Since I left my “Introduction and/or Fanfare” button in my other jacket today, let’s get straight into the continuation of our discussion of Ecclesiastes chapter seven. We will begin with verse 15.
Verse 15 – As is easily seen this life is far from fair. Solomon, although the wisest man who ever lived (aside from Jesus), didn’t need his wisdom to see this. Sometimes good people suffer, and wicked people seem to have everything. It isn’t fair, but it is a fact. This does not mean that God is not fair. It means He has a plan for each of us, and His grace is sufficient to see us through whatever our lot in life might be. Now Solomon gives us more of his proverbial wisdom (no pun intended).
Verses 16-18 – Here Solomon gives us sound advice. At first glance it seems that he is contradicting himself; however it must be understood that Solomon is speaking in strictly human terms here. We have ourselves been or know people who have existed within their own righteousness and wisdom, believing they are (as my grandfather would call it) “the bee’s knees,” but these kinds of people end up doing more harm than good to themselves. This attitude is destructive, equally as destructive as the wicked who in their foolishness also destroy themselves. It is essential that we grasp this truth, because in it we find that our only security is to turn loose of self and hold fast to God, in whom we find all strength and peace.
Verses 19-20 – Again we see Solomon directing us toward that which should be our true goal in life: wisdom. Wisdom benefits us far more than earthly power or prestige. But it is not worldly wisdom which we read about here, but the wisdom we gain through our recognition of and relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Verse 20 is the precursor of that familiar New Testament verse, telling us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Even centuries before Jesus came to this world, Solomon in his wisdom recognized that in ourselves none of us have the ability to live as righteously as God expects. But when we trust in Christ, His righteousness is imputed to us.
Verses 21-22 – Here is some great wisdom which all of us need to take to heart, and few have done. Too many of us wear our feelings on our sleeves, or on the opposite side of the coin, we hold ourselves in too high a regard. Solomon tells us here that we need to be careful of what we hear, because everyone else is just like us. Why is that important? Well, think about it for just a moment. Have you ever been guilty of saying something to someone you wish you could take back, or have you complimented them to their face and then talked bad about them behind their back? If we allow ourselves to be governed only by what others say or think about us, then we will never get anywhere; we will just move in circles, trying to find the way the winds of popularity are blowing at the moment. Don’t go fishing for compliments, don’t take everything so seriously or so personally. Instead, seek God’s opinion of you, and your approach to life will be vastly different.
Verses 23-26 – Do not be presumptuous. Don’t say, “I’m wise,” because you will soon find out that your wisdom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In their search for wisdom, many people have found only the darkest of mankind. Others have found the more redeemable qualities, but still the ultimate wisdom, the ultimate peace, still eludes them. If you try to reason things in yourself, you will not find what you’re looking for at all; many have fallen into the trap of saying, “I’m just experimenting to find out for myself,” and then the discover they are destroyed inside. The world is seductive, it draws us to those things which are against God. This is why we must do our very best to listen to the Lord and allow Him to guide us, so we don’t find ourselves where we really do not want to be.
Verses 27-29 – The ending of this chapter is kind of like a summation by the Preacher, by the speaker Solomon. He acknowledges that God made man in perfection, but we have all chosen to go a different path. We look to everyone and everything to fill the emptiness within us, but we never find what we’re looking for. Why? Because we never look for it in the right place. Only God can satisfy the longing of our heart and life; there is a God-shaped hole in our lives that only He can fill. We can try everything, but should take the advice of one who’d lived it: try as we might, only God has the answers.
If you don’t believe me, if you don’t believe Solomon, then give God a try.
© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.
Verse 15 – As is easily seen this life is far from fair. Solomon, although the wisest man who ever lived (aside from Jesus), didn’t need his wisdom to see this. Sometimes good people suffer, and wicked people seem to have everything. It isn’t fair, but it is a fact. This does not mean that God is not fair. It means He has a plan for each of us, and His grace is sufficient to see us through whatever our lot in life might be. Now Solomon gives us more of his proverbial wisdom (no pun intended).
Verses 16-18 – Here Solomon gives us sound advice. At first glance it seems that he is contradicting himself; however it must be understood that Solomon is speaking in strictly human terms here. We have ourselves been or know people who have existed within their own righteousness and wisdom, believing they are (as my grandfather would call it) “the bee’s knees,” but these kinds of people end up doing more harm than good to themselves. This attitude is destructive, equally as destructive as the wicked who in their foolishness also destroy themselves. It is essential that we grasp this truth, because in it we find that our only security is to turn loose of self and hold fast to God, in whom we find all strength and peace.
Verses 19-20 – Again we see Solomon directing us toward that which should be our true goal in life: wisdom. Wisdom benefits us far more than earthly power or prestige. But it is not worldly wisdom which we read about here, but the wisdom we gain through our recognition of and relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Verse 20 is the precursor of that familiar New Testament verse, telling us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Even centuries before Jesus came to this world, Solomon in his wisdom recognized that in ourselves none of us have the ability to live as righteously as God expects. But when we trust in Christ, His righteousness is imputed to us.
Verses 21-22 – Here is some great wisdom which all of us need to take to heart, and few have done. Too many of us wear our feelings on our sleeves, or on the opposite side of the coin, we hold ourselves in too high a regard. Solomon tells us here that we need to be careful of what we hear, because everyone else is just like us. Why is that important? Well, think about it for just a moment. Have you ever been guilty of saying something to someone you wish you could take back, or have you complimented them to their face and then talked bad about them behind their back? If we allow ourselves to be governed only by what others say or think about us, then we will never get anywhere; we will just move in circles, trying to find the way the winds of popularity are blowing at the moment. Don’t go fishing for compliments, don’t take everything so seriously or so personally. Instead, seek God’s opinion of you, and your approach to life will be vastly different.
Verses 23-26 – Do not be presumptuous. Don’t say, “I’m wise,” because you will soon find out that your wisdom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In their search for wisdom, many people have found only the darkest of mankind. Others have found the more redeemable qualities, but still the ultimate wisdom, the ultimate peace, still eludes them. If you try to reason things in yourself, you will not find what you’re looking for at all; many have fallen into the trap of saying, “I’m just experimenting to find out for myself,” and then the discover they are destroyed inside. The world is seductive, it draws us to those things which are against God. This is why we must do our very best to listen to the Lord and allow Him to guide us, so we don’t find ourselves where we really do not want to be.
Verses 27-29 – The ending of this chapter is kind of like a summation by the Preacher, by the speaker Solomon. He acknowledges that God made man in perfection, but we have all chosen to go a different path. We look to everyone and everything to fill the emptiness within us, but we never find what we’re looking for. Why? Because we never look for it in the right place. Only God can satisfy the longing of our heart and life; there is a God-shaped hole in our lives that only He can fill. We can try everything, but should take the advice of one who’d lived it: try as we might, only God has the answers.
If you don’t believe me, if you don’t believe Solomon, then give God a try.
© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.
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