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2015 August 10



St Martin Renounces his Weapons (scene 4) - (1320-1325)
Simone Martini (c. 1284 - 1344)
International Gothic Style
Cappella di San Martino, Lower Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: Ecclesiastes 9 contains words of wisdom about death, joy, chance, and war. Today's painting is related to the last section, particularly the concluding statement that wisdom is better than the weapons of war. In the painting we see Saint Martin wisely turning from the weapons of war and preparing to use spiritual weapons. See the link in the title of the painting above for further information.

1. Narrator's Introduction - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:1   -  1:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
2. Teacher's Introduction  - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:12 -  2:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
3. Teacher's Word's           - Coping With Vanity                         (  2:12 - 11:9   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
4. Teacher's Conclusion    - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 11:10 - 12:7   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
5. Narrator's Conclusion   - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 12:8   - 12:14 ) - 946 B.C. Israel

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ecclesiastes 8. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized. ]

     Death. In the previous chapter Solomon had spoken of the vain things which men experience, and he concluded that he should enjoy the good things which God gives him while he can. He attempted to understand this, but was unable to do so. In this chapter he continues in the same manner, and he says that the righteous, and the wise, and their works are in the hand of God, so no one knows whether love or hate (good or bad) lie in wait before him (1). Solomon then says that "All things come alike to all" (literally, "all alike to all"). The meaning is somewhat debated, but a common interpretation is that a mixture of good and evil happens to everyone. This fits the context, especially 8:14; and it fits many other statements by Solomon in this book and in Proverbs. And Solomon hastens to add that there is one event which happens to everyone -- the righteous and the wicked; the good, the clean, and the unclean; the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice; the good and the sinner; the one who swears and the one who fears an oath. One event happens to all; and the heart of the sons of men is full of evil and madness while they live; and after that they go to the dead (2-3). While someone lives he has hope, because a living dog is better than a dead lion (4). The living know that they shall die; but the dead know nothing, nor do they have any further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten (5). Their love, their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; and they have no further portion forever in anything that is done under the sun (6).
     Joy. In light of all of this, you should go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink wine with a merry heart, because God now accepts your works (7). Let your garments be always white; let your head lack no ointment (8). Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life. That is your portion of your labor (9). Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave to which you go (10).
     Chance.Solomon returned to his observations, and he noticed that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all (11). Man does not know when his time will come. As fish are caught in an evil net, or birds in a snare, so men are shared in an evil time, suddenly (12).
     War.Solomon made another observation, which contained great wisdom. He saw a small city with a few inhabitants which was attacked by a great king who besieged it and built great siegeworks against it (13-14). But a poor man within the city delivered it by his wisdom; yet no man remembered him (15). Then Solomon said that wisdom is better than strength, nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised; and his words are not heard (16). But the words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of one who rules among fools (17). And wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good (18).


Ecclesiastes 9

Death

1 For [this] -- all this -- I considered in my heart even to declare [this -- all this, --
that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God:
no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
2 All things come alike to all:
there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked;
to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean;
to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not:
as is the good, so is the sinner;
and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun,
that there is one event unto all:
yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil,
and madness is in their heart while they live,
and after that they go to the dead.
4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope:
for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die:
but the dead know not any thing,
neither have they any more a reward;
for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love,
and their hatred,
and their envy,
is now perished;
neither have they any more a portion
for ever
in any thing that is done under the sun.

Joy

7 Go thy way,
eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart;
for God now accepteth [these] thy works.
8 Let thy garments be always [at all times] white;
and let thy head lack no ointment.
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest
all the days of the life of thy vanity,
which he hath given thee under the sun,
all the days of thy vanity:
for that is thy portion in this life,
and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
10 Whatsoever [all which] thy hand findeth to do,
do it with thy might;
for there is no work,
nor device,
nor knowledge,
nor wisdom,
in the grave,
whither [to which there] thou goest.

Chance

11 I returned, and saw under the sun,
that the race is not to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
neither yet bread to the wise,
nor yet riches to men of understanding,
nor yet favour to men of skill;
but time and chance happeneth to [these] -- them all.
12 For man also knoweth not [this] his time:
as the fishes that are taken in an evil net,
and as the birds that are caught in the snare;
so are the sons of men snared in an evil time,
when it falleth suddenly upon them.

War

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun,
and it seemed great unto me:
14 There was a little city,
and few men within it;
and there came a great king against it,
and besieged it,
and built great bulwarks against it:
15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man,
and he by his wisdom delivered [this] the city;
yet no man remembered [this one] -- that same poor man.
16 Then said I,
Wisdom is better than strength:
nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised,
and his words arenot heard.
17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet
more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war:
but one sinner destroyeth much good.







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