Ecclesiastes 7
The Preacher has discoursed much about the folly and the evils present in the world. His conclusion, stated at the beginning of the book, and again and again afterward, is that all under the sun is vanity and vexation of spirit (or pursuit of the wind). He finds, however, that there are some better things, seven, indeed, and with these the beginning of chapter 7 is occupied.
The seven things which he recounts will make life better, no doubt, but they leave the sinner in his sins, without God and without hope in the world. Nevertheless, they form a very remarkable part of this very remarkable book, written to show that man, try as he may, cannot attain happiness without being reconciled to God.
Surely every right-minded person will agree that a good name is better than precious ointment (verse 1), but few of the world's seekers after satisfaction in things under the sun would admit, even to themselves, that the day of death is better than the day of birth. That would be to confess that life without God is a failure, and this, man at large is unwilling to acknowledge, true though it is.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, because man needs to be reminded of death, that he may open the door of his heart to receive the message of God in the gospel. It is so evidently true that man cannot meet the deeper needs of his own soul. He may, and he will, if wise, fear to die, but he cannot prepare for death except by acquainting himself with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
"Sorrow (or vexation) is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better" (Verse 3). But is it better in God's sight? If my circumstances lead me to seek refuge in Christ, it is well for me, but vexation alone leaves me without a remedy for the canker within my breast.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, is the sixth of the Preacher's observations. How hopeless man is of betterment when he turns away from his best, yes, his only Friend! Life is worth living, if Christ be its object, and the darkest hour of the Christian's experience is lit up by the Christian hope,—the coming of the Lord.
But there is almost no light from God in Ecclesiastes. Indeed there is what smacks of infidelity in verses 15, 16 and 17, and we cannot wonder at it, because man, left to himself, has never sought God; has rather turned away from Him. Notwithstanding, there is the knowledge in man that he that feareth God comes forth from all troubles (verse 18).
Verse 29 again acknowledges God: "He made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions" (or devices). The fault in the system of things that has produced all the misery and unhappiness in the world, is not with God, but with man.
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord." Jer. 17:7.
Messages of God’s Love 12/11/1932