Death Comes to All

“For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous people, wise people, and their deeds are in the hand of God.
People do not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits them.”

“It is the same for all.
There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked;
for the good, for the clean and for the unclean;
for the one who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not offer a sacrifice.”

“As the good person is, so is the sinner;
as the one who swears is, so is the one who is afraid to swear.”

The Madness of the Human Heart

“This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun,
that there is one fate for everyone.
Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil,
and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives.
Afterward they go to the dead.”

Hope for the Living

“For whoever is joined to all the living has hope;
surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.”

“For the living know that they will die;
but the dead do not know anything,
nor do they have a reward any longer,
for their memory is forgotten.”

“Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished,
and they will no longer have a share
in all that is done under the sun.”

The Call to Joy

“Go then, eat your bread in happiness,
and drink your wine with a cheerful heart;
for God has already approved your works.”

“See that your clothes are white all the time,
and that there is no lack of oil on your head.”

“Enjoy life with the wife whom you love
all the days of your fleeting life
which He has given you under the sun;
for this is your reward in life
and in your work in which you have labored under the sun.”

“Whatever you find to do with your hands,
do it with all your might;
for there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol
where you are going.”

Life’s Unpredictability

“I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift
and the battle is not to the warriors,
and neither is bread to the wise
nor wealth to the discerning
nor favor to the skillful;
for time and chance overtake them all.”

“For indeed, a person does not know his time:
like fish caught in a treacherous net
and birds trapped in a snare,
so the sons of mankind are ensnared at an evil time
when it suddenly falls on them.”

Wisdom’s Quiet Power

“This too I saw as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me.”

“There was a small city with few men in it
and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and built large siegeworks against it.
But there was found in it a poor wise man
and he saved the city by his wisdom.
Yet no one remembered that poor man.”

“So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.”
But the wisdom of the poor man is despised
and his words are ignored.”

“The words of the wise heard in calm
are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.”

“Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.”

---

Context and Meaning

Ecclesiastes 9 confronts three massive truths:

1. Death is certain.

The righteous and the wicked share the same outward fate.

2. Life is unpredictable.

The fast do not always win, the strong do not always conquer, and the wise do not always prosper.

3. Wisdom is better than folly — even when forgotten.

One poor man’s wisdom can save a city, even if no one remembers him.

Solomon uses the certainty of death not to promote despair but to encourage urgency, humility, and gratitude.

This chapter teaches us that meaning is not found in controlling outcomes but in walking with God, enjoying His gifts, and living wisely in the days He gives us.

Key Themes:

1. Death Levels Everyone: Wealth, morality, and strength cannot prevent it (v. 1–6).
2. Human Hearts Are Corrupt: Evil and madness fill the human condition (v. 3).
3. Life Itself Is a Gift: The living have hope; the dead do not (v. 4–6).
4. Godly Joy Is Worship: Eat, drink, rejoice — God approves (v. 7–10).
5. Life Is Uncertain: Time and chance overtake all (v. 11–12).
6. Wisdom Matters: Even if forgotten, it saves (v. 13–18).
7. Sin Is Destructive: One sinner can ruin much good (v. 18).

Reflection and Impact

Ecclesiastes 9 is deeply connected to the gospel:

• Death is universal because sin is universal – Romans 5:12.
• Only God gives meaning to life and joy – James 1:17; John 15:11.
• Human plans cannot guarantee success – Proverbs 19:21.
• Wisdom is greater than strength – Proverbs 24:5.
• One sinner destroys much good – reminds us of Achan (Joshua 7).
• God uses the weak to confound the strong – 1 Corinthians 1:27.
• The righteous live with urgency and hope – Ephesians 5:15–17.

Solomon wants you to see that death doesn’t make life meaningless —
it makes life urgent.

Application

• Live with urgency: Death is coming — so live purposefully.
• Enjoy God’s gifts: Food, marriage, work, and simple pleasures honor Him.
• Stop trying to control outcomes: Time and chance are in God’s hands.
• Work with your whole heart: Life under the sun is brief — pour yourself into good.
• Honor wisdom, even when ignored: God sees what the world forgets.
• Beware of sin’s destructive power: It takes only one sinner to ruin much good.
• Trust God’s providence: He directs every season, outcome, and breath.

Closing Thought

Ecclesiastes 9 brings us face-to-face with the most humbling and hopeful truth:
Death is certain — but life is a gift.

We cannot control our fate, predict our time, or secure our legacy.
But we can fear God, enjoy His gifts, do good with our hands, and walk in wisdom that honors Him.

Life under the sun is fleeting.
Life under God is full.