Verses 13-14
We cannot understand why God uses adversity and prosperity as He does. A man or woman of faith trusts God nonetheless (Romans 8:28). Therefore, we should enjoy the times of prosperity, and remember in the times of adversity that God is in control.
"God balances our lives by giving us enough blessings to keep us happy and enough burdens to keep us humble." [Note: Ibid., p. 515.]
The phrase "man cannot discover" or the equivalent is another structural marker in Ecclesiastes that indicates the end of a subsection in chapters 7 and 8 (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:14; Ecclesiastes 7:24; Ecclesiastes 7:28 twice; Ecclesiastes 8:17 thrice). Other key structural markers are the phrases "vanity and striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14; et al.) and "man does not know" (Ecclesiastes 9:1; et al.). [Note: See A. G. Wright, pp. 325-26.]
Be the first to react on this!
