Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Verse 15
Ver. 15. That which hath been is now▪ and that which is to be, hath already been, and God requireth that which is paſt.
HEre are Two further conſiderations, ſerving as motives to, or Arguments for ſubmiſſion and contentment, under the ſaddeſt of Divine Diſpenſations.
The Tenth in order is, That the Lord in Exerciſing men with ſaddeſt Diſpenſations, deals not with them in ſtrange, and unuſual wayes; And the Preacher holds out in Two expreſſions, The one is, That which hath been is now, which cannot be underſtood of ſuch extraordinary Diſpenſations, as ſometimes the Lords people had been under; ſeeing the like were not in Solomons time, nor of what the Lord may do in ſome ſingular caſes, to declare His Soveraignity; by inflicting ſome ſtrange and unparallelled Judgement upon a people, or perſon, differing eſpecially for circumſtances, and degrees o… bitterneſs from what hath been before: But the meaning is, that in the ordinary courſe of Gods Providence, men are exerciſed with no other ſad Diſpenſations, than the ſame for ſubſtance, wherewith others before them have been exerciſed; ſo that hereby the Preacher doth correct the miſtake of theſe who think themſelves ſingularly dealt with by every hard Ex…ciſe, and that the like hath never been before the other …xpreſſion And that which is to be, hath already …, is to the ſame purpoſe, only with this difference, that by the … …er he doth correct their miſtake who think the like of their Croſſes hath not been before; and by this he guards againſt the fears of uncouth and ſtrange Diſpenſations for the … ſeeing men have no ground to vex themſelves with the expectation of ſuch, eſpecially if they keep themſelves in Gods way.
And becauſe theſe are ordinarily to the Godly the ſa… Diſpenſations and moſt vexing, in the inflicting whereof w… ed men are inſtrumental 1 Chron. 21.13. Therefore he adds the Eleventh Conſideration to quiet hearts under theſe, And duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page it is of the Lords vindicating the wrongs of His People, God requireth that which is past, ſaith he, The Word [Requireth] according to the frequent uſe of it in Scripture ſignifies To vindicat or Avenge. Joſua 22, 23. Pſal. 9.12. the wrongs of People their oppreſſions and ſufferings which are paſt; And this expoſition is confirmed by conſidering the ſignification of the laſt Word in the verſe that which is past, Which may be rendered as ſome tranſlators do, (One that is oppreſt, or him that is perſecute) and ſo the meaning is, The Lord makes inquiſition for, and doth Avenge the by paſt wrongs of His oppreſt, and perſecuted People; And this ſerves much for quieting their hearts under the hardeſt uſage in the World; It is true this expreſſion God requireth that which is past, is ſubſervient to the Scope and clearing of the former conſideration, if it be underſtood of the Lords calling back former Diſpenſations, ſometimes the ſame Croſſes for ſubſtance, to exerciſe the preſent Generation with, which have been in the former, and at other times reſtoring their wonted comforts again, which ſhould make men ſubmiſſive to ſad, and uſe aright ſweet Diſpenſations, yet it ſeems moſt agreeable to the ſcope, and eſpecially to the purpoſe immediatly ſubjoined in the following verſe, to underſtand this Clauſe as hath been formerly explained.
Hence Learn. 1. Men have ordinarily ſo litle acquaintance with the Scriptures; and the Lords way of dealing with others; ſo litle ſenſe of their own deſervings, and ſo much ſelf-love, that they are apt to apprehend their Croſſes ſingular, and ſuch as never any before have met with; For, this is the miſtake which the Spirit of the Lord here contradicts while he ſaith That which hath been is now.
2. One great ground of mens vexation and want of ſubmiſſi… under the tryals wherewith the Lord Exerciſes them, is, that they look upon them as ſingular, and without a parallel in former times: For, as this is ſuppoſed to be mens apprehenſion, ſo the ſame is ſuppoſed to be alſo removed and contradicted, as the gro…ed of their vexation, and want of ſubmiſſion under tryals. That which hath been is now.
3. However the ſad Diſpenſations of the preſent time may vary for ſome circumſtances and for the inſtruments of inflicting of them, from theſe that have been before, yet for the ſubſtance of them, the prime efficient of them, and their being at His diſpoſal, for their weight, mitigation, continuance or removal, and the like, they are ſtill one and the ſame; And the Lords intention in Exerciſing men with them, the ſame alſo; in which ſenſe it is here aſſerted concerning them, That which hath been is now.
4. It ſerves much for quieting mens hearts, and working them to ſubmiſſion under ſad Diſpenſations, to look upon them as nothing ſingular, but as common to men, and ſuch as others like our ſelves have wreſtled thorow; conſidering that in theſe others, the Lord hath given proof of His Power, faithfulneſs, and love, in ſuſtaining and delivering them; And theſe ſame properties are ingaged to be yet forthcoming for all that wait upon Him in ſtraits; For, as a ground of quietneſs and ſubmiſſion is this held out, That which hath been, is now.
5. As men are very apt under the croſs not only to vex themſelves with their own miſapprehenſions, as if the like had not been … lot of others before, but likewiſe when they have overcome that, to renew their own vexation, with the groundleſs, and fearful apprehenſions, of ſome ſuch ſingular tryal, abiding them for the future, as neither themſelves nor others have had the like before, ſo it is the Lords gracious way in his Word, not only to rectify and confute, their preſent miſtakes which may vex them; but to guard them alſo againſt their fears of future events, if they will obſerve His Word, and take pleaſure to ſtudy and make uſe of it; For, ſo doth he here by holding out what they may expect as the Lords ordinary way That which hath been is now, and that which is to be hath already been.
6. Though the Lord may ſet the wrong… and ſufferings of His People paſs for a time unpuniſhed, till they be humbled, and His and their enemies ripened for a ſtreak Iſai. 10.12. Yet he will ſurely call the inſtruments of His peoples trouble to an accompt and will reduce all their unjuſt Decreits, which they have pa… and put in Execution againſt His people; For ſaith he, God requireth that which is past.
7. Though the Lords People may not deſire a woful day even upon their Peſecutors Jer 17.16. Nor rejoice when they ſee it, as at their Miſery, Job. 31.29, but ought to prevent the ſame, ſo far as their Prayers, and pains for their Repentance and reclaiming may do Pſal. 35.13.14. Yet the conſideration of the certainty of Gods vindicating their wrongs, and reckoning with their unjuſt Oppreſſors, as it is the illuſtration of His Juſtice, and Faithfulneſs, and the Teſtimony of His marvelous Love to His own, it ought to be conſidered by them, and ſhould quiet their hearts under all that they can ſuffer unjuſtly from men; For thi… is an Argument for Submiſſion eſpecially under ſuch ſad Diſpenſations, as wicked men are inſtrumental in the inflicting of, that God requireth that which is paſt.