Ecclesiastes 10
DEAD flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink and ferment” (verse 1), but why allow the dead flies to get into the ointment? Ah, it is a picture of the world; its choice “ointment” prepared with consummate skill and much pride, is found to be spoiled by the admixture of the “dead flies.” Sin and folly and death are here, and man has no remedy. The canker of sin at the heart is, however, by common consent, never to be mentioned, and death is to be glossed over, in the world, with flowers and fair speeches. It is only Ecclesiastes that gives us the true state of things with man, from his own point of view.
The book is drawing near to its close; happiness has not been found; all is vanity and profitless under the sun; a little folly is weightier than wisdom and honor. And all this the believer accepts as true of man “after the flesh,” and thankfully turns away from the world and its delusions, to the heavenly Man, to Him who has captivated his heart forever by His matchless grace and love.
Let us, nevertheless, follow the Preacher’s discourse to its end. He compares (verse 2) the wise man and the fool again, as he did in chapter 2 (verses 13, 14). The “fool” in Ecclesiastes is the self-confident one; his judgment is perverted. As this book can offer no remedy for man’s condition, so the “fool” continues a fool to the end, though the grace of God. Its transformed many a self-confident man into a useful member of His family.
The Preacher notes again the disorder that prevails in the world (verses 5-7), but he offers no solution for the problem. There will be none, nor can be, until He comes who has the title to rule and will reign, though, He was once rejected and cast out.
The verses which follow illustrate the ills and dangers with which life is connected. Some of them are the consequences of doing wrong; some are due to the lack of wisdom, and others are occasioned by tampering with danger. Verse 11 is better rendered,
“If the serpent bite before (or without) enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.”
Wisdom is a great gift from God, if it be used in His fear. The words of a wise man’s mouth in such a case are gracious. The fool, on the other hand, causes mischief; he speaks of what he knows not, and his labor is wearisome and unprofitable. That land is happy where the government is a model for good (verses 12-17).
Slothfulness is to be guarded against; pleasure has its place, but money is more useful; the king and the rich should not be cursed, because they may hear about it. Such is earthly wisdom, far less satisfying than the wisdom which is from above.
ML 01/01/1933