Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2 · Verse 9
Verſe 9. So I was great, and increaſed more than all that were before me in Jeruſalem: alſo my wiſdom remained with me.
HAving at large branched out his earthly injoyments, he comes now to ſhew what Obſervations, after ſerious reflecting, he made upon himſelf, and his courſes: The First is concerning his outward eſtate and condition in the World, and this he expreſſes 1. Poſitivly, that by the abundance of theſe outward injoyments formerly mentioned, he was Great, the word ſignifies both to be brought to a very high pitch of Worldly Excellency, and Dignity of any ſort, and likwiſe to have a great deal of eſteem, and weight in the mindes of others in the World. 2. He expreſſes the ſame Comparativly, that he had more of both theſe added to him, than any of his Predeceſſors, and that through the bleſſing of God upon him, and his affaires, in Reference to which this word increaſed is uſually taken in Scripture Pſ: 115. 14. Whereby it appears be doth now take notice of that greatneſs, as a performance of the Lords promiſe to him 1 King. 3.13. The next thing he obſerved of himſelf, and the Lords diſpenſation with him, relates to the inward Diſpoſition and fra…e of his Spirit, under all theſe injoyments, and that is that his wiſdom remained with him, or as the word ſignifies, was his conſtant Servant and attendant: Now though it cannot be denyed, but that under his greateſt defection from the Lord, His ſaving Wiſdome, (for the habit of it,) did remain with him, that being the ſeed of God which abideth 1 John 3.9. and one of theſe gifts which are without Repentance Rom: 11, 29. Yet it ſeems moſt agreable to the purpoſe in hand to take this Wiſdom for that ſingular gift of knowledge of things natural which Solomon had, and for his civill Wiſdom or moral prudence, for managing his affaires and keeping up his Reputation, conſidering that even that would readily be ſuſpected to be blaſted under ſo great injoyment of ſenſuall pleaſures, and eſpecially that he paſſes cenſure afterward upon all the courſes, which by the conduct of this Wiſdom he followed as Vanity and vexation of Spirit. Hence Learn, 1. The Lord who ſees it fit to keep ſome of the deareſt of his People very low and deſpiſed for their outward condition Pſ: 119.141. deals very liberally with others of them in things of that nature, ſo as to gain them much reverence and reſpect in the mindes of the men of this World, who ordinarily beſtow their eſteem upon the accompt of theſe things, that ſuch of his People may have the fairer opportunity to do good to the Souls of others; for, ſo liberally did he deal with Solomon in the particulars forementioned, that this was the reſult thereof mainly in the mindes of others, which he here expreſſes, ſo I was great, or as the word ſignifies, Honourably thought of. 2. Whatever outward greatneſs, and eſteem in the World, the Lord vouchſafe upon any of his Children, they ought carefully to obſerve and acknowledge the ſame, that ſo they may the better ſee, how great their Obligation is to Thankfulneſs to the Lord, and how great their guilt is in not walking anſwerably to it, and ſo be the more humbled; for, ſo doth Solomon (and doubtleſs now being a Penitent for ſuch cauſes) reflect upon and acknowledge that greatneſs, which Gods goodneſs had advanced him to. So I was great and increaſed, &c. 3. It is lawful for the Godly to compare themſelves with, and prefer themſelves to others, in reference to the Lords Bounty, and Liberality toward them, when this is not done to highten their own conceit of themſelves, Dan. 4 30. when nothing is attributed to their own worth as the procuring cauſe thereof, Deut. 8.17. nor That Goodneſs made an occaſion to deſpiſe others who poſſibly have not received ſo much, Luke 18.11. But to make themſelves the more Humble and Aſhamed, conſidering that they have as far exceeded others in Ingratitude, as in Receipts, and to ingage them to excel others as far in Humble and Thankful walking afterward, as they have done in Mercies formerly beſtowed: For which cauſes it is that Solomon here ſets out his greatnèſs comparatively. I was great, and Increaſed more, than all that were before me in Jeruſalem. 4. The Lord may continue with men, the exerciſe of common Wiſdom and Prudence in managing their viſible Converſation before others, even when they being eſtranged from him, have loſt the exerciſe of Heavenly Wiſdom, and are not following the conduct thereof, and ſo deſerve to be deprived of that other alſo; that he may even in that caſe make uſe of them for doing him ſome Service, prevent his further Diſhonour by them, and manifeſt his Mercy by covering in part their nakedneſs, which would be ſhamefully ſeen, if he ſhould (when he is provoked) withdraw even the exerciſe of that wit which they abuſe; for this laſt clauſe of the Verſe cannot but be underſtood ſo, as to relate to the time of Solomon's Defection, when he wanted at leaſt in a great meaſure, the exerciſe of Spiritual Wiſdom, ſeeing it comprehends the whole time of his proſperous condition which continued even under his defection, 1 Kings 10, 28. & 11.1. &c. Even then when He was great and Increaſed, his Wiſdom remained with him. 5. So prone are men enjoying plenty of outward Delights, to loſe even the Exerciſe of common Prudence and Reaſon, and to give up themſelves as Beaſts to the leading of their ſenſual Appetites, 2 Pet. 2.12. that it is a Mercy much to be marked and acknowledged for a man to have any meaſure of the exerciſe thereof continued in that Caſe, For Solomon ſpeaks of this as a remarkable thing, which hardly would be expected by many, that he having all the Delights of the Sons of Men, being ſo great, and increaſed more than all that had been before him, might yet truly ſay this, Alſo my Wiſdom remained with me.