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AUGUST 31
that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to covering. But if anyone seems to be con-
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him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a tentious, we have no such custom, nor do the
glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a churches of God.
DAY 31: How does Solomon balance enjoyment in life with the coming judgment?
In Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8, Solomon crystallizes the book’s message. Death is imminent and
with it comes retribution.Enjoyment and judgment,though strange partners,come together in this
section because both clamor for man’s deepest commitment.Surprisingly,one does not win out over
the other.In a world created for enjoyment but damaged by sin,judgment and enjoyment/pleasure
are held in tension.With too much pleasure,judgment stands as a threatening force;with too much
judgment, enjoyment suffers. In the final analysis, both are prominent themes of life that are
resolved in our relationship to God, the primary issue of life and this book.
“Rejoice…judgment” (11:9). The two terms seem to cancel out the other. How can this be
explained? Enjoy life but do not commit iniquity. The balance that is called for insures that enjoy-
ment is not reckless, sinful abandonment. Pleasure is experienced in faith and obedience, for as
Solomon has said repeatedly, one can only receive true satisfaction as a gift from God.
“Fear God”(12:13,14).Solomon’s final word on the issues raised in this book,as well as life itself,
focuses on one’s relationship to God. All of the concern for a life under the sun, with its pleasures
and uncertainties,was behind Solomon.Such things seemed comparatively irrelevant to him as he
faced the end of his life.But death,in spite of the focused attention he had given to it in Ecclesiastes,
was not the greatest equalizer. Judgment/retribution is the real equalizer as Solomon saw it, for
God will bring every person’s every act to judgment. Unbelievers will stand at the Great White
Throne judgment (Rev.20:11–15) and believers before Christ at the Bema judgment (1 Cor.3:10–15;
2 Cor. 5:9,10).When all is said and done, the certainty and finality of retribution give life the mean-
ing for which David’s ofttimes foolish son had been searching. Whatever may be one’s portion in
life, accountability to the God, whose ways are often mysterious, is both eternal and irrevocable.

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