Ecclesiastes 9

Theme:

The general tenor of Chapter 9 is that all people suffer the same fate. The ultimate fate, of course,
is death, but the writer observes that even during life we all have the same experiences and
sufferings, regardless of whether we are wise or foolish, righteous or unrighteous. Instinctively,
I find this to be true; analytically, I question it. It seems proveable that the decisions we make
lead to particular consequences, though clearly this element of control is limited.

A series of summaries and embellishments:

9:1-2

God is the One who is omnipotent and omniscient. It doesn’t matter if I focus on doing good
or act without conscience; it doesn’t matter if I am thoughtful or thoughtless; either way I will
experience death and loss and broken bones and disappointment as well as pleasure and
good fortune, all in due time.

9:3-6

People are “bent,” to use a C.S. Lewis term, inclined toward that which does neither
themselves nor others good; our instinct is not to love others but to favor ourselves in
whatever ways we can. In such a state, there remains hope while we are alive, even
if we are the lowliest of people. Once we have died, our life doesn’t matter a whit and
is forgotten; this remains true whether we were known as lovers or haters.

9:7-8

These verses intrigue me, particularly the phrases “for God now accepteth thy works.
Let thy garments always be white; and let thy head lack no ointment.” It is clear that the
writer intends to offer optimism and encouragement to his readers. And after a section of
relatively deterministic resignation, this perspective emerges as a lit candle after the
electricity has gone out. God now accepteth thy works! The idea of being accepted is
truly sensational, and it seems to come without qualification in this context, as the writer
has just observed that whether we lived with love, hatred, or envy, they have all perished
alongside our physical death. Wow. What a powerful expression of the unconditional love
of God (or, admittedly, the belief that there is no afterlife). Even in glimpsing this insight
regarding God’s love, I am skeptical of its scope, since clearly in the life and statements
of Jesus and the whole Biblical text God calls for goodness (righteousness) and justice.
But what if, on the other side of the veil of life, we find ourselves facing such unconditional
love? Who would not willingly repent and accept such love then?

9:9-10

In these verses, the writer repeats the familiar theme that we should enjoy what we have,
whether it be our wife, or our possessions, or our labor and its results. A nuance I’m aware
of in this particular instance is to avoid searching for contentment outside of what is before
us; rather, we should fully invest ourselves in the partner we have chosen, the work we
have been given, or the daily routines that make up our lives. And the reason to commit fully
to each moment of each day--which will primarily entail work and relationship--is because we
won’t have this opportunity after we have died. Live while you can. Carpe diem!

9:11-12

Again the writer returns to the theme of all people having the same fate, which is death. If life
were a race, it won’t matter if you’re the turtle or the hare, the end is coming and it will take
you by surprise. It makes sense, then, that we should invest ourselves in each moment as
has been expressed in the previous verses.

9:13-18

These verses seem like a bit of a “turn” in the chapter, or at least they introduce a new metaphor,
and a concluding one, which is that of a powerful king who besieges a city, and the city is saved
by a “poor wise man.” Unsurprisingly, the poor wise man’s deed is not particularly noted or
remembered, but the author concludes that “wisdom is better than strength,” and perhaps this
represents a position that, despite the fact that our lives are quickly forgotten by the living world
which remains, there are perspectives that are more worth pursuing than others during this brief
opportunity we have to decide what we will do with our time.