Ecclesiastes 5 - Introduction

The Preacher now begins to address his hearer in the second person. The soliloquy, hitherto unbroken, is henceforth interrupted by personal addresses, which are repeated with increasing frequency from this place to the end of the book. They who divide the whole book into two parts (the first theoretical, the second practical) begin the second division here.

There is a striking resemblance between the line of thought pursued in this book and that of Asaph in Psalms 73. As the Psalmist, so the Preacher, after setting forth iris view of human life, takes his hearer into the house of God for an explanation and directions. If the expression “goest to the house of God” Ecclesiastes 5:1 has also the spiritual sense of entering into communion with God, Solomon here admonishes generally that reverence is due to God, and particularly that the “vanity” which is mingled with the “portion” that God assigns to every man, ought to be treated as a divine mystery, not to be made an occasion of idle thought, hasty words, and rash resolutions, but to be considered in the fear of God Ecclesiastes 5:1; that the spectacle of unjust oppression is to be patiently referred to God’s supreme judgment Ecclesiastes 5:8; that mere riches are unsatisfying, bring care with them, and if hoarded are transitory Ecclesiastes 5:10; and that a man’s enjoyment of his portion in life, including both labor and riches, is the gift of God Ecclesiastes 5:18.