Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.
וְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת־הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵֽין־ט֤וֹב לָֽאָדָם֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּ֛י אִם־לֶאֱכ֥וֹל וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַ וְה֞וּא יִלְוֶ֣נּוּ בַעֲמָל֗וֹ יְמֵ֥י חַיָּ֛יו אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Sharing in His feast signifies the beginning of true life. In the book of Ecclesiastes, it states: ...there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry. This clearly indicates the enjoyment of the feast provided by His Body and Blood, offered by the Mediator of the New Covenant, the Priest in the order of Melchisedec. This sacrifice has succeeded the offerings of the Old Covenant, which served merely as a foreshadowing of what was yet to come.
I encouraged joyfulness, for there is no greater joy for humanity under the heavens than indulging in food, drink, and celebration. This delight shall accompany him throughout his toil during the days granted to him by God beneath the sun. We have elaborated upon this extensively earlier, and now, to summarize: in light of the hardships and apparent injustices of this world, he chooses, albeit fleeting and ultimately transient, the enjoyment of eating and drinking, asserting that this is seemingly all that a man acquires from his labor if he derives any semblance of pleasure from it. However, interpreting this statement too literally would render miserable those who fast, suffer hunger and thirst, and mourn, whom the Lord declares to be blessed in the Gospel.
Let us also consider eating and drinking in a spiritual sense, alongside the joy that is often elusive in our earthly endeavors. This understanding is further illustrated by the subsequent verse, which states, “I gave my heart to see wisdom and occupation,” reflecting the pursuits of mankind on earth, who dedicate their days and nights to the exploration of the Scriptures, to such an extent that even sleep eludes them in their quest for truth.
At one time, I believed that the highest blessings were found in sustenance and beverages, thinking that the person who brings the most joy to God is the one who indulges in them to the fullest throughout their life. I regarded this sense of joy as the sole comfort of existence.
The concept of wisdom, while perhaps limited, holds significant importance for humanity, as it guides individuals to accept the authority that governs them (8:1). It instructs one to faithfully adhere to the decrees of the sovereign (2-4), emphasizing a universal principle: although individuals possess free will, it should be exercised in wise submission rather than in irrational defiance of this higher law (5-7). Additionally, it teaches acceptance of the inevitable reality of death, from which no one can evade (8), and it also reveals that one must yield to the divine will of God, which can lead to circumstances where one’s fate may not align with their actions (9-14), and such alignment is essential for experiencing the fullness of life (15). Therefore, the most prudent course of action is to find joy in what is present, as any attempt to fully grasp the meaning behind the world’s occurrences often proves futile (16-17).
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS