Ecclesiastes 9:7 – Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

 

Thought:  There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying life as long as it is enjoyed correctly.  God ordained work.  He knew man would prosper in his labors at times.  He does not forbid the laborer from enjoying the fruit of his labor.  Thus, we are to eat our bread with joy and drink our wine with a merry heart.  My friend, be thankful for God’s blessings, then enjoy.

 

I Timothy 6:17

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This verse expresses a thought that has been discussed by Solomon earlier in the book, that is, that it is proper for human beings to have joy and merriment in this life.

 

B.      God does not want us to be miserable while serving Him in this life.

1.       Eat thy bread with joy.

2.       Drink thy wine with a merry heart.

 

C.     God accepts our works as long as our works are:

1.       Legal

2.       Moral

3.       Put secondary to His service

 

D.     Brief discussion of the word “wine.”

1.       Defined:

a.  Strong (3196):  effervesce, wine (as fermented)

b.  BDB:  wine

2.       In the Bible, the word, “yayin,” translated “wine” refers to intoxicating wine most of the time.  However, there are times when it refers to the juice of the grape which will eventually turn into intoxicating wine.

a..  “…but ye, gather ye wine…” (Jer. 40:10, 12)

b.  “…and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses (Jer. 48:33)

3.       Other thoughts:

a.  The juice of the grape was often referred to as wine.

b.  Fermentation is a process going from no alcoholic content to possessing some alcoholic

      content.

c.  Wine in Bible times had much less alcoholic content than wines today.

d.  Grape juice could be preserved.  Two ways of preserving grape juice were:

                        1)  By keeping it cold in the bottom of wells.

                        2)  By boiling it into a thick concentrate.  When needed, water was added to have

                             grape juice.

e.   The Bible warns against partaking of alcoholic wine (Prov. 23:31-32)

 

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 9:8 – Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

 

Thought:  The two actions mentioned here are expressions of joy and gaiety.  The person is dressed in white as opposed to black.  His hair and face are well groomed and shined.  This is life as it should be.  This is life as God desired it for man.  His life is filled with the rewards of his labors and happiness permeates his abode.  If this is your lot in life currently, bow, be thankful, and, again, enjoy.

 

Psalm 45:8

 

Commentary:

 

A.     In the previous verse, we noted that God wants us to enjoy this life. 

 

B.      The two actions mentioned here are expressions of joy and gaiety.

1.       Let thy garments be always white.

a.  White involves clothing that is washed and clean. 

b.  This is opposed to clothes that are dirty and dingy.  These are described by the words

     brown and black. 

c.  It is a good feeling to be able to dress in clothing that is nice and clean.

2.       Let thy head lack no ointment

a.  Ointment was involved in the grooming process.

b.  Ointment made the skin soft.  Ointment made the body smell good. 

c.  Ointment meant that a person was able to take proper care of himself.

 

C.     LESSON:  God makes provisions for man to work.  He also intends for man to be helped because he works.  If a man does not work, he does not eat.  Too, the poor individual is unkempt, and his clothes are often dirty and stinky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 9:9 – Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity:  for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

 

Thought:  Solomon has looked at how men live their lives.  From one perspective, life in vanity.  However, man can still find some joy in life.  He can enjoy the fruit of his labors.  He can also live joyfully with his wife whom he loves.  Marriage is supposed to bless the lives of the man and woman who have been joined in holy matrimony.  Some feel this cannot be done.  But, if marriage is lived according to Biblical principles it can be filled with blessings and joy for both husband and wife.

 

Proverbs 5:18-19

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon sets forth several principles that make men’s lives better as they live them “under the sun.”

1.       Enjoy the fruits of your labors.

2.       Take care of yourself.

 

B.      Now, he notes another principle that should bring happiness, that is, to “live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity.

1.       The bond of marriage was first given by God in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:18, 21-24).

a.  God said that is was not good that man should be alone.

b.  God created the woman from the rib of man.

c.  God brought the woman to the man.

d.  God said that a man was to leave his father and mother and “cleave” to his wife.

2.       God intended for a man to be married to one woman till death.

a.  Proverbs 5:15-20

 

Drink waters our of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.  Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and river of waters in the streets.  Let them be only thine own, and not stranger’s with thee.  Let thy fountain be blessed:  and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished with her love.  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

 

b.  Matthew 19:6

 

…What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

 

c.  Romans 7:2

 

For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

 

3.       In this lasting relationship, God wanted a man and a woman to live joyfully.

a.  God does not want a husband and wife to live in strife.

      God does not want a husband and wife to live in constant criticism of each other.

      God does not want a husband and wife to live hating and being alienated from one

      another.

b.  God wants them to live joyfully, happily, and in a fulfilling relationship.

                        1)  Be kind to each other.

                        2)  Keep the negatives out of the relationship.

                        3)  Always be trustworthy and honest.

                        4)  Don’t bite and devour one another.

                        5)  Be willing to suffer some wrongs.

                        6)  Pursue the same goals.

                        7)  Choose your friends wisely.

                        8)  Don’t flirt with any type of sin.

                        9)  Be willing to admit mistakes and say:  “I am sorry.”

                        10) Be willing to forgive.

 

C.     Solomon closes with these words:  “…for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.”

1.       Our home life and our work life are two main elements of our lives.

2.       If these two things are not live correctly, and if, these two things do not bring us happiness and fulfillment, our lives will be difficult.  Too, we will find little joy in this life.