Ecclesiastes 8: 13 Commentary

1. When you live by the sword
a. You die by the sword
2. Whereas some wicked individuals
a. Do live long lives
b. Filled with sinful activity
3. Many of them do NOT
a. For their lives are cut short
4. Life is as transient as a shadow
a. For those having no respect
b. For God‘s authority and judgment
5. Even if they live until 100
a. Their lives are but a puff of smoke
6. James wrote about this very thing
a. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14 ESV)
7. Asaph is much like us
a. Puzzled why it SEEMED like
b. The wicked live long and happy lives
c. While the saints suffer throughout theirs
8. But Asaph learned this is NOT so
a. A psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. b. They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They aren’t troubled like other people or plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
c. “Does God realize what is going on?” they ask. “Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?” Look at these arrogant people– enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong? All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. If I had really spoken this way, I
would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
d. Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, swept away by terrors.
e. Their present life is only a dream that is gone when they awake. When you arise, O Lord, you will make them vanish from this life (Ps 73:1-20 NLT)

By Tractorman (wrote 2613 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/20/2011 10:52 am