CHAPTER 9

1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

At the conclusion of the last chapter, Solomon said that it was fruitless to try and learn EVERYTHING. There are some things God reveals and some things we are to leave alone. But if we study the Word of God, and learn to live in obedience to His expressed will, we will have CONTENTMENT.

First Solomon considered these things, then he declares them. And one principle Solomon lays down before he continues his declarations: GOD IS IN CONTROL! (verse 1)

CONCERNING DEATH
ALL men face death, whether they be saved or unsaved (verse 2).
All men are depraved -- sinful beings from the time of birth to death (verse 3).
However there is HOPE for those who are living, because they can still come to God for salvation. (verses 4-5).
Once death comes, the person has no more to do with the things "under the sun." (verse 6) This, by the way, dispells any thought of ghosts. There are certainly angels and demonic spirits on earth, but there are no ghosts of those who have previously lived.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

CONCERNING LIFE
Seeing that all men face death, and life is brief and uncertain, then we should grasp life with an attitude of joy and thankfulness to God. With that attitude, God "now accepteth thy works." (verse 7)

Two things of great importance that Solomon points out:
1. Live with your spouse all your life and take joy in it (verse 9).
2. Whatever you DO, do it "with all your might" (verse 10). Put your energy into it and let it glorify God.

If any man could tell us about the importance of having ONE wife, Solomon could. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines! And his conclusion to marriage is that it should be with ONE spouse!

And Solomon certainly put energy into living because he had a realistic view of death.
Jesus concurred with putting energy into life because death puts a stop to whatever we might do for God and others on this earth (John 9:4). Paul also referred to the fact that whatever we do, we should do it for God because He can "reward" us for our labor (Colossians 3:23-24).

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

CONCERNING THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE
The fastest runner will not always win the race, for he may stumble.
The strongest army will not always win the battle, for God may determine otherwise.
"Time and chance happeneth to them all" (verse 11) is a statement that shows God has control of life, and no one knows his moment of death (verse 12).

In keeping with this thought, I must say that Solomon is NOT saying anything about "luck." Luck is a non-existent thing. Some people worship luck as a set of circumstances that brings good fortune or adversity (see Webster's Dictionary). But God is in control of the length of our life, and He is in control of the circumstances of our lives.

When we accept the fact that God is in complete control of our lives, we will not waste time or money worshipping "luck."

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

CONCERNING WISDOM
In verses 13-15, perhaps Solomon is reminiscent of the incident in 2Samuel 20:15-22. Joab, Captain of David's army, was chasing a man named Sheba. Sheba entered a little town, and Joab put the whole town under seige. A woman came out to talk to Joab and convinced him not to destroy the city. Instead she would convince the people to deliver Sheba to Joab.

This was "wisdom" in action. A city was saved. One conclusion (verse 16) is that "wisdom is better than strength."

Solomon also concludes that "poor" people with wisdom are less heard than rich or famous people (verses 16-17). Actually, statistics in America would prove what Solomon says. People in America today spend MORE time listening to those on TV than they spend in Bible study! Therefore, it is also true that "one sinner destroyeth much good" (verse 18)!

Wisdom is indeed better than strength. But one must LISTEN to wisdom in order to receive gain from it.

CHAPTER 10

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

CONCERNING THE USE OF WISDOM
The "apothecary" (or one who makes perfume) makes a substance that, by its odor, draws flies. If the apothecary doesn't keep the flies OUT, soon he will have a very STINKY substance.

So it is with a wise man and a little "folly," or foolishness. Many a wise man has been destroyed because of a little foolishness!

2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

The use of "right hand" versus "left hand" is significant here. The "right hand" was considered the place of power. For instance Jesus is seated at the "right hand of God." (See Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 10:12, and 1Peter 3:22)

However, the "left hand" was considered the place of DISCARD for worthless things.

Therefore, the wise man's speech reflects strength, while the "fool's" speech is to be disregarded.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

It is much wiser to "yield" to an angry ruler than to argue with him! Arguing will bring further anger. But yielding for awhile may "pacify" the ruler.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

It is wrong for a ruler to demean his subjects. When the ruler makes fun of the his subjects, then he is actually putting himself in a LOW place! (verse 6) It is a place of derision. God does not count derision as fun; He counts it as EVIL (verse 5).

8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. 10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

Each of these verses are quite easily understood CONCERNING THE USE OF WISDOM.

A person who digs a "pit" for trapping should certainly skirt the pit! A person who jumps in to destroy a "hedge" should certainly be on the "lookout" for a snake! One who is cutting down a tree should first sharpen the axe! One who tries to break through a rock fence, should be careful that the rocks don't fall on him!

Each of those things are dangerous in themselves. More, the "babbler" (one who tells everything) is as bad as a snake (verse 11)!

But look at the conclusion (verse 15): the WORK that the "foolish" (a person who does not acknowledge God) is SIN and keeps that person from the eternal city of God!

Sin digs a pit. Sin breaks the "hedges" that God has made. Sin seeks to tear down righteousness with a blunt axe. And it is sin that keeps a person from acknowledging God and finding the eternal home of glory that God has prepared.

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

When the ruler of a land seeks only to satisfy his belly and drinking habits, that land is in TROUBLE! But a land is blessed when the ruler exercises discipline and uses his appetite correctly.

Self discipline controls, but "slothfulness" destroys (verse 18).

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. 20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Everything has its purpose and place (verse 19). But wisdom directs that we not "curse the king," not even in THOUGHT! Animosity toward rulers eventually leads to rebellion, which may lead to DEATH!

Tomorrow, in chapters 11 and 12, Solomon will show us the BETTER use of wisdom, and we'll see his conclusion about how to live life correctly.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.