Matthew Henry Commentary Ecclesiastes 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ecclesiastes 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ecclesiastes 7
"A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one`s birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity." — Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 (ASV)
Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world.
It will do more good to go to a funeral than to a feast. We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion; our Savior both feasted at the wedding of his friend in Cana and wept at the grave of his friend in Bethany.
But, considering how apt we are to be vain and indulge the flesh, it is best to go to the house of mourning, to learn the end of man as to this world.
Seriousness is better than mirth and jollity. That is best for us which is best for our souls, though it is unpleasing to sense.
It is better to have our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise than to have them gratified by the song of fools. The laughter of a fool is soon gone; the end of his mirth is heaviness.
"Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this." — Ecclesiastes 7:7-10 (ASV)
The outcome of our trials and difficulties is often better than we first thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit than to be proud and hasty. Do not be soon angry, nor quick in resenting an affront. Do not be angry for long; though anger may enter the heart of a wise man, it passes through him like a traveler; it dwells only in the heart of fools.
It is folly to complain about the badness of our times, when we have more reason to cry out over the badness of our own hearts; and even in these times, we enjoy many mercies. It is folly to praise the goodness of former times, as if former ages did not have similar things to complain about as we do: this arises from discontent and a tendency to quarrel with God himself.
"Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it. Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him. All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing. Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all. Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city. Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others." — Ecclesiastes 7:11-22 (ASV)
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, indeed better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not prolong the natural life, but true wisdom will give spiritual life and strengthen people for service during their sufferings.
Let us look upon the ordering of our circumstances as the work of God, and in the end, all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, do not be carried away by strong emotions or passions, not even by zeal for God.
Do not be conceited about your own abilities, nor find fault with everything, nor involve yourself in other people's matters. Many who will not be influenced by the fear of God and the dread of hell will avoid sins that ruin their health and property and expose them to public justice. But those that truly fear God have only one end to serve; therefore, they act steadily. If we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves.
Every true believer is ready to say, God be merciful to me a sinner. Do not forget, at the same time, that personal righteousness—walking in newness of life—is the only real evidence of a genuine participation by faith in the righteousness of the Redeemer. Wisdom teaches us not to be quick in resenting insults. Do not be eager to know what people say; if they speak well of you, it will feed your pride; if ill, it will stir up your passion.
Ensure that you commend yourself to God and your own conscience, and then pay no attention to what people say about you; it is easier to overlook twenty insults than to avenge one. When any harm is done to us, let us examine whether we have not done something as bad to others.
"All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out? I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness. And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account; which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." — Ecclesiastes 7:23-29 (ASV)
Solomon, in his search into the nature and reason of things, had been miserably deluded. But he here speaks with godly sorrow. He alone who constantly aims to please God, can expect to escape; the careless sinner probably will fall to rise no more. He now discovered more than ever the evil of the great sin of which he had been guilty, the loving many strange women (1 Kings 11:1). A woman thoroughly upright and godly, he had not found.
How was he likely to find such a one among those he had collected? If any of them had been well disposed, their situation would tend to render them all nearly of the same character. He here warns others against the sins into which he had been betrayed. Many a godly man can with thankfulness acknowledge that he has found a prudent, virtuous woman in the wife of his bosom; but those men who have gone in Solomon's track, cannot expect to find one.
He traces up all the streams of actual transgression to the fountain. It is clear that man is corrupted and revolted, and not as he was made. It is lamentable that man, whom God made upright, has found out so many ways to render himself wicked and miserable. Let us bless Him for Jesus Christ, and seek his grace, that we may be numbered with his chosen people.
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