Ecclesiastes Part 11

Ecclesiastes 7 starts a section on practical advice for daily living. We see from these verses that life is not meaningless but to live life in submission to God is beneficial, and Solomon gives us wise statements to live by. The last chapter ended with the question of who knows what is good for man, with the unstated answer being God.  

In Ecclesiastes 7:1 we are first told that “a good name is better than precious ointment.” The latter meaning “literally ‘good oil,’ meaning the highest grade of olive oil, used for medicines, perfumes, and religious anointing” (ESV Archaeology Study Bible, note on verse 1). There is poetic alliteration here in the Hebrew for “name” and “ointment” or “perfume,” which is shem and shemen respectively (as noted by Kaiser, p. 83). Some contend that this line does not fit the context that follows regarding sadness and hardship being better than laughter and celebration. However, this does fit! A good name is a reference to a good reputation established through the development of good character, which comes through trials and tests of character. Precious oils and scents were valuable commodities that those of means were able to enjoy. Recall that Ecclesiastes 5:19 said it was right for the wealthy to enjoy the wealth God blessed them with. While that is true, a godly life is not all fun. It is also hard work and building character and faith or trust in God through the hard times. And this is by far the more valuable treasure (see Romans 5:3–4; 1 Peter 1:6–7).  

Now let us look at the second part of Ecclesiastes 7:1: 

“And the day of death [is better than] the day of one’s birth.” 

What does this mean? Many perceive this to mean that the day an individual dies is better than the day that an individual was born. Some who accept that reading see it as wholly pessimistic and in line with thoughts that one is better off dead than alive (though Ecclesiastes 9:4 says the opposite). Yet we might consider this latter part of Ecclesiastes 7:1 in the context of the first part, so that the day of death would parallel a good name. On the day of one’s birth there is no established reputation, only a clean slate. But at the day of death, one has an established reputation. This could go with verse 8, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning,” as there is an accomplishment. If one has gained a good name by the end of his life, that juncture is better than birth because of what has been achieved. Also, the one who dies then rests from trials in unconscious death (Ecclesiastes 9:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10) and will be rewarded in the future resurrection. On the other hand, if one has done evil and incurred a bad name, then the point of death can also be seen as better than the day of birth since this fruitless, futile life is brought to a close and the person will be raised up in a better world to face judgment and have the opportunity to make better choices.

Yet some read this latter part of verse 1 quite differently, as referring not to the experience of one’s own birth and death but to social observances of the birth and death of others. That is, what one experiences when someone else dies, a time of mourning and a funeral, is better than what he or she experiences at someone’s initial day of birth or annual birthday, a time of celebration. This is quite reasonable, as the line would then parallel the lines that follow: 

“Better to go to the house of mourning [either literally a house where someone has died or figuratively a funeral or mourning period] than to go to the house of feasting [a party or celebration], for that [the former] is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart” (verse 2). 

A funeral or mourning period has the benefit of inspiring one to think about their own mortality. The Contemporary English Version renders the last phrase, “Funerals remind us that we all must die.” We see the same thought in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: “Every funeral anticipates our own” (Eaton, note on verse 2). This is a valuable reminder for everyone. In Psalm 90:12, Moses prays to God, saying, 

“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 

Thinking about our mortality as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 5:20 can motivate us to get right with God and make the best use of our time in this life.

Wisdom Literature is a course taught at ABC by Dr. Urwiller. Recordings from the 2018–2019 class year are available to listen to on the ABC website.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships, and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.