What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 6:12? Who knows what is good for man in life? Solomon opens with a question that pulls us back to the bedrock truth that only God truly knows what is good. • Psalm 33:13-15 reminds us that the LORD “observes all the inhabitants of the earth” and “forms the hearts of all,” so He alone discerns what benefits us. • Micah 6:8 echoes the same theme—“He has shown you, O man, what is good.” What God reveals is good; what we guess is often skewed by preference or circumstance. • Ecclesiastes 2:3 already recorded Solomon’s own experiment to “see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven,” and chapter 6 now concedes that human assessment is limited. Takeaway: We can chase wealth, reputation, or pleasure, but unless our compass is set on God’s definition of good, we wander in circles. During the few days of his fleeting life, which he passes like a shadow Life’s brevity intensifies the dilemma. • Job 14:1-2 identifies humanity as “few of days and full of trouble… like a shadow.” • Psalm 39:4-5 urges, “Let me know how fleeting I am… surely every man is but a vapor.” • James 4:14 confronts us with the same picture: “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Bullet thoughts: – The phrase “few days” isn’t poetic exaggeration; it’s literal when measured against eternity (2 Peter 3:8). – Shadows have no substance of their own; likewise earthly achievements fade when the light changes. – Recognizing transience is not morbid; it nudges us to steward time faithfully (Ephesians 5:15-16). Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun? The future on earth is out of our hands and beyond our line of sight. • Proverbs 27:1 cautions, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” • Ecclesiastes 3:22 and 8:7 repeat the refrain that no one can “bring him to see” or “inform” what follows. • Isaiah 46:9-10 sets God apart: He “declares the end from the beginning,” underscoring His sole authority over history. Points to note: – Uncertainty is not an accident; it is a designed limitation that pushes us toward trusting the One who sees ahead (Matthew 6:34). – Planning is wise (Proverbs 21:5), yet every plan must rest under the banner “If the Lord wills” (James 4:15). – Because we cannot predict outcomes, investing in eternal rather than merely temporal treasure becomes urgent (Matthew 6:19-21). summary Ecclesiastes 6:12 highlights three realities: (1) only God knows what is truly good; (2) life is short and insubstantial; (3) the future under the sun is veiled from us. Facing those facts drives us to rely on God’s revealed goodness, make the most of our brief days for His purposes, and entrust tomorrow to His sovereign care. |
    |