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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15 - 7:29
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A Spirit of Sorrow Over Sin and its Allurements
v. 15. All things have I seen in the days of my vanity, Solomon had taken note of everything possible while enjoying the empty life of this world; there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, his plans were failures, and he himself died in misfortune because he placed the emphasis upon a mere outward show of perfection only, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Cf Psa_73:3-12.
v. 16. Be not righteous overmuch, with a mere external, Pharisaic righteousness; neither make thyself overwise, in pretending to be a teacher of wisdom, while the substance is still lacking; why shouldest thou destroy thyself? for the curse of God is sure to strike arrogance and hypocrisy.
v. 17. Be not overmuch wicked, not as though a little wickedness were permissible, but because an excess of malice is particularly disgusting; neither be thou foolish, in deliberately ignoring God and the wisdom of His Word; why shouldest thou die before thy time? for death is the consequence and punishment of foolishness and wickedness.
v. 18. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this, properly considering and thus avoiding the two extremes set forth; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand, keeping it in mind always; for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all, avoiding both a false righteousness, with its hypocrisy, and bold immorality, with its challenge of God.
v. 19. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city, for true wisdom, which flows from the fear of God, is more effective in protecting its owner than all outward show of might.
v. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not, not one who can truly claim perfection, they are all under the condemnation of sinfulness. Cf Pro_20:9; 1Ki_8:46; Rom_3:23.
v. 21. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken, by being idly curious and anxious about what people say; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee, the vain listener being disgraced by the remarks of his own servant;
v. 22. for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others, conscience being a stern accuser and bringing home many a sin which one has practically forgotten.
v. 23. All this, the rules of life and the practical counsels here offered, have I proved by wisdom, his experience being dearly bought; I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me, he had not yet reached the true and perfect wisdom for which he was aspiring.
v. 24. That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out? True wisdom, as contained in the Word of God and flowing out of the fear of God, is not a matter of mere human comprehension.
v. 25. I applied mine heart to know, literally, "I turned, I and my heart," and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, by examining, comparing, and judging the facts offered, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness, literally, "wickedness, stubbornness, yea, stupidity, madness," the climax showing the utter vanity and futility of opposition to the Word of God, especially in deliberate sins;
v. 26. and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, who uses words and glances to inveigle her victims, and her hands as bands, since she uses them in voluptuous embraces; whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her, by His special mercy; but the sinner, unwilling to accept the correction of the Word of God, shall be taken by her, delivered to her seductions in just punishment of his disobedience.
v. 27. Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, this is the result of his experiences, counting one by one, comparing one thing with another, to find out the account, to reach a definite conclusion;
v. 28. which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found, namely, one realizing the futility of human wisdom; but a woman among all those have I not found, since moral weakness and proneness to temptation is ascribed to her sex in other parts of Scriptures as well. Cf Gen_3:16; 2Co_11:3; 1Ti_2:12-14.
v. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright, good, in perfect righteousness and holiness, Gen_1:26-27; Gen_5:1; but they have sought out many inventions, their nature has been corrupted by malicious tricks and conceits, by disobedience to God's holy Law, by which they have brought the curse of vanity upon the entire human race.