Read Ecclesiastes 3:16–22
Questions from the Scripture text: Where has Solomon looked in v16a? What place, under the sun, does he see (v16b)? And what is there (v16c)? And what place in v16d? And what is there (v16e)? Where does he speak in v17a? What will God do to whom (v17b)? Why (v17c, cf. v1a, 15c)? About whom does Solomon speak in v18? What does God do to them? So that they can know that they are comparable to whom? How are they comparable (v19–20)? But where/when does the difference become apparent (v21)? What is the implied answer to the question about who knows their spirits? What does Solomon perceive that men should do in v22? As what, from God, does he receive his enjoyment? What does he not know about, that he should not make the source of his joy?
How should we make application of the reality of our death? Ecclesiastes 3:16–22 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live as those who will be judged by God, and as those who receive our life as a portion from God.
Death as solution. Thinking about the judgment that God renders (v15c) reminds Solomon that there are men who are supposed to render judgment (v16). Sadly, many of these men are wicked. This is a problem that continues in our own nation and day. The solution to the wicked judgments of men is the righteous judgment of God. God is both sovereign over the wicked actions of wicked creatures (v17c, 1a), and will judge those very actions (v17b, 15c). When we see injustice in this world, let us remember that the wages of sin is death, and the Lord justly pays out those wages.
Death as a problem. Death is a problem for the pride of man (v18), because it reduces him to the level of the animal (v19): dust that is returning to dust (v20). We need to remember that we are but creatures, not Creator. We need to remember that we are sinners, deserving of death (cf. Gen 3:19). We need to remember that death has even come to the animals because of our sin.
The solution to death. Because of a translation error, many versions make I sound like v21 is wondering whether it is actually the case that the spirit of the sons of Adam (singular in v19, 21) go upward. v21 is asserting a certainty: although man dies, like animals do, man’s death is not like the animal’s death. His soul returns to the One Who made it. It is appointed to man to die once, then after that the judgment (cf. Heb 9:27). We must live mindfully of what will happen when we meet our Maker.
The one who lives by faith in the Lord is able to rejoice in the works that God gives him to do, because those works, and that joy, are a portion given him by God (v22a). It is a mistake to find purpose or pleasure in the lasting effect of our works, because we can’t know what that effect will be (v22b, cf. 2:18–21). Rather, our purpose and pleasure must be in the God to Whom we must return, and Who gives us our life and our joy.
How often do you think about your death? Whom will you see? What do you think that will be like for you? Why do you think it will be like that for you? Why should you enjoy your own works?
Sample prayer: Lord, we praise You for Your righteous judgment. Please give us righteous judges. And forgive us for when we are unjust with others. We thank You for reminding us that You are our Creator, and that we must die once and then after that the judgment. Forgive us for living as if we exist for ourselves. Make us to receive our life, and our works, and our enjoyment of them, as a portion from You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH222 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
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