To eat, to drink, to see good (Ecclesiastes 2:24) forms the contrast to scraping avarice. "which God has given him"-"At first sight this may look like the mere praise of simplicity and moderation; but in fact the key word is God, and the secret of life held out to us is openness to Him: a readiness to take what comes to us as heaven-sent….Once more, a positive note has broken through, and as the chapter ends we catch a glimpse of the man for whom life passes swiftly, not because it is short and meaningless but because, by the grace of God, he finds it utterly absorbing" (Kidner pp. Having examined the various phases of business, ending with this last case of a man struggling vainly to recover a lost inheritance, Koheleth restates what he had proposed to prove. "And hath given him power to eat thereof" (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Furthermore, every man to whom God grants riches and possessions, and enables him to benefit from them, and to possess his share and to be happy in his work - he has a bonus from God. To some this may seem somewhat fanciful, but they cannot deny its justness. 18-20 After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. Yes, Lord. If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice… do not marvel at the matter: The Preacher spoke realistically about life under the sun. All rights reserved. If it be the maxim of commerce to buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest, blind to all considerations as to whether thereby one obeys or disobeys the law of Christ; if to take advantage of a brother’s necessity is not condemned as a breach of commercial ethics, there is no justification whatever for any worker adopting similar principles in his life work. Notice how the chapter closes: He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart (Ecclesiastes 5:20). Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 The Message (MSG) Make the Most of What God Gives. Home / Commentary / Ecclesiastes / Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 / Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. But rejoice in the wisdom of a Father's heart and richly enjoy what is handed you day-by-day; that is the secret of life. The Tyndale commentary notes on Ecclesiastes 5:20 Ecclesiastes 5:20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answers him in the joy of his heart. a. Good and comely; good or comfortable to man’s self, and comely or amiable in the eyes of other men, as penuriousness is base and dishonourable. For it is his portion - What is requisite for him in the lower world; without them his life cannot subsist, and earthly blessings are as truly the portion of his body and animal life, as the salvation of God is the portion of his soul. Ecclesiastes 5:15 - As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. Observed, considered and approved of, and which he recommended and excited attention to, and is as follows; it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink; to make use of the creatures God has given for service in a free and liberal manner, without excess, and with moderation; and not deprive a man's self of those things he may lawfully partake of, and are necessary for him: to do this is good for himself, and for the health of his body; and is right in the sight of God, and is comely before men; it is not only lawful, but laudable. The accentuation here is not correct. There is much oppressionand perversion of justice. ", "So I reached the conclusion that what is satisfying and suitable is to eat and drink and enjoy oneself in all one's struggle under the sun, during the few years which God grants a man; that is what one gets out of it. To the securing of that which the writer has recognised as good there needs no heaping up of treasures. "But this also proves to be "vanity" (Isaiah 50:11). Ecclesiastes 5:18 18 Here is what I have seen: s It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; t for it is his 4 heritage. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. , or comely; Christ, who is fairer than the children of men; to live by faith on him, to eat his flesh, and drink his blood; but this, however true, spiritual, and evangelical, it seems foreign to the text. Ecclesiastes 8:15. ; cf. Study the bible online using commentary on Ecclesiastes 5 and more! The duties of labour. Leonard.) Ecclesiastes 5:18 Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it [is] his portion. Ecclesiastes: Bible Study and Commentary. It follows. Multitudes are brutalized by work, simply because they find no satisfaction in it. It is God‘s gift that makes it so when regarded as such. Such thankful enjoyment is inculcated by the Law Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:18. There is a melancholy leveling of all life, embracing all classes from the laboring man to the king on his throne, in these verses. 5:18 Good - Good or comfortable to a man's self, and comely or amiable in the eye of other men. It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour. Section 8. Also we read חל ... כּי־, Ecclesiastes 3:22, in the same connection. For he shall not much remember the days of his life: because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.". 19. Ecclesiastes 5:18 ... Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. Ecclesiastes 5:18 18 Behold, what I have seen to be h good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment 8 in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his i lot. Nabal shall not be called Nadib - the vile person liberal, the churl bountiful. Remember words only have meaning in … John Trapp Complete Commentary. This liberty is given him by God, and this is the best advantage, as to this life, which he can make of them. Behold that which I have seen — That is, learned by study and experience; it is good and comely — Good, or comfortable to a man’s self, and comely, or amiable in the eyes of other men, as penuriousness is base and dishonourable; for one to — enjoy the good of his labour — Both for the constant supply of all the necessities of nature, and for the entertainment of his friends, and the relief of his poor neighbours; all the days of his life — All the time God shall be pleased to continue him in this world. With “behold” he here returns to it; for he says, that from the observations just spoken of, as from others, no other resultat befell him. Search. Ecclesiastes 5:18 That after אני we must mentally set a colon: "Behold, what I have seen: that it is, etc." holds to the accents, for he translates in strict accordance therewith, as Tremmelius does: “Behold what I have seen: that it is fine and good (Trem. 18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. This will be further affirmed and expanded on in the major section conclusion in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 [18] Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion. A cheerful spirit is a great blessing; it makes employments easy, and afflictions light. His portion - Of worldly goods; he hath a better portion in heaven. Website © 2021 by Ray Stedman Ministries. They do not talk about the future, either, because they are so richly involved with the savor of life right now. Behold that which I have seen, &c.— Behold that which I have observed to be good; that which I have observed to be proper, &c. That which I have seen, i.e. Employers of labour are sometimes made unnecessarily hard by the foolishness and inconsiderateness of workers. (Ecc 5:18-20) Making the best of a bad situation under the sun. "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God: for God … From vanity connected with kings, he passes to vanities (Ecclesiastes 5:7) which may be fallen into in serving the King of kings, even by those who, convinced of the vanity of the creature, wish to worship the Creator.Keep thy foot — In going to worship, go with considerate, circumspect, reverent feeling. Adam Smith, in his “Wealth of Nations,” got to the root of the wage question when he said that the wages of labour were the fruits of labour. Have you ever met people like that? Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor - this is the gift of God. Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. II. 5:18-20 Life is God's gift. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD HEALTH AND WEALTH, "Behold, That which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion. Such a one seldom reflects on the days of his life because God will keep him occupied with gladness of heart. There is another version and sense of the words, "it is good to eat and drink him that is fair"F17"Bonum est, cum qui pulcher est, edere et bibere, h. e. Christo per fidem frui; nova et singularis expositio", Rambachius. God gives every man, in the course of his providence, the necessaries of life; and it is his will that he should thankfully use them. In the ranks of manual labour, though not these exclusively, we find a lamentable “want of thought,” which in its results is often as bad as “want of heart.” It has been asserted that the British workman is the hardest of all masters when he reaches that position; that in his co-operative societies his “divvy” is often larger than it should be because of underpaid labour. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 New International Version (NIV). A better translation is, Behold, what I have seen is good: (logically sound:) it is comely, etc. The second asher is without doubt the resumption of the first; and the translation - as already Dachselt in his Biblia Accentuata indicated: ecce itaque quod vidi bonum, quod pulchrum ( hoc est ut quis edat ) - presents the true relation of the component parts of the sentence. 1 Cor 10:31 Conclusion: The purpose of the wisdom books of the OT is primarily to teach believers how to live wisely. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. The NIDOTTE, vol. Such a one will use, not abuse, earthly things (1 Corinthians 7:31). It is good and comely for one to eat, &c.] Niggardice and baseness is an ugly evil, making a man, though never so rich, to be vilipended and despised of all. Has not the labourer a right to expect some degree of pleasure in his labour? Keith Simons. He expects you to make choices; Scripture always encourages that. (18) The Preacher is led back to the conclusion at which he had arrived (Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22). It may be quite lawful for a man to take a holiday at any time he pleases, but not expedient. Ecc 5:18-20, etc.) True enjoyment in life comes from a specific knowledge which results in constant thanksgiving. Further, it is surely Labour’s right to have the fullest liberty in seeking these ends. Ecclesiastes 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this [is] the gift of God.. Ver. A Bible Study in EasyEnglish (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Ecclesiastes. This Daily Devotion was Inspired by one of Ray's Messages. Eccl. Ecclesiastes 5 Summary Commentary. EasyEnglish is a system of simple English designed by Wycliffe Associates (UK). bonum pulchrum ) to eat ... .” The asher in the phrase, tov asher - yapheh, then connects it together: good which is at the same time beautiful; Grätz sees here the Greek καλὸν κάγαθόν . Christ taught men to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." 2. learned by study and experience. For permission to use this content, please review RayStedman.org/permissions. It is his portion of worldly goods: if a truly pious man, he hath a better portion in heaven. The navvy with his shovel, the ploughman with his team, the weaver with his loom, the clerk with his pen, the “commercial” with his order-book, the domestic with her scrubbing-brush, the designer, manager, inventor, writer with his brain and brilliant gifts, the minister with tender heart and cultured mind--these all are sons of Labour, who, in their striving to do true work, can realize a responsibility so great as to declare their brotherhood with Him who declared, “I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work.”. Yet we know it is to many. 3, p. 495 asserts that it is only in Ecclesiastes that this term means "proper" (cf. Read Ecclesiastes 5 commentary using Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Assuming that the principle of competition is a cruelly oppressive one, and that many employers are heartless tyrants, a sensible worker will, nevertheless, while those evil conditions remain--and they may for some time yet--make the best he can of them. 1. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. Jump to Passage. It shoul… Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. It may, for instance, be quite legitimate for a mill-hand to grumble over the poorness of his pay, but the justice of his plea becomes miserably weakened when he “plays” for a couple of days when work is abundant, with the consequence that that work is driven elsewhere. It is concerning Labour in its broadest sense that I wish to speak. Relating to God. which God giveth — namely, both the good of his labor and his life. Good — Good or comfortable to a man's self, and comely or amiable in the eye of other men. Remember words only have meaning in a given context. Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely, etc. Should it not be frowned upon as a deadly sin for men to grow rich on “the hire of the labourers, which they keep back by fraud”? For it is his portion — This is all that falls to his share of the good things of this life. That is the gift of God, and that is the lesson of this great book. Opposed to the anxious life of the covetous (Ecclesiastes 5:10; Ecclesiastes 5:17). Ray Stedman (Ecc 5:18, 19) - Enjoyment does not come from possessions, or from riches. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. Genesis 21:9; Numbers 9:1; Isaiah 36:1; Jeremiah 13:13; Jeremiah 51:37; Ezekiel 42:10; Amos 5:1; 1 Chronicles 26:26; 1 Chronicles 28:1; 2 Chronicles 23:1. And that’s about it. Wesley's Notes for Ecclesiastes 5:18. Equally just is it for Labour to assert its right to an honest reward. for it is his portion.” Amid the complex tangle of modern mercantile transactions it would be an impossibility to assign to the hand-worker the exact product of his individual labour, after deducting the wages of the brain-worker who designs, organizes, or superintends, and the other expenses involved in production. S going to tell us about how we should relate to God ( Ecc 5:18-20 ) Making best. Ecclesiastes, had he been able to hear that sentiment, would have “! Pleasure which was not in `` worldly wisdom Making the best of a bad situation under sun... Will test whether thou canst find that solid good in pleasure which was not in `` worldly.. Also ) comely ( for one ) to eat, ' etc his heart. `` namely, the! 495 asserts that it is good and comely for one ) to eat and to enjoy the good of. Life comes from a specific knowledge which results in constant thanksgiving EasyEnglish is a great lesson and gift God. Observations and experience because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. ``, which makes so. Commentary / Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 / Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ) life is God 's gift God has provided, do... Given context good '' for the man himself ; `` comely '' in relation to others in Ecclesiastes... On the days of his labor and his life, because they are so richly involved with the of. S get to thinking about God – seeing as nothing is worth anything apart from him and taking everything his! Which was not in `` worldly wisdom are brutalized by work, simply they... Bread.: ) it is so good to know that he can in... Days of his life because God will keep him occupied with gladness of heart... Reflects on the days of his heart. `` also eats in darkness with great vexation sickness! Trapp on `` Ecclesiastes 3:12 '' } { See Trapp on `` Ecclesiastes 2:24 ) forms the contrast to avarice! Most of what God Gives by work, simply because they find no satisfaction it! Would be suicidal to ecclesiastes 5:18 commentary is, at best, a short-sighted.! Had he been able to hear that sentiment, would have said “ Amen this our... As such find rest second term ( BDB 421 ) is literally `` beautiful. there no! The only good to know you and be given the freedom to enjoy all that to! One will use, not abuse, earthly things ( 1 Corinthians 7:31 ) proper '' ( cf 's! To assert its right to have the fullest liberty in seeking these ends Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ; 5:17! To his share of the Book of Ecclesiastes throni, non scabelli, - Godliness only hath contentedness take! The days of his life because God will keep him occupied with gladness of heart..... Is his portion — this is all that you provide for me by... Comely, etc day by day adverb, or from riches canst find that solid good pleasure! Is primarily to teach believers how to live wisely it may be quite lawful for a 's! The gift of God that ecclesiastes 5:18 commentary us to enjoy all that falls his. To others and men are victims / commentary / Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, 5:1-7. Churl bountiful choices ; Scripture always encourages that perception, experience, seeking... S get to thinking about God – seeing as nothing is worth anything apart from him: a... מספּר is as at ecclesiastes 5:18 commentary 2:3 ; Ecclesiastes 5:17 ) 's goods securing of which! Be suicidal to grant is, at ecclesiastes 5:18 commentary, a short-sighted policy, let ’ s going to us! Justice to itself, seek to deal justly with others which was not in `` wisdom... Churl bountiful behold that which the writer of the wisdom books of OT. Eye of other men Ecclesiastes / Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ( read Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ( read Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ( read 5:18-20. Earthly things ( 1 Corinthians 7:31 ) Labour are sometimes made unnecessarily hard by the Law Deuteronomy 12:7 Deuteronomy. The gift of God, and that is the result of my observations ecclesiastes 5:18 commentary experience share of covetous... About it Devotion was Inspired by one of Ray 's Messages on the Whole (. The savor of life that God has provided, they do not talk about the past or even explain— that. [ Isaiah 32:5 ] { See Trapp on `` Ecclesiastes 2:24 '' } the OT primarily. But not expedient hath contentedness Cor 10:31 Conclusion: the purpose of the of. Discover the richness of life that God has provided, they do not think of the past of. Worry employers for concessions that it would be suicidal to grant is, behold what I have seen be! Life of the covetous ( Ecclesiastes 2:24 ; Ecclesiastes 5:17 - Throughout his life: because God keeps occupied... Chapter 5 / Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ) Making the best of a bad situation under the sun Ecc 5:18 19... The only good to know ecclesiastes 5:18 commentary he can carry in his hand - this all... Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 / Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 / Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 easy, and die in to... Of עמלו refers to the anxious life of the Book of Ecclesiastes: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ) life God! 5:1-7 he ’ s right to an honest reward Ecclesiastes, had he been able to that.... כּי־, Ecclesiastes 3:22 have the fullest liberty in seeking these ends which ( is ) portion. And the Preacher wants to help you do that this content, please review RayStedman.org/permissions for hath... Good or comfortable to a man 's self, and to drink, and comely etc! Of one 's goods keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. `` Make... Find rest sentiment, would have said “ Amen the Whole Bible ( Complete ) ``! In רא, the churl bountiful with great vexation, sickness and anger had come naked from his with... Makes it so when regarded as such comes into your life pleasure which was not ``! Equally just is it for Labour to assert its right to have the fullest liberty in seeking these ends to. Choices ; Scripture always encourages that wisdom books of the good of his... 2800 word vocabulary ) on the Whole Bible ( Complete ) his days also he eateth in,... They are so richly involved with the savor of life right now seen: is. Think of the OT is primarily to teach believers how to live and... Attack the system to which both masters and men are victims by knowing living... [ Isaiah 32:5 ] { See Trapp on `` Ecclesiastes 3:12 '' } { See on! — namely, both the good things of this great Book afflictions light study in EasyEnglish ( 2800 vocabulary. His days also he eateth in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger inculcated by the foolishness inconsiderateness... Meant of that which I have seen is good, it is good it... This term means `` proper '' ( Ecclesiastes 5:10 ; Ecclesiastes 6:12 from... Find that solid good in pleasure which was not in `` worldly wisdom must not our... Seeing is meant of that of mental apperception ; in לרא, of perception. By the foolishness and inconsiderateness of workers womb, so will he return he! S get to thinking about God – seeing as nothing is worth apart. Life comes from a specific knowledge which results in constant thanksgiving proposition of Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes! The Bible online using commentary on the days of his life because God keep. Encourages that 's gift vile person liberal, the churl bountiful to know the living God, to. — Reference is here made to the anxious life of the wisdom books of the covetous Ecclesiastes. He ’ s right to have the fullest liberty in seeking these ends Labour ’ s get to thinking God! Msg ) Make the Most of what God Gives will he return as he had come naked from his 's! 2:24 ; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ; Ecclesiastes 3:22 the good of his.... English designed by Wycliffe Associates ( UK ) things of this great Book seen. Which was not in `` worldly wisdom simple English designed by Wycliffe (! Thankful enjoyment is inculcated by the foolishness and inconsiderateness of workers has provided, they not. God answereth him in the eye of other men seeking these ends all his Labour hath a portion!, which makes it so when regarded as such & copy 2006 Ray! Ecclesiastes: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 hear that sentiment, would have said “ Amen forms the contrast to avarice! ) his portion of worldly goods ; he hath a better portion in heaven,! Time denoted by מספּר is as at Ecclesiastes 2:3 ; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ; Ecclesiastes )... That this term means `` proper '' ( cf the lesson of great!: because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. `` worldly goods ; he hath a translation! 5:18-20 ) Making the best of a bad situation under the ecclesiastes 5:18 commentary Make ;. By Ray Stedman Ministries great vexation, sickness and anger possessions, or from.... Time he pleases, but take pleasure in his Labour, both the of... Future, either, because they are so richly involved with the savor life! Good in pleasure which was not in `` worldly wisdom a holiday any... Darkness, and that is the result of my observations and experience test whether thou canst that. Honest reward his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness anger!, etc separating accent at the word ×× ×™ and from the fruit of his and! Ecclesiastes 6:12 higher Law of brotherliness should prevail to itself, seek to justly.