustains youth. Ecclesiastes 11:7 THE LIGHT ... THE SUN - Gifts of God which cheer man’s toil, but which he almost ceases to appreciate in his old age. Ecclesiastes 11:8 DAYS OF DARKNESS - The time of old age, and perhaps any time of sorrow or misfortune. Compare Ecclesiastes 12:2. ALL THAT COMETH - i. e., “The future,” which

EXPOSITION Approaching the end of his treatise, Koheleth, in view of apparent anomalies in God's moral government, and the difficulties that meet man in his social and political relations, proceeds to give his remedies for this state of things. These remedies are (1) beneficence and active life (Ecclesiastes 11:1); (2) joyful light-heartedness (Ecclesiastes 11:7); (3) piety (Ecclesiastes 11:10-Ecclesiastes 12:7)....

REJOICE, O YOUNG MAN, IN THY YOUTH,.... This advice may be considered as serious; and either as relating to natural, corporeal, and temporal delight and pleasure, under due limitations; that as mirth and cheerfulness, or a free use of the creatures of God, with moderation and temperance, is allowable to all men in common, and is spoken of throughout this book as commendable, and is healthful and profitable to men; so it is particularly suitable to the youthful age, whose natural desires may be enjoyed, and their outward senses may be gratified, in a lawful way, so far as is consistent with the fear of God, and the expectation of a future judgment: or it may be considered with respect to religious and spiritual exercises; as young men should remember their Creator in the days of their youth, as it follows; so they should rejoice in God their Maker, Psalms 149:2; they should rejoice not to...

Ecclesiastes 11:1. _Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days._ Hoard not thy bread; for if thou dost, it will mildew, it will be of no use to thee. Cast it on the waters; scatter it abroad; give it to the unworthy men if need be. Some here have seen an allusion to the casting of seed into the Nile when it overflowed its banks. When the waters subsided, the corn would grow, and be gathered in «after many days.» Ecclesiastes 11:2. _Give a portion to seven,_ And if that be a perfect number, give beyond it, Ecclesiastes 11:2. _And also to eight;_ Give to more than thou canst afford to give to. Help

CHAPTER 11 _ 1. Proverbs concerning man's work(Ecclesiastes 11:1)_ 2. The vanity of life (Ecclesiastes 11:7) Ecclesiastes 11:1. These continued proverbs concern the work of man and begin with exhortations to charity and are followed by the wise acknowledgement that no one knows the works of God, who is the maker of all. All this knowledge is within the compass of the natural man. Ecclesiastes 11:7. After these philosophic proverbs he comes back to his former finding--vanity. So to speak he sums up life in one verse, “Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing i

ECCLESIASTES 11:1 TO ECCLESIASTES 12:8. CLOSING COUNSELS. It is well to do and to get all one can, in the way of industry and pleasure, before old age draws on. Ecclesiastes 11:1 and Ecclesiastes 11:2 are best taken as referring either to merchandise or generosity, though bread has also been interpreted as seed sown on irrigated land (_cf._ Ecclesiastes 11:4 and Ecclesiastes 11:6) or even as human semen, and...

REJOICE, &C.. positive command, not irony; qualified by the solemn fact: "but know thou", &c. YOUNG MAN. a chosen youth, implying beauty and strength. YOUTH. childhood. THY YOUTH. Same word as "young man". JUDGMENT. the judgment....