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Daily Devotions

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 
Day 
Day 42

"As one dies, so dies the other"

Text: Ecclesiastes 3:19

THE SOBERING REALITY OF DEATH

Death takes a heavy toll on life. Human beings and animals are subject to death! This was a very sobering and humbling thought to ponder over.

“For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals;
one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other.
Surely, they all have one breath;
man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.
All go to one place:
all are from the dust, and all return to dust.”
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20

1. “For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals”

a) The sons of men are better than animals in many respects.
b) But there was one thing that was common to both.

2. “One thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other”

a) Man will die one day.
b) Animals will also die in due time.
c) In this sense, man is not better than animals.

3. “Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals”

a) All have “one breath”.
b) When the last breath is taken life comes to an end.
c) What advantage does man have over animals?
The answer is simple: “None!”

4. “All is vanity”

a) Solomon repeats this sad refrain here.
b) Death brought on an appalling sense of emptiness.

5. “All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust”

a) All living things are made from dust.
b) At death all return to dust.

We are reminded of what the LORD said to Adam.

“In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
Genesis 3:19