Rachel Workman: 16 Woe
to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Solomon is exposing the folly of the officers who work
under rulers.
If the king is
immature, the people he gathers around him will reflect that immaturity and
take advantage of it. But if he is a true nobleman, he will surround himself
with noble officers who will put the good of the country first.
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
This verse declares the personal philosophy of the foolish officers: Eat all you can, enjoy all you can, and get all you can. They are totally indifferent to the responsibilities of their office or the needs of the people.
20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
You can imagine a group of these officers having a
party in one of their private rooms and, instead of toasting the king, they are
cursing the king.
Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
Solomon himself was involved in
various kinds of trade, so it was natural for him to use this illustration (1
Kings 10:15, 22). It would be months before the ships would return with their
precious cargo; but when they did, the merchant’s faith and patience would be
rewarded.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to
eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not
reap.
We can't always sit around waiting for
ideal circumstances (v. 4). The wind is never right for the sower, and the
clouds are never right for the reaper. If you are looking for an excuse for
doing nothing, you can find one.
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John Burnett: 11 Ship your grain
across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. After we tithe, it is wise to invest in a diversify your investments because as it is stated in verse 2, you never know what disaster may come upon the land.
after many days you may receive a return.
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. After we tithe, it is wise to invest in a diversify your investments because as it is stated in verse 2, you never know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Unless it falls across a road and progress is impeded, then it gets cut up.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Unless it falls across a road and progress is impeded, then it gets cut up.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
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Tomorrow’s reading for Ecclesiastes
11:5-10.
5 As you do not know the way the
spirit comes to the bones in the womb[a]
of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and
at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this
or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant
for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness
will be many. All that comes is vanity.[b]
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your
youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways
of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.
10 Remove vexation from your heart,
and put away pain[c]
from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
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