GOD’S JUDGMENT AND TEST

Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Key verse: 18

NIV

16 And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment(A)
    both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
    a time to judge every deed.”(B)

18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.(C) 19 Surely the fate of human beings(D) is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[a]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.(E) 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward(F) and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,(G) because that is their lot.(H) For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

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Footnotes
  1. Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

From Dust to Dust

16 Moreover, (A)I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even (B)there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, (C)God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is (D)a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but (E)beasts. 19 (F)For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.[a] 20 All go to one place. All are from (G)the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether (H)the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is (I)nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for (J)that is his lot. Who can bring him to see (K)what will be after him?

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Footnotes
  1. Ecclesiastes 3:19 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The Teacher saw that where there should have been judgement and justice, there was wickedness. Wickedness in the world breeds more wickedness, fear, anger, selfishness, or even indifference. The Teacher did not despair. He turned his mind to God. Both the righteous and the wicked must face God’s judgment (17). Every activity and deed will be judged by God in his time (2 Co 5:10). Only those whose full hope and faith is in Jesus Christ can have confidence at the judgment (1 Jn 4:17).

God has also tested us so that we may know that our earthly fate is like that of the animals. All animals and people face death. No animal or person is exempt. From the perspective of mortality, we are no different from animals. People and animals come from dust and will return to dust. Without God, death makes life meaningless.

God tests us to help us know that death is inevitable so that we see ourselves for what we really are – sinners awaiting judgment and death and in need of a Savior. God gave his Son Jesus to be our Savior. Jesus saves us from sin and death. We may experience physical death but we can face it with hope of eternal life in God’s kingdom when we put our faith in Jesus. Our fate may physically be like the animals but Jesus gives eternal life!

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus who saves us from judgment and death. My hope is in you alone.

One Word: How will you respond to God’s test?