Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Ecclesiastes
Book: Ecclesiastes
Chapter: 8
Overview:
Commendations of
Wisdom.
(1-5) To prepare for sudden evils and
Death.
(6-8) It shall be
Well with the righteous, and ill with
the wicked.
(9-13) Mysteries of
Providence.
(14-17)
1-5 None of the rich, the powerful, the honourable, or the
accomplished of the sons of men, are
So excellent, useful, or
happy, as the
Wise Man. Who else can interpret the words of
God,
or teach aright from his truths and dispensations? What
Madness
must it be for weak and dependent creatures to rebel against the
Almighty! What
Numbers form wrong judgments, and bring misery
On
themselves, in this
Life and that to come!
6-8 God has, in
Wisdom, kept away from us the knowledge of
future events, that we may be always ready for changes. We must
all die,
No flight or hiding-place can save us, nor are there
any weapons of effectual resistance. Ninety thousand die every
Day, upwards of sixty every minute, and one every moment. How
solemn the thought! Oh that men were
Wise, that they understood
these things, that they would consider their latter
End! The
believer alone is prepared to meet the solemn summons.
Wickedness,
By which men often escape human
Justice, cannot
secure from
Death.
9-13 Solomon observed, that many a time one
Man rules over
another to his hurt, and that prosperity hardens them in their
wickedness. Sinners herein deceive themselves. Vengeance comes
slowly, but it comes surely. A good
Man's days have some
substance; he lives to a good purpose: a wicked
Man's days are
all as a
Shadow, empty and worthless. Let us pray that we may
view eternal things as near, real, and all-important.
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.