Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
ECCLESIASTES
Chapter 5
Ecclesiastes 5:1-20
v. 1 - "Keep thy foot . . ." = perhaps an illusion to Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15; humble yourself; be reverent; mindful of what you are about to do
NOTE: True worship of God (drawing near to God) is the antidote for vanity and vexation of spirit
- "hear" = intelligently, attentively, obediently
- "sacrifice of fools" = self-righteousness or other known, unconfessed sin; mere formalism; duty; which they consider to be acceptable to God, but are really evil - cf. Isaiah 1:10-18; Matthew 5:23-24
v. 2 - "Be not rash . . . before God" = think, meditate before speaking to God (prayer) or speaking for God (preaching/teaching) or speaking about God, who is in Heaven, the high and holy place - cf. Isaiah 57:15
- "words be few" = those well thought-out and led of the Spirit - cf. Ephesians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:15
v. 3 - Much and varied business often results in confused and perplexing dreams; so a "multitude of words" identifies the voice of a fool, whether in common conversation (cf. Proverbs 18:2) or in prayer; in prayer he thinks he will be heard for much speaking and/or tries to impress people - cf. Matthew 6:5-8
vv. 4-6 - Vows are optional, but if and when made should not be made rashly as a fool would hastily do and then fail to keep it either because unable or unwilling, and makes excuses
v. 6 - "the angel" = messenger of God; Jewish priest; preacher/pastor; and even the Lord Jesus, before whom we vow in baptism and the Lord's Supper, or in any other thing upon which we want the blessing of God
- "destroy the work . . ." = making a vow to God and failing to keep it results in severe discipline, especially upon the success of the thing for which the vow was made
v. 7 - Many and confusing dreams, as well as a multitude of words (cf. Proverbs 10:19), are vanity and vexation of spirit, dreams when taken seriously, words when uttered rashly; "fear thou God" is the antidote to both
v. 8 - "marvel not" = don't think God has abandoned those who are oppressed
- "matter" = purpose; God is neither asleep nor aloof, is in control and knows what's going on; in fact has His hand in and upon the circumstances; in due time (when His purpose is fulfilled), He will act to judge the oppressors and deliver the oppressed
- "higher than the highest" = levels of human authority, each of which has its locally highest over which there is still higher on earth and ultimately the Triune God higher than all
v. 9 - Even those in authority have need of the produce of the field, therefore, they have good reason to treat their servants well rather than oppress them, and to deal with those who would oppress them and endanger the success of the crops
- an employer, whose living comes from his business, has good reason to treat his employees fairly
v. 10 - "The love of money increases, in proportion as money itself increases." Quoted in and copied from Adam Clarke's Commentary
- "vanity" = cf. Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:10
v. 11 - "they are increased that eat them" = family, relatives, servants, beggars, etc.
- "what good" = a rich man who is generous with his abundance as given him by the Lord will rejoice in sharing it with others; but "to a covetous man . . . it is a constant vexation to see others eat of his increase." - Matthew Henry
v. 12 - Hard work promotes a healthy digestive system which keeps indigestion from interfering with sleep
"abundance of the rich" = many and dainty foods in which overindulged; and other material things which clutter the mind with cares and worries, and work against normal physical welfare
v. 13 - "riches kept . . . to their hurt" = physical hurt by selfish indulgence in a hurtful lifestyle; spiritual hurt by failure to use them to "lay up treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-21); misers are idolaters - cf. Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5
NOTE: There is a fine line between miserliness and good stewardship, the difference being the attitude of the heart; viz., selfishness vs. benevolent obedience
v. 14 - "those riches" = the ones selfishly kept
- "evil travail" = bad management; natural disaster; robbery; something which takes away "those riches" and leaves nothing for the heir
v. 15 - Even if wealth isn't lost in this life, it is lost at death, and those who labor only for it will be as the rich fool in Luke 12:15-21
v. 16 - "laboured for the wind" = that which has no eternal value - cf. Proverbs 23:5
"Money talks, I can't deny, I heard it once, it said, 'Goodbye.'"
v. 17 - eateth in darkness = lives a life full of the cares for riches without the joy using them aright would bring
- sorrow and wrath. . . sickness = sad and angry when sick that he can't pursue his quest for wealth; fearful of dying for the same reason and angry at the providence of God which has brought him to that place
v. 18 - God giveth him . . . his portion = not gotten illegally or unjustly, but as the gift of God and recognized as such to provide his needs for physical life
v. 19 - This describes a wealthy man who recognizes what he has as the gift of God and uses his riches properly; i.e., according to God's will and direction not only for himself, but also for the benefit of others
v. 20 - not much remember = the labor and toil, as well as the shortness of life will not be a bad memory when he comes to die
- God answereth = what he has desired, God has granted, especially joy of heart which affects the whole of life