Solomon’s practical counsel
Spotlight on Ecclesiastes 7:15-22
“I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.” - Ecclesiastes 7:15
Solomon lived in opulent luxury with his many wives and still he was frustrated and bored with life. That would indicate that wealth and a multitude of possessions do not equal happiness and fulfillment. In his frustration he speaks of what he perceives to be his empty life. In it he has seen every kind of contradiction, giving two examples: “the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people”. He reasons that if a person’s goodness isn’t rewarded in this life, then why be good? This is faulty reasoning, for no one should be good just because of a reward that is offered. We should always do good despite anything to the contrary. Drown out your selfish self in favor of the selflessness that desires to burst forth.
Some of us are too preoccupied with the wicked and what they seemingly get away with. Psalm 37 responds to this: “Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away.” (1) The second portion of Proverbs 10:7 says, “the name of the wicked will rot.” Psalm 34:16 says, “…the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.” So those evil minded people who try so hard to manufacture a pristine legacy will have their name and the memory of them and what they have done erased from the earth’s conscientiousness.
Regarding the burning topic that had frustrated Solomon, it must be accepted that there will always be inequities in this life, and they will remain a mystery. If God wanted us to know all things, he would have given us that capacity. Some things are inexplicable to mortal man. They simply do not make any sense, but they don’t have to make sense, because faith and trust are not based on our understanding. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resources: Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Copyright 2004; NIV Student Study Bible; NKJV Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2007 and The Believer’s Bible Commentary, William MacDonald, 2016.
(1) The Reformation Study Bible
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