Ecclesiastes 9:12 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Ecclesiastes 9:12

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He continues to focus on the unpredictable nature of life and its end. Man’s diligent effort can do nothing to secure the goal which he aims at, for unexpected obstacles arise to block his way and calamity awaits him around the corner which he does not predict or plan for. This is a feature of life in this world. It is a feature that believers learn to live with and indeed they overcome the world and the victory by which they overcome the world is faith. But these words are addressed to the unbeliever to provoke him to think about the uncertainty of his state. What Solomon says about the world is self-evident and he does not expect us to disagree with him. The fish of the sea swim freely, turning whichever way they wish without fences or restrictions on their movement; they are owned by no one but God their Creator. Nevertheless a net is lowered into the water from a realm above them that they do not understand and that net is skilfully placed so as to trap them and pluck them from their natural habitat so that they become food for the table of one that they did not know existed. Likewise, the birds fly freely through the air and look upon the whole world as their garden to explore and enjoy. At the start of the day a bird awakens and sings as usual, not knowing that this is the last morning that it will do so, that it is about to be taken in a snare from which it cannot escape. Man is no different to either of these. In many respects he is reduced to the level of the beasts. Trouble comes unpredictably on man and brings him to an untimely end. He may have planned what he was going to do tomorrow and the next day, and even for months and years ahead, but his plans are disrupted. His confidence is shipwrecked and there is nothing he can do to prevent it.

Application

What can we learn from this uncertain situation? That to drift through life as if it is without danger, without consequences, is foolhardy. If an insurance company thinks you are a high risk, it puts up the premium to protect itself. If life is so uncertain, then we ought to redouble our efforts to find out why we are here, and how we can prepare for that evil time which might ensnare us. God has given us ample warning of our need to seek him. The instability of life is another argument that reaches the dimmest mind, and tells us how urgently we need to seek him.

The unstated contrast is drawn with the life of certainty that the believer has in Christ. While the unbeliever is without hope and without God in the world, the believer has an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast. He has made provision for the worst of possibilities that can occur in life. He has overcome its uncertainty and even the last enemy, death itself, has no fear for him, because death is swallowed up in victory. Why then does the unbeliever consign himself to such a hopeless existence when the promises of God beckon us to a life of victory and then eternal joy in God’s presence? By faith the Christian overcomes sickness, tragedy, aging, weakness, and death itself. Accordingly Christ says, ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.’

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Ecclesiastes 9:12 Commentary and Bible Study