Rev. Michael Fintelman

Ecclesiastes 9:1–11:6

It is a humbling thing that we have been created in the image of God. This is the greatest distinguishing characteristic between mankind and the animal world. Animals come in every class and species, but none are made in God’s image. Human beings, however, have been made in God’s “image” and “likeness” (Gen. 1:26–27).

That being the case, we may share in some of the attributes, or characteristics, of our Maker. In a limited way we share in what we commonly call God’s communicable attributes. One of those attributes is His knowledge. God has knowledge and, therefore, we may know things as well. However, there is a great difference between God’s knowledge and ours. God has infinite knowledge; that is, He knows all things at all times in an eternal way. This is often referred to as His omniscience. We have finite or limited knowledge. We don’t know all things, but we may know some things in a limited way.

Solomon realized he was naturally ignorant, so he humbly asked God to grant him understanding (1 Kings 3:9). God was pleased with his request, so He gave His servant a wise and understanding heart in a greater measure than anyone else (vv. 11–12). But even Solomon realized that the scope and breadth of his knowledge was limited. In Ecclesiastes 9:1–11:6 Solomon wisely communicates mankind’s inability to know, and therefore, his inability to predict the future. He lays out three reasons why we can neither know nor predict the future.

BECAUSE LIFE IS UNCERTAIN AND BRIEF (ECCL. 9:1–10)

First, in a series of contrasts Solomon writes that no one knows the varied events of each passing day (vv. 1–3). Neither the Christian nor the non-Christian, neither the righteous nor the wicked, know what a day will bring. Life is uncertain for all.

Besides this, all the living do know they will die someday (v. 5). However, no one know with certainty when that day will occur. We do know that life is brief. Seventy or eighty years is the common lifespan of human beings and “it is soon cut off and we fly away” (Ps. 90:10). By unveiling the uncertainty and brevity of life, Solomon is teaching that we cannot know or predict the future—not the distant future, nor the next day or hour.

Since the events of life are so uncertain and death is so sure, we might grow despondent and reclusive. So, interestingly, Solomon continues with an exhortation for us to enjoy life with the ones we love (Eccl. 9:7–9). Not in the spirit of, “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you’ll die.” Rather, since God guides all things, the counsel comes to us, that whatever our hand finds to do we are to engage in those tasks with all of our might (v. 10). Whatever you do, “throw your whole heart into it,” he writes. Whether that is education, or employment, or prayer, or worship—we are to engage in all that is scripturally legitimate with a heart of sincere zeal. The Lord would have us live a focused, intentional Christian life.

Solomon commands the enjoyment of life despite the uncertainty of life and the reality of death. Are we doing that to the glory of God? (1 Cor. 10:31). Despite the reality of uncertainty and the inevitability that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day (Rom. 14:10), are we trusting in Christ and living to the praise of His glory? (Eph. 1:6, 12). The Lord desires that we adopt a humble, yet confident posture amid the instability and transiency of life.

BECAUSE WISDOM DOESN’T GUARANTEE SUCCESS (ECCL. 9:11–10:15)

Second, Solomon writes that since wisdom can’t guarantee success, therefore we cannot know what tomorrow brings. Often times we reflect on past patterns in God’s world of order and, in turn, we predict the success of this or that. Even though Solomon also exhorts us to get wisdom and understanding (Prov. 4:5, 7; 16:16), yet even the wisest man is not equal to God and therefore cannot predict what tomorrow brings.

It is not the intelligent and the wise who are successful in God’s eyes (Eccl. 9:11). Both the wise and the foolish can be like a fish that is caught, or a bird that is captured (v. 12). We can be like a poor yet wise man who guided a small city to victory against a mighty foe (vv. 13–15), yet with all his wisdom he faded into obscurity (v. 16).

Yes, we are to prayerfully pursue education. Yes, we are to seek after wisdom because it is the principal thing (Prov. 4:7). But let us never think that being wise somehow gives us the edge to know the future. This knowledge belongs to God alone! Education and cognitive ability that leads to wisdom is a wonderful thing. But with great wisdom, pride can quickly rear its ugly head, and soon, the wise might think that for them future success is certain. The Lord shows us here through Solomon’s pen that the wisest person is susceptible to pride and failure in the same way the foolish would be.

I pray that we all might pursue and seek for godly wisdom that comes from Christ alone. Paul writes that believers, “are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:30). Let us never trust in the gift of intellectual wisdom that He gives to us. If we do, we might then presume that future successes in this life will be certain for us. Rather, let us pray for one another, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Eph. 1:17).

BECAUSE EVIL HAPPENS (ECCL. 10:16–11:6)

Lastly, Solomon notes that we cannot know or predict the future because we live in a fallen world and consequently evil, that is, difficulty or trouble, happens. He uses several everyday occurrences to illustrate this.

A slothful home owner doesn’t fix his aging house and it decays and leaks (Eccl. 10:18). This is a difficulty that happens. Words of criticism, even though spoken in private, will eventually be heard by those who were being spoken about (v. 20). Disasters of every kind occur in this earth (Eccl. 11:2). Just read the daily news headlines to affirm that truth. When a storm passes through and uproots trees, they fall in every direction (v. 3). Even with the beauty of new life, Solomon writes, we don’t know if a child growing in the womb will any have physical anomalies (v. 5). We don’t know with certainty that every seed that is planted will grow (v. 6).

In other words, this life is full of uncertainty. Solomon calls it evil—not moral evil but natural evil. He is referring to things going wrong in this fallen world that is affected in every conceivable way as a consequence of the fall in Paradise. Mankind encounters as many troubles as sparks fly up from a grinding wheel (Job 5:7).

Sometimes we hear people presumptuously counseling others, “Everything’s going to be alright, you’ll have no problems.” That may be true for a while, but we live in a world where things can and do go wrong. Some false preachers say that we have to “speak or declare future victories for ourselves.” This is no more than pop-psychology trying to get unsuspecting parishioners to engage in self-fulfilling prophecy so they feel better about themselves. Ultimately, such unwise guidance does more harm than good to people’s souls. Rather, the Lord would have us to be honest that we live in a world deeply affected by sin and He does not want us to predict the future, because we cannot! Such knowledge belongs alone to God.

We cannot know or predict the future because of the uncertainty of life. We cannot know it because wisdom doesn’t guarantee future success. Neither can we predict a cloudless tomorrow because we live in a stormy world. Rather, amid all earthly uncertainties let us put our trust in Jesus Christ who is the same, “yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 12:8). The Bible tells us that both day and night are alike to the Lord (Ps. 139:12). He mercifully and sovereignly rules over all and those who wait in faith on Him shall not be put to shame (Ps. 25:3). This is true wisdom!

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Rev. Michael Fintelman is pastor of the Heritage Reformed Church of Plymouth, Wisconsin.

Courtesy of the Wicket Gate Magazine