Ecclesiastes 7:1 – OK, I get that ‘a good name’ is better, but ‘the day of death’?
Ecclesiastes 7:3 – “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” That’s contrary to what we believe. We chase the laughter and gladness. I have to admit, I don’t quite get what Solomon is advising in these verses. Are we to seek out sadness and sorrow?
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.” Yep, been there. It’s not good.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 – “Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” I love this. It’s one of my pet peeves that folks lament the ‘good old days’. Human nature has not changed in all of human history, in my view. The old days are no more good than the ‘new days’, at least as far as how evil people are. When folks try to say that people were better back then, I say no, they were only perhaps better at hiding it.
Ecclesiastes 7:18 – It always comes back to Fearing God. Don’t be too righteous, don’t be too foolish – fear God.
Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
Ecclesiastes 7:21-22
How true and wise. We often say things that we regret and many times don’t have the opportunity to apologize. We want folks to be forgiving of us in those circumstances, yet when we are hurt by careless words that are later regretted, we tend to hold onto it, taking to heart that which was said in haste and in error. If we would have taken it back if we could, why should we assume they wouldn’t?
I have to say, this chapter really confused me in spots. I read it over and over and didn’t quite get it. Anyone know what Ecclesiastes 7:25-29 is about?
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