Eld Ko Swee Chay

Men Might See Themselves As Nothing but Beasts (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 reveals to us that man’s cycle of life does not change. He lives and exists in a vicious cycle of contrasting emotions. This repetitive contrasting emotional roller coaster demonstrates to sinful man his need to fear and trust God. In contrast, God is powerful, immutable, and eternal. He is sovereign over all times and seasons. He is the planner and controller of all things visible and invisible, from the beginning to the end. God in His infinite wisdom has made everything beautiful in His time and set eternity in man’s heart such that man knows there is eternity. God’s works are perfect, complete, and secure, for nothing can be added to or taken away from all that God does.

In Ecclesiastes 3:16-22, Solomon reflects on two apparent inequalities in God’s control of the world and mankind: (1) there is unfairness where there should be justice; (2) man created in God’s image dies just like the beasts. Let us meditate on these seven verses to learn of God’s messages for us and apply them in our life. 

The judgement on men - the righteous and the wicked (Eccl. 3:16-17)

¹⁶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. ¹⁷ I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Solomon testifies that in the places where justice should be found, and righteousness is expected, both are filled with wickedness and iniquity. He says in his heart that God shall judge the righteous and wicked. God will do so at a time He has determined for the examination of every purpose and for every work done under the sun. By divine inspiration Solomon realised that God does not ignore injustice but will judge every work at His appointed time. This is what he wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:14: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Man, lives in a fallen, sinful world, without regard to God and His Word, and we can easily see that injustice and wickedness have invaded and impacted even places of justice and righteousness. Wickedness and injustice were common in Solomon’s time, and more so in these soon approaching the end time days. We see big, developed, and powerful countries invade small, developing, and poor countries, kill thousands of people, and rob them of their resources. We see men in high places of authority and power or sitting in the seat of judgment abusing their positions and delivering perverted judgment. We see businessmen exact huge profits. God is good and just, patient and longsuffering. He is no respecter of persons and will not let any injustice and wickedness go unnoticed or unpunished. At His appointed time all the righteous and wicked will have to appear before Him for judgment to give an account of everything either good or evil.

The estate of men – nothing but beasts (Eccl. 3:18-20)

¹⁸ I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. ¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. ²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Solomon reasoned in his heart concerning the children of men, that God might test and reveal to them to see that they themselves are nothing but beasts. For what befalls the children of men befalls the beasts: as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no pre-eminence above a beast, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all will return to dust again. This sums up in the mere outward respect that both men and animals have the same fate: breathe, and live, and die, and bury alike. Psalm 49:20 says, “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” This sums up the life of man without the Saviour.

The word “manifest” means “test”. The delay of God’s justice (Eccl. 3:16-17) and the declaration of the common fate of men and beasts (Eccl. 3;19-20) serve to test and reveal to the man who is without God “that they themselves are beasts” (Eccl. 3:18b). God created man in His own image and set eternity in man’s heart, so that man can see eternity and the difference between man and animal. When man lives by his own strength without God, his life will be no different from the beasts, which have no concept of right or wrong, no sense of justice, no morality, and are completely consumed with their own self-interest.

We should be careful to note that Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 merely says how man like animals will die and return to dust. It says nothing about the absence of life after a man dies, and hence cannot be used to support the erroneous view that the soul of man is annihilated after death. The doctrines of life after death, heaven and hell are clearly taught in the Bible.          

The hope of men - eternal life (Eccl. 3:21-22)      

²¹ Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? ²² Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

The word “spirit” is the same word as “breath”. In this sense, both men and beasts have “spirit”, but the breathing system ceases to function at death. “Spirit” also refers to soul, to that aspect of man which communicates with God’s Spirit. Animals do not have this. By divine inspiration, Solomon reveals that the spirit of man goes upward, meaning returns to God who gave it, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7); while the spirit of the beast goes downward, meaning that the animal’s life ends in the dust of the earth, and perishes for ever. Man is different from beasts; his spirit remains after he dies. The spirits of believers do not go downward to perish but are “made perfect” (Heb. 12:23) in the presence of God for ever. We must take note that only those who believe and accept the only begotten Son of God Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour will have their spirits return to heaven and live eternally with God. Those who die in sin without the Saviour will go to hell for eternal punishment in the Lake of fire.

Solomon perceived that there is nothing better than for man to enjoy his own works which are not done in his own strength, or for his own reward and glory. Because this is his portion; and once he dies, he will not be able to return to see what happens after him. A dead person has no part in the world. His relationships and connections with the world are severed. His spouse, children and grandchildren, wealth and possessions are not his anymore. Sadly, there are people who take the erroneous negative view that since man is no better than a beast, then man should find joy in his own present earthly works – “let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.” (1 Cor. 15:32b).  Only God can open the eyes of sinners and show them the truth of the Day of judgment that lies ahead and their eternal existence either in heaven or hell.   

Application

Without God and without being ruled by God’s Word, human life on earth is no better than that of animals. Wickedness, evil, injustice, and oppression are expected. It is only through God’s Word with the realisation of our eternal spirit, the need to live for Christ, and the coming judgment that we can begin to understand the true meaning and purpose to our existence on earth and to live according to God’s Word.

It is comforting to know that God will not let injustice and wickedness go unnoticed or unpunished, and there is a set time for judgment – a day of supreme judgement in a supreme court presided by a supreme infallible Judge, none other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Every man will have to give an account to Him of all he has done in life.

Solomon reminds every man that he must remember that his existence on earth is temporary.   Man will die and return to earth like the beasts of the field. Man has life after death, but not animals. For man, death is not the end of things but is only the beginning of eternity for his soul, either in heaven or in hell! Man, therefore, ought to take death seriously, to work out his salvation and use the time he has fruitfully for things of eternal value and God’s glory.

Trusting in God’s unchanging faithfulness, we must rejoice to do whatever the Lord has given us to do. Injustice and adversities in this sin-sick world should not deter us from enjoying whatever circumstance His providence has afforded us with. If God has prospered the work of our hands, let us rejoice in the gift of God. We should not worry about the future but have faith and trust in the Lord. No one knows what will come next – whether sickness or health, adversity or good times, war or peace. Keep a clear conscience and pure heart. Live a cheerful and Christ-honouring life. AMEN.