Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 21 & 22
Poetry: Ecclesiastes 11
New Testament: Colossians 2
Life is uncertain. That seems to be the theme that Solomon focuses on in this chapter. His first statement seems quite enigmatic, “Cast your bread on the waters; for you may find it after many days.” “Casting one’s bread on the waters” may be a metaphor for maritime trade, and what one might “find after many days” could refer to the revenue that comes back to the person after the goods are sold. The numerical proverb in verse 2 could suggest the wisdom in diversification of cargo on different ships, so that if something happened to one ship, the entire shipment won’t be lost. The reasoning for this is that a person cannot know “what evil may happen on the earth,” referring to unforeseen disasters and circumstances in the future.
Another imagery that is used is that of clouds that are full of rain (v. 3). The imagery is meant to depict the randomness of life and the unpredictability of events. The implicit idea that the imagery represents is the uncertainty of disasters or bad things that will negatively impact one’s life. We have no control over where a cloud will drop its rain. We know that clouds bring moisture, but the definitiveness of when and where that will take place is outside the ability of a person to know. We are simply subject to the randomness of weather patterns. Now, ultimately we know that weather is not truly random, but it is impossible for us to know all the factors that play into the weather and the behavior of clouds.
A modern expression that captures this same idea is: “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.” No one can predict how it is going to happen. But when it does, then that is how it happens.
Next an agricultural illustration is used describing farmers and how the inevitable randomness can cause one to be paralyzed by the inability to know the future. If a farmer tries to predict when the wind will be favorable for planting, they will never sow their seed because the wind might change at any moment. In addition, the farmer who stares at the clouds in order to predict when it will be dry to harvest will never gather the crops because it might rain before the harvest can be completed.
As one scholar summarizes the point of v. 4, “…one cannot use the possibility of misfortune as an excuse for inactivity. Someone who is forever afraid of storms will never get around to working his field. The Teacher in effect says, ‘Just face the fact that things may go wrong, but get out there and do your work anyway.’” (Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, [Vol. 14, The New American Commentary], 338)
We humans are vastly ignorant about the inner workings of life and of God. In this verse, Solomon is stressing that fact but using the developing fetus in a womb as a clear example of something we know nothing about. One of the great mysteries of human existence is how life comes together in a fetus as it forms in the womb. We have no idea how “spirit” (i.e., life) enters the bones of a baby.
This example of human ignorance is being used to make the point that even though we don’t understand how many things in life really work, we should not let a lack of knowledge paralyze us into inactivity.
Thus, while trying to figure out what is going to come in the future is not profitable, we should still act wisely and take reasonable chances in life, unlike the skeptic and fearful who will not move forward in life even if the opportunity is there.
This illustration is compared then to the “work of God” in the world. Solomon describes God as the one who “makes everything.” The reference is to the operations of creation (e.g., gestation). God causes the sun to rise and the rain to fall, just as he gives life to the fetus and causes it to grow in the womb. And so, in the same way that we don’t understand how certain things happen, like a pregnant woman who is trusting God that the baby will develop as God designed, so also all future plans must likewise be put in the hands of God. We ultimately cannot control success or failure. We must simply do our best and trust God with the rest (i.e., the outcome).
In light of the general ignorance about life and the work of God, Solomon encourages the reader to work hard in the face of uncertainty, even if we don’t understand what is going to happen. He instructs farmers to “sow your seed,” meaning go out and plant the crops, and “do not withhold your hand,” meaning don’t refrain from working. Finish the job!
We have no idea whether something will turn out good or bad. We have to wait and see. Maybe one thing will work, and another will fail, or perhaps both will work, or both will fail. But one thing we can be sure of, if we don’t do anything, then nothing will ever happen.
“Light is sweet” appears as a mismatched metaphor. How can “light” be tasted. Here “light” is likely a metonymy of association referring to the perception of light by the senses of one who is alive. Thus, it refers figuratively to “life” and represents a living person (cf. Job 3:20; 33:30; Ps 56:14). This is the opposite of “darkness” which represents “death.” And “sweet” is a metaphor of taste referring to a pleasurable experience, not actual tasting with one’s mouth. This figuratively represents something that is good and delightful. Furthermore, “to see the sun” refers to being alive and able to work and do something “under the sun.” The idea is that being alive is “good” and something to be enjoyed.
Verse 8 provides the reader with encouragement to rejoice in life no matter what age a person might be. But that rejoicing is to be accompanied by an awareness that life is filled with “darkness” and that everything that happens cannot be explained or give ultimate meaning to life. Sometimes bad things happen, and no explanation can be offered to explain them. Thus, attempting to know the reason why everything happens is not possible, and therefore, it is “pointless.”
Solomon is advancing the premise that joy should accompany a person throughout their life, but life is not solely one of bliss and ease, it is also filled with hardship, pain, and various evils. And this is why he returns to the idea of “joy,” and now in more forceful terms, he flat out instructs the reader to “Rejoice!” The instruction is not meant exclusively to be directed or applied exclusively to young people. What is meant by the expression is for “joy” to become a set pattern early on in one’s life.
The phrase “let your heart cheer you…walk in the ways of your heart…in the sight of your eyes” uses the terms “heart” and “eyes” as organs of desire, and they refer to one’s inner yearnings and inclinations. The exhortation is not to follow whatever impulses one has regardless if they are immoral or reckless. Rather, one is to pursue desires and the joy they bring into life with the awareness of God’s impending judgment over everything you do.
Lastly, with God’s judgment in mind, a person should not allow the frustrations of life to incumber their pursuit of joy. We must not let the enigma of life and the unexplainable and uncontrollable realities weigh down our rejoicing in life. On the other hand, a person must not let their desires draw them into evil either. Pursuing one’s desires often can lead to wickedness and sin. Thus, one must be diligent about avoiding temptations that arise from the desires in our flesh. So, despite the human condition, we are to overcome the troubles that the “pointlessness” in life brings and focus on the joy that we can experience in the midst of it.
-Jerry Wierwille
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever used the possibility of misfortune as an excuse for your inactivity? If so, what might Solomon say to you?
- “Pursuing one’s desires often can lead to wickedness and sin.” How have you seen this in your own life? What desires? What wickedness and sin? How can you protect against this? Should some desires be changed? How? Should you go about pursuing some desires in different ways?
- Even with the unknowns and the difficulties in life, how can you still pursue and show joy?
Seek Grow Love 