Get Ready
Did you grow up in a large family with several brothers and sisters? Or a small one, perhaps one sibling or none? How about your extended family – do you have lots of aunts, uncles and cousins? Or only a few? What differences has this made in your life?
The Word
6There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind: 2 those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they la3f0e0ck nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is meaningless; it is a grievous ill. 3 A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life’s good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it becomes meaningless and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered; 5 moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?
7 All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is meaningless and a chasing after wind.
10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who are stronger. 11 The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better? 12 For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the sun? NRSV
Get into the Word
1. How is this tragedy different than the situation in the previous chapter? Which do you think is more tragic?
2. How does Solomon describe wealth in this example? What does he compare the situation to? Why are they similar? Which does the author say is better? Which do you feel is better?
3. What does the writer conclude about wise people? Poor people? Fools? Why does he feel this way? How do you respond to his conclusion?
4. What does Solomon say about the human condition? About destiny? Who is really in charge?
Get Personal
Have you ever argued with God about your future? Was it something you wanted to do or something you wanted to avoid? How did God help you get in line with his plan for your life? How do you feel about it now?
Notes . . .
6:1. Evil I have seen — Solomon turns from wealth and the ability to enjoy it, to the counterpoint: wealth but no opportunity to enjoy it. His father expressed a similar idea: When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others, [Psalm 49:10]. Paul took a positive view in his advice to Timothy: Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, [1 Tim 6:6].
6:2. Stranger — probably someone other than a family member; the Hebrew word was also used for “another person.” Jesus uses this idea in his parable of the rich farmer [Luke 12:16-21].
Grievous ill — the Hebrew word here is different than in Chapter 5; it is closer to “virulent disease or illness.”
6:3. A man may . . . — Solomon expands on the tragedy with a possible example.
No burial — a proper burial was extremely important to the Israelites as a sign of respect. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied about evil kings’ insulting end, [check Isa 14:19-20 or Jer 22:18-19].
Stillborn child — Solomon compares the fate of a person with no “satisfaction in life” with a stillborn baby. Neither has any real life and both are dead at the end; but perhaps nothing is better than striving and being unhappy. He echoes David: Remember how short my time isfor what vanity you have created all mortals! Who can live and never see death? Who can escape the power of Sheol? [Psalm 89: 47-48]. Job also holds the same view: Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? Why were there knees to receive me, or breasts for me to suck? Now I would be lying down and quiet; I would be asleep; then I would be at res, [3:11-13].
:7. For the mouth — Solomon confirms God’s prophecy in Genesis: cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life, [3:17].
6:9. Chasing the wind — this is the last use of this phrase, as Solomon returns – again – to the proposition that the best option is to enjoy what one actually has; any other course is meaningless.
6:10. Already been named — Solomon repeats his earlier assertions that God has ordained every person’s existence [check 1:9, 1:15, 3:11-14]. God told Jeremiah, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations,” [1:5].
6:12. Who knows . . . Who can tell . . . — these rhetorical questions emphasize Solomon’s belief that a person cannot know what God’s plan entails. Micah actually had an answer: He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God, [Micah 6:8].
Jesus expressed the same idea positively: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? [Matt 6:25-27].
Like a shadow — David used the image of a shadow as well: Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up, and do not know who will gather, [Psalm 39:6].
C.S. Lewis described humans as the ghosts or shadows in The Great Divorce. The inhabitants of heaven were the solid, substantial beings – symbolizing the strength of spiritual life over the lack of substance in the earthly life.
Memory Verse
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is meaningless and a chasing after wind, [Ecclesiastes 6:9]
Next Lesson
A disillusioned view of life — Ecclesiastes 7