Passage: Ecclesiastes 9
The Big Idea
Life is difficult, and Ecclesiastes 9 gives four reasons why. Solomon saw life before the Hero arrived. We get to see more. For every hard thing Solomon names, the gospel has an answer.
Catching a Porcupine
An old woodsman once gave advice on catching a porcupine: “It’s easy! Just watch out for the slapping tail as you dash in and drop a big washtub over him. Then the washtub gives you something to sit on while you ponder your next move.”
Life is full of porcupines: unfairness, ugliness, things falling apart, sorrow on sorrow, sickness, mistakes, attacks, misunderstandings.
So what do we do? We can spend all our time trying to fix it, avoid it, or guard ourselves and the people we love from it. Is that our only option?
God doesn’t leave us alone in this mess. He comes to us with something new, alive and reliable: the gospel, the finished work of Jesus, the grace of God. And it changes everything old into something new.
Reason #1: Good and Bad People Seem to End Up the Same (Ecclesiastes 9:1-3)
The righteous and the wise are in God’s hand, but you can’t tell love or hatred by what happens to them (Ecclesiastes 9:1). The same events come to the righteous and the wicked, the clean and unclean, the religious and the irreligious (Ecclesiastes 9:2). And everyone’s heart is full of evil and madness (Ecclesiastes 9:3).
Why it’s hard: It seems like God should treat good people and bad people differently.
The gospel answer: First, we’re all sinners. There is no difference; all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, and all who believe are justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-24).
You can’t control what happens to you or what others do. But you can receive a guaranteed gift: God has promised grace to the humble (James 4:6). That’s a choice you can make. Humility says, “God, I need You.” Pride says, “God, I’ve got this.”
Think of Nebuchadnezzar, humbled until he looked up to heaven and his reason returned (Daniel 4:34-37). Or King Manasseh, one of the most wicked kings in Israel’s history, who humbled himself in his distress and was restored by God (2 Chronicles 33:1-20).
There is a real difference in a life. It’s not the difference between good and bad people. It’s God’s grace poured out on undeserving people who humble themselves.
Reason #2: Death Ends Everything We Do (Ecclesiastes 9:4-10)
A living dog is better than a dead lion (Ecclesiastes 9:4). The dead know nothing, are forgotten, and have no more share in anything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).
So Solomon says: enjoy your life. Eat your bread with joy, drink your wine with a merry heart, keep your clothes white and your head anointed, enjoy life with the spouse you love, and whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10).
Why it’s hard: Our lives should last forever. They should matter. There should be more to life than just trying to be happy, because those joys fade like a shadow.
The gospel answer: Eternal life is a gift (John 3:16). Gift is the language of grace, and grace makes our lives eternal. And eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3). A relationship with Him makes life completely different: eternal and valuable. Real white garments (Revelation 3:5). Real relationships. Real work. Real joy.
Notice something beautiful in Ecclesiastes 9:7: “God has already accepted your works.” Under the New Covenant, that’s truer than Solomon could have imagined. In Christ, you are already accepted (Ephesians 1:6).
Reason #3: Things Seem Random and Chaotic (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12)
The race isn’t to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the smart, nor favor to the skilled; time and chance happen to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Like fish in a net or birds in a snare, people are caught by sudden evil times (Ecclesiastes 9:12).
Why it’s hard: Is it all chaos, like the mathematician in Jurassic Park kept insisting? Is God really in control?
The gospel answer: Yes. He’s in control, and He never wastes anything. It’s never as simple as it looks, but behind everything we can be assured of His love, even when things look hopeless. God demonstrated His love in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Jesus went to the grave still trusting His Father’s love, and that love didn’t disappoint. Nothing, not trouble, distress, persecution, famine or danger, can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35).
Reason #4: Life Is Unfair (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)
Solomon tells of a small city besieged by a great king. A poor wise man saved the city by his wisdom, and no one remembered him (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15). Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man’s wisdom is despised (Ecclesiastes 9:16). Wisdom is better than weapons, but one sinner destroys much good (Ecclesiastes 9:18).
Why it’s hard: It seems like a waste to be good and wise if it doesn’t get noticed.
The gospel answer: Jesus is the ultimate poor wise Man who saved the city. He was good and wise, and He was murdered and despised. But God’s purpose was to spread His goodness and wisdom throughout the world so everyone could be freed from the pointless life Solomon hated.
As His children, God spreads His kingdom of love, peace, goodness and wisdom through us. He fills us with the Spirit of Jesus and sends us out, showing everyone that their lives can be redeemed, that they are loved, and that their lives truly matter forever, even when this life doesn’t show it.
The God of All Grace
May the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory by Christ, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you (1 Peter 5:10).
Suffering is part of life. Life is hard. What do we do? Throw a washtub over it and think?
God is present. God is with us. And He has an infinite supply of grace for this life. He is the God of all grace, and He has called you to eternal glory. Your life matters. Even the suffering matters. And His grace will:
- Perfect you: transform you into the image He planned for you.
- Establish you: keep you grounded when life shakes you.
- Strengthen you: be your strength when life is too much for you.
- Settle you: bring supernatural peace when everything is out of control.
All of it is a free gift to the humble.
Grace Takeaway
Life will keep throwing porcupines. You don’t have to fix it all. Humble yourself, say “God, I need You,” and receive the grace He has promised. He is the God of all grace, and He will settle you.
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