Ecclesiastes 7
There are some things which the king said were better than other things; first, he said,
“A good name (character) is better than precious ointment.”
People then put oil on a person’s hair as a sign of honor; the oil was often very costly with perfume from rare plants; the costly oil might be put on one who did not deserve to be honored. But to be known as honest and right, or of good character, was really a greater honor. Then he spoke of
“The day of death” being better “than the day of birth.”
That is surely true for all who love the Lord, because they will “see His face.”
You like to be invited to a feast, but the king said,
“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than the house of feasting.”
To go to the place of sorrow makes us want to help the people, and is really better for us than the feast.
“It is better to hear the rebuke of the
wise, than ... .. the song of fools.”
To rebuke means to correct; if we do wrong and someone corrects us, we may not like it, but, it is far better for us, than for someone to praise us; then we would do the wrong again.
Both joy and trouble come to all on earth, and the king told what we should do:
“In the day of prosperity (when all is well) be joyful, but in the day of adveity (trouble) consider (or think carully): God hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” Verse 14.
If everything is happy, we are to be thankful; but if trouble comes, we are to think what lesson we should learn, for God has so made our lives on earth, that we cannot be sure of what will come, and need to trust Him all the time.
Do you think the wise king thought he did no wrong? No, he said,
“There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Verse 20.
“Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” Verse 29.
The wise man saw that men could choose the right, but instead, they tried all things, without thought of God.
At last, many years after this king, there did come One to earth, Who had no sin; that was the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, Who suffered for the sins of others.
ML 07/13/1941