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Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Godly, Not Worldly, Joy
Commentators unanimously stress that the 'mirth' commended here is not a call to hedonism or mindless pleasure-seeking. Instead, it's described as 'innocent mirth' (Gill), 'gladness' which can include religious joy (Barnes), and a 'holy security of mind' (Henry). This joy is a gift from God, rooted in thankfulness and confidence in Him, not a desperate attempt to escape life's hardships through indulgence.
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Book Overview
Ecclesiastes
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4
18th Century
Presbyterian
Mirth - A better term is Gladness, or “joy” (). The Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the physical sens…
19th Century
Anglican
The writer returns to the sentiment expressed already (Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22;…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Then I commended mirth Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and …
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Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper.
Solomon commended joy and…
