Ecclesiastes 11:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He that observeth the wind, &c.— The first precept, or advice, contained in Ecclesiastes 11:1-3 has a retrospect to the first proposition; and might be thus expressed, if we were not to make use of figurative language: since the goods of this world are mere vanity, do your best to fix, or to give them what stability they are capable of, with respect to another dispensation, by sharing them with the poor; or, to speak with one who was both greater and wiser than Solomon himself, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail they may receive you into ever-lasting habitations. But our author chose to make use of proverbial sentences, which, together with the advice given, carry an intimation that God Almighty has disposed every thing in this world in such a manner, that nothing is lost. Corn sown before the rainy season will nevertheless be found afterwards in the harvest time: the vapours emitted from the earth fall again into its bosom; and a tree, though torn from its roots, which seemed to be its strongest security against being carried away, remains for the use of the owner in the very place where the wind blew it down, being no further in the power of the storms. Thus our alms will, under the direction of the same God, have some sort of stability. They will be repaid; perhaps in this world; certainly somewhere. To this precept is added a caution, (Ecclesiastes 11:4.) lest, through an over-nice regard to proper opportunities, we should neglect to do good while it is in our power to do it.