Eclesiastes 2

Eclesiastes 2

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Ecclesiastes 2:23 All his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief. (R.V.) What a glimpse this is into a heart that has put God out! Solomon’s power turned away his heart, so that he was not perfect with God, as David, his father. He drifted from God; and plunged into pleasure and laughter; into building and planting; into the pursuit of science and learning. “Whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them. And, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind” (R.V.). Nothing can satisfy us but God. We were made for Him; and the heart, as Augustine says, must be for ever restless till it finds rest in Him. Thus the shell, brought home from the sea-shore and placed on the shelf, sighs each time you place it to your ear for the ocean whence it came. We have no need to envy those who prosper in this world, but are without God, and without hope. Their days are sorrows, and their travail is grief, and at night their hearts take no rest. But if we are to avoid their inward anguish, we must avoid their fatal mistake, and learn to take God into our lives. The river of life, which is the Holy Spirit, flows at our feet; but we must stoop to take it freely. Dr. Gordon records the story of a traveller in Barbary, who saw a beautiful clear spring of water, over which was inscribed the legend; “Drink, and be gone.” Robbers infested the region, and were constantly on the track of the traveller, ready to waylay and rob him. Therefore he must snatch the cooling draught and hasten on. Shall we refuse ourselves all pleasure in this world? Shall we write Touch not on every innocent gratification? No; but as soon as we have tasted of the pleasant draught, and lingered long enough to refresh our jaded souls, to hasten to life’s serious tasks. Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. KJV Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. BGT Ecclesiastes 2:24 οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ ὃ φάγεται καὶ ὃ πίεται καὶ ὃ δείξει τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ καί γε τοῦτο εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἀπὸ χειρὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν LXE Ecclesiastes 2:24 A man has nothing really good to eat, and to drink, and to shew his soul as good in his trouble. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. NET Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God. CSB Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God's hand, ESV Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, NIV Ecclesiastes 2:24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, NLT Ecclesiastes 2:24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. YLT Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing good in a man who eateth, and hath drunk, and hath shewn his soul good in his labour. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. NJB Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is no happiness except in eating and drinking, and in enjoying one's achievements; and I see that this too comes from God's hand; NRS Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; NAB Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for man than to eat and drink and provide himself with good things by his labors. Even this, I realized, is from the hand of God. GWN Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God. BBE Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God. RSV Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; NKJ Ecclesiastes 2:24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. nothing: Ec 3:12,13,22 5:18 8:15 9:7-9 11:9,10 De 12:12,18 Ne 8:10 Ac 14:17 1Ti 6:17 that it: Ec 3:13 5:19 6:2 Mal 2:2 Lu 12:19,20 Related Passage: Colossians 3:23-24+ Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. THE GIFT OF JOY FROM THE HAND OF GOD There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor (amal -toilsome, wearying work; Lxx - mochthos) is good. NET = " There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work." When we came to this passage most of us probably took a deep breath and said something like "Thank you. Finally something positive and uplifting!" Clearly Solomon makes a thematic shift in his reflections. After lamenting the futility of labor and pleasure apart from God (Eccl 2:18–23), Solomon acknowledges that simple joys of eating, drinking, and work can be good, but only when recognized as gifts from God. Solomon is is not preaching hedonism, but rather contentment and gratitude. Enjoyment is no longer the goal of life for that was vanity and striving after wind, but now he offers enjoyment as a good thing when understood as the byproduct of seeing God as the Source. We are thankful that finally Solomon affirms even earthly (under the sun) things can be good when viewed with an "over the heavens" God-centered lens. 🙏 THOUGHT - This verse reminds me of James 1:17+ which teaches that "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shifting shadow ("and He never flicker!")." This should evoke a Hallelujah chorus, an attitude of deep gratitude to our great and good God. We need to continually remind ourselves that goodness is received not achieved. What are some good and perfect gifts you have overlooked even today? How would our hearts respond if you saw everything as coming from the Father of lights? Are you (am I) chasing blessings or continually thanking the Blesser (1Th 5:18+)? May we continually fix our eyes on the Giver, not the gift. And when your eyes are fixed on the Giver, every day is filled with gifts. Just keep your eyes open. Father of lights, open our eyes to Your goodness and grace today, so that we might see every breath, every moment, every kindness as a gift from You. Teach us to trust not in the gifts, but in the Giver Who never changes. In Christ Jesus Name. Amen. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God - NET = I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God." What is this at the beginning of this clause? Solomon has gone from "under the sun" to "above the son." Or stated another way Solomon has been referring to the fact that toil "under the sun" is wearisome but now from God and ultimately "in the Son" (in Christ) it is good and is given to be enjoyed. If there is nothing but nothing under the sun, then our only hope must lie above the sun. John Stevenson - Solomon's conclusion is a gloomy one for those who would find significance for life "under the sun." His conclusion it that this is as good as it gets. He concludes that "there is nothing better" - literally, "not good for a man except to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good." Man has only limited enjoyment from the things that he does. That has been the conclusion of each of Solomon's experiences. These things do give pleasure, but only for a time. If a man who had everything there was to have in this plane of existence investigated everything that there was to investigate and still came back with emptiness, then fulfillment must lie on a different plane. If there is nothing but nothing under the sun, then our only hope must lie above the sun. Most people have their focus so riveted to the here and now that they completely ignore any other dimension. Such a path leads to emptiness and eventual frustration. Satisfaction is a gift from God. It is only when the Lord enters the picture that a man can find fulfillment in any of his labors. When you place God first in your life and serve Him with all that you do (Ec 9:10), only then do you find true and lasting satisfaction. Daniel Hill - The EATING AND DRINKING here is daily activity. Doing the things that sustain physical life. Then he tells himself his labor is good. This is the recognition that what we do is significant so long as it is part of God's plan for us. REGARDLESS OF THE MEDIOCRITY of the tasks we do we can do them as unto the Lord (Col 3:23+)...because He has given us that task at that time. NET NOTE on hand of God - The phrase “from the hand of God” is an anthropomorphism (depicting God, who is an invisible spirit, in the form of man with hands) or anthropopatheia (depicting God performing human-like actions). The “hand of God” is a figure often used to portray God’s sovereign providence and benevolence (see E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, 878). The phrase “the hand of God” is often used to connote the favor or grace of God (2 Chr 30:12; Ezra 7:9; 8:18; Neh 2:8, 18; see BDB 390 s.v. יָד 1.e.2). Related Resource: The Hand of the Lord Bob