9 For I have taken all this to my heart and explain [a]it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything [b]awaits him.
2 It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who [c]is afraid to swear. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. 4 For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. 6 Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.
7 Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your [d]fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun[e]; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.
“It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked…” That seems a pretty sad state of affairs, but the truth is that we will all die. The writer of Hebrews said it clearly, “it is appointed for men to die…” So Solomon continues to drive the point home.
Whether you stay clean or not, fill your mouth with foul language, or not (v. 2), whether you love or hate (v. 6), whatever you do, “there is one fate for all men.” Except that isn’t all Solomon said. Back up a bit to v. 1, and he states “that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God.” The writer of Hebrews continued also, “…and after this comes judgment…”
So while his admonishment to eat in happiness, and drink cheerfully is all well and good for the rewards of this life, it isn’t the end of the story. In Hebrews, we’ve also stopped prematurely once more, because that’s all Solomon knew for sure. That is, if he even knew for sure that there would be a judgment, though I think he did, as we’ll see in the second half of this chapter.
Either way, the writer of Hebrews does not leave us without hope, “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” Now that’s a plot twist even Solomon might have missed. The most learned scholars of Jesus’ day missed it, and even the disciples were a bit slow to pick it up.
The thief on the cross knew it well, for Jesus promised him, “this day you will be with me in paradise”. And so paradoxically, Jesus also proved Solomon right. There is one fate for all mankind, but also one gift available for all mankind. “There is none righteous” and so this gift is for the wicked, the drunkard, the sluggard, and adulterer, the murderer, and me, and you.
Not that we should dwell in sin, making light of the price Jesus paid, but wherever we are, or were, His gift is available to all, because God is not willing that any should perish. Don’t despair, as Solomon did, observing the death that would find everyone, no matter their love, hate or zeal. Rather, embrace the hope that Jesus gives, and live a life founded in the surety of His love.