Ecclesiastes 7: 1 – 29
Not ‘Duh!’ But ‘Aha!’
1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth; 2 Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity. 7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, and a bribe debases the heart. 8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 Do not say, “ Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. 13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. 15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness. 16 Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all. 19 Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers of the city. 20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. 21 Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others. 23 All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; But it was far from me. 24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out? 25 I applied my heart to know, to search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be trapped by her. 27 “ Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “ Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason, 28 Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all these I have not found. 29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
As we begin to take a look at chapter 7 I believe that we have to first look at the last verse of chapter 6. Remember, that when our Precious Holy Spirit inspired the person to pen His words there weren’t any chapters or verses. I remember my school days, in English class, the teacher would complain that my paragraphs were too long. If our Majestic Holy Spirit can write a whole book without any breaks then let me say it is also okay for me. Anyway, let me get off my soap box and back into our study. We read this in chapter 6, “12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?”
Solomon is fixated with the question ‘what is good for man in his/her lifetime. Now remember he was looking at this situation from a secular point of view. Now, he is going to answer this question from God’s point of view.
Using his God given wisdom Solomon will evaluate in verses one through ten 7 points of view. They are;
1. A good name
2. The day of death
3. The house of mourning
4. The matter of sorrow being better than laughter
5. The rebuke of the wise
6. The end of a thing
7. The patience of our Holy Spirit
1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth; 2 Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity. 7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, and a bribe debases the heart. 8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 Do not say, “ Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
Please notice what Solomon considers first in importance – a good name. He has come to recognize that maintaining a good name is important. In the book of the Song of Solomon, which was also written by our author, probably as a young man. He said this in chapter 1, “3 Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, your name is ointment poured forth.” The woman had recognized the importance of Solomon’s name which was the son of king David. Now that got people’s attention. What are some names that get our attention today? Children of famous people get us interested. If a young person applies to college as a athlete and has a parent that was a pro in that sport, how is he/she treated? You know the answer, they get special attention.
What about your family? You may not be a celebrity but you have a great impact on your family, friends, workers, and neighbors. In the book of Revelation in chapter 14, our Precious Holy Spirit inspired the apostle John to write this about the same point all in one sentence, “13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
When we die there is no more pain or sorrow. All our labors are ended. Yet what we have done on earth still continues sometimes with good results or sometimes with bad results. I do not believe anything is inherited. For example, if your dad was an alcoholic it does not mean that you have this sin in your DNA. I believer from observation of a parent’s lifestyle we wind up picking up this condition.
Character is something you develop in your life. A reputation is what other people think about you. Solomon is pointing out what is important is to match the two. You and I both know that some people come off as a great individual but when you talk to their family you find out what a rotten person he or she really is.
Solomon recognizes that a person’s death may be better than the day of birth if the name of that person has merited a lasting reputation and influence. How do you think your name measures up with others?
One name that we have is often forgotten. We forget that we are sons and daughters of the Holy Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High. We forget that we bear about the name of our Holy Adoni Yeshua, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our new name is Christian. How does this name measure up to those who are in our lives? Do they even know we have a new name? Do others think we are some kind of nuts? What do others know about us?
2 Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Many people avoid thinking about death and to a large degree, I do not blame them. It is foreign to us. We refuse to face it and are reluctant to attend viewings or funerals. Unless you are in the funeral business this is something we want to avoid. Solomon is not encouraging us to think morbidly, but he knows that it is helpful to think clearly about death. He realizes that there is value in learning from this hurt than in laughter. Death of someone we love stops us in our tracks. We have to alter our schedules and attend gatherings even though in many cases we wish for some excuse or way out of dealing with it.
The value or benefit of stopping and thinking of death reminds us of our future. There is still time for change, time to examine the directions of our lives and time to confess our sins and find forgiveness from God. Because eventually everyone will die, it makes sense to plan ahead to experience God’s mercy rather than His Justice.
Sorrow teaches us also instruction in how to live our lives. It gives us consolation and comfort. If you are a child of God and the one you love is a Christian [remember the importance of our name] then you also have a great anticipation because you and the one that you now miss will have a reunion in the near future.
In the book of 1 Peter chapter 1 we read about this, “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because “ All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the LORD endures forever.”Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
We need to respond to others as God would want us to. Our sinful nature hinders our ability to be open to correction. We get defensive and shut our ears to someone’s rebuke. Look at these extra points Solomon had to say;
Proverbs 13: 1” 1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
Proverbs 15, “31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. 32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding”
Psalm 141, “5 Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. and let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it.
In truth, quiet listening to others, who care about you, wind up rebuking you, it is better than to listen to the music of fools. And exactly what is the song of fools? A fool is an unbeliever – one who does not trust God. When we experience heartache our tendency is to withdraw. With the creation of the new phones and CD players we get alone within our own world and shut everyone out. For awhile listening to music can sooth the pain inside temporarily. Ultimately though, we have to deal with our issues.
In like manner a joke can make you smile but it doesn’t snap you out of your hurt. Burning thorns will provide quick flames, little heat, and a lot of noise, just like a sudden outburst of laughter. It is all noise and no substance. It doesn’t achieve anything.
7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, and a bribe debases the heart. 8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 Do not say, “ Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
Verse 7 is dedicated to all us subordinates who take grief day in and day out from our superiors. Do you have a bully for a boss? You probably treat them just like Solomon advises here. Instead of telling him or her what you really think of them, you give them a smile, kind words, and the flattery that they desire. You are sensible. You want to keep your job. You give these rotten individuals the praise they seek in order to prevent trouble or to avoid worse oppression. You give them a nice Christmas gift though you would really want to give them nothing.
You can ultimately praise God our Father because your persecution will not last forever. That is why the ‘end is better than the beginning.’ You can go home and get away from these evil people.
Oppression and bribes make people behave differently. They do not produce friends or allies. However, they are part of life and we have to deal with them.
Patience is better than pride when dealing with things, and produces better results in the end. Thus, at the beginning of something there may be conflicting emotions, and careless words, as pride rules, but it is better when patience has prevailed in the end.
It is best to wait upon the Lord for everything. He Is on His Throne. He does not panic. I love Job’s response when the Lord made a personal appearance in chapter 42, “1 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
We are to live in the present, not the past or the future. You cannot change the past so why try to go and live there.
Having wisdom is a good basis for a balanced life, for it provides a form of defense in times of trouble, and may even result in saving a person’s life.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
The word ‘defense’ means shade or shelter. We view it as a kind of protection. The word ‘excellence’ means profit. Those who ‘see the sun’ are those who survive childbirth. In today’s world this is the number one cause of death. Most humans do not survive beyond one year of age. I like this poem about monkeys.
Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree
Discussing things as they are said to be
Said one to the others, "Now listen, you two,
There’s a rumor around that can’t be true
That man descended from our noble race
The very idea is a great disgrace."
"No monkey has ever deserted his wife
Starved her babies and ruined her life
And you’ve never known a mother monk
To leave her babies with others to bunk
Or pass from one on to another
Till they scarcely knew who is their mother."
"Here’s another thing a monkey won’t do
Go out at night and get in a stew
Or use a gun or club or knife
To take some other monkey’s life
Yes, man descended, the ornery cuss
But, brother, he didn’t descend from us."
Wisdom exceeds all the advantages of worldly possessions and security. It is so important that all of Proverbs 8 speaks about it;
1 Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. 3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: 4 “ To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. 5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; 7 For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. 9 They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. 12 “ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. 20 I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries. 22 “ The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, when He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men. 32 “ Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD; 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”
Both wealth and wisdom may be helpful in defending a person’s position and status in life, but wisdom also aids in your survival when things are difficult. If our El Shadai – God Almighty – grants you wisdom than you will also understand that we cannot interfere with His Plans for our lives.
13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
The point that we need to understand here is that when we consider the work of God we do not have to understand what He Is doing, nor think that we can somehow change what is happening to us, but the answer lies in the fact that our Holy Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High – controls everything. The ‘crooked that needs straightening’ is the afflictions and adversities that we experience in this cursed world. We need to roll with the punches that life throws at us, putting all our hope and trust in Him to help us. If you do not understand this key principal then you – find out nothing in your life.
When we really stop and think we know that our Holy Father allows both good and bad times. He blends them into our lives not to hurt or frustrate us but to keep our thoughts and hunger toward Him. Our problems as sinful humans are that when good times come our way we somehow leave our Precious God out of the picture. You and I both know though that when tough times come our Holy King gets the blame and ultimately receives bad attitudes from us. He definitely gets our attention, one way or the other.
15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness. 16 Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?
I do not know about you but I think I got this Scripture under control. I am definitely not overly righteous and wise. What this verse is really pointing out to us is a warning against religious conceit – legalism. Solomon knew back then that people tend to become false righteous hypocrites. They become so smug in their ways that they think that they know more than God. There are groups today that meet and in their opinions vote against the Word of God. I do not want to be in their shoes when they come face to face with our Supreme Ruler.
17 Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.
Our idea is that the righteous should be rewarded here in this life and in the life to come while the wicked should get theirs now and forever. Solomon is hinting at that righteous people become hated by the world and thereby cultivate hostility. Look at the news every so often. You will see stories on how Christians are attacked and persecuted. Look at history and you will be convinced how sadly this fact is true regarding the Jews. They have been slaughtered throughout the years. Our God doesn’t want us to hide our faith but let His love drive our actions in our interactions with others.
19 Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers of the city. 20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. 21 Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.
The study of numbers in the bible is very interesting. The number 10 for instance is regularly used to mean ‘a number of’. It does not have a particular set usage in mind. Here it simply means a collective leadership which is looked up to. So, the verse would read that a wise man is better than the advice of a number of prominent rulers. The point here is that wisdom is not necessarily with the majority. Look with me at these wise statements from Scripture;
Psalm 127, “1 Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
2 Timothy 3, “…that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 21, “22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the trusted stronghold.”
I have used verse 20 of Ecclesiastes chapter 7 on many occasions. In a way it reflects back to verse 16 regarding false religiosity. Some people think that they never sin. I tell them that they just sinned the sin of pride. We need to remain humble and realize but for the grace of God we all would be the vilest of people.
As a man one, of the best things that your children bring out in you, is selective hearing. You are able to tune out all the screaming while you read a book or watch the game on TV. Wives are not too happy with this gift our Great God gives us men. A problem that Solomon points out is that we should not be too quick to listen to rumors, tales, or careless words spoken by others. You may either hear someone bad mouthing you or hear your gossip that you passed on about others.
23 All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; But it was far from me. 24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?
I find here an amazing finding that I believe is missed by almost all theologians. We know that Solomon was granted ‘Wisdom’ from God that surpassed any and all wisdom that any man who ever lived could obtain. Yet even with this gift Solomon points out that it was limited. The statement ‘proved by wisdom’ means put to the test. Solomon is stating here that he put the wisdom he had received from God and informs us that he came up short. Only our Blessed Eternal Sovereign Holy Lord contains all wisdom. He came across issues in life that he could not give an answer.
25 I applied my heart to know, to search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be trapped by her.
Put yourself in Solomon’s position. Here he thought that he had all the wisdom one would ever need. He came across some situations where he tried and tried and still could not comprehend the correct answers. This started driving him mad.
Perhaps, he did come up with the reason why he could not understand fully everything. It was because he had allowed sin to enter his life and darken his insight. This I believe is his comments in verse 26, “26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be trapped by her.”
He had allowed the three things that God had strictly told him to avoid become a cancer to his life. If you remember our Holy Father had told him to avoid horses, gold, and women. Look at this information in the book of 1 Kings chapter 11. “1 But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— 2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded. 11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. 12 Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”
He had originated the theme, ‘One is too many and a 1000 is not enough’. He found out the hard way. Notice that because of his sin Solomon has bitterness towards women as he now says,
27 “ Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “ Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason, 28 Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all these I have not found. 29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
What is that old statement, ‘It takes one to know one’. Solomon ventured into the ‘no entry’ sections in life and had come out understanding the slogan, ‘ I have met the enemy and it is me!’
