Dave Burnette's Commentary

Ecclesiastes Chapter 6

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Solomon
Date Penned: (935 BC)
Overview: Wisdom's Lessons from Experience (c 1-12)
Theme: Solomon's Practical Counsel (c 6-8)
Message: The King Finds Life Meaningless (v 1-12)

Ecclesiastes 6 Commentary 

(6:1) Injustice - In this section, Solomon shows that having the right attitude about God can help us deal with present injustices. Prosperity is not always good, and adversity is not always bad. But God is always good; if we live as he wants us to, we will be content. 

(6:1-6) Riches - "God giveth him not power to eat thereof" probably means that some people die without being able to enjoy their wealth and honor. Everyone dies, and both rich and poor end up in the grave. Many people work hard to prolong life and improve their physical condition. Yet people don't tend to spend nearly as much time or effort on their spiritual wealth and honor:  How shortsighted it is to work hard to extend this life and not take the opportunity God has offered to gain eternal life. 

(6:10) Sovereignty - God knows and directs everything that happens, and he is in complete control over our lives, even though at times it may not seem that way. How foolish it is for us to contend with our creator, who knows us completely and can see the future. (See also Jeremiah 18:6; Romans 9:19-24.) 

(6:12)  Solomon is stating the profound truth that no one can predict the future. The only one who knows what will happen after we're gone is God. Because no human knows the future, we should not neglect to live each day for its own value. Solomon is arguing against the notion that human beings can take charge of their own destinies. In all our plans we should look up to God, not just ahead to the future.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

God is in Control


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Ecclesiastes with Chapter 6. In our text today, we see Solomon give practical counsel, stating the profound Truth that we do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. Since our Lord is in control, we can live and rest in his Sovereignty, living day by day, working, resting, and depending on Him, for He loves us and is working everything together for our good and His Glory. How about you? Are you Stressed because you feel the weight of the World on your shoulders? Let us learn from our text today and the wisdom of Solomon to understand the Lord is in Control and He Cares for You.

 

.
Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6

 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

 2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

 3If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

 4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

 5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

 6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

 7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

 8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

 10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

 11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

 12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?