In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that a man should find nothing after him. not call it over again; to feign the hearing of a thing, or make Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. Set not up for a dictator, nor pretend to give law to, and give judgment upon, all about thee. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of merriment ( Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 ). 78.]. Actually it's on the, if you've been over to Jerusalem that hill that goes on up to the Mount of Olives down at the area of Gihon Springs. So in all his thousand wives he did not find a decent one. Wisdom is good of itself, and makes a man useful; but, if he have a good estate with it, that will put him into a greater capacity of being useful, and with his wealth he may be more serviceable to his generation than he could have been without it; he will also make friends to himself,Luke 16:9. Seeing that righteous man died young and a sinner lived to be a D.O.M., became a dirty old man, he came to this conclusion. In a day of prosperity (and it is but a day), we must be joyful, be in good, be doing good, and getting good, maintain a holy cheerfulness, and serve the Lord with gladness of heart in the abundance of all things. And if your purpose is limited to under the sun, chances are you will come up, as Solomon, with the conclusion that life is a mistake. Don't take heed; don't try to listen to what they say. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: it's just emptiness. show all meekness toward all men, because we ourselves were formerly foolish, Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Who can actually do anything against the work of God? (q) Credit them not, neither care for them. It is the character of just men that they do good; for the tree is known by its fruits. He's not to multiply horses, not to go back to Egypt. And they're following a pattern because we often do. Consider the work of God as that which we cannot make any alteration of. 3. The conclusions that Solomon came to are conclusions of natural, human reasoning apart from God. speak slightly, scoffingly, and reproachfully of thee, as Shimei You're going to find out they're cursing you. What goes around comes around. I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even the foolishness and madness: And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be caught by her. While the individual endures what transpires, it attracts the attention of others, usually close friends and family membersand they talk. The Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, restrain Human nature is prone to take advantage of another's hard times, pointing out and passing on what it thinks are his or her mistakes or outright character weaknesses. Thus, man must take a leap into the upper story of experience and man must have some kind of a non-reasoned religious experience to save him from the despair of reality. defamatory words, by what follows; lest thou hear thy 69.]. The Bible says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:23 ). [3.] As we are reading of Solomon, remember he wasn't to multiply gold unto himself or silver or horses, but as we read in verse Ecclesiastes 7:14 . everything that is said of himself or others; he should not See therefore that thou approve thyself to God and thy own conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee. 15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. They're not doctrinal truths, because if you take the step into the spiritual level, you'll come to a far different conclusion of life. You find one who loves the Lord. Solomon illustrated the fact-in Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 -that no one is perfectly righteous. stands at the beginning of the sentence, after such syntactical examples as Hosea 6:11; Zechariah 9:11; and even with a two-membered sentence, Job 2:10. Take hold of the bridle by which thy head-strong passions must be held in from hurrying thee into one mischief or other, as the horse and mule that have no understanding; and, having taken hold of it, keep thy hold, and withdraw not thy hand from it, for, it thou do, the liberty that they will take will be as the letting forth of water, and thou wilt not easily recover thy hold again. Now chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes is a series of proverbs and, of course, Solomon was filled with proverbs. It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. That which is afar off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? "Oh, the day of a person's death is better than the day of his birth." The clearness of the eye of the understanding is of greater use to us than bodily eye-sight. Even if it is sincere, well-intended, and in no way malicious, the one experiencing the paradox may take it very hard, making overcoming more difficult. The good names of the greatest lie much at the mercy even of the meanest. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken This is good advice, and much for every man's peace through life. It will put strength into a man, and be his stay and support (Ecclesiastes 7:19; Ecclesiastes 7:19): Wisdom strengthens the wise, strengthens their spirits, and makes them bold and resolute, by keeping them always on sure grounds. The life apart from Him, apart from the spiritual dimension, living a life on the animal plane of a body-conscious experience and a body-conscious level will lead a person to despair even as the philosophies of today have concluded. He began to build these pagan temples, a place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And he finds that life apart from God is nothing but emptiness. God made us straight, but boy, how we have searched otherwise. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. It's in the sight of all Jerusalem. Solomon, in these verses, recommends wisdom to us as the best antidote against those distempers of mind which we are liable to, by reason of the vanity and vexation of spirit that there are in the things of this world. To learn more, see: It contributes much more to our safety, and is a shelter to us from the storms of trouble and its scorching heat; it is a shadow (so the word is), as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Since we have not been absolutely pure in character ourselves, we cannot claim the high ground above others, maintaining we do not deserve the gossip. I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. Copyright 2022, Bible Study Tools. Those that truly fear God have but one end to serve, and therefore act steadily. But we do not consult our own repose, no, nor our credit, though we pretend to be jealous of it, if we take notice of every word that is spoken diminishingly of us; it is easier to pass by twenty such affronts than to avenge one. Though He was perfectly innocent, Jesus had to endure the taunts of others. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions ( Ecclesiastes 7:29 ). It's right across the valley. Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher ( Ecclesiastes 7:23-27 ). And Solomon here makes use of these considerations. And because he was seeking it apart from God, he experienced the emptiness of it, and thus, he became a bitter old man. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. who should not be listened unto and encouraged; though there is Many things are here said in its commendation, to engage us to get and retain wisdom. Can we remember the times we lost our tempers and called somebody a stupid idiot? Your wisdom has led you to foolishness. "When you set up a king, one thing a king isn't to do, he's not to multiply wives lest they turn his heart away.". Now let's turn to First Kings, chapter 10. As a rich man makes his wealth, so a wise man makes his wisdom, a strong city. his bread of him, and gets his livelihood in his service; and to The Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, restrain it to words spoken by wicked men, whose tongues are their own, and will say what they please; among these may be ranked, more especially, detractors, whisperers, backbiters, and talebearers, who should not be listened unto and encouraged; though there is no necessity of thus limiting the sense, which is more general, and may include what is said by any man, even good men, since they have their infirmities; it seems chiefly to have respect to defamatory words, by what follows; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; speak slightly, scoffingly, and reproachfully of thee, as Shimei of David; which must be very disagreeable and vexatious to hear from one so mean and abject, and who is dependent on him, earns his bread of him, and gets his livelihood in his service; and to whom, perhaps, he has been kind, and so is guilty of base ingratitude, which aggravates the more; or, if not, if what he says is just, to hear it must give great uneasiness. Money's good, but wisdom will give life to those that have wisdom. [2.] And then his only suggestion for man is jump out of reason. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites. (2.) The light of this world is an advantage to us in doing the business of this world (John 11:9); but to those that have that advantage, unless withal they have wisdom wherewith to manage their business, that advantage is worth little to them. It damages our pride, our opinion of ourselves. We must have an eye to God and to his hand in every thing that befals us (Ecclesiastes 7:13; Ecclesiastes 7:13): Consider the work of God. Wisdom will teach us how to construe those dark chapters of Providence so as to reconcile them with the wisdom, holiness, goodness, and faithfulness of God. [4.] And so the philosophy led man to the point of despair by reason. But you don't.God knows your human nature better than you know it yourself. [Verse Ecclesiastes 7:27 ,] And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars to be as the sycamore trees in the valley, for the abundance. But if he was, you know people, it's interesting people seem to repeat mistakes, and you find a person who has been married five, six, seven times. And perhaps there is a great deal more evil said of us than we think there is, and by those from whom we little expected it. God intended that you should experience real life in the Son. God has likewise promised to direct those that fear him, and to order their steps not only in the right way, but out of every dangerous way, Psalms 37:23; Psalms 37:24. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools. "Proper evaluation of a mans character helps to explain the apparent inequalities in divine providence." will sometimes drop from him, which it is better to take no People have become too smart for their own good (26-29). That which, for the substance of it, is good, and pleasing to God, is not so well done as it should be, and omissions in duty are sins, as well as omissions of duty. Wisdom is a defence, and money (that is, as money) is a defence. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: Take no heed unto all words that are spoken. Tonight we want to return again to the book of Ecclesiastes beginning with chapter 7. (1.) Also take no heed unto all words that are 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? as it is in the Hebrew text; he should not give his mind to what Therefore, they are not to be taken as doctrinal truths. ingratitude, which aggravates the more; or, if not, if what he The Bible said, "There is none righteous, no, not one" ( Romans 3:10 ). For this he blames not God but the human race in general. We must show all meekness towards all men, for we ourselves were sometimes foolish,Titus 3:2; Titus 3:3; Matthew 7:1; Matthew 7:2; James 3:1; James 3:2. for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this ( Ecclesiastes 7:5-10 ). This wisdom strengthens the wise as much as any thing, and arms them against the danger that arises from provocation (Ecclesiastes 7:19; Ecclesiastes 7:19), so that they are not put into any disorder by it. It might be the person is just a, who has been married that many times is just a poor judge of character." For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. To silence our complaints concerning cross events, let us consider the hand of God in them and not open our mouths against that which is his doing; let us look upon the disposal of our condition and all the circumstances of it as the work of God, and consider it as the product of his eternal counsel, which is fulfilled in every thing that befals us. It is joy and true happiness to a man. And as we return to the book of Ecclesiastes, again, it is important that we make note of the fact that the book of Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his later years. This kind of talk has a tendency to intensify the trial's discomfort. Back in the book of Deuteronomy when God was giving the law to Moses, and because God could foresee down through time to that particular time in the history of the nation of Israel when they would demand a king, and because God knew that one day they would no longer be satisfied with Him being king over them and would want a king, God incorporated even into the law of Moses 400 years before they ever had a king, God incorporated laws for the kings. A human observation that is correct. Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem ( 1 Kings 11:4-7 ). The good old days when we didn't, when you women didn't have automatic dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, and wall-to-wall carpeting in your house, supermarkets down the block. Therefore, you cannot take as scriptural doctrine the conclusions that Solomon came to in regards to life and death, because he is reasoning, this is the reasoning of man apart from God and you need to look at the book of Ecclesiastes as that. Now it's not scriptural, it's not biblical. What a blessing, what an asset they are to our lives. Four hundred years earlier God had warned about this very thing. Set not up for a critic, to find fault with every thing that is said and done, nor busy thyself in other men's matters, as if thou knewest every thing and couldst do any thing. He had also seen wicked men prolonging their lives in their wickedness; they live, become old, yea, are mighty in power (Job 21:7), yea, and by their fraud and violence they screen themselves from the sword of justice. Govern thyself steadily by the principles of religion, and thou shalt find that he that fears God shall come forth out of all those straits and difficulties which those run themselves into that cast off that fear." But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses. That man will be led by reason to despair. notice of; they should not be strictly attended to, and closely Wisdom is necessary because righteousness does not protect completely (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Take a leap of faith into a non-reasoned religious experience in order that you might not despair because life is hopeless. from one so mean and abject, and who is dependent on him, earns How many times have we forgotten, been late, or been outright careless in our self-centeredness? Though a man have a great estate, though it come easily to him, by descent from his ancestors, if he have not wisdom to use it for the end for which he has it, he had better have been without it. Wisdom teaches us not to be quicksighted, or quickscented, in apprehending and resenting affronts, but to wink at many of the injuries that are done us, and act as if we did not see them (Ecclesiastes 7:21; Ecclesiastes 7:21): "Take no heed to all words that are spoken; set not thy heart to them. Human looking at life. no necessity of thus limiting the sense, which is more general, 4. whom, perhaps, he has been kind, and so is guilty of base and will say what they please; among these may be ranked, more How the appointments and events of Providence are counterchanged. [Note: J. S. Wright, "Ecclesiastes," p. Or the debater, or the word it was translated into the Septuagint ecclesia, the assembler. But you might, of course, also observe he didn't marry any men and you don't really know a person till you marry them. of David; which must be very disagreeable and vexatious to hear 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? one by one, to find out the account; Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found ( Ecclesiastes 7:27-28 ). "Now, in this, consider the work of God, and let it not be a stumbling-block to thee." Even Solomon with all his wisdom could not ward off all adversity. Wisdom is necessary to the right managing and improving of our worldly possessions: Wisdom is good with an inheritance, that is, an inheritance is good for little without wisdom. And Solomon had brought horses out of Egypt ( 1 Kings 10:14-19 , 1 Kings 10:21 , 1 Kings 10:27 , 1 Kings 10:28 ). Solomon, in these two cautions, had probably a special regard to some of his own subjects that were disaffected to his government and were meditating the revolt which they made immediately after his death. Should we expect to escape the same? Oh, the good old days. Solomon's so far getting an F for the course.And as we get into chapter 11. And any time you in your human wisdom seek to find a purpose of life apart from God, it's foolish. We must not think it strange; Solomon tells us there were instances of this kind in his time: "All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; I have taken notice of all that passed, and this has been as surprising and perplexing to me as any thing." Righteousness does not always protect from adversity (Ecclesiastes 7:15-16), but wisdom will help guard us against it (Ecclesiastes 7:19). Honesty is the best policy. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. Or perhaps he refers to the days of his apostasy from God (those were indeed the days of his vanity) and reflects upon this as one thing that tempted him to infidelity, or at least to indifferency in religion, that he saw just men perishing in their righteousness, that the greatest piety would not secure men from the greatest afflictions by the hand of God, nay, and sometimes did expose men to the greatest injuries from the hands of wicked and unreasonable men. You are dealing with a man searching for life apart from God and his conclusions are not doctrinal truths. 1176.]. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. God had forbidden this very thing with the warning, lest they turn his heart away. Flunk him.] Both come from the hand of God; out of his mouth both evil and good proceed (Isaiah 14:7), and he has set the one over against the other, so that there is a very short and easy passage between them, and they are a foil to each other. Day and night, summer and winter, are set the one over against the other, that in prosperity we may rejoice as though we rejoiced not, and in adversity may weep as though we wept not, for we may plainly see the one from the other and quickly exchange the one for the other; and it is to the end that man may find nothing after him, that he may not be at any certainty concerning future events or the continuance of the present scene, but may live in a dependence upon Providence and be ready for whatever happens. three hundred concubines: [And what does it say?] Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? He puts wisdom and money together, to confirm what he had said before, that wisdom is good with an inheritance. Thus, verse 22 follows with the reminder that we are in all likelihood guilty of practicing the same against others. Note, [1.] And God's laws are written for our admonition, and they weren't written in vain. curiously inquire what men say of him; and what he himself hears All this have I proved by wisdom ( Ecclesiastes 7:22 , Ecclesiastes 7:23 ): Not by God, I proved it by wisdom. Wisdom puts us in mind of our own faults (Ecclesiastes 7:22; Ecclesiastes 7:22): "Be not enraged at those that speak ill of thee, or wish ill to thee, for oftentimes, in that case, if thou retire into thyself, thy own conscience will tell thee that thou thyself hast cursed others, spoken ill of them and wished ill to them, and thou art paid in thy own coin." And God has given laws to protect you. Those that are truly wise and good are taken under God's protection, and are safer there than if ten of the mightiest men in the city, men of the greatest power and interest, should undertake to secure them, and become their patrons. That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left. Now, in this he was correct. And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn the fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them. Why shouldst thou provoke authority, and run thyself into the briers, by needless contradictions, and by going out of thy sphere to correct what is amiss? Hearkeners, we say, seldom hear good of themselves; if thou heed every word that is spoken, perhaps thou wilt hear thy own servant curse thee when he thinks thou dost not hear him; thou wilt be told that he does, and perhaps told falsely, if thou have thy ear open to tale-bearers, Proverbs 29:12. It is true there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness (Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 7:15); but let none say that therefore they may safely be as wicked as they will; no, be not overmuch wicked (Ecclesiastes 7:17; Ecclesiastes 7:17); do not run to an excess of riot. If people are honest with themselves, they will admit that they are not perfect (Ecclesiastes 7:22). Many that will not be wrought upon by the fear of God, and a dread of the torments of hell, to avoid all sin, will yet, if they have ever so little consideration, avoid those sins that ruin their health and estate, and expose them to public justice. What one sows, one also reaps (Galatians 6:7). [1.] "Make not thyself over-wise. Those who fear God will be successful in avoiding both extremes (15-18).Certainly, wisdom is better than folly and right is better than wrong, but the reality is that everyone sins sometimes. Consider that every work of God is wise, just, and good, and there is an admirable beauty and harmony in his works, and all will appear at last to have been for the best. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. Be conscientious, and yet be cautious, and to this exercise thyself. They say that's not always so true. according to the Masora.). In this world, at the same time, some are in prosperity, others are in adversity; the same persons at one time are in great prosperity, at another time in great adversity; nay, one event prosperous, and another grievous, may occur to the same person at the same time. it. Life is hopeless. Even though the righteous sometimes do not receive a reward in this life and the wicked prosper, it is still better to live righteously. In First John we read, "And this is the record, that God has given unto us, even eternal life, and this life is in the Son. One from among your brothers shalt thou set king over thee. That it is not worthwhile. It really can't be that the other person was wrong all the time. You all grew your own gardens. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away. Observe, (1.) "The magistrate bears not the sword in vain, has a quick eye and a heavy hand, and is a terror to evil-doers; therefore be afraid of coming within his reach, be not so foolish as to lay thyself open to the law, why shouldst thou die before thy time?" All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness ( Ecclesiastes 7:14-15 ). Therefore, his conclusion. Now, he did find one man out of a thousand. Let us therefore give him the glory of all his works concerning us, and study to answer his designs in them. Human wisdom, perhaps in its highest expression, yet apart from God is foolish. Nay, perhaps it is true, and thou mayest stand behind the curtain and hear it thyself, mayest hear thyself not only blamed and despised, but cursed, the worst evil said of thee and wished to thee, and that by a servant, one of the meanest rank, of the abjects, nay, by thy own servant, who should be an advocate for thee, and protect thy good name as well as thy other interests. servant curse thee; The consciousness of the greatness of Jehovah, God of Israel, has passed from his mind. Our religion, in general, must be the same in all conditions, but the particular instances and exercises of it must vary, as our outward condition does, that we may walk after the Lord. 19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. Some of the precepts of wisdom, that wisdom which will be of so much advantage to us. less should he lay it up in his mind, and meditate revenge for Before condemning others, people should realize that they may have been guilty of similar things themselves (19-22).Again the writer points out how his search for absolute wisdom failed. Why shouldst thou destroy thyself, as fools often do by meddling with strife that belongs not to them? Solomon thought he could beat God. Wisdom will be of use both for caution to saints in their way, and for a check to sinners in their way. That everything is only filled with emptiness and frustration. man is wise at all times, foolish words and unguarded expressions He had traffic of spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia. So men have a little better record as far as Solomon is concerned. ", It seems prosaic to declare God understands human nature. Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine. So he has taken a very jaundice view of life, a very jaundice view of pleasure, of joy, because apart from the Lord it is all emptiness. All rights reserved. Since therefore we cannot mend God's work, we ought to make the best of it. We married the same kind of person. As to sinners, if it cannot prevail with them to forsake their sins, yet it may restrain them from growing very exorbitant. As to saints, it will engage them to proceed and persevere in their righteousness, and yet will be an admonition to them to take heed of running into extremes: A just man may perish in his righteousness, but let him not, by his own imprudence and rash zeal, pull trouble upon his own head, and then reflect upon Providence as dealing hardly with him. Wisdom also has its limitations. he should take no notice of; it is often best to let it pass, and That is the hill where he built all of these and it's in the sight of all Jerusalem. Bitter with life. None were of silver, for silver was counted as nothing in the days of Solomon. The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and that is life; it prolongs life. To the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel ( Deuteronomy 17:14-20 ). There were wicked men who lived many years. So purely human type of reasoning of life. Curse cursed - Rather, speak evil of spoken evil of. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Can we remember when we cut somebody off on the highway and given others grief? We must accommodate ourselves to the various dispensations of Providence that respect us, and do the work and duty of the day in its day, Ecclesiastes 7:14; Ecclesiastes 7:14. We always look back, though, and we think about the days of our youth when Orange County wasn't crowded, when it was full of orange trees instead of subdivisions. Now it is interesting as we look at the seventeenth chapter of Deuteronomy, as God is setting up the laws for the king, beginning with verse Ecclesiastes 7:14 of the seventeenth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, the Lord said, "When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, 'I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me.'"
How Is School In Spanish Google Translate, Sonarqube Scanner Github, Top 10 Martial Arts Countries, Rodeo Stampede Techbra, Examples Of Coevolution Between Plants And Animals, Employee Appreciation Day 2022 Gift Ideas, Statistics On Truck Drivers, Valheim Is Really Boring, Can Civilians Have 3 Round Burst?,