Ecclesiastes 3:18-21
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.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
This confusion before the wise man’s eyes pressed heavily upon his heart. He could nt forget the sad retrospect, when he had degraded himself from the dignity of a son of God, to walk before men like a beast. He now had before him, not only the mighty oppression just alluded to — but the mass of mankind, the sons of men, (Eccl. 8:11; 9:3; Prov. 8:4) in the same bestial state. How could he restrain the saying of his heart concerning their estate, that they might see that they themselves were beasts? For indeed they will never know their honour, until they have known their shame. Yet this they will never see, until God shall manifest unto them their real state. So degraded is man, that he cannot understand his own degradation. Yet when we see men of vast capacity — of the mightiest grasp of mind in earthly things — living as if they had no souls — seeking happiness in sensual pleasures — never looking beyond the grave — never calculating soberly the Infinite stake of eternity — rather determined to perish in rebel stubbornness, than willing to return to God — does not man here sink his immortal nature to the very lowest “brutishness?” The testimony of God is true to the very letter — “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” (Ps. 49:14, 20) This is his spiritual level. As to animal life — all go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. (Gen. 2:7; 3:19) In mere outward respect — both breathe, and live, and die alike. Man hath no pre-eminence above a beast: for all is vanity.* Let us take the death-bed confession of one of the world’s grandest heroes. ‘I die’ — said Buonaparte — ‘before my time; and my body will be given back to the earth, to become the food of worms. Such is the fate which so soon awaits the great Napoleon.’ Then catching a view of the sublime contrast, he exclaimed — ‘What an abyss between my deep wretchedness, and Christ’s eternal kingdom, proclaimed, loved, adored, and spreading through the world!’
Though there be no animal pre-eminence of man above the beast, yet vast indeed is the difference as to their spirits. The one goeth upward to “the Father of spirits,” “returning to the God that gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7, with Heb. 12:9) The other goeth downward to the earth. It dies with the body, and perishes for ever. ‘The soul of a beast is at death like a candle blown out; and there is an end of it; whereas the soul of a man is then like a candle taken out of a dark lantern, which leaves the lantern useless indeed, but doth itself shine brighter.’ (Henry.)
We must not pass by this clear proof of the immortality of the soul. The spirit even of the wicked goeth upward. It appears in the presence of the Great “Judge of all” — who, though “filling heaven and earth with his presence, hath prepared his throne in the heavens.” (Jer. 23:24; Ps. 103:19) Here is our lively hope — not like the feeble twinkling rays in the dark heathen cloud. Not “life” only, but “immortality is brought to light by the Gospel.” (2 Tim. 1:10) But who knoweth? ** How few realize the confidence! All beyond the grave rests on Divine Revelation. Yet unspeakable is the mercy, when in this clear light we can see our “spirits” — not going downward to perish, but “made perfect” (Heb. 12:23) in the presence of God for ever.
‘Take then into your estimate of happiness’ — as an admirable expositor exhorts — ‘the whole extent of your existence. Let your enquiry be — how an eternity of existence may be to you an eternity of enjoyment. Jesus is revealed as the Son of God — the Divine Redeemer — the Hope of sinners. Believe in Him. Live to Him. Thus shall you possess true honour and true felicity. When your mortal part shall descend to the dust, your spirit, commended into the hands of God your Saviour, shall rise to the perfection of purity and bliss.’ (Wardlaw.)
— Charles Bridges (1794-1869)
* Though the animal part lies more upon Solomon’s surfaces, yet the spiritual level must have been before his mind. This — not the other — required a distinct and Divine manifestation to set it before the sons of men. ‘An useful doctrine’ — says a pious Romanist — ‘the necessary remembrance of this our abject condition, connected with our original sin.’ — Lorin in loco.
** Not expressing uncertainty. See Ps. 90:11; Prov. 31:10
