Year 1, Week 47, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 47, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Ecclesiastes 5-7.

Today’s reading contains additional chapters from the Book of Ecclesiastes. The themes already introduced continue. Solomon continues pressing the case concerning the meaningless of life: “This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger” (Ecclesiastes 5:16-17). Life “under the sun” is wearisome and unsatisfying. But Solomon also points to the satisfaction of life lived in recognition of the LORD: “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). Life lived before the LORD, as a gift from Him, provides enjoyment and purpose.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the focus on knowing and thus, doing what was good: “For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 6:12). The term “good” is frequently in the verses that follow in this segment of Ecclesiastes. For life to have meaning, it is important to know what is good. To live the good life requires knowledge of and the pursuit of that which is good. In other words, Solomon is teaching us that meaning and enjoyment in life is framed by moral considerations. If we want to do something truly meaningful in life, then we have to figure out what is good. Walking in the pathway of bad and evil never leads us to a meaningful destination. If we want to do something that results in genuine happiness, then we have to discern what is good. The pathway of bad or evil never ends in genuine happiness.

So Solomon takes several verses and introduces us to examples and categories of good [In the verses that follow, sometimes the word used is “good” and sometimes it is “better”, but it actually is the same word. We do the same thing when we use better for good rather than “gooder”]. Many of Solomon’s statements in illustrating what is good, have the look and feel of the proverbial statements found in the Book of Proverbs. For example,  “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1, see also Proverbs 22:1). The good life is experienced through having a good name. Obliviously, Solomon isn’t referring to the name that our parents gave us, nor is he suggesting that merely having our name changed is his point. A good name refers to one’s reputation, established by a consistent track record of godly behavior. The good life consists of pursuing a godly life. Neither moral short cuts nor a life of moral forgery led us to satisfaction and purpose. Solomon also isn’t suggesting that we should seek to accelerate our death for dying sure beats being born. Solomon is seeking to orient us to ponder the end of our lives, which is a similar point that Solomon makes next: “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Solomon isn’t being morbid, but he is helping us to reflect on the reality of death and what follows in order that we might choose a godly life. Living a godly life is right, that is, it is the right thing to do; but it is also good, that is, it is a good thing to do.

Solomon continues orienting us to what is good: “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” (Ecclesiastes 7:5-6). Rebukes per se, need not be preferred to songs and laughter; but Solomon is attempting to help us consider what advantage a rebuke can bring, particularly if the goal in our life is pursuing the good life. Most of us would not naturally think of the superior advantages of a rebuke; we will normally gravitate toward song and laughter. But if the good life consists of living a good life then we should be open to those things that can often aid us in living a good life. Being rebuked for doing bad with the aim of making corrections with a view to moral improvement can, thus, be a better thing. This is not to say that we can never learn through song and laughter, we can; but it does suggest that we may not welcome rebuke when maybe we should. Something good can come through a rebuke. Though it can be an unpleasant experience, even painful and hard to hear, a rebuke can be a means to help us make the corrections needed. The actual dynamic of a rebuke has a bad feel, but the outcome of a rebuke can be good. Enjoy songs, cherish laughter, but if life is about living within a moral direction, rebuke should be welcomed. 

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe