Ecclesiastes 7-12

Ecclesiastes 7
1-14 The Realities of Life

• Our day of death better than our day of birth, and:
• mourning than feasting
• sorrow than laughter
• rebuke of the wise than the song of fools
• Contrast between the wise and foolish
• The laughter of fools doesn't last long
• Oppression tends to make a fool wise
• It's better to be patient than proud
• It's not wise to always look at the past as something better
• Wisdom is as good as an inheritance
• Bottom line: Be joyful in the day of prosperity; be thoughtful in the day of adversity. God has made them both.

Note: The subheading in the NRSV for verses 1-14 was "A Disillusioned View of Life," but I think it's much more positive than that. It's a reminder to us, as Peter wrote, to "be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

15-29 The Riddles of Life

• Extremes in righteousness and wickedness can destroy a person -- the key is a wise balance. Not that we should strive to be a "little" wicked, but that we recognize our imperfections. "There is none righteous, no, not one." At least I think this is what he is saying here. Verses 15-18 are explained in part by verse 20.
• Don't take what others say about you too seriously.
• Solomon has tested this himself -- striving for perfect wisdom and failing.
• He discovered enough to find out that folly is destructive, and that women are schemers. Apparently he finds one man in a thousand that does not scheme, but no women that are such. (This was Solomon's sad experience. It seems he looked in the wrong places.)

Ecclesiastes 8
1-9 The Power of the King

• I like this: "Wisdom makes one's face shine."
• If you obey the king's command, you will meet no harm.
• However, he can do what he wishes.
• The mere mortal also has no power over the wind or over death, or over going to war; wickedness won't save him, either.
• Solomon observes all this, applying his mind "while one person exercises authority over another to the other's hurt." So is this "one" person the king, or someone the king is observing? From the following verses, I think it is one he observes who does not follow the king's command.
  

10-17 God's Ways Are Unknowable
Further observances of life "under the sun"

• Because justice is not always carried out quickly, the wicked think they are in the clear to continue in their wickedness.
• Solomon knows different: those who fear God will be the ones who ultimately succeed.
• However, there is the notion (a vain one) that the world is backward, that the wicked are blessed, and the righteous are punished.
• My advice to the people "under the sun"? Go ahead and enjoy yourselves -- it's all you're going to have.
• However people "under the sun" may try -- no matter how wise they claim to be -- they'll never understand the works of God.
  

Ecclesiastes 9
1-12 Take Life As It Comes

• All deeds are in the hand of God -- and you can't know whether what happens to you is a result of love or of hate.
• Whether you are righteous and wise or wicked, the same things happen to you.
• "Under the sun," the same fate comes to everyone.
• It is better to be alive, however -- at least you have consciousness.
• Once you are dead, your love, hate, and envy perish with you -- you'll have no share of anything that happens under the sun.
• So -- eat, drink, be merry -- enjoy your wife "all the days of your vain life." Is there a touch of sarcasm here?
• Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. I hear this quoted often as a support for being industrious. Is this really what it's encouraging? I hear a sarcastic tone. "Sure! Work as hard as you can now -- there's no work where you're going!" This is life "under the sun," not life with God. It may still be encouraging work, but along the way we must realize this is not all there is.
  
• The race is not to the swift, or the bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent.... With life "under the sun," it doesn't matter what your talents are, circumstances control your fate.

13-18 Wisdom Goes Unrecognized

• Another example of life under the sun: Though a wise man delivered a city, no one remembered him for it.
• It still stands, however, that it is better to heed an unknown wise man than to follow the instructions of a popular fool; wisdom is better than weapons of war.

Ecclesiastes 10
1-20 Miscellaneous Observations

• As dead flies putrefy perfume, so folly outweighs wisdom
• Examples of evil (what seems unfair):
• folly in high places; the rich in a low place
• slaves on horseback; princes on foot
• falling into a pit you've dug; breaking through a wall and being bitten by a snake
• hurt by stones you're quarrying or logs you're splitting
• A fool doesn't know when to stop talking, ending in such madness they don't even know the way to town.
• A land with good leadership is blessed.
• Be careful what you say about your rulers; walls have ears.

Ecclesiastes 11
1-6 The Value of Diligence

• "Send out your bread upon the waters." Divide your means, because you don't know what disaster lies ahead. "Don't put all your eggs into one basket."
• Don't determine whether or not to sow by looking at the clouds in the sky. Work hard -- even if you suspect it won't pay off.
  
• You don't know the future, so work as if it will be good - "In the morning sow your seed."

7-10 Youth and Old Age

• Light is sweet, and those of all ages should enjoy the day, knowing that darkness is coming
• Enjoy youth, pursue your dreams, remembering the judgment of God
• Youth will pass -- the important thing is not to be anxious.

Ecclesiastes 12
1-8 Youth and Old Continued

• Remember the creator while you're young
• That way, when you're old -- weak, blind, deaf, fearful of falling -- you will at least have his strength to rely on.

9-13 Epilogue

• The Teacher hasn't kept his wisdom to himself. He has taught his words of truth plainly.
• Don't be too enamored by all the writings beyond this: you can't study them all.
• The end of the matter? Fear God, and keep his commandments. He is our ultimate judge.