By Mike Dawson
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia
Focal Passage: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
In 1789 Benjamin Franklin quoted: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except DEATH and TAXES.” In the aftermath of the COVID epidemic, someone added a third certainty: JOB INSECURITY. We could all give a collective amen/moan to that! But the truth is, as we await Jesus’ return to earth with judgment to follow, only one thing is absolutely certain — DEATH.
A politician was asked, “What’s the death rate in your district?” He replied, “Same as yours. One out of one.” What’s the percentage of deaths in your community? Same as ours: 100 percent.
Dying is the one thing we can be certain of while living. In our focal passage, Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, old King Solomon lets his depression speak regarding that one certain thing.
Mike Dawson
If verse 1 were set to music, it might be the carol “I Wonder as I Wander.” In chapter 8, Solomon had described his journeys ‘under the sun,’ a phrase I define as ‘viewing life from see-level.’ King Solomon had ‘wandered’ all over, and now he began to ‘wonder.’ In his depressed state of mind, he considered that all humans are in the same boat, regardless of how good or evil they may be; one event happens to all, death. A happier moment in the first two verses might have us singing, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” It’s all filtered through God’s hands, Solomon reminds us, and HE alone is our source of understanding love and hate, not anything on ‘see’-level.
In verses 3-6 the old king refers to death at least eight times. He calls death an evil, the one thing that happens to all; then he speaks of the dead, a dead lion, the living know that they will die, the dead, now perished, and nevermore. The fact that death is so certain should help us evaluate our commitment to Christ. Have we received Christ as Lord and Savior? Are we living every day in the light of His Gospel? Until we begin to live under the Lordship of Christ, we’re not ready to die.
My friend Bob Harrington (now deceased) often preached on the subject of death. He’d say, “Did you ever receive a card saying, “Merry Death, and Happy Dying?” Of course not; we’d rather avoid the reality of death. Bob described driving through the mountains one night and coming up on a “National CASKET Company” truck. He decided to go around quickly, but he noticed these words on the back doors: “Be careful. YOURS may be on this truck.” Bob said he slowed down, and did not attempt to pass for awhile! We all need to wonder — and ponder — as we wander.
Verses 7-10 might be labeled “How Should We Then Live?” Since death is certain, what should our days be like? Solomon’s answer: enjoy your life and your wife, accept God’s acceptance of you, and celebrate by wearing white garments — symbols of life compared to dark-like-death ones, and having your head anointed with oil — a picture of the Holy Spirit setting us apart to serve.
Solomon concludes with oft-quoted words in verse 10. In light of death’s certainty, whatever we do for the Lord, we should do it with enthusiasm — and gusto! B&R — Dawson is pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church, Columbia, and also serves as transitional interim around the state.
