Ecclesiastes 7:10

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. THE FORMER DAYS WERE BETTER THAN THESE. Do not call in question God's ways in making thy former days better than thy present, as Job did (Eccl. 29:2-5 ); and the former days of the nation better than the present state. Compare , "murmerers, complainers" (; Malachi 3:14). THOU DOST NOT INQUIRE WISELY - Hebrew, with wisdom. Wisdom would teach thee that the sufferings of God's people are designed to humble them in remembrance of sin, and that these sufferings are disciplinary and only for a time, and will eventuate in eternal glory to those who are exercis...

7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often better than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have more reason to cry out for the badness of our own hearts; and even in these times we enjoy many mercies. It is folly to cry up the goodness of former times; as if former ages had not the like things to complain of that we have: this arises from discontent, and aptness to quarrel with God himself....

Verse Ecclesiastes 7:10. _THE FORMER DAYS WERE BETTER THAN THESE?_] This is a _common saying_; and it is as _foolish_ as it is common. There is no weight nor truth in it; but men use it to excuse their crimes, and the folly of their conduct. "In former times, say they, men might be more religious, use more self-denial, be more exemplary." This is _all false_. In former days men were wicked as they are now, and religion was unfashionable: God also is the same _now_ as he was _then_; as just, as merciful, as ready to help: and there is no depravity in the age that will excuse your crimes, your follies, and your carelessness. Among the oriental proverbs I find the following: "Many say, _This is a corrupt age_. This mode of speaking is not just; it is not the age that is corrupt, but the men of the age....

EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 7:1 Ecclesiastes 12:8.—Division II. DEDUCTIONS FROM THE ABOVE-MENTIONED EXPERIENCES IN THE WAY OF WARNINGS AND RULES OF LIFE. ECCLESIASTES 7:1 Section 1. Though no man knows for certain what is best, yet there are _some practical rules for the conduct of life which wisdom gives_._ _Some of these Koheleth sets forward in the prov

SAY NOT THOU, WHAT IS [THE CAUSE] THAT THE FORMER DAYS WERE BETTER THAN THESE?.... This is a common opinion, that in all ages prevails among men, that former times were better than present ones; that trade flourished more, and men got more wealth and riches, and lived in greater ease and plenty; and complain that their lot is cast in such hard times, and are ready to lay the blame upon the providence of God, and murmur at it, which they should not do; FOR THOU DOST NOT INQUIRE WISELY CONCERNING THIS: this is owing to ignorance of former times; which, if rightly inquired into, or the true knowledge of them could be come at, it would appear that they were no better than the present; and that there were always bad men, and bad things done; frauds, oppressions, and violence, and everything that can be complained of now: or if things are worse than they were, this should be imputed to the ba...

PART II. CHAPTER S 7-12 1. The Good Advice of the Natural Man, Discouragement and Failure CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The better things (Ecclesiastes 7:1)_ 2. The anomalies (Ecclesiastes 7:15) 3. The strength of wisdom, yet none perfect (Ecclesiastes 7:19) 4. The worst thing he found (Ecclesiastes 7:23) Ecclesiastes 7:1. All had been tested by the royal searcher; all was found out to be vanity and vexation of spirit. Darkness, discouragement, uncertainty and despai

PROVERBS AND REFLECTIONS. After asking, What is good for man in life? (Ecclesiastes 6:12), Qoheleth gives us advice as to what a man may do by way of mitigating his worries. First of all it is advisable for him to cultivate seriousness rather than levity (Ecclesiastes 7:1). The curious remark that a (good) name is better than precious ointment (_cf._ Ca. Ecclesiastes 1:3 *) is in the Heb. a play on the words _shem_ and _shemen;_ ointment is highly esteemed in the East. Ecclesiastes 7:1_ b_ reminds us of the Thracian tribe mentioned by Herodotus ...

_What is the cause that the former days were better than these_ It would be a mistake to treat this as describing merely the temper of one who is a "_laudator temporis acti, se puero_." That is, as the poet noted (Hor. _Epist. ad Pis_. 173), but the infirmity of age. What is condemned as unwise, as we should call it in modern phrase, unphilosophical, is the temper so common in the decay and decadence of national life (and pointing therefore to the age in which the DEBATER lived) which looks back upon the past as an age of heroes or an age of faith, idealizing the distant time with a barren admiration, apathetic and discontented with the present, desponding as to the future. Such complaints are in fact (and this is the link which connects this maxim with the preceding) but another form of the spirit which is hasty to be angry, as with individual men that thwart its wishes, so with the dri...

DISCOURSE: 834 CONTENTMENT RECOMMENDED Ecclesiastes 7:10. _Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this_. IN the writings of Solomon we find many maxims, which, if uttered by an uninspired man, would be controverted; but to which, as suggested by inspiration from God, we submit without gainsaying. That which is delivered in the passage before us does not, at first sight, carry its own evidence along with it: but the more it is investigated, the more will it appear to be a dictate of sound wisdom, and worthy of universal acceptation. That we may derive from it the full benefit which it is calculated to impart, let us consider, I. What is the inquiry which is here discouraged— It is not _every_ comparison of existing circumstances with the past, that is here reprobated

g. The now is better than the former days. Ecclesiastes 7:10 TEXT 7:10 10 Do not say, Why is it that the former days are better than these? For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:10 189. What would be considered the former days? 190. Why is it unwise for us to long for the good old days? PARAPHRASE 7:10 If you wish to be wise, do not be longing for the past and say, The good old days were much better than these days! COMMENT 7:10 There is undoubtedly more implied in this verse than merely a rebuke of being dissatisfied with the present and the fruitless longing for days gone by. If the conditions of the present time which produce suffering are a result of disobedience and sin, then the present is a time of just retribution. In such a case, it is not wise to question the circumstances of