Ecclesiastes Part 13

Ecclesiastes 7:11–12 continues the discussion of reacting to life’s difficulties with wisdom and returns to the matter of wealth by way of comparison. The first part of verse 11 is better rendered, “Wisdom is good in common with an inheritance” (see Tyndale, note on verses 11–12). That is, it is good to have wisdom as it is good to have an inheritance, both being “profitable” (verse 11b). The first part of verse 12 reads, with interpolated words in brackets,

 “[To be] in the shadow of wisdom [is like being] in the shadow of silver.” 

That is, behind a shield or protective wall, thus “defense” in the NKJV. Wisdom and money both give help and protection in life. But knowledge is more profitable than money in preserving life, giving direction in how to live, and showing the way to eternal life. Money is helpful while we have it, but it can dry up and disappear (compare Ecclesiastes 5:14; Proverbs 23:4–5).  

Verse 13 states, 

“Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?” (verse 13). 

It was stated in Ecclesiastes 1:15 that “What is crooked cannot be made straight.” Things are so bent out of shape in the world at large and in our personal lives that they cannot be put back humanly—we need God’s intervention. Moreover, as part of judgment and teaching man lessons for a hopeful outcome, God is actually the One who has subjected the world to frustration for the time being, just as we are told in Romans 8:20. We must understand that the hard times we experience are ultimately from God’s hand as well as the good times. This does not mean that God causes all the bad circumstances, but He allows us to go through them to achieve His purposes. This is also another caution against human arrogance in thinking we know better than God how He should have the world be at present, harking back to the foolish question in verse 10 of why things can’t be as they once were and the idea of a man contending with God in Ecclesiastes 6:10–12 when only He knows what is best and what the future holds.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 tells us even more directly that both good and troubled times come from God. We should be joyful over prosperity but in adversity consider and recognize that it is from God too, as whatever happens is ultimately because He allows it and sometimes directly brings it to pass. Recall what Job said to his wife amid his trial: 

“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).

Now in Ecclesiastes 7:16–29, we see an evaluation of the people who are supposedly suffering unjustly under God’s overall sovereignty as He works out His plan here on earth. The fact of the matter is that they are not innocent but are all guilty of sin, every single person (verse 20). So those considered deserving of blessings and prosperity actually aren’t. Yet God is merciful and helps those who properly strive to serve Him.  

The moral instruction Solomon gives in verses 16–18 has been the subject of debate. He starts out saying: 

“Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?” 

Yet being righteous before God means being in line with His will. All His commandments define righteousness (Deuteronomy 6:25; Psalm 119:172). Just what is Solomon talking about?

It’s stated in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries that “the translation too or overmuch [or overly] goes somewhat beyond the Hebrew [Rabah], which means ‘greatly’ and does not express the judgment implicit in ‘too great’ or ‘overmuch’” (Eaton, note on Ecclesiastes 7:16). The Preaching the Word commentary states: “Our real problem is thinking that we are more righteous than we really are. Somehow there never seems to be any shortage of people who think they are good enough for God. This leads H.C. Leupold to suspect that a ‘peculiar type of righteousness was beginning to manifest itself in Israel, an overstrained righteousness which lost sight of the ever-present sinful imperfections of men and felt strongly inclined to argue with God and to find fault with Him because He was apparently not rewarding those righteous men as they deemed they deserved to be rewarded.’ In response, the Preacher warns us not to be self-righteous. We should not think that trying to be more righteous will save us on the Day of Judgment. Nor should we think that we are so righteous that we do not deserve to suffer any adversity, that it is unfair…. When we think too highly of ourselves, resting on our own righteousness, then it is easy for us to say, ‘I do not deserve to be treated like this. Doesn’t God know who I am?’ It is also a very short step from there to saying, ‘Who does God think He is?’ So, the Preacher cautions us to not be, as it were, ‘too righteous.’ In saying this, he is warning against a conceited righteousness that ‘stands ready to challenge God for His failure to reward’ us as much as we think we deserve” (pp. 166–167).

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.