Ecclesiastes 7:29

3. A final observation: Men seek evil devices. Ecclesiastes 7:29

TEXT 7:29

29

Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:29

222.

How many things did Solomon discover?

223.

What do you think is meant by the term upright?

224.

If many devices are the occasion for keeping man from being upright, what would be the nature of the many devices?

PARAPHRASE 7:29

Be sure to look at this! Only this one thing have I discovered: When God created man, He created him perfect. However, since the creation, man has invented many ways to fall short of what God intended him to be.

COMMENT 7:29

The use of the interjection behold suggests that Solomon wants the attention of his readers on this subject. Why is there the gravity at this particular point? Two things become apparent: First, God is not to blame for man's inability to discover wisdom. God made man upright, and in that state man was in a position to know and understand the things which are now hidden from him. Man cannot achieve complete wisdom, but it is his own fault. Second, man busies himself with innovative, vain speculation and self-wise reasonings which compete in his own mind with the true wisdom of God. Solomon is underscoring his previous contention that both men and women are evil.
The inventions of this verse are speculations or thoughts which result in a spiritual and sometimes physical stance which is contrary to God's word. The one evil invention that Solomon cites in this entire passage is found in verse twenty-six. Here he speaks of the weakness of his own life. He speaks of the violation of the monogamous marriage situation in his own personal experience. The large number of both wives and concubines which he possessed defies the imagination. However, Solomon implies by the many devices that there are numerous ways to sin, many of which are unrelated to immoral sexual activity.

Man should both desire and be ready to receive the will of God for his life. He should not invent his own speculative philosophies. God approves of the wise man who allows God to speak to him. The promise has been given: Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you (Proverbs 1:23). The word translated devices is used only twice in the Old Testament. The other reference is 2 Chronicles 26:15 where the devices or inventions were engines of war. These devices were clearly designed to shoot arrows and great stones at the enemy. They were also strategically located on the towers and on the corners to give maximum defense to the city. Such detail and cunning illustrates the ingenuity of the mind of man and demonstrates the variety of his inventiveness. The context under consideration, however, implies evil devices because they are set against the fact that God made man upright. Man was made to walk with God, but he fell from his high place of honor because of sin. Without grace and truth (John 1:17) man continues to invent pathways of departure from the presence of God.

Solomon's conclusion is the inevitable point to which all thinking men are drawn: all have sinned. The Apostle Paul concurs. He writes, we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, there is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God, all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one (Romans 3:10-12).

FACT QUESTIONS 7:29

405.

Give two reasons why Solomon expresses gravity at this particular point.

406.

What is Solomon underscoring in this verse?

407.

Explain what is meant by devices or inventions.

408.

What one invention does Solomon cite?

409.

The word translated device is used elsewhere only in 2 Chronicles 26:15. From this passage, what does the use of the word illustrate?

410.

State Solomon's conclusion.