AS WE LIVE LIFE IT IS GOOD TO REMEMBER ITS BREVITY (ECCLESIASTES 7:1). There now follow a number of wise sayings which are a reminder of the solemnity of life. Ecclesiastes 7:1 ‘A reputation (‘name' - shem) is better than precious ointment, (shemen), And the day of death than the day of one's bi... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 7 IT IS GOOD TO BE AWARE OF DEATH, TO LISTEN TO REBUKE, TO BEHAVE WISELY, EVEN THOUGH LIFE IS UNFAIR. BUT THE WORLD IS FULL OF WICKEDNESS. The emphasis of the book from now on includes the thought of living wisely and of man considering his ways and being wise. It is as though having convin... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL. IF A MAN IS NOT CAREFUL THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE HIM BEHAVE FOOLISHLY (ECCLESIASTES 7:5). Further wise sayings about our approach to life. The sensible man is ever ready to listen to admonishment from the wise, rather than to listen to fools (Ecclesiastes 7:5)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICAL WISDOM (ECCLESIASTES 7:11). Wisdom As A Defence (Ecclesiastes 7:11). Having wisdom is a good foundation for life, for it provides a form of defence in times of trouble, and may even result in preserving a man's life. Ecclesiastes 7:11 ‘Wisdom is as good as an inherita... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WISDOM INCLUDES A RECOGNITION THAT WE CANNOT INTERFERE WITH GOD'S DOINGS. THUS WE MUST ACCEPT FROM GOD WHAT HE IS PLEASED TO GIVE (ECCLESIASTES 7:13). Ecclesiastes 7:13 ‘Consider the work of God. For who can make that straight which he has made crooked?' In Ecclesiastes 3:13 the work of God wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PREACHER NOW GIVES FURTHER WISDOM TEACHING ABOUT LIFE (ECCLESIASTES 7:15). Ecclesiastes 7:15 ‘All this have I seen in my meaningless and transient life (‘the days of my vanity'). There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his evil... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF WISDOM IN ALL THINGS (ECCLESIASTES 7:19). Ecclesiastes 7:19 ‘Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.' Ten is regularly used to mean ‘a number of'. It does not have a particular type of governance in mind, simply a collective leadership which... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDING RESULTING FROM HIS WISDOM HAS MADE HIM AWARE OF MAN'S SINFULNESS AND FOLLY (ECCLESIASTES 7:23). Ecclesiastes 7:23 ‘All this I have tested out in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”, but it was far from me. That which is far off and extremely deep, who can find it out?' Bu... [ Continue Reading ]