Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Ecclesiastes Ch.2 / 12 Ch.s
EC:2
* The vanity and vexation of mirth, sensual pleasure, riches,
and pomp. (1-11) Human wisdom insufficient. (12-17) This world
to be used according to the will of God. (18-26)
#1-11 Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What
does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The
manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the
world, and their changing from one thing to another, are like
the restlessness of a man in a fever. Perceiving it was folly to
give himself to wine, he next tried the costly amusements of
princes. The poor, when they read such a description, are ready
to feel discontent. But the remedy against all such feelings is
in the estimate of it all by the owner himself. All was vanity
and vexation of spirit: and the same things would yield the same
result to us, as to Solomon. Having food and raiment, let us
therewith be content. His wisdom remained with him; a strong
understanding, with great human knowledge. But every earthly
pleasure, when unconnected with better blessings, leaves the
mind as eager and unsatisfied as before. Happiness arises not
from the situation in which we are placed. It is only through
Jesus Christ that final blessedness can be attained.
#12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable
to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will
not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a
stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most
ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the
body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just
men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we
might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation
of spirit.
#18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of
great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at
length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have
much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges
to the world, which affords a man nothing better than
subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this
respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof,
according to his rank and condition. But we must enjoy good in
our labour; we must use those things to make us diligent and
cheerful in worldly business. And this is the gift of God.
Riches are a blessing or a curse to a man, according as he has,
or has not, a heart to make a good use of them. To those that
are accepted of the Lord, he gives joy and satisfaction in the
knowledge and love of him. But to the sinner he allots labour,
sorrow, vanity, and vexation, in seeking a worldly portion,
which yet afterwards comes into better hands. Let the sinner
seriously consider his latter end. To seek a lasting portion in
the love of Christ and the blessings it bestows, is the only way
to true and satisfying enjoyment even of this present world.