Read Ecclesiastes 9:7–9
Questions from the Scripture text: What does v7a say to do? With what emotion? And what does v7b say to do? With what emotion? Why (v7c)? What attire does v8a commend? And what grooming does v8b commend? How should one live (v9)? With whom? For how long? Where did one get this brief life? How should he think of all that he has?
What are we to do, since we are unable to comprehend God’s providence (cf. 8:16–17) and must surely die soon (cf. 9:1–6)? Ecclesiastes 9:7–9 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should actively, gladly, believingly, enjoy and employ all of the good gifts of God.
Actively. The word translated “go” (v7) is an active word, a movement word. Don’t stand still or be complacent. Get on with your life. It is a very temporary vapor (“vain” and “vanity” in v9). There’s no time to lose. There are five actions commanded here: eat your bread, drink your wine, wear white, use luxurious shampoo, live with and love your wife.
Gladly. We must not be dejected by the fact that we are not God, or that life in this world is short. The proper response is exactly opposite. We rejoice that He is God, and that both our vapor life, and that with which He fills it, are gifts from Him. So, it is “with joy” that we eat our bread (v7a). And, it is “with a merry heart” that we drink our wine (v7b). White garments (v8a) were celebratory for special occasions. Plenty of oil for the head (v8b) would have been a luxury. It is “joyfully” that he should live with his wife, whom he loves (v9).
The fruit of the Spirit is joy, and the right response to divine sovereignty and the brevity of life is joy in the God Who has given us this life.
Believingly. We learned, from v1, that we cannot know one’s standing with God by how pleasant or painful is our providence. Now, v7 stands the believer’s joy upon the fact that “God has already accepted your works” (v7c). How then can we know? By His Word. All who believe in Jesus Christ are made right with God by His own righteousness (cf. Rom 3:21–24); He is justly the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (cf. Rom 3:25–26). This confidence, that we have been accepted in the beloved (cf. Eph 1:6), enables us to receive everything that comes from God as a gift for our joy (cf. Rom 8:28–32).
Enjoy as a gift. The word translated “portion” (v9) indicates one’s assigned part, or share. As God sovereignly orders all things in His infinite wisdom, whatever bread, drink, clothing, celebration, or comfort we have is specifically selected for us by Him.
Employ. This also applies to “the labor which you perform under the sun.” Our labor is not made pointless by our lack of sovereignty or the brevity of our life. God Himself is the point of our labor. He has given it to us to do, and we do it for Him and for His glory. All that we are, all that we have, and every opportunity into which we come, is a trust from Him.
What portions do you have from God? What assignments? With what action, joy, and faith are you enjoying each one? With what action, joy, and faith are you employing each one?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how easily discouraged we are by things being out of our control, or by the brevity of our life. We fail to see Your sovereign power and wisdom and goodness toward us. Indeed, our discouragement exposes that we are forgetful of how You have made us right with Yourself through faith in Christ. So give us to live vigorously, gladly, and believingly, as we enjoy all that we have as a gift from You, and employ it all unto Your glory, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH131B “Not Haughty Is My Heart”
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