Ecclesiastes 9 “A Life in God’s Hands”

Ecclesiastes 9 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:      

• Goodness Of God – Bethel Music
• Chris Tomlin – All the Way my Savior Leads Me
• It Is Well With My Soul – Reawaken Hymns

Resources for Family Worship (with Children)

• Gizmo’s Daily Bible Byte – 120 – Asking for Wisdom – James 1:5 – Lesson for Kids
• Wisdom of Solomon Summary: A Complete Animated Overview – Lesson for Older Kids
• Go and Make Disciples Kid Worship Song – Song for Kids
• I Could Sing of Your Love Forever – Song for Kids
• You Never Let Go – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

From chapters 1 through 8, the Teacher repeatedly uses the expression “I saw” (1:14; 2:12; 3:10, 16; 4:1, 4, 7; 5:13, 18; 6:1; 7:15; 8:9, 16). This refers to surface-level observation. As he observes the affairs of the world and human life, he expresses the contradictions he sees and the emotions they provoke. In contrast, in chapter 9, verse 1, the Teacher says, “I thought about all this deeply in my heart.” This means that he questioned what significance the phenomena he had observed so far truly had. This is what we call “meditation.”

The conclusion of the Teacher’s meditation was the realization that everything exists within God’s plan and providence. Translating this as “God controls everything” is an excessive paraphrase. The Revised Korean Version’s rendering, “everything is in God’s hands,” is better. It does not mean that God manipulates every single event, but that everything exists within the limits God has set. Therefore, “no one knows what lies ahead of them.”

The Teacher declares that “everyone shares a common destiny” (v. 2). Whether a person lives a devout and righteous life or an unjust and wicked one, in the end, everyone dies (v. 3). When death comes, everything is finished, and there is no one left to remember them (vv. 4–6). Remembering this destiny should lead us to be thankful for being alive and to fill each given day to the fullest (v. 7). From the perspective of eternity, even living a hundred years is fleeting and meaningless. Nevertheless, each day of life that is given is a free gift from God. Therefore, while we are alive, we should devote ourselves wholeheartedly to all that we do, love one another, and share joy together (vv. 8–10).

The affairs of the world and of human life do not follow a fixed formula. Living well does not necessarily result in blessing, nor does living wickedly always result in punishment. Just as fish are caught in cruel nets and birds are trapped in snares, people sometimes encounter misfortune or disaster for no apparent reason. No one knows when or how such things will happen (vv. 11–12). The affairs of the world and of human life can seem as if they operate by chance, randomly, like a game of luck.

The Teacher gives an example from a story that took place in a certain city. When that city was surrounded and on the verge of falling, a poor but wise man saved it. Yet no one remembered him for long. Though wisdom ought to be honored, he was despised because he was poor (vv. 13–16). Wisdom is a good thing, but it can be rendered meaningless by the folly of just one person (vv. 17–18).

Meditation:

In response to the question, “Why should human beings live ethically?” philosophers give two kinds of answers. One is, “Because it is the right way to live,” and the other is, “Because living ethically makes everyone happy.” The former is called ontological ethics, and the latter is called teleological ethics.

Proverbs can be said to approach wisdom from a teleological perspective. To the question, “Why must we know wisdom and live according to it?” Proverbs answers, “Because it is the path to true happiness.” Ecclesiastes, however, raises questions about this teleological understanding of wisdom. The Teacher says that although he studied wisdom all his life and tried to live according to it, he did not arrive at the happiness that wisdom promises. He also says that he often encountered situations in which wisdom proved useless. As he observed life, he concluded that there was not much difference between those who live according to wisdom and those who do not.

This conclusion places us before two choices. One is to live with a “que sera, sera” attitude—living however we please, regardless of what happens to the world. The other is to discern wisdom moment by moment and live by it, even if wisdom does not immediately bring happiness. It is to entrust the final outcome to God and to live according to the wisdom we currently know, even though it is limited and unclear. It is to acknowledge that suffering may come even when we live wisely, and yet to choose wisdom, nonetheless.

Seen in this way, Ecclesiastes leads us to receive wisdom in an ontological sense. The reason we seek wisdom and live according to it is not because it guarantees happiness, but because it is what God has ordained. Likewise, the reason we believe in God is not because believing will make us prosper, but because we were created by Him.

Prayer:

Lord, as we believe in You and rely on You, we ask for nothing. Because You are, because we know who You are, and because we know who we are, we simply come before You and depend on You. Therefore, deal with us as You desire. Exalt us or humble us. Fill us or empty us. Whatever You give us, we will receive with gratitude. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: We choose to live wisely and trust God—not because life will always turn out well, but because our lives are already held in God’s hands.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • Who takes care of your life every day—even when you don’t know what will happen next?
  • When something doesn’t go the way you hoped, how can you still trust God?
  • What is one kind or wise choice you can make today, even if no one notices?
    
• Youth:
  • Have you ever done the “right thing” but still felt disappointed by the outcome? How did that feel?
  • Why do you think God asks us to live wisely, even when life feels unfair or random?
  • What does it mean for you personally to believe that your life is “in God’s hands”?