Ecclesiastes 8:15

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. THAN TO EAT, AND TO DRINK. There is no "better thing," as regards the things of this life, for the "just" man, whose chief good is religion, than that he should cheerfully enjoy the present gifts of God. FOR THAT SHALL ABIDE WITH HIM - "abide" - Hebrew, adhere; not for ever, but it is the only sure good to be enjoyed from earthly labours (equivalent to "of his labour the days of his life"). Still, the language resembles the sceptical precept (), introduced only to be refuted. But the "mirth" commended is more probably that of the cheerful saint, who, instead of fretting himself about seeming anomalies ...

14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does. But, leaving the Lord to clear up all difficulties in his own time, we may cheerfully enjoy the comforts, and bear up under the trials of life; while peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost will abide in us through all outward changes, and when flesh and heart shall fail....

Verse 15. _THEN I COMMENDED MIRTH_] These are some more of the cavils of the infidel objector: "Since _virtue_ is frequently under oppression, and _vice_ triumphs in health, and rolls in wealth, I see plainly that we should not trouble ourselves about future things; and therefore should be governed by the maxim EDE, BIBE, LUDE. _Post mortem nulla voluptas_." _Eat, drink_, and _play_, While here you may; For soon as death Has stopp'd your breath, Ye ne'er shall see a cheerful day....

MIRTH - Better, Gladness, or “joy” (as in Ecclesiastes 2:10). The Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the physical senses, but also frequently to religious joy. The sentiment of this verse is a frequent conclusion of the writer’s personal experience (compare marginal references), and is unfairly charged with Epicureanism. The Preacher is careful to set forth pleasure as a gift from God, to be earned by labor, and received with thankfulness to the Giver, and to be accounted for to Him. His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:2....

EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 8:1 Section 5. There is no use in repining or rebelling; _true wisdom counsels obedience to the powers that be_,_ and submission to the dispensations of Providence_._ _However oppressive a tyrant may prove sure retribution awaits him. ECCLESIASTES 8:1 WHO IS AS THE WISE MAN?_ i_._e_._ _Who is like, equal to, the wise man? The somewhat sudden question occurs naturally after the results of the search for wisdom mentioned at the end of the last chapter. The thought is not, as in Hosea 14:9 and...

THEN I COMMENDED MIRTH,.... Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortable use of it; this the wise man praised and recommended to good men, as being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, and because they had not so much of them: as others; who yet had reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their heads and be cheerful, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God in another world. The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law; BECAUSE A MAN HATH NO BETTER THING UNDER THE SUN THAN TO EAT, AND TO DRINK, AND TO BE MERRY; of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely and cheerfully, with moderation and thankfulness, to enjoy what God has given him; thi...

CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ 2. Of the righteous and the wicked (Ecclesiastes 8:11) 3. The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14) Ecclesiastes 8:1. What else had he seen? What were his further discoveries? He is still ardent in praising wisdom, though he had confessed “that it was far from him.” Wisdom makes the face to shine and the boldness of the face becomes changed. He cautions as to the governmental powers in the world, urges prudence and submission. He is a keen observer. But nothing can deliver from the power of the grave. The tyrannic rul

THE ONE END OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. The good are soon forgotten, the wicked enjoy honour and long life; the best thing a man can do is to enjoy life while he has it. Ecclesiastes 8:10 is difficult, MT is probably corrupt. RV is a fair attempt; others would emend so as to read, I saw the wicked buried, carried even from the sanctuary, and they used to go about and be praised in the city because they had done so (_i.e._ used their power to hurt others; _cf._ Ecclesiastes 8:9). This excludes all mention of the righteous and their shameful exclusion from the holy place, which in any case cannot be interpreted as consecrated burial ground. Ecclesiastes 8:12

_Then I commended mirth_ As before in chs. Ecclesiastes 2:14; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18, the Epicurean element of thought mingles with the higher fear of God, to which the seeker had just risen. There, at least, in regulated enjoyment, free from vices, and not without the fear of God which keeps men from them, there was something tangible, and it was better to make the best of that than to pine, with unsatisfied desires, after the impossible ideal of a perfectly righteous government in which there are no anomalies. For "of his labour" read IN HIS LABOUR....

FOR THAT SHALL ABIDE WITH HIM OF HIS LABOUR— _And this shall borrow him from his labour. We_ have here an image which will not disgrace Solomon's pencil. Man in this world is the property of _labour._ God Almighty made him so. If ever that tyrannical owner parts with him, it is only by way of loan: he must be returned, as will appear chap. Ecclesiastes 11:8 Ecclesiastes 12:3....