MAY 24

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
Memorise Ecclesiastes 7:16
“he that feareth God shall come forth of them all”

In light of God’s works and the seemingly unpredictable way (of course only from our human perspective) in which he deals with man, Solomon thus exhorts us to be moderate in our ways, and not to swing to any extreme. Whilst we cannot control the world around us, the one thing that we have can affect is our own lives. In this, Matthew Henry explains:

In the acts of righteousness govern thyself by the rules of prudence, and be not transported, no, not by a zeal for God, into any intemperate heats or passions, or any practices unbecoming thy character or dangerous to thy interests.” Note, there may be over-doing in well-doing. Self-denial and mortification of the flesh are good; but if we prejudice our health by them, and unfit ourselves for the service of God, we are righteous overmuch. To reprove those that offend is good, but to cast that pearl before swine, who will turn again and rend us, is to be righteous overmuch. “Make not thyself over-wise. Be not opinionative, and conceited of thy own abilities. Set not up for a dictator, nor pretend to give law to, and give judgment upon, all about thee. Set not up for a critic, to find fault with everything that is said and done, nor busy thyself in other men’s matters, as if thou knewest everything and couldst do anything. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 7:16).

Therefore the righteousness and wisdom that Solomon speaks of here is not true righteousness or wisdom, but only an apparent façade of it. One might have the right intentions, but if it is carried out the wrong way, it can be destructive instead of edifying. Thus careful moderation is required here.

Likewise, seeing that the foolish and wicked prolong their days, We must not try to emulate them in leading wanton lives of sin, for that is also wrong and would definitely invoke the wrath of God.

Solomon thus exhorts all to take his advice, to strongly take hold of it, for this is the word of God. And thus all who fear God shall be able to rightly understand the truths that he recommends, and live a life that is pleasing before God. He will then be able to rise above all, to come forth from all the confusion that man sees in life, and with true godly wisdom, be able to live life right and well in this wicked world, under the sun.

Thought: There can be a wrong way of trying to be righteous.
Prayer: Lord, may You grant me the wisdom to know how to exercise godly moderation in all my ways.