PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes
William J. Deane [1853-1943] · 304,106 words · 327 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 181
the distinction between the two is sufficiently the originally good man became thus marked, as we find in Herodotus, vii. 210, wicked, tbe writer does not tell. He •o.-, ,ro,\,\ol µh, liv6pc.,,ro1 •1•v, l,,\{-yo, B~ knows from revelation that God made him liv~pH. But a woman o.mong all those have upright; he knows fro…
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rank among the children of men ; a good name attests that one has qualities of soul, of mind, heart, and disposition, proclaiming him a son of God and a peer of heaven. III. MoRE SATISFYING IN ENJOYMENT. Perfumed oil may yield a pleasant fragrance which gratifies the sense of smell and revives the body's vigour; the s…
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love of friends, saying, "Alas, my brother I" (1 Kings xiii. 30; the gtief of Constance for her son: cf. 'King John,' act iii. ec. 4), though sorrow on this account is greatly tempered by the consolations of the gospel in respect of Christians (2 Thess. iv. 13); it is to express the heart's affection for those who have…
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house of mourning is fitted to improve the serious listener. Should it sometimes lay rebukes npon one's spirit, these are felt to be better from a moral and spiritual point of view than the low and grovelling, frequently prurient and obscene, songs that in the Preacher'~ day were_ hea:d, as in our day they are not unkn…
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Ver. 8.-The end better than the beginning. I. THE IMPORT OF THE PROVERB BTA'l'ED. Not always true that the end of a. thing is better than the beginning. Whether it is so depends largely on what the thing is, upon the character of its beginning and the nature of its end. 1. Cases in which the maxim will not apply. (1) E…
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Ver. 10.-" The _qood old times"-a popular delusion. I. THE DELUSION STATED, "That the former days were better than these." The proposition may be understood as applying: 1. To individual experience, in which case it will signify that the former days of the speaker's life were better than those in which he then was. Or…
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Vers. 11, 12.-Wisdom and wealth. I. THE GREAT POWER OF WEALTH. 1. What it cannot do. (l) Purchase salvation for the soul (Ps. xlix. 6, 7). (2) Impart happi- ness to the mind (Luke xii. 15). (3) Secure health for the body (2 Kings v. 1; Luke xvi. 22). 2. What it can do. (l) Defend the body against want and disease, at l…
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recognizes God's band in introducing crooked things into men's lots ; in this all should follow his example. III. DEMAND DIVERSE TREATMENT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL, 1. Straight things call for chee1fu,/11ess. "In the day of prosperity be joyful,"" be in good spirits," be thank- fully happy and happily thankful. (1) Gratitu…
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And smiles when mortals' anxious fears, Forecasting ills of coming years, Beyond their limit range." (Plumptre, in weo.) The continuity of human experience is not so unbroken that mortal sagacity, at its highest, can forecast the incidents of even the nearest day. (2) That no man should be able to tell precisely wha…
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Vers. 19-22.-The dangers and defences of a city. I. A OITY's DANGERS. 1. Either e:i;ternal or internal. Either attacking it from without or a1r.1ailing it from within. 2. Either personal or impersonal. A.rising from individuals, a.s e.g. from embattled hosts marching against the city, or from designing traitors prov…
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and gives life to all that have it. Hence even more indispensable for a. city's safety is it Lhat her dignitaries should bo good than that they should be '-'reat. 3. The piety of its people. '!'his a legitimate deduction from the statement that "there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Var. L-Reputation. The connection between the two clauses of this verse is not at first sight apparent. But it may well be intended to draw attention to the fact that it is in the case of the man who has justly gained a good name that the day of death is better than that of birth. l. T…
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Vera. 2-4.-.A Divine paradox. To many readers these statements appear startling and incredible. The young are scarcely likely to receive them with favour, and to the pleasure-seeking and the frivolous they are naturally repugnant. Yet they are the embodiment of true wisdom; and are in harmony with the experience of the…
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Ver. 8.-The end better than the beginning. There are many persons, especially among the young and ardent, who adopt and act upon a principle diametrically opposed to this. Every beginning has for them the charm of novelty; when this charm fades, the work, the enterprise, the relationship, have no longer any interest, a…
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in the case before us, the fact is so questionable, and certainty with regard to it is so difficult, if not unattainable, that it would be a wnste of time to enter upon the inquiry here supposed. . ArrLIOATION. Vain regrets as to the past are as unprofitable as are complaints as to the present. What concerns us is …
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course is to be atpproved, than he will hear and think of nothing else! Is liberty good? Then away with all restraints I le self-denial good? Then away with all pleasures I Is the Bible the best of books? Then let no other volume be opened I Is our own country to be preferred to all beside'/ Then let no credit be allow…
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remains for ever trne; but there are states of society in which good women are aa numerous as Rre good men, and in which their influence is equally beneficial. I, THE IKJURIOUSNESS OF DAD WOMEN EXEMPLIFIES THE PllINCIPLE TIIAT THl!l ABUSE AND CORRUPTION OF GOOD TIDNGS IS OFTEN THE CAUSE OF THE WORST OF ILLS. IT. THE …
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II. THE COMPARATIVELY UNPROFITABLE THING. Two things are mentioned in Scrip- ture as being lawful, but as being of comparatively slight value-bodily indulgence and bodily exercise (see 1 Cor. vi. 13 ; 1 Tim. iv. 8). cc The house of feasting" ( ver. 2) is a. right place to be found in, as is also the gymnasium, or the r…
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workman toils on in unwavering faith, there is a spectacle which we can well believe that the angels of God look upon with delight. Certainly it is the object of our admir- ing regard. On the other hand, pride is an offensive thing in the eyes of man, as we know it is in the sight of God (Prov. viii. 13). Whether a man…
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yet, hoping in God and seeking his aid, we must address ourselves courageously anr intelligently to these crooked things until they are made straight. There is nothing that so strongly appeals to, and that will so richly reward, our aspiration, our ingenuity, our energy, our patience. Ill. THE DUTY OF BUDMITTING, Ther…
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condition of Oriental society, we do not know. But there was, no doubt, so much of realism about the picture that we may learn a very practical lesson therefrom. It is twofold. I. THE AWFUL POSSIBILITIES OF DEGRADATION. That woman, created by God to be a belpmeet for man, and so admirably fitted, as she is at her b…
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gives a touch of gaiety to tbo sentence so strangely concluded with the reflection that for the owner of the good name the day of bis death is better than the day of his birth. An exquisite illustration of the justness of our author's admiration for a good name is to be found in that incident in the Gospels of the dee…
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of the type described, we should be justified in placing less value upon them than ho did. It is true that more than once he speaks with a bitterness and disgust of all the occupations nnd pleasures of life, which we cannot, with our experience, fairly endorse. But, as a rule, his moralizing is not of the ascetic ty…
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who was a welcome Guest. on occasions of inn?cen~ festivity (John ii. 2; Luke vii. 36), but whose presence was still more eagerly desired m the homes of the afflicted (John xi. 3; Mark v. 23), II. IT ENABLES UB TO FORM TRUER ESTIMATES OF LIFE, It gives us a more trust- worthy standard of judging the relative importanc…
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as in themselves unworthy of attracting the attention of immortal natures; they were employed by hi~ to illustrate eternal truths. And all through the writings and exhortations of his apostles the same spirit is manifest; the same counsel is virtually giren t-0 use the present world without abusing it-t-0 receive wi…
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II. EVILS THAT SPRING LARGELY J'ROH OUR OWN TEMPERAMENT. "The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools" ( vere. 8b, 9). That the disposition here reprobated is e. very general and fruitful source of misery cannot be doubted. Th…
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comp~nies of trnnslators are equally in doubt in tho matter, It is a case, therefore, in which one must use one's individual judgment, and decide as to which rendering is to be preferred from the general sense of the whole passage. Our author, then, is speaking of two things which are profitable in life-" for them t…
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hence that nothing may be outstanding which he has not experienced." This interpre• tation of the various events of life, joyous and sombre, as forming a complete disciplinary course, through which it is an advantage for us to pass, is the most worthy of the explanations of the words that they have received. .And if we…
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trifles. And the aim is in all cases the same-the accumulation of a store of merit which will compel a reward if God is not to show himself unjust ; an attempt to force from his hand a benediction which others cannot claim who have not adopted the same course. 'l'he folly and impiety of such conduct must be apparent…
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o.llusion to some political or other arrangements of the time now unknown to us. But the evident meo.ning or the verse is that the wisdom that fears God is better than material force, tho.t in it there is e. ground of confidence better than weapons of war (cf. Prov. xxiv. Ga, "A wise man is strong"). In the words that …
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unfortunate in h:.s experience. There is no doubt that in some countries and in some ages of the world, corruption is very widespread and deep, and in the land and time in which our author lived matters may have been as bad as he represents them. But the c~ perience of & single life does not afford sufficient ground fo…
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menUonecl at the end of the lost chapter. is like the wise man?" I, who am now 'l'hc thought is not, as in Hos. xiv. 9 and teaching yon. But it is beHer to regard Jer. ix. 12, '' Who is wise?" but-No one con the pronoun ns emphasizing the following be compured with 11. wise man ; he has no rule, supplying some verb …
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but also to the froward" (1 Pet. ii. 18). spoken of in the same 'terms ns the irre• Solomon might have given this advice to sistible power of Almighty God. \he Israelites who were ready to follow Jerobonm's lead; though they could have Elt<@II a~ /311~1>.,Js l<rTIII tµ,i,uxos ®eoii. remained loyal to Rehoboam only …
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that the o.ffiiction which subjects snffer at battle, a.nd perieh;" Ecclus. xiv. 12, "RP- the hand of a tyrant becomes insupportable, memberthat dea.th will not be long in coming, and calls for and receives God's interposi- a.nd that the covenant of the grave is not tion. Or "the evil" may be the wickedness showed u…
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time wherein one msn ruloth over another to following clause, " they went away from the hi.a own hurt. This version is certainly holy place," as one generation coming o.nd incorrect. A new sentence is not commenced another going, in constant sucoession. Hut here, but the clause is closely connect.ad with whnt prece…
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e.nd from the holy place; e.nd they departed absque timore ullo filii hominum -perpetrant e.ud ·were praised 1n the oity, bece.use they mala; Septuagint, "Because there is no hnd eo done;" Vulga.te, "I he.ve seen the contradiction (a.niN11u1s) made on the part impious buried, who also, while they still of (a.wo) those …
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with the righteous in the long run. The upon the earth. The vanity is nnmed iu comfort and peace of a conscience at rest, what follows, viz. the seeming injustice iu and the in ward feeling that his life was the distribution of good e.nd evil. There be ordered after God's will, would compensate just men, unto whom i…
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sage the inscrutable nature of the Jaw that his eyes. This is o. parenthetical clause ex- directs God's moral government leads to the pressing either the restless, unrelieved labour advice to make the best of circumstances. that goes on in the world, or the ,leepless In neither instance need we trace veiled meditation…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-.A. wise man's superio1·ity-in what does it consist1 I. IN PENETRATION OF INTELLECT. He knoweth not merely things, but the interpretation thereof. Among the Chaldeans the interpretation of dreams was a. special branch of wisdom professed by magicians and astrologers (Dan. ii. 4-13). A wise man-usin…
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and then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear;" but it must be: 2. Actual, otherwise there is no reason to suppose the individual has become possessed of wisdom; and it will eventually .be : 3. Visible to all, so that all beholding him shall recognize in him the gentleness of one who has studied in wisdo…
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Ver. 10.-Before, at, and after death; or, the wicked and the good-a contrast. I. BEFORE DEATH. In the character of their lives. Each lives and acts in accordance with his character of soul. 1. The.wicked acts wickedly. Spends his days (1) without religion, having no fear of God before his eyes (Ps. xxxvi. 1 ; Rom. i…
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Vcrs. 14, 15.-.A misundersl.ood providence and a mistaken judgmcnt. I. T1rn MISUNDERSTOOD PROVIDENCE, 1. The providence is undeniable. "There be righteous men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked;" nnd " there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous." Of the for…
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independence of the author of common human standards of well-being, such as wealth, prosperity, and pleasure; wisdom is with him "the principal thing." The signs of true wisdom are graphically portrayed in this verse. I. WISDOM IMPARTS INSIGHT. Ordinary men are not even, as a rule, observant; but there are men who …
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Ver. lL-A hasty and foolish inference. In the case of some this conclusion may be reached deliberately, but in that of others the process may be unconscious, or at all events without attentive consideration and reasoned purpose. L THE DATA, There is delay in retribution. When we perceive immediate punish- ment follow …
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111. THE PRAOTIOAL LESSONS. 1. The sinner should reflect upon the f,,cts of the Divine government, and upon the express statements of the revealed Word of God. He may thence learn the certainty of retribution. "The wicked shall not go unpunished; " "The way of transgressors is hard;" "The wages of sin is death." The se…
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Yer. 16.-Man's b1rsy life. The Preacher was observant, not only of the phenomena nnd proc, sscs of nature, but also of the incidents and transactions of human life. In fo, t, man was his chief interest and his chief study. He observed the dili<rence of the lnb,1 rious; the incessai:it activity of the scheming, the r…
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J. 'l'HE FAOT TIIAT THE THOUGHTFUL MAN IS UAFFLED JN IIIS ENDEAVOUR '1'0 c·rnr- PREIIEND Goo's WAYS, AND TO COMPREHEND HUMAN LIFE AND DESTINY, II. Tms IS JUST WHAT IB TO BE EXPECTED FROM A CONSIDERATION OF (1) man's finite nature, anrl (2) God's infinite wisdom. Ill. 'l'HE PROFITAnLENESS OF THIS ARRANGEMENT. 1. H ten…
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true, whether here stated or not, that the holding of power by a bad man is hurtful to himself. It elevates him in his own eyes when he needs to be humbled therein; it gives him the opportunity of indulgence, and indulgence is certain to feed an evil inclination, or to fostrr an unholy habit; it makes injurious flatter…
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£ear that we ourselves may be taken from the scene. But God is not hurried by such considerations as these. The guilty can never get beyond his reach, and he ie ever present, Time does not enter into the account of him who is "from everlasting tu everlasting." God's long forbearance is, therefore, no proof of Divine in…
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even homely features an exquisite charm. 'l'he coarse, sullen, vacant starll of ignorance is transformed by the" sweetness and lietht" with which the soul is suffused. '!'here is a reference probably to the literal shini;g of Moses' countenance when he co.me down from the mount on which he had seen God face to face …
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under the rule of B tyrant; but it is for us to decide whether higher blessings than that of tranquillity are not to be striven for, The great cautiousness with which he speaks is not unreasonable when we remember how ready men are to make use of passages of Scripture to justify even questionable conduct, and how many …
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"V ers. 6-8.-The doom of tyrants. In words which are purposely dark the writer speaks of the fall of unrighteous tyrants. It is with bated breath that he whispers to those who are writhing helplessly under the oppressive rule of cruel despots, that the c,il under which they suffer works its own cure in time, and tha…
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hint at the ndvisability of subjects tnking the law into their own hands when their patience has been long tried. But he raises the matter to a higher level, and makes faith in God the source of consolation; and in bis very words of counsel to subjects adduces considerations which are calculated to weigh with their rul…
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Yers._ 1~-13.-R~ti-ibution certain. The prosp~rity of the wicked is not only nn e'\'11 m itself, but 1t leads the way to a more deliberate and unresLrained course of sin. The fact that the Divine sentence that condemns evil_ is not executed speedily lends many t-0 thick that they can sin with impunity. They do not s…
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simple-in the soogs of Anacreon and Horace and Omar Khayyam. It would indeed be a mistake to imngine that the advice he gives, however often it is repeated, is the best that can be given, or even the best that he has to give. It prescribes but a temporary relief from sorrow and care and perplexity. And even when be mak…
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<'lusion. Oue great result of his considera- By o.ll that is before them. Tho Hebrew is tion he proceeds to state. The Septuagint simply," all [lies] before them." All that connects this clnuse closely with the last shall happen, all that she.II shape their verse of the preceding chapter," For I applied destiny iu the …
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last idea., is re1;nl'clecl ns a late Eeeenio and passions, and care little for God's will dernloprnent (see Josephus, 'Bell. Jud.,' ii. l\n<l law, or their own beat interests. This 8. 6); though something like it is found in is well called "want of reason" ( 11'<p«f,<p«a., the sermon on the mount, "I say unto you, …
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43; 2 Sam. iii. 8); while the lion W&e con- may be approximately represented in Eng- sidered M the noblest of beast.s, the type of lish Ly tho words "record " and " reward." power And greatness ( comp. Prov. xxx. 30; Yer. 6.-Also their love, and their hatred; Isa. xxxi. 4). So the proverbie.l saying in and their env…
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Vor. 7.-Go thy way, eat thy bread wHh "Though he in whitened toga celebratR joy. Thie is not an injunction to lead a His wedding, birthday, or high frstival." eel.fish life of Epicurean pleaaurr;,; but taking Let thy head lack no ointment. Oil anrl the limited view to which he here confines perfumes were used on festiv…
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Nor yet favour to men of skill. "Skill" The experience which follows he recognized here docs not mee.n dexterity in handicrafts as an instance of worldly wisdom. To what ur 11,rte, but knowledge generBlly; e.nd the specie.I event he allndes is quite unknown. gnome says that reputBtion 11,nd influence do Probably the ci…
947 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.