Ecclesiastes 7:13

“Consider the work of God, etc.] This is dressed to those who thought the former days better than the present, and were ready to quarrel with the providence of God, (<210710>Ecclesiastes 7:10); and are therefore advised to consider the work of God; not the work of creation, but of providence; which is the effect of divine sovereignty, and is conducted and directed according to the counsel of his will, and is always wisely done to answer the best ends and purposes: everything is beautiful in its season; contemplate, adore, and admire the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, displayed therein; it is such as cannot be made better, nor otherwise than it is; for who can make [that] straight which…”

“Consider as to God's work, that it is impossible to alter His dispensations; for who can, &c. straight . . . crooked--Man cannot amend what God wills to be "wanting" and "adverse" (Ecc 1:15; Job 12:14).”

“The work of God - The scheme of Divine Providence, the course of events which God orders and controls (compare Ecclesiastes 3:11). It comprises both events which are “straight,” i. e., in accordance with our expectation, and events which are “crooked,” i. e., which by their seeming inequality baffle our comprehension. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Consider - His wise, and just, and powerful government of all events, which is proposed as the last and best remedy against all murmurings. For who - No man can correct or alter any of God's works; and therefore all frettings at the injuries of men, or calamities of times, are not only sinful, but also vain and fruitless. This implies that there is an hand of God in all mens actions, either effecting them, if they be good, or permitting them, if they be bad, and ordering and over - ruling them, whether they he good or bad. Ecclesiastes 7:14”

“7:13 God’s sovereign acts are irresistible; it is useless to counter or avoid his purposes.”

“Consider: Job 37:14; Psa 8:3, Psa 107:43; Isa 5:12 who: Ecc 1:15; Job 9:12, Job 11:10, Job 12:14, Job 34:29; Isa 14:27, Isa 43:13, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11; Dan 4:35; Rom 9:15, Rom 9:19; Eph 1:11 Ecclesiastes 7:14”

“There now follows a proverb of devout submission to the providence of God, connecting itself with the contents of Ecc 7:10 : "Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight which He hath made crooked! In the good day be of good cheer, and in the day of misfortune observe: God hath also made this equal to that, to the end that man need not experience anything (further) after his death." While ראה, Ecc 1:10; Ecc 7:27, Ecc 7:29, is not different from הנּה, and in Ecc 9:9 has the meaning of "enjoy," here the meaning of contemplative observation, mental seeing, connects itself both times with it. כּי before מי can as little mean quod, as asher, Ecc 6:12, before mi can mean quoniam.…”