Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 – Always take the path of wisdom

Earlier Solomon had shown the unpredictability of life. He asserted that success does not necessarily go to the best, the brightest, the swiftest or the smartest. This being the case, how should one conduct his or her life?  Especially when he or she does not know when something bad may happen? Some may say let’s leave it to fate since there is nothing we can do to prevent it. To such people, life is a chance. But Solomon shows us that we do have other option of doing life. We can always choose to go for the wiser option of the moment.

In verses 13-15, he illustrates with an account of a poor but wise man who saves a city from a great king who came against it. The point is this: all it takes is one wise moment from a man with wisdom to deliver a city from calamity. He may not be rich but he has wisdom. The unfortunate thing is that this poor man was quickly forgotten. Though he never became famous but was a forgotten man, yet the fact remains that with wisdom, he had delivered the city. This is what wisdom can do. It looks like the city had no chance of surviving the onslaught of that great king. It was outnumbered. But the axiom remains that the battle does not belong to the strongest. One man with wisdom outsmarted the strength of a great king and the city was delivered.

In pointing to the fact that a man who delivered his city was forgotten, Solomon shows us that man can be capricious and fickle, and fame can be momentary and brief. We human beings can be very forgetful people. The institution of the holy communion by our Lord Jesus carries an unflattering inference that we are a forgetful people. We tend to forget what we should remember. Admittedly, that poor man was forgotten, but the fact remains that wisdom is still better than might. That’s Solomon’s point in verse 16. “But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.”

A key emphasis of the text is this: the wise will listen to wise guidance. So, verses 17-18 say, “The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”  We can see here that the loudest voice may not be the wisest voice. The loudmouth leader may be insistent but the gentle, wise counsel of the words of wisdom is better and to be preferred. We have heard how one loud-mouth person in his folly shouted and got what he wanted. And in the process, he brought down his marriage, his family, and even his business. There is always a better way to go about getting our voice heard. There is no necessity to shout. Loud words do not change the situation at home or at work but wise words will. 

There is a sober warning in the last line of verse 18, It is a counsel that we all must take heed. It says “…one sinner destroys much good.” All it takes is a sinner to destroy and undo the good we thrive for. This is made worse when the leader is that sinner. We are reminded by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:6 that “…a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” It behooves us to be watchful and not to become an instrument of destruction. We must be judicious and vigilant with our life. Talking about wisdom, we know that it begins with the fear and knowledge of the LORD. Make Matthew 6:33 a key drive in our life. Let us “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” and make it the first thing in our life. As we do so, we shall have wisdom from above.  

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 – Don’t be surprised by unexpected events

In life, we always think that the best, the smartest, the brightest, the strongest will always beat people who are less endowed, hands down. This happens to whatever arena of life, whether in sport, career or battle. Ordinarily, we are impressed with a person who has a sharp mind and concludes that he has the capacity to make lots of money. Or when watching a sporting event and see a person physically endowed, we will conclude that he is a good athlete and can easily win a race. But to our surprise often it is not the case. It is wise to know that not everything that glitters is gold. Ecclesiastes 9:11, says that “…the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” We should wise up and adopt the advice of the English proverb that says that we should never judge a book by its cover.

Human ability alone does not guarantee success in life. We are all equally exposed to the circumstances or opportunities of life. One cannot predict what will happen to him or her for we are all equally susceptible to the varying circumstances of life at any given time. Solomon asserted that “time and chance” happen to us all. Even though we have established that every one of us is subjected to God’s sovereignty, the fact remains that we are all susceptible to the unpredictability of life. No one knows when his time will come just as Solomon has said, “Man does not know his time.” To help clarify what he says here, he illustrates with two imageries from the world of nature - the fish and the bird. He said, “Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time when it suddenly falls upon them.” Had the fish or the bird been aware of the nets or the traps ahead of them, they would not be caught. They are often caught before they knew it. By the time they become aware they were already caught, and it would be too late to escape.

Like the fish or the bird, the same thing can happen to us humans. We are exposed to the different seasons and opportunities in life. But we cannot predict when they will happen. In these verses, it is clear that Solomon was not talking about the good times but the negative happenings in life. The imageries he uses are nets and traps. They are things that happen without one’s knowledge. Know it or not, negative things are happening day in and day out in our world. If it is not about the volcanic eruption in the Philippines, it will be an earthquake in China or tsunami in Japan or economic downturn in the world. This world we live in is subjected to all sorts of catastrophic or cataclysmic calamities.

As Christians, we must take the counsel of Paul wisely. We should never live life carelessly or flippantly. We should see and understand the signs of the time. Life is unpredictable. Hardship and misfortune can knock at our doors anytime. When they happen, they are often unannounced. They will leave us with no time to plan an escape route. We must live in anticipation of the unexpected. We should not be taken by surprise when hardship comes beckoning at our door. The Lord already tells us that in this world we will have tribulations. Meanwhile, we must never take the good time of life for granted. We should never think a good time is the believer’s entitlement and that they will last forever. No one is immune from the calamity of this world. Our hope rest in the promise of Jesus that we should cheer up for He has overcome the world. We learn to hold on to life with a gentle grasp and not be too overtaken by despair when negative experiences come beckoning at our door. The peace of God, which He has promised, will garrison our heart and our mind and keep us in the knowledge of Christ Jesus when we commit all to Him. 

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 - Maximize living

Life in this fallen world has enough to cause us endless anxiety. In Solomon’s words, it is vanity and striving after the wind. Here are two quotes I found on the internet worth our application in life. The first says, “Life is a small gap between birth and death. In this small gap be happy, and try and make others happy. Enjoy every moment of life.” The second says, “Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, let go of it. Fear is mind-killer, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish them.” Like Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, both these quotations urge us to make the most of our time we have on earth.

In calling us to make the most of life, Solomon was not being cynical or sarcastic as some supposed. He is just talking about the reality of life. Look at it this way, life does not only present itself in a long stretch of misery and despair. There are many winding paths and certainly full of complexities. With those despairing moments and complexities, life also presents itself to us in many pleasurable moments. Bear in mind that life is not just a long stretch of smooth, obstacle-free road. There is a poem by Annie Johnson Flint that tells of the reality of life for us believers. It says:

God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathway all our lives through.

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

One other reason why we should live life to the fullest in pleasure is that God is at the center of it all. Remember Solomon tells us earlier to see the length of our days on earth as a gift from God. This being the case, we need to maximize the gift of life. And enjoy each moment God has granted us. This is precisely what he is saying in verse 7. “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Activities such as eating and drinking are describing healthy habits, not unhealthy indulgences. We must not overstretch the interpretation of this verse and entertain a licentious or promiscuous life. But know that God wants us to be joyful and Proverbs tells us that “A joyful heart is a good medicine.”

To enjoy life and live with contentment there are things we can incorporate to make life enjoyable. The call to eat with joy is a call to find contentment in these simple activities. Verse 8 even encourages us to be properly adorned. The call not to lack oil on the head is to wear a dash of perfume. In verse 9, we are told to find joy with our companion in life. One’s wife is given to us by God to share companionship. We should cherish and treasure every moment we have and make the most of our relationship. Our husband or wife is a God-given gift so let’s treasure our spouse and enjoy the relationship. Finally, verse 10 is a call to enjoy our career. Make the most of our work. We are to come to our work wholeheartedly and committedly. We are to give the best to our work while we are alive. Remember to maximize life – learn to live with contentment, relate lovingly with your God-given spouse, remember he or she is your life-long companion, and work diligently in your career and do it with commitment. Then there will be joy in every area of your life. 

Ecclesiastes 9:1-6 – Divine Sovereignty and practical living

In his earnest search, Solomon had examined many aspects of life and here he affirms the control of the sovereign Lord. He acknowledges that the ways of the righteous and the wise are ever before God. While Solomon might not have answers for everything, he had not given up his belief that God was still in charge. So, he said “But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.”  This phrase “in the hand of God” indicates that God is in control and that He supervises every act in our life. Man cannot fully comprehend the ways God works and will never fully understand the perspective of why God loves or hates, yet God is in sovereign control. 

To say that God can hate is hard for our mind to grasp. Perhaps a good way to look at the two words “love and hate” is to see it as accepting and rejecting. Just like in Romans 9:13 where God said, Jacob, I love but Esau I hate. It does not mean that he hates Esau but that He prefers Jacob to him. Why God should prefer one over the other is unexplainable but that indicates His sovereignty. Perhaps this is what Solomon meant. We, humans, are not fully cognizant of how God works but nothing is outside of His sovereign control. Things happen to us only with His knowledge and control. Our assurance is that our lives are firmly in the grip of God’s hand.  

From a human perspective, we always measure love or hate from the positive and negative experiences of life. People consider that God loves them when their life’s experiences are positive. When they have negative experiences, they assume that God does not love them as much or worse still, is against them. Verses 2-3 show us that that’s not an accurate conclusion. The natural laws God has put in place will happen to all, whether one worships Him or not. For example, the law of gravity happens to everyone, no one escapes the operation of this law in their lives. Similarly, the law of harvest also happens to everyone. If we work hard, we will reap. If we procrastinate and stay idle, we will suffer want. We should not measure the acceptance or rejection of God by the circumstances in our life. In God’s divine plan, He will use everything possible to perfect us. Yes, even negative experiences of life. Without a doubt, we all can affirm what verse 3 says, “…that the same event happens to all.”  And at the same breath, he also says that ultimately every life will end in death, even goody-do shoes.   

Previously when he comes up against tough situations, Solomon felt that to be dead is better than being alive. Now he seems to be saying the reverse. He tells us in verses 4-6 that living is better than dead. Although death is man’s ultimate experience, it is better to be alive than dead. A dead lion and a living dog are brought into the picture to provide clarity in his contrast to why being alive are better than being dead. A lion, for all its brilliance, if it is dead, has no glory. A pariah dog, though greatly despised, if alive is still better than a dead glorious lion, for at least it is alive. The assertion is this: the living is better than dying. Solomon then went on to show why being dead is worse off. Firstly, death end one’s earthly life and one who is dead ceases to know what is happening on earth. Secondly. death terminates all earthly rewards. No matter how much one has acquired in life, death ends it all. Thirdly, death makes one oblivious. No one remembers the dead once they are gone. Do note that Solomon is not denying that there is life after death. He only tells us that all earthly experiences, those under the sun experiences, will terminate at death. Gratefully we thank God for sending Jesus, His only begotten Son, to our rescue. 2 Corinthians 5:21 assures us that “For our sake He (God) made Him (Christ Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  And hence to live with Him forever, when our life on earth has ended. What a privilege! What a grace!      

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 – All things culminate in Christ

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks about how he set out in search of wisdom. He wanted to know the meaning of life and what it is all about. Tried as he might, he didn’t seem to be able to find the perfect answer. In the process, he had wrestled and grappled with different issues trying to make sense of the world. He admitted that he had not found a perfect answer. More often than not, he seemed to come up against a wall. Reading Ecclesiastes is unlike reading a mystery novel, that one always finds the answer unraveled at the conclusion of the book. In Ecclesiastes, we find struggles after struggles that Solomon had with the different issues of life. And with each struggle, he learned to trust God a little more, even though the answer is not always patently obvious.  As disciples of the Lord Jesus, we also discover that this is what discipleship practically looks like. We don’t arrive at the climax all at once. We realize that discipleship is a process, a journey where we discover the answer progressively. We learn precept upon precept, line upon line, and faith upon faith, here a little, there a little.  

Even though we are now at the end of Ecclesiastes 8, we still encounter Solomon’s struggle with the same question concerning the meaning of life. Accepting his inadequacy, he said in verses 16-17, “When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However many men may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.” Here Solomon was talking about spiritual search very openly and frankly. His objective was to learn as much as he could about life. As he discusses his personal experiences as well as his observations, he found to his chagrin, there has been no yield to his search. He also realizes that no one could say with all certainty that he has discovered the plan of God. It would be a lie for anyone to claim he has unlocked the mystery to the meaning to life.   

What Solomon said in these two verses remind me of a Suntan cartoon featured on the Sunday Times many years ago. This was what Suntan said in that cartoon: “The older I get, the more I learn. The more I learn the more I worry. The more I worry the older I get.” The point is this: life is a fruitless and frustrating endless cycle of futility. All this, of course, is under the sun perspective. Man can spend sleepless day and night in the quest for the meaning of life. And their fruitless search had generated much anxiety, and still come nowhere near to uncovering the answer to the meaning of life. This was also the frustration of Solomon. However much he tried, he had come against a wall and acknowledged that it had all been an exercise in futility.

It is true that God’s ways are unfathomable. It is beyond the capacity of human search. With all the modern technologies, man’s understanding of the mystery working of God is only a small fraction of what God had revealed concerning Himself. We thank God for revealing His plan in Christ. And we now know that it is in Christ that all the plan of God will culminate. Life can only be fully known in Christ. We are privileged that He has revealed that to us.  Instead of being frustrated with what we do not know, why don’t we get on with life, with all that God had revealed concerning Himself. Even though we do not know everything about Him, we certainly do know enough of His wisdom to worship Him for who He is. And to get on with life with hope and joy!

Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 – Life seems unfair, but with God life is good

Billy Joe an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist wrote and sang a song entitled, “Only the good die young.” That’s the misconception of the world. They think that the good die young while the bad live longer. Solomon entertained a similar idea though not in such an extreme. In verse 14, he shares an observation in life. He wonders if the law of retribution is working in reverse order. If not, why then do righteous people have to go through so much, suffering the things that only wicked people deserved. And the wicked seem to enjoy so much blessing that is rightly due to the righteous. What he sees made him return to his constant refrain, saying this also is vanity. This is certainly hard for one’s mind to fathom. Though not able to explain this enigma, Solomon was deeply assured that all will be well for the people who fear the Lord. Why? For the all-seeing God can see and know how one has conducted one’s God-fearing life. The issue for us, who seek to be godly, is how should we live in the meantime? How should we continue to live here on earth?

In verse 15 Solomon offers a practical advice. He says, “I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” If we have followed his trend of thoughts we would have seen that he had consistently called for such a lifestyle. He said so in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, then again in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 and also Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. Now we see the same call again in Ecclesiastes 8:15. In spite of how vain and empty life seems to be “under the sun” there are always ways to find joy, and live our daily life with contentment.

There are some who see this verse as a resignation to life. It is as if we are asked to just eat and be merry since we are all going to die anyway. What’s wrong with this perspective is its failure to put God in the picture. It has totally missed the part that sees the days of our life as given by God to live here on earth. Solomon is referring to the days we have on earth as a gift from God. The point is this: conscious of it or not we have God with us every moment in life. This being so, there can be contentment even in the deepest and darkest hour of life. Here he commands us to be joyful. We can derive satisfaction out of the very ordinary activities. Finding time to eat and drink and have fellowship with the godly can be enriching to life. We can share God’s goodness with fellow pilgrims advancing to the eternal city of God.

However, it is true that we can never have personal satisfaction and joy without connecting personally to our blessed Saviour and Lord. The thought that life is short and uncertain can drive us to depression. But the glorious hope of knowing Jesus is that this is just one phase of life. When our life is folded here on earth, the new and more exciting phase of living eternally with the Lord begins. Meanwhile, we just live each day with anticipation of something greater to come. So, enjoy the life we have now!

Ecclesiastes 8:10-13 – Death is inevitable so live wisely

The day Adam chose to disobey God, his life was shortened and death was guaranteed. Ever since then every person born into the human race shares his fallen nature with the certainty of experiencing death. We are told in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” However, we notice that most people only seriously think of death when they are struck by a deadly disease or know someone who is struck by a deadly condition. Truth be told, for us who are healthy and well, we do not think of death’s imminence until we visit a wake, attend a funeral or visit a columbarium. It is in those moments that the imminence of death becomes crystal clear and we remember that life always ends in death. This realization has an impact on our perspective concerning how we ought to live.

People are usually occupied with the pleasure or solving life’s problems that they hardly give time to think about their future and the end of life. In Ecclesiastes 8, Solomon had engaged in a deep reflection in his search for wisdom to live life. In verse 8 he concluded that no one can determine the day of his or her death. He had entertained the thought that the wicked seem to have a good life. And was wondering why the just and righteous God would not bring a swift end to the wicked for the evil deeds they were committing. Instead, they seemed to be prospering despite their wickedness. But now in verse 10, as he recalled the burial of the wicked, he was jolted to shift his whole perspective concerning life and death. It must be said that being aware of mortality always brings some clarity into the issue of life and death. Here standing beside a grave, Solomon realizes that death comes sooner than one thinks. Good or bad, righteous or evil, everyone dies. In the second part of verse 10, he wants us to know that everyone, even wicked people who are prominent in the country, or in church when they are dead they will be forgotten.

However, in verse 11 Solomon felt that punishment for the wicked isn’t swift enough. Perhaps he was thinking that they should be struck dead instantly. The delay he suggested could be the reason why the hearts of the wicked were not changed. But we know that people do take the grace of God for granted. Man’s heart is desperately wicked and would spurn the patience of God. Nonetheless, righteous living is still to be preferred to wayward living. Living a righteous life honors God and we will be surely rewarded. Don’t trifle with sin. It will hold you longer than you are willing to stay, take your further than you are willing to go and make you pay more than you are willing to pay. 

Solomon’s assertion in Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 is that wicked people seem to do well and not punished immediately. However, he knows that perfect justice will ultimately be served on them. They may try to prolong life so they frantically try to live as long as they can. But they will not get so much as a day more than what God has apportioned to them. There is no way the wicked can prevent the nightfall of death. Like a shadow that go away in the night, the wicked will also disappear at nightfall. But turning to the godly, verse 12 assures that they will have great hope because they fear the Lord. He knows that it will all be well for those who fear the Lord, for every reverential act they practice, is ever before the eye of the Lord. It is certainly better to live reverentially for the Lord. The same cannot be said of those who live without giving any thought for God. Things will not be well with them ultimately. So, let us present our whole being to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. For it is the only right and acceptable way for a God who deserves the best from our lives!

Ecclesiastes 8:2-9 – Relating to authority above us

There is no doubt that we all need wisdom regarding submitting to authority. In Ecclesiastes 8:2-4, Solomon’s exhortation is to “Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, ‘What are you doing?’” In the strict context of these verses, they were meant to be applied to life in the royal court in the palace of Israel. But by extension, we may apply these verses to all governmental authority and even to God-appointed authority above us.

But what should we do when we do not agree with the authority? In verse 3 the counsel is not to walk away from it hastily because of God’s oath to him. One may argue that ours is a secular government and ask “What part does God have in it?” Remember, we said that God is in sovereign control over every affair of man. Knowingly or unknowingly, every person who takes authority only does so as God allows it. It is true that people in authority may or may not exercise their power in a godly way. When their ways are ungodly, there is the temptation to rebel and oppose them. Verse 3 also says, “…Do not take your stand in an evil cause….” As believers, we should overcome evil intention with godliness. We should never let our unhappiness to become ungodly rebellion. Always bear in mind that all authority in place has the right to rule. We obey so long as they do not blatantly contradict God’s commands. We must not let our good witness be evil spoken of. To obey earthly authority has God’s blessing. When we learn to submit to authority we keep harm at arm’s length. This is how a good and loyal citizen should respond.

While earthly authority is God-ordained and meant to be exercised discreetly, it had often been abused. In fact, Solomon’s observation clearly said that earthly authority is often abused.  His exact expression in verse 9 is, “All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun when man had power over man to his hurt.” Since there is a possibility of abuse by people in authority, what must we do? The answer is suggested by verses 5-6 that remind us to exercise prudence, submit and obey. Solomon said, “Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.  For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.” Solomon reminds us that there is a divine schedule in God’s timetable. Everything will fall into place according to His schedule. While we may not see the trouble ahead of us, there is a season for everything. Take the wise counsel of the Apostle Paul given in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to heart. He said, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”  

Ecclesiastes 8:7-8 say, “For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has the power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.” These verses remind us that we cannot tell the future and none of us knows what tomorrow holds. And none of us know when we will die although death is a certainty. We certainly do not control our destiny. How then should we live? As believers, we must always connect to Jesus. And be mindful of passages in the Bible that call us to wisely relate with governmental authority. In 1 Peter 2:13-14, the apostle tells us to “Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” In Romans 13:1-2, the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to Christians is, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” Let’s submit to God first and foremost, and then to the authority, He had placed over us!

Ecclesiastes 8:1 – The radiance of Wisdom

Wisdom is what we need in the time of trails. At least this was what James in his letter to the earlier church thought so. In trails, wisdom is especially needed so that we will be able to respond rightly. So, James exhorts us to pray and ask God for wisdom should we lack it. In Ecclesiastes, we can see that wisdom is also needed so that a person will know how to distinguish between exercising authority and abusing power. In Ecclesiastes 8:1 are two rhetorical questions pertaining to wisdom. Solomon asked, “Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?” At first glance, they appear as if he was suggesting that no one can have wisdom. That accounts for why some people insist that these questions presuppose a negative answer. They imagine the answer should be: “there is no one who is wise, no not one.” This interpretation, however, makes the second part of this verse hard to explain.

A deeper reflection tells us that Solomon would not have suggested how to identify wisdom if he thought that there was no one on earth that could be wise. In the second half of this verse, he insisted that wisdom would make a person’s face lit up. Furthermore, he said, it would make a person’s stern face appear gentler. It is likely that he wasn’t saying that there is no wise man on earth but that wise men are rare and hard to find. This, of course, is true. A case in mind is Daniel the prophet. The Bible tells us how outstandingly wise he was. The Lord had endowed him with great wisdom to interpret great mystery, especially the mystery of the unknown to man. Daniel’s countenance also affirmed what the second of this verse said is true. Throughout his service in Babylon, regardless of which king he was serving, he had never spotted a dejected, God-forsaken face. His face was ever beaming with a smile of grace, no matter how trying his circumstances were.

Haven’t we seen a believer in the Lord whom we do not know and almost instantly we can tell that he is a believer. We can tell from his countenance that there is just simply something different about him or her. People who embrace a deep relationship with Christ have made a wise choice, such that their wisdom is clearly displayed on their God-trusting face. People who do not know Christ wear a frown in the face of tough circumstances.  This is the reason, Solomon contrasted the hardened face of a sinner with the wise, God-trusting person’s, as showing a positive smiley persona. 

No one can claim to have a life harder than Paul the Apostle. None of us has suffered like he did. Hear his description of it in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28. “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” Yet almost near the end of his journey, he wrote to the Philippians, exhorting the believers to rejoice. Our joyful faces in the midst of trials will make a difference in our witness for the Lord. Who can ever be attracted by a grumpy face? God wants to make His face shine on us and give us peace. When we have Christ, our face should be radiant and shine with the grace of God. Shine for Him with His wisdom!

Ecclesiastes 7:23-29 – The secret things belong to God

There is no doubt that wisdom is such a key component in life if we are to live effectively in this fallen world. In Solomon’s search for wisdom, he wants to understand the profound mystery and the intricacies that regulate human circumstances. This kind of wisdom seems hard to come by. So, in verse 23 he expresses his disquiet saying, “All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, ‘I will be wise,” but it was far from me.’” Just like Job of old, Solomon realizes that his finite mind couldn’t fathom the deep things of God. There are deep things of the Lord that are difficult to grasp with our limited mind. Deuteronomy 29:29 puts it so aptly. The secret things, the deep, very deep things Solomon talks about in Ecclesiastes 7:23, belong to God. So, he had to concede, saying, “Who can find it?”

It’s true that many of the secret things known to God are simply unfathomable. We must thank God that He has graciously made known to us by the Spirit, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. For to us, God revealed them through the Spirit….”

In verse 23, Solomon confessed that he tried to fathom the ultimate perplexities of the universe and the deep mysteries known only to God. He had to concede frustratingly and reluctantly that they are so elusive. They seemed so far from him. So, in verse 25 he re-directed his attention back to understanding the problem of life. So, he said, “I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.” Leaving the theoretical, he now returned to something down to earth. He was bent on finding the difference between the ways of wisdom and folly. And in his quest, he discovered that the human heart is so wicked and depraved. It is bitterer than death. Of course, this he finally suggested, can be traced to sin. The root problem of life is sin and has always been sin. Verses 29 says that though God had made man upright, yet they have sought out many schemes. This verse puts in a different way what Isaiah 53:6 tells us. It says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way.”

When Solomon followed the trial of folly and madness of men exhaustively, he found one particularly troublesome issue – man’s susceptibility to the seductive “woman.” This word “woman” can mean three things - firstly any woman, secondly a particular seductive woman or thirdly, the personification of folly such as false philosophy, worldly perspective etc. He was most likely referring to a seductress. We can be sure that he was not denigrating the female gender in general. He was talking particularly about one kind of women, the seductress. He qualified it by saying that their “heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters.” The seductress just schemes in her heart to trap and hold down her victims. She would resort to enticing words to capture the foolish. The embrace she gives with her hands is like strong fetter that binds one down. Solomon points out that there is only one hope to escape such a seductive danger – i.e. to seek, act and move in tandem with God. It is to relate with Him and seek to live a life pleasing to Him. But sinners who have no regards for God’s way will be taken and attracted by the enticement and ensnared.

Take a word from the wise, flee temptation, don’t dilly dally around to be lured in by sinful desire. Remember that every seduction is a trap. If you give in to it once, you will find it easier to rationalize and give the reason for why it is okay to succumb to the enticement again. Verse 26 minced no word. He blatantly tells us that the end result of succumbing to enticement is bitterer than death. This soul-destructive sin is not worth it. It takes away our capacity to be the person God has called us to be. Solomon had plenty of experiences. And he shared it from observation as well as his experience.

Verses 28-29 pose some difficulties if we conclude that Solomon is talking about all the men and women throughout the world. For me, it is safe to conclude that Solomon was being hyperbolic in his presentation. He probably concluded this from his experience with the people in his sphere of influence. There were probably very few godly men he encountered and among his harem of women and concubines he had difficulty finding even one who was God-fearing. He wasn’t generalizing but narrating his experience. However, think about what Solomon had said in a more serious way. There is indeed only one sinless man. He is none other than Christ Jesus. And we are not talking about just one in a thousand, but the only one in the world. But the same cannot be said of any woman. At best like any man who embraces Christ, when a woman does the same she is justified in Him. Remember 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time”. We are thankful to God for giving us Christ Jesus as our Mediator. Glory be to God!

Ecclesiastes 7:19-22 – Self-appraisal is needful for personal improvement

Bob Marley, the iconic Jamaican singer said, “Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold.” Wisdom truly is more precious than silver or gold. We have been reflecting on the book of Ecclesiastes which belongs to the class of wisdom literature. Solomon, it’s author, started his reign of Israel not asking God for silver or gold or fame. He started off by asking for wisdom and was granted it. Because of his wise start, he was reckoned as the wisest man in the Bible. Many of his sayings in the book of Proverbs and now in the book of Ecclesiastes show us how perceptive he was. It is said that one of the ways to learn wisdom is to glean lessons from life’s experiences. The best way to acquire wisdom is to reflect on the experiences we encounter in each moment and make up our minds what we ought to or not do in future. In Ecclesiastes we see Solomon gaining wisdom both from his painful experiences and his reflections. Although he maintained that everything is vanity and emptiness and that he did not have all the answers, yet he knew that he could not do without wisdom.

In Ecclesiastes 7:12 he advised that wisdom can protect and save one’s life. And now in verse 19, he tells us that “wisdom gives strength to a wise man than ten rulers who are in a city.” Here he sees a city that is governed by a council of ten. We all know that there is strength in numbers. And though to have more to rule is good, Solomon wants us to know that having wisdom is more effective. Because through wise people much more can be accomplished. They can provide better insight, therefore have greater foresight. Wisdom will help them discern better so as to make better choices. Wisdom will also empower and give them the ability to act rightly in all given situations. More importantly, wise people know their need for God. For in connecting with God, we find a rich reservoir of wisdom to tap from.   

Verse 20 is a timely reminder that we are not perfect. We all fail to meet the standard that God expects of us at some points. And we will stumble and fall like everyone else. The wisdom then is to hold everything with a gentle grasp and evaluate everything in the light of one’s own failing. Wisdom teaches us not to be overly troubled by the swear word leveled at us. It is true that we too have committed the same offense and are guilty of hurling unkind words at others. Therefore, the advice is not to take everything we hear to heart. The call is to exercise self-control over our own tongues, and not to overreact when some snide remarks or criticism are said about us.  

Consider an advice Paul gave to Titus, a co-laborer of his. In Titus 3:2-3, his advice to him was “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” As we seek to live wisely, we must evaluate everything from the perspective of our own personal failings and unworthiness. It will help us not to be overbearing in our dealings with others. Let’s heed the word of God!     

Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 - Living life with the right balance

We have no doubt about God’s sovereignty and that He is in control of everything that happens in the world. However, it is one thing to be convinced of it and quite another to conduct life with that conviction. After all, we are frail earthly beings. This is not an excuse in case we fail. This is embracing life with truthfulness. Thankfully, Psalm 103:8-10 assure us that:

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
   nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins,
   nor repay us according to our iniquities.

However, we still struggle with the seeming unfairness of life. This was the struggle of Solomon in what he observed of life. So, he said, “In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.” His perplexity, like ours, has to do with the notion that a great, righteous and just God who is in sovereign control of the world, why then are there still so many adversities, sufferings, injustices and unfairness in the world? We should expect those who love God and serve Him to be free from all afflictions and troubles, but this is not the situation. Frequently, we do encounter righteous people who are committed to serve and honor God suffering great afflictions. All these happen while the ungodly seem to be getting richer and more prosperous and disease free.  It all seems so paradoxical.

Since we have no way of correcting the situation by ourselves, the sound advice is found in verses 16-17. We are told “Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” These verses, if not seen in perspective, will seem to contradict God’s call for righteous living. Let me propose a way to look at two expressions here that will provide some relief. The two expressions are: “overly righteous” and “overly wicked.” The overly righteous is best taken as self-righteous where a person thinks that he is right all the time and thus become wise in his own eyes. Remember he who exalts himself will be brought low, so says the Bible. Then overly wicked will suggest that we must not be self-indulgence. We must have a balance of everything. Anything we do in excess becomes an indulgence. It becomes worse when the whole objective is self-aggrandizement. Remember there is a time for everything.  The wise thing to do is to conduct life with balance and to hold everything in tandem. Avoid being self-righteous or self-indulgence. Verse 18 tells us that when these two areas are held in right perspectives we will be enabled to have a right fear of the Lord. It will enable us to live with awe and wonder of our great and awesome God! 

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 – Divine Sovereignty not fatalism

This portion of Scripture reminds us of parts of a song that Lynn Anderson sang years ago. She said, “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there comes a little rain sometimes.” These words tell us that life is a mixture of both good and not so good, pleasant and not so pleasant times. We all like when things are pleasant but we need to embrace the unpleasant ones too. We must learn to observe life and take careful note of the world around us. And as we do, remember to consider the hand of God in them.

This is the advice of verse 13. It admonishes us to “Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?” The implication of this rhetorical question is this: no one has the ability or the right to overrule our Almighty God. He is sovereign and things can happen only as He allows them. The word “crooked,” is not an insinuation that God is the author of evil. For there is absolutely no evil In God. He will never be the originator of evil. In Him, there is only good and there is absolutely no shade of evil. Then why use the word “crooked”? It is meant to be seen as the troubles and difficulties one encounters in life. They are unalterable things, people or events that we wish we could change but cannot. Haven’t we faced them along life’s journey and wished we have the ability to alter them? We all cherish something that we wish God could change it for us instantly, but God has a different perspective. And then, thankfully, we discover that He was right all along. So, we are glad that it happened the way that He had allowed it to happen.

Bear in mind that in Ecclesiastes 1:15, the preacher already said, “What is crooked cannot be made straight….” At that point in time, he had not factored God into the equation yet. But now in Ecclesiastes 7, God is put into the picture. He is telling us that regardless of how we see things, whether they are straight or crooked, we must acknowledge the role of God’s sovereignty in every human experience. In this context, we can now understand why Paul wrote Romans 8:28. He said, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Let us not think for a moment that Solomon was propagating the view of fatalism. No, he was telling us that in everything we go through, God is in sovereign control. And that we must factor divine sovereignty in all our life experiences. We must remember that God is working out all things for good for those who are called into alignment with His purpose.

We can never do anything to straighten what is crooked. Under God’s sovereign power, there is no way we can alter His plan for our life. Even in the trying circumstances of life, we must learn to acknowledge God’s hand in them. However, know that God will never drive us into despair because in Him there is hope. It tells us that no matter how trying our circumstances may be, His perfect plan is being worked out in our life through those trials. While the adverse times may be frustrating to endure, but God is working out His perfect plan to free us from the futility of life’s imperfection.  

Ecclesiastes 7:14 explicitly urges us to trust in God and find a way to rejoice, and glorify Him. So, Solomon said, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” When we trust in God, and be assured that He is in sovereign control, it helps us to look at trials differently. We learn to glorify God in whatever is happening to us. When we do that we are in effect demonstrating that God is in control. We can trust that He will bring the best possible outcome from the tough time.  

Solomon wisely suggests that each day we live is under the sovereignty of God. If we see every day as a gift from God, we have nothing to lament, regardless of good or bad days. We don't assume that every day will be a fine day. Every day is different and if we recognize God’s sovereignty, we don’t cave in under any circumstance. We just trust that He knows best and will bring us to where He knows we ought to be. No one can second guess what will come tomorrow. We just trust His sovereignty and learn to live from day to day. Like the words of a song that says, “Many things about tomorrow, I may not understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know He holds our hands.”  The key to a great life is to shift your focus from your problems to God. Let’s look to Jesus, the Author, and Finisher of our faith! 

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 - The advantage of having wisdom

Ecclesiastes 7 leaves us with no doubt that to have wisdom is to be preferred to folly. Whether pertaining to the issue of reputation or impression, life or death, serious correction or mere joviality, the important issue is how we view things as they happen. A good question to ask is “How should we view all the things we encounter in the journey of life?” The right way as we discovered in Ecclesiastes 7:7-10 is to look at things from a godly perspective.

No one should take a short-term view of things, but learn to view life with clear anticipation of the outcome over the long-haul. When we have the end in mind, we will be more considerate and careful with each step we take. We live life with patience and expectancy regardless of the toughness of circumstances. So, Solomon says “Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it”.

In saying that wisdom is good with an inheritance, Solomon wants to leave no uncertainty that wisdom is a priceless asset to life. It is like an inheritance one has. If we have wisdom it is certainly more advantageous for one’s life.  How so? Let’s list a few here: Wisdom will enable one to better relate to others. It provides insight on how to relate with our family members, thus building a stable home and a strong family. It provides one with insights on how to conduct our life and business wisely.  People with wisdom know how to avoid the troublesome situation and enjoy a peace of mind. Wisdom will help one to view things with a clear perspective and thereby more able to overcome obstacles and challenges of life. 

Most importantly wisdom will protect one’s soul. It helps us look at the reality of life and death and go for what will help us to maximize life. It enables us to look at life from God’s perspective, embrace Him and His plan and discern what He is doing in the world today. Verse 12 assures us that wisdom will ensure to attain spiritual vitality as we journey with God. And when our life comes to the end, we will be ushered into our eternal home. True spiritual wisdom gives us spiritual vitality as long as we live, and when it comes time for us to die, it will lead us into our everlasting life. No wonder Paul tells us to be wise and no live as fools. We must understand what the will of God is and then live them out.  

Ecclesiastes 7:7-10 – Life’s outcome is always greater with God

In the earlier verses of Ecclesiastes 7, comparing various perspectives of life Solomon concluded that some perspectives were better than others. He felt that a good name or a great character is certainly more welcoming than merely making an impression in life. He also said that funerals are better than birthdays. Why? Death would end the misery of one’s meaningless life. Anyone who adopts such a view has totally missed the point. Life is a series of progressive experiences. If we are receptive, we can become increasingly better, not necessarily worst. Then he felt that to be rebuked by the wise is better than being entertained by fools. This is true, rebuke could be hard and harsh, but when received with an open heart and a receptive mind, will help a person make impactful changes. Foolish talk and flattery, on the other hand, may provide laughter, but don’t offer any meaningful challenges to life and provide no mental challenges.

In this last comparison from Ecclesiastes 7:7-12, Solomon seems to aim at guiding us into cultivating godly perspectives. He begins with a brief warning against exercising oppressive power and the corruptive habit of bribing. Then he quickly launched into a call for all to look ahead and take a long-term view of life. Despite the brevity and uncertainty of life, we need to plan ahead and make plans that will last a long time. We must live life with the urgency as if we may not be around tomorrow, but with plans that will prepare to be effective for the long haul. In referring to the “end” in verse 8, Solomon was looking at the outcome or result of one’s experiences. He was referring to what Paul had expressed so well in Romans 8:28. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Experiences we go through in life now may be unpleasant and unpromising. We aren’t able to make any sense why a loving God allows us to go through them. But behind them, God is working some positive outcome of our negative experiences. Behind every experience we undergo in life, God is engineering a perfect outcome for us to become a better version of us.

So, in verses 8-9, the admonition is not to be impatient but to adopt a godly view of what’s happening. The call is to develop an attitude of trust. And trust requires patience. To trust is to live life with an expectant hope. It is seeing things with a divine perspective. This helps us not to be presumptuous as we assume the attitude that we don’t have the perfect answer. It will enable us to yield all to God, and in so doing we anticipate the best outcome. The best test of whether we truly trust God when we are going through a tough time is found in verse 9. Our anger or adversity quotient. When things don’t go our way, do we blame God and become angry and exasperated? Or do we remain calm and patient, trusting that God knows best and is working something for our good? When we are tempted to give up on our marriage or career or relationship that seems to have gone haywire, learn to hold on patiently and trust God. He is not through with us yet.  

Verse 19 highlights another error people make when they are dissatisfied with what is going on. They fallaciously ask, “Why were the former days better than these?” Nostalgic as the past may seem to be, we are not forward thinkers when we always dwell in the past. Many who cherish such idea probably have forgotten how bad the situations were then. We must be forward-looking people. We look back and cherish the good that had brought us to where we are today, but we must see them as launching pad to something greater and better. Beloved, let us learn to see the full scope of all that God is doing. Learn to see the whole picture. Just looking at one piece of a jigsaw puzzle will never give us a complete picture. Any particular piece of jigsaw puzzle only makes sense when they are put in its place with the thousand other pieces.

What is God saying to us in these verses? He is asking us to take a godly view of all that is happening to us. We must keep holding on to Him regardless of how tough and rough our life experiences may be. Trust that He knows what’s best. He knows the plan He has for us, for welfare, for hope, and for a great future and not for calamity. He takes no delight to crush us, but great delight in seeing our life built in Him. So, trust Him!

Ecclesiastes 7:5-6 – Stand corrected

In Ecclesiastes 7:5-6, Solomon proceeds to compare another perspective of life. He said that a rebuke of the wise is to be preferred over the song of fools.  The verses read, “It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.”

Nobody likes to be rebuked because it’s an unpleasant experience. But if we are to become better people, being rebuked for our wrong by a person who is caring and wise, is needful. It will help us to be aware of a wrong and then take measure to correct it. Thus, it is true that a wise rebuke is more welcoming to the song of fools. We see similar thoughts in Proverbs 27:5-6. Here we are told that “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” Solomon had persuasively shown that we live in a world of emptiness and vanity. Hence to live well in this empty world, one of the best ways to achieve it, is to stand corrected by people who are wiser than us. However, rebuke and correction are not what people want to hear. They would rather hear what Solomon calls “song of fools.” Try listening to a worldly song and we will understand why we should not give ears to them. Themes of secular songs are often built around the ideas of sex, violence, jilted love and broken heart, and some even blatantly promulgate the worship of other gods. We are called to serious living and how foolish it will be to entertain such garbage.

Here in verse 6, we see a brilliant analogy. Solomon likens the “laughter of fools” to “the crackling of thorns under a pot.” The question on our mind is: in what way is foolish laughter like branches which one had torn off a thorn bush and used as fuel for the fire? Here we can see two similarities. Firstly, they both make noise. The fire from the branches of a thorn bush produce crackling sound when they are being burnt, so also are the chuckling and sniggering of fools. Secondly, the branches of a thorn bush used as fuel cannot sustain a fire. They are easily and quickly burned up. Unlike coal or fire woods, they do not burn for long. They will produce more flame than fire. In much the same way, the laughter of foolish people does not give warmth. What they do are often frivolous and flippant and have no clear purpose. They may provide a good laugh but the laughter is short-lived.  

For us, who are convinced of what comes after death for one who does not know Christ, we know that it is not a laughing matter. Hence, we can recognize why a rebuke from the wise is preferred to the song of fools. The wise will counsel us to get serious with life. We must embrace Christ fully and choose not to live a frivolous life. The wise thing to do is to be open to godly friends who can provide sound and constructive counsel. Don’t shut your ears off even though what they say may be harsh. When someone cares enough to rebuke, wisdom dictates that we should be receptive.

Good sense and judgment will tell us not to take lightly what this book of Ecclesiastes has pointed out. From it, we can see that living for pleasure and to go all-out inordinately for selfish gain are striving after the wind. We can see that there is a season for everything. This book tells us that partnership with others makes for better yield in life. We are also wisely counseled to let our words be few. Why? Because God is in heaven. He sees and knows everything while we are mere earthlings with our limited views. So, we must be careful in what we say, especially what we say to Him. Of course, we cannot forget that this book also tells us not to rely on money which can never fully satisfy our soul. This book is a call to live for eternity and not for today only.

Where do we go from here? Place God first in life, read His Word daily. Attend church and listen to godly, Christ-centred, Spirit-filled teaching and preaching. Join a cell and fellowship, learn and progress with like-minded believers. Exploit your talents and giftings and give time to serve in one or two ministries to help fellow sojourners in the pilgrimage. Don’t laugh off the small spiritual stuff you receive from God. Take all spiritual matters seriously and live life with a passion and purpose for God!