December 1, 2020
The title of the book in the Old Testament we refer to as Ecclesiastes comes from the Septuagint (LXX) which uses the Greek word ekklesiastes. The word means “preacher” and refers to the one who gathers an assembly of people and speaks to them. Solomon is accepted as the author of Ecclesiastes by most scholars. In the first verse he refers to himself as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” Additionally, he says he is, “king over Israel in Jerusalem” (1:12), and “besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge.” (12:9). Solomon was known as the son of King David (1 Kings 3), the third king over the united kingdom of Israel, and for unmatched wisdom in the land (1:16). The book can be dated around 930 B.C. because it was most likely composed in Solomon’s latter years.
Even though Solomon did not initially ask for long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies, but for wisdom to govern the people of Israel, God granted both. However, even though he knew better, he acted foolishly by taking many wives and worshipping other gods. He became selfish and apathetic towards God. Ecclesiastes is autobiographical as the old king reflects on his many foolish decisions and empty pursuits. He concludes that life without God and the pursuit of pleasure is all “vanity.” He warns subsequent generations to avoid the same mistakes he made and that a life lived without God is futile and meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 7
The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly
1 A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
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 for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
25 I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. 26 And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. 27 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— 28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. 29 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- Solomon extols the virtue of a earning a good reputation, a good name in life. He says it is a thing of honor. Why is it so important that believers in Jesus have a good reputation in life?
- Verses 2-6 point out that we learn more from times of trials and even suffering than we do from life’s pleasures. As you reflect on your life, can you identify important lessons you have learned through difficulties and trials?
- Sometimes we can become overly nostalgic of days gone by and fail to remember the difficulties we faced (v. 10). We must always be realistic about the past as well as the future.
- We cannot know the future, but we must always trust in God. He brings both prosperity and adversity, but always with a purpose (v. 14).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know I can always trust you no matter what the future holds. I will praise your holy name both in times of prosperity and adversity. Thank you for your grace for every day, and the strength you give when I am weak. Blessed be the name of the Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me and teaching me new things each day. Adversity comes also with pleasure and we learn so much in each situation. Please show me what I am to learn from each situation so I can live a life more pleasing to you . In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another day.
Forgive me, Father, for I am such a sinner, unworthy to be in your presence. But you, LORD, adopted me into your kingdom.
You have made this day; I will rejoice and be glad in it. I lift up my empty cup. Fill it with your Holy Spirit. Today, may others see less of me and more of you.
I surrender all to you and to your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
A person who is in the light and walks in the light will find joy, peace and contentment. There is not need to seek to replicate Solomon’s sins.
Amen and Hallelujah!!! Thank you for sharing. Praise the Lord.
I pray my reputation will be an overflow of the Holy Spirit transforming who I am, more into the image of Christ.