Ecclesiastes 11:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Psalmist proclaims, “Thy truth is unto the clouds” (Psalm 35:6), and in Isaiah, God warns a wayward vineyard: “We will command the cloud, that it shall not rain upon it” (Isaiah 5:6). Thus, clouds serve as messengers, and any righteous individual who has absorbed wisdom in their heart can impart knowledge, saying, “Let my teaching fall as rain and let my words drop as dew on the earth” (Deuteronomy 32:2), for it is declared, “Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.”

Moreover, concerning the saying, “if a tree falls to the south, or to the north, in the place where it fell, there it shall be,” we reference the scripture from Habakkuk that states, “God from Teman shall come,” which some render as “God from the south shall come.” Notably, the south is often viewed positively, just as the Song of Songs calls out, “arise from the north and come from the south.” Therefore, the tree that falls in this life, cut down by the law of death, may have sinned while alive, resulting in its placement on the northern side, or if it bore good fruit, it shall rest on the southern side. Every tree shall lie to either the north or the south. This notion is reflected in Isaiah’s words: “to the river to the north: bring it forth, and to Lebanon: do not abhor it” (Isaiah 43:6). The commands for the east and west winds are absent, as those who would journey east and west must come from other lands (i.e., north and south). Hence, the northern wind draws its inhabitants towards the west, while the southern wind brings its people to the east, for they cannot find favor if they remain in their previous locations.

She recognized the impact of this choice: “Blow on my garden, - and its fragrances will flow!” (Song of Songs 4:16) — a recognition that the northern wind does not produce such effects. She indeed refers to these winds in their literal meanings, designating ‘the north wind’ as ‘the cold wind.’ A cold wind influences the imperceptible ‘eyes of the trees,’ known as pores, by retaining the aromatic elements contained within. Conversely, when a warm wind ‘blows on the garden,’ it signifies the garden of the soul, leading to the opening of those pores.

However, there are also instances that elude human comprehension (such as the ways of the wind or the nature of the workings within the womb) (5). Therefore, one should not squander time attempting to monitor these perplexing situations for understanding (4); instead, it is essential to persistently and patiently continue our endeavors, as what may not succeed at one moment due to unfavorable conditions could flourish at another (6). Regardless of outcomes, life inherently carries joys (7), and if a person refrains from overly pursuing success, they may find happiness throughout their lives, irrespective of circumstances. Especially when considering the length of the shadowy days that follow death, when a person will no longer bask in the light (7), it is crucial to seize the present, as the future remains uncertain and is often deemed vanity (8).