9:11 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 {f} chance happeneth to them all.(f) Thus the worldlings say to prove that all things are lawful for them and attribute that to chance and fortune which is done by the providence of God. read more
The interval between this chapter and the preceding represents a pause in the writer’s thought, and now he seems to set out on a new quest for the chief good in life. He will seek it in wise conduct. He will renounce feasting and trying the opposite (Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 ); he will avoid extremes (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 ); no one is perfectly righteous (Ecclesiastes 7:19-22 ); the worst thing he has found is woman (Ecclesiastes 7:23-26 ); and the conclusion is that man is indeed a fallen creature... read more
The Land of Shadows Ecclesiastes 9:0 In this chapter we have a number of loose and disconnected notes about human life. The writer seems to have jotted down things as they came into his mind. His book is rather a heap of stones than an orderly building. Perhaps it is hardly just to regard the Book of Ecclesiastes as a piece of elaborate and continuous logic; it ought to be taken rather as a series of notes or memoranda which the writer himself could have expounded, and which readers can only... read more
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. (13) This wisdom have I seen also... read more
All. Thus it appears to the inattentive, and to the wicked. For Solomon frequently inculcates that Providence directs all wisely. Human industry is not always attended with success, Deuteronomy xxix. 19. This is a fresh proof of the vanity of all things. (Calmet) read more
11,12 Men's success seldom equals their expectations. We must use means, but not trust to them: if we succeed, we must give God the praise; if crossed, we must submit to his will. Those who put off the great concerns of their souls, are caught in Satan's net, which he baits with some worldly object, for which they reject or neglect the gospel, and go on in sin till they suddenly fall into destruction. read more
Wisdom Still to be Sought v. 11. I returned and saw under the sun, throughout the world, in all circumstances and conditions of men, that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, that is, by their own absolute determination and effort, neither yet bread to the wise, whose wisdom might be expected to provide food for himself in large amounts, nor yet riches to men of understanding, who would presumably know how to acquire them, nor yet favor to men of skill, although one... read more
FOURTH DISCOURSEOf the relation of true wisdom in the internal and external life of man(Ecclesiastes 8:16 to Ecclesiastes 12:7)A. The unfathomable character of the universal rule of God should not frighten the wise man from an active part in life, but should cheer and encourage him thereto(Ecclesiastes 8:16 to Ecclesiastes 9:16)1. It cannot be denied that the providence of God in the distribution of human destiny is unfathomable and incomprehensible(Ecclesiastes 8:16 to Ecclesiastes 9:6)16When... read more
In view of the evidences of the truth of the affirmation, "vanity . . . all is vanity," the preacher now turns to its effect on the mind of the man living "under the sun." He extols this worldly wisdom, which he has already inculcated, and then exemplifies this method. He defends this wisdom and extols it. First of all, it is to be remembered that all things are in the hand of God. Of course, his doctrine of God is that already dealt with in the earlier part of the discourse. The fact now is... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
CHAPTER 9 1. The common fate (Ecclesiastes 9:1-6 ) 2. Make the best of life (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 ) 3. The great uncertainty (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 ) Ecclesiastes 9:1-6 . Here is another conclusion. The righteous and the wise with their works are in the hands of God. One event is in store for all, for the righteous, the wicked, the good, the clean, the unclean, the one who sacrificeth and the one who sacrificeth not--the grave is the one common goal. In that goal there is the end of all... read more