Living is Better than the Dead (Ecc 9: 3b- 6)

LIVING IS BETTER THAN THE DEAD (Ecc 9: 3b- 6):

After perceiving the same happenings in the life of all, the author looks that the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that, they go to the dead. The author sees that everyone falls into temptations in life and carried away by evilness. There are times in which the madness occupies the hearts of human beings because of certain circumstances of life. The life is not always smoother but there are tough times and failing times, and it is undeniable that everyone faces their end and go to the dead. The author then connects that those who are joined with all the living has hope and further writes that the living dog is better than a dead lion. Those who are living have a hope of finding the purpose and direction to move forward, and even if it is to move toward death, a person needs to live. Also, a person needs to live for knowing God and themselves, a sole significance for their existence. The author uses a connotation saying that the living dog which is active though inferior, is better than the lion which is no more though superior.

The author justifies that the living is better than dead, by writing that the living knows they will die but the dead know nothing and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. The living people know that death is always certain but they are alive at the moment and could anticipate death. The living people not just anticipate death but have the hope of knowing God and His righteousness which would prepare them to be worthy, till their death. Whereas the dead know nothing and everything is over. If the dead person is ungodly, he would have no essence or hope in his life at the point of death. There is no reward for any person in the world after death, though some people associated may acknowledge, praise, and award the dead. Slowly, even the memory of the dead will be forgotten with the passage of time, howsoever great they might be.

The author writes that the love or the hate of the dead and their envy had already perished, and they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. All the emotions that were shed by the dead person perish. Even though they had loved or hated or envied, it all will be washed away after death. Even if a person had earned a lot of wealth and possessions, they will have no share in all that is done under the sun after their death. Only a person who lives for God finds the right way and meaning in everything they do on the earth.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    How the hearts of the children of man are?

2.    Why does the author say that the hearts of children of man are full of evil and madness?

3.    Where do all the children of man go to?

4.    What do those who joined with living have? How?

5.    What does the living dog better than? How?

6.    What do living and dead know?

7.    What are the consequences of the dead? Why?

8.    What all have already perished for the dead? How?

9.    Why there is no more share for the dead under the sun?

10.    How can we have a worthy living in our life till death?