PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes
William J. Deane [1853-1943] · 304,106 words · 327 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 241
2 Sam. xx. 15; 2 mugs xix. 32; Jer. Iii. 4). spised, etc. In the instanoe above mentioned 'fhe Vulgnoo rounds off the account in the the poor man's wisdom wns not despifed, text by addin~. et perf8cta est obsidio,,"antl and his words were beard nnd .o.Uended to ; the beleaguering wa.s completed." but this was an 11b…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-6.-All things alike to all. I. ALL MEN EQUALLY IN THF. HAXDS oF GoD. 1. Their persons, 'l'he righteous and the wise (ver. 1), but not less certainly the unrighteous and the foolis!J. God's breath sustains all; God's providence watches over all; God's power encircles all; God's mercy encompasses all…
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Ver. 4.-" .A living dog better than a dead lion." I. ANIMATED BEING BETTER THAN INAKIMATE. Life a higher product than matter; and a lion without life is only matter. Life added to matter in its meanest forms imparts to it a dignity, worth, and use not possessed by matter in its most magnificent shapes where life is …
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xi. 19; Luke vii, 34; John ii. 1-11) show that religion did not require men to be ascetics or monks, Rechabites or Nazarites, but the apostolic writers have made it clear that Christianity is not meats or drinks (Rom. xiv. 17; 1 Tim. iv. 3; Heh. ix. 10), and that while no one has a right to over-indulge himself in e…
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Yer. 10.- Words to a, worker. I. THE WORKER DESCRIBED: M~N. 1. F11rnished with capacities for work• . With bodily organs and mental endowments, with speech and rnnson. ~- Lo~ated in a sphere of work. The world a vast workshop, in which every crenture 1s busily emplciyed-not only the irrational.animals, but even thin…
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Nothing commoner than to find poor wise men (ver. 15) and rich fools (Luke xii. 20) '!'bough as a rule the hand of the diligent maketh r;ich (Prov. x. 4), men of splendhl nbilities often spend their strength for nought. Riches a,re no sign of wisdom. 5. Favour· not to men of skill. Even genius cannot alwan command the …
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seculnr, and much more religious, and to show observers how hard it is to guide wealth ~·ithout wisdom, especially the highest. (2) Goodness towards the poor, whose scanty sb11re of this world's goods be not unfrequently compensates with great intellectual capacity, and even with celestial wisdom, Nothing more remar…
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HOMILIES BY V.A.RIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-3.-The antidote to despondency. It was said by a famous man of the world, "Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel." The epigram is more sparkling than true; reflecting men in every age have been oppressc<l by the solemnity of life's facts, and the insolu…
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Y~~- 4-6.-Life and d,eath. No thougl1tful reader can take these remarks upon the lmng and the dead as complete and satisfactory in themselves, . The writer of this hook, as we know from other passages, never intended them so to be taken. 'rhey are singularly partial; yet when they are seen to be so, they are also si…
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Ver, 10.-Diligence. The prospect of death may add a certain zest to life's enjoy- ments, but we are reminded in this passage that it is just and wise to allow it to influence the performance of life's practical duties. I. ltELIGION BAS REGARD TO MAN'S PRACTICAL NATURE. The hand is the instrument of work, and is accord…
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and their case seems hopeless. But a citizen hitherto unknown, with no apparent resources, arises to lead the dispirited and helpless defenders. Whether by some marvellous device, or by the magnetic power of his presence and spirit, he accomplishes a task which seemed impossible-vanquishes the besiegers and raises the …
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within our :power. The Master himself felt this (John ix:.· 4). . He knew that there was glorious "work" for him in the long future, even as there had been fcir his Father in the long past (John v. 17). But he knew also that between the hour of that utterance and the hour of his death on the cross there was· that work…
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V' era. 13-18.- Wisdom and strength. The picture ,which is _here drawn is both pictUle and •parable;' it portrays a constantly recurring scene in human history. It speaks to us of- I. THE ijANGE OF WISDOM. Wisdom is a word that covers many things; its import varies much. It includes: 1. Knowledge; familiarity with the…
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them" (ver. lb, Revised Version). "The river of life, along which his course lies, i~ wrapped in mist. Man's destiny is wholly dark, and is out of his own control. But it is not man's ignorance that cuts him to the heart; it is that the injustice of earthly tribunals seems to have its counterpart in a higher region. No…
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intense and palpable than that with which the same subject is invested in the Book_ of Job, and even in fome of the psalms. But wo must remember that though the world beyond the grn,·e is represented by him as dim and shadowy, he affirms at the same time that "God will bring every secret thing into judgment" in "his ow…
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for possible fe.ilure and disappointment. So full and varied is his experience of iife that ho has useful counsels for all classes of men. Some need the spur and others the curl,. Some would from timidity hang back and lose the chances of usefulnes11 which life gives; others are so self-confident and sanguine that they…
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human plans. "Chance," therefore, must here refer to the great variety of circum- stances over which we have no control, but by which our schemes and endeavours are affected, which may take away success from the deserving, and in all cases render it extremely difficult to calculate beforehand the probabilities of su…
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EXPOSITION. to govern "him that," etc. The other v, r- CHAPTER X. sions vary. Septuagint, "A little wisdom Vere. 1-3.-Section 11. .A. littlB folly is more precious (Tlµ,ov) than great glory of mare the effect of wisdom, and is sure to folly;" Vulgate, "More precious are wisdom and glory than small and short-lived …
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"The Lord is nt t.hy right hnnd," to _protect a monarch, which the la.tte1· takes in ba,l thee, sf\ys the J»alrnist (Ps. ex. 5). • The part, and shows strnng reeentmcllt age.inst wise mnn's mind shows him how to escape the person who offered it. Now, when a dangers nnd direct his course safely; the man !mows himself to…
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tue monnrcb, is primarily in the mind of persons have been Slludenly raised io emi- Iha w1·itcr, though, of course, it is quite true nence, mistresses and favourites loaded with th11t the submission of tho former might dignities, and oppression of the rich has save Urn ruler from the commission of some been systemat…
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Ver. 8.-Re that diggeth a pit ahall fall Cutting up logs of wood, e. man mny hurt into it. This proverb occurs in Prov. xxvi. 27, himself with axo or saw, or be illjurod by 11nd, ns expreesi ve of the retribution that splinters, etc. If we take the idea to ho tho awnits e,il-doers, finds parallels in Ps. vii. felling o…
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gint Vnticnn, K,d .,,.,p(,r,rw, -r<i, &v6p) oJ concerned with the contrast between the worda ,rocpla, "And the ndvnnta.go to ma.n is not and acts of the wise, and the worthless prating wieclom." But ma.nuscripts A n.nd O rea.d, and useless lahours of the fool. Ka} 11'<pl,r,rw, -roii &vSplou O'ocpla: Vulga.te, Post …
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Le.tin yc11erosus, e.s "son of strength," e~ui va- ointments; but they are not grieved for the lent to "strong mnn; " "son of wicked- affliction of Joseph." "Moch slothfolness" ness," equivalent to "wiclrncl me.n;" but is expressed in the original by a dual form, the phrase may well be taken literally. which gives n…
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" For why-n portioned wife, fair fame, and some unguarded moment: for "out of the friends, abundance of the henrt the mouth speo.keth." Benutv and birth on sovereign Wealth Cune not the rioh in thy bedchamber. In nttcuds. ability to injure, the rich stnnd iu the same D!est is her votRry throned his bags category as…
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HOMILETICS. Vcrs.1-7, 12-15.-Thedispraiseoffolly. I. FOLLY MARS THE FINEST REPUTATIOX, As one sinner destroyeth much good (eh. ix. 18), and flies of death, or poisonous flies, cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth II stinking savour, so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour. 1. It mars their beauty…
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Prrs AND FALLING INTO THEM, "He that diggeth o pit shall (Clr, •may'] fall into it" (ver. 8). An old proverb, borrowed from Solomon (Prov. xxvi. 27), who in turn may bnve learnt it from David (Ps. vii. 15; ix. 15; !vii, 6), it may point to one or other of two thoughts. 1. The necessity of exercising caution in all w…
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V. BLUNT TOOLS AND HEAVY BLOWS. "If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to nirect" (ver. 10). The lessons are two. 1. Every •work has its own appropriate tools. Wood-cutting requires axes, ann not merely blunt pieces of iron; pit-digging demands s…
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intellect. 'l'he man who is to rule others should be every Inch a king, not in bodily appearance only, but in mental capacity as well. No greater calamity can befall a country than to have its throne filled by a fool or an intellectual baby. In this sense, to be ruled by a "child" is surely the last indignity that can …
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I. FOLLY MAY FOR A TIME BE CONCEALED. A grave countenance, a staid demeanour, a reticent. habit, may convey:the impression of wisdom which does not exist. Men nro disposed to take a favourable view of those occupying high station, and even of those possessing great estates. The casual acquaintances of meu who are slow…
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age.inst him, the courtier is reminded of the ruler's power, e.nd is admonished not to provoke him to the exercise of that power, for in that case disfavour may lead to disgrace and degradation. 3. Religious principle. This is the motive which, in the case of the Christian, is most powerful, The example of the patient …
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Ver. 10.-Foi·ce and wisdom. The homely adage in the first part of this vers!l prepares for the broad general statement by which it is followed. 1. IN MECHAlIICAL UNDERTAKINGS THE SUPERIORITY OF SKILL TO BRUTE FOROE IS MOST APPARENT. This is obvious ii:. the superiority of the workmanship of the civilized and cultured …
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Ver. 18.-The curse of sloth. Religious teachers are sometimes unwilling to touch upon common faults, such a.s are noticeable by every observer as prevailing too generally in the everyday life of their fellow-men. The Scriptures give no countenance to such negligence, but, on the contrary, deal faithfully with those err…
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.Ver. 8 (former part).-Sin suicidal. "He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul" (Prov. viii. 36); he that seeks to do injury to others brings trouble upon himself; ·with the measure and after the manner with which he deals will he himself be dealt with. • Evil intents, as also good ones, recoil upon their autho…
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Vers. 9 (latter part), 10.-Good workmanship-ourselves and our tools. Thie much- debated passage may suggest to us some lessons which may not have been in the mind of the Preacher, but which are appropriate to our time and our circumstancea. The question of how much work a man can do is one that depends on two things…
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Vers. 17, 18.-Ruin--its forms and its sources. A material" ruin" may be a very picture~que and even pleasant sight, when that which has answered its end loses its form and does well to disappear. But otherwise a ruin is a pitiable spectacle. I. 'l'HREE FORMS OF RUIN. 1. Health. When a man should be in his prime, with …
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charactrr of one raised far above them in wisdom and honour, in order to brina it down to their level; of envy leading to an unjust and ungrateful sentence being pr~nounced upon nn almost_ faultless charact.er. But the warning is that deterioration may really ~rt in, tile precious ointment be actually changed into a…
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the rich man in the parable (Luke xvi. 19), a desire to be comfortable and avoid all that was disagreeable, but it led him to such callous indifference to the miseries of his fellows as disqualified him for happiness in the world to come. A similar fault stained the character of that young ruler who came running to Chr…
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Vers. 2-15.-From the second verse of this chapter to the fifteenth we have a series of proYerbs lciosely strung together, but all bearing upon the wholesome influence OJ w1',;dmn and the baneful effects of folly in the varying circumstances of daily life, It would be waste of ingenuity to ~ry to show any logical con…
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foot like common people, and slaves mounted on horses and clothed with authority (Prov. xix. 10). III. WISDOM BROWN IN PROVIDING AG All-ST POSSIBLE DANGERS. (Vers. 8, 9.) We need spend no time in the fruitless endeavour to connect vers. 8-11 with those that have gone before. The writer seems to consider wisdom in anot…
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Vers. 16-20.-Duties of rulers and subjects. Some of the evils oflife arise from errors nnd folli~s which may be corrected by diligence and prudence, and among them are the cap_nces of unworthy princes, tho vices of courtiers, and the disloyalty of subjects. Doth krngs and those over whom they rule have duties toward…
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CHAPTER XI. to the conclusion reached at the end. s~ we adopt the first of the two explanation!! Approaching the ~nd of his treatise, Koho- mentione,) above. The bread in the Enst is leth, in view of apparent anomalies in Gotl's made in the form of thin cakes, which would moml gcJvernment, and the difficultks that f…
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elc.; Micah v. 5; Eoclus. xxiii.16; xxvi. 5, 28). endured. And if the tree fell toward the Wordsworth notes that the word for "por• south, etc.; or, it may be, in the south; i.e. tion" (chelek) is that used specially for the let it fall where it will; the particulo.r portion of the Levites (Numb. xviii. 20); and p0si…
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we are to do our work in the world; we mysterious; and yet nature works them up cannot make a certainty of anything; pro- into e. strange increase of bulk, diversity, bability in the guide of life. We cannot e.nd proportion." Controversies concernin.~ secure ourselves f'rom failure; we can but the origin of the soul …
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epecinl reference to the maxim at the oogin- Plmuplrc cites Theognis- ning of the chnptcr, ns though the author meant, "Exercise thy charity at all times, K,lcrll'µcu C,crn •:>,./Oo!i' earh- nn<l lnte," the metaphor being similo.r ~.,.i{>8oyyos, ;,,,,If"' 3'., ,pa.~o• .pJ.os ~•"-lo,o; to thnt in 2 Cor. ix. 6, "He w…
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keep it under proper control. "Look on casting aside all tormenting anxiety con- thia I" it wo.s cried; •1 drink, and enjoy tby- cerning an unknown future, one may, as it eelf; for when thou diest thou shaH be is callecl, enjoy life. Let thy heart oheer such." The Roman poet hns many a pas- thee in the days of thy yout…
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"Vita nostra brevis est, brevi finietur, ment; but whether a resurrection is to pre- Yenit mors velooiter, rapit nos atrociter, cede this awful trial is left in uncertainty Nemini parcetur." here, as elsewhere in the Old Testament. It is not cpicureanism, even in a modified Cheyne and some other ol'itics consider th…
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ugint gives 'lrOJ/'T/pla.v, "wickedness ; " the refers it t.o the time of dawn (Ps. ex. 3) Vulge.te, malitiam. Similarly the Syriac seems to bo erroneous, as it would then be e.nd Te.rgum. And according to onr inter- identical with" childhood." The Septuagint pretation of the passage, such is the mean- renders it ll…
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from his venture in practical philanthropy; but eventually that return will come, here on earth, in the inwnrd satisfaction that springs from doing good, perhaps iu the gratitude (or, it may be, the temporal and spiritual elevation) of thosu who experience his kindness, hereafter in the welcome and the crlory Christ…
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to.king fright at the fluctuations of the market will prove only an indifferent merchant. In business, as in love nnd war, the man who hesitates is lost. 4. Diligence aiirl constancy in labour. The person who aims at success in business must be a hard am\ incessant, not a fitful and intermittent, worker. If a farmer, h…
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great assize will be held, not on earth, but in the unseen world; not in time, but in eternity. T_ha~ the Prea_cher had no clear perception of either the time, place, or nature of this Judgment, 1s probably correct, but that he alluded to a dread tribunal in the great hereafter seems a legitimate conclusion from the…
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man's inner nature, then the benevolence which may have been dormant is aroused, and new direction is given to it, and new power to persevere and to succeed in the attainment of its object. II. RELIGION PROMPTS TO A PRACTICAL EXPRESSION OF BENEVOLENT FEEUNG. Too often sympathy is a sentimental luxury, leading to no ef…
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Vers. 7, 8.-Light and darkness. The alternation of day and night is not only contributive to human convenience, it is symbolical of human experience. I. Tmm.E IS APPOTh'TED FOR MEN THE LIGHT OF YOUTH, HBALTH, AND PROSPERITY, He who rises betimes, and, turning to the east, watches for the sunrise, ancl then beholds …
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reap? since we do not know wha.t evil may come in a week or a. day, had we not better turn the seed of the sower into bread for the eater? No; let ow· ignorance concerning the fut.me be rather an incentive to activity. Say not, "I do not know what chancres mn,· come upon the earth ; how little my labours may prove t…
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is best within us. 1. It nourishes fortitude-a commendable capacity to endure; a readiness to accept, unmoved and untroubled at heart, whatever may befall us. 2. It creates and sustains cQUrage-a deliberate determination to face the evil that may possibly await us. 3. It contributes to true manliness-the power to do an…
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Vers. 9, 10.-Human }oy and Divine judgment, That these words are not to bo taken irnnicall;y is probable, if not certain, when we consider how frequently the r~r:lC½~.r had ~1ven substantially the same counsel befor~ (see eh. ii. 24; iii. 12, 22; v. lti; vm. 15; 1x. 9). Moreover, wo obtain an excellent meaning by ta…
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when we shall.need the help of others, and the harvest may far exceed all our expectations. Dut from. th,e Vf#ry nature of the case such murm.urings are unreasonable. No new thing can. be brqught to light in the m~al world. Conscience proclaims the same duties age after age; and all that is left to him who would advanc…
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with prosperity or adversity. The interpretation of ver. 3 es teaching that the fate of man is for ever fixed at death is utterly indefensible; there is nothing whatever in the text to indicate that the writer bad any such thought in his mind. And one may say in passing, that the teaching in question can have very l…
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years, let him rejoice in them "'11; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many, All that cometh is vanity." The light here praised is the light of life ; the existence passed in the world on which the sun shines, as contrasted with the darkneee of the grave, the unseen world, which to the mind o…
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cxcelleth darkness," it does not satisfy the soul. "Whi!.t, then, is the result of his inquiries, of his pain and labour in searching after the highest good? Do his, withering specu- lations leave anything untouched which may reasonably be ,the object of our pursuit, aud which may afford us the satisfaction, for whi…
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him, is commended. to ue. •. With all the repugnanco of a healthy mind, our author recoils from that narrow 81Dd self-righteousfana.timsm which has done so much to deepen the gloom of life, ,and to turn religion into an oppressive yoke. He docs not, however, go to the other extreme; bnt while.he bids the young to enjo…
958 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.