CHAPTER 7

1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Some people live as though possessions and joy are the only things important in life. But a "good name" is more important than all other things.

And to visit "death" (in thought) is more profitable to a person than to visit "birth." Birth is miraculous and beautiful. Seeing a baby born is joyful to anyone. However, seeing someone's death evokes more thought and contemplation on life.

To visit the home of someone who has just lost a loved one will cause us to "lay it to..heart." (verse 2)

In verse 3, Solomon is not suggesting that we should constantly live in a melancholy state. However, he is saying that a "visit" to sorrow is more profitable than a visit to laughter. Sorrow usually causes us to contemplate changes in direction of our lives.

The "wise" person will consider death and realize that life is brief and uncertain. Even if we live 100 years - it is brief. And our lives are constantly subject to accidents which may cause death. What lies beyond? Are we ready? These are thoughts that come into the heart when we face death.

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

The words for mirth in verse 4 (simchah) and laughter in verse 6 (sechowq) are quite different in meaning. Mirth is gleefulness or exceeding joy, while laughter is "sport" or derision. The derisive laughter of the jester is like "the crackling of thorns under a pot" cooking. It only lasts for a MOMENT!

But the "rebuke of the wise" gives good advice. Is it not better to hear good advice than fake humor?

7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Too much "oppression" will cause anyone to have awful emotions. So will a "gift," or bribe. Bribery, when accepted, will cause the heart to become callous and hard.

8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

When we "begin" something, there is a lot of apprehension and tension about "completing" it. But at the END of something begun, there is release and peace.

To be "proud in spirit," or to be "hasty in...anger," is to invite apprehension and tension. But the "patient in spirit" finds release and peace.

10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Have you ever heard someone say, "OH! For the GOOD OLE DAYS!"? Well, I remember the "good ole days." I remember drawing water from a well in a 5-gallon bucket until my hands were raw from rope burns. I remember going to the outside toilet in twenty degree weather. I remember wringing chicken's necks and cleaning them! ((OOOO - STINKY!))

Thank God, we have an "inheritance" from our forefathers (and mothers) that yielded many inventions which make life easier! Now, along WITH that inheritance, it's good to have WISDOM (verse 11). Wisdom is the insight to do BETTER with what we have.

If a person has plenty of money, he has a "defense" in life.
If a person has plenty of wisdom, he also has a "defense" in life.
Which is BEST to have? Solomon says "wisdom" is best. Because wisdom causes a person to think, rearrange priorities and plan for the future.

Solomon was born rich. Then he was GIVEN wisdom. Where did that wisdom come from? GOD!

It's truly better to have God's wisdom than all the riches in the world. The best defense against death is to have Jesus Christ!

13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Man cannot change the way things are, because God has "set them in order." Isaiah 9:7 tells us that Christ is the One Who sets all things in order according to His justice and righteousness.

Therefore, (verse 14) when we meet prosperity, we should be joyful. And when we meet adversity, we should consider that God has SET these things, and we cannot change them. The best thing for us to do is go to God in prayer asking for guidance and peace to sustain us in times of difficulty.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

It seems unfair that the "just" and "righteous" man dies early; but the "wicked" man "prolongeth his life..."

But the end of the life (verse 18) is that the righteous man goes to be with God, and the wicked man spends eternity in hell.

Solomon says to "take hold of this." Think about it; live by it!

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

"Wisdom" says that a man should pursue a love relationship with God, beg His forgiveness and plead for reconciliation. Because we are ALL sinners -- not one man lives without sin.

The wisdom that seeks God is greater than all strength.

21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

If we listen to all conversation, pretty soon we'll find that someone has said something bad about us. But we must remember that we are also guilty of the same!

The lesson is to NOT listen to everything, and to be careful about how we speak.

23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Seeking to be wise in self never happens. It's like the man who has billions of dollars -- he want a little MORE. True wisdom is far from finite man!

True wisdom is in Christ. If we find Christ, He will teach us what we need for each day.

Though the word "woman" (Hebrew ishshah) generally refers to a woman, it can also be used to refer to things. For instance, many people refer to a ship as "her."

A woman whose heart is set on trapping a man for the purpose of gloating over him is the idea here. It could just as easily refer to anything which traps a man -- such as "wickedness...folly...foolishness...madness..", etc.

Note at the end of verse 26, it is the "sinner" who is taken in by traps!

27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: 28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

God created man to be like Him (verse 29) -- "upright", or righteous. God wants man to have a relationship with Him based on holiness.

But mankind has a heart-disease called SIN. And he constantly seeks to pervert what he was created to be, and to only please self.

The conclusion to draw from this chapter is: WALK WITH GOD!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.