Ecclesiastes 7:16-17

b. Warnings against the wrong interpretations of life Ecclesiastes 7:16-17

TEXT 7:16-17

16

Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?

17

Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:16-17

200.

What kind of righteousness is undesirable? (Cf. Matthew 5:20; Philippians 3:9; Luke 18:10-14)

201.

What kind of wisdom is undesirable? (Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:19)

202.

What will cause one to die before his time?

PARAPHRASE 7:16-17

Avoid self-righteousness and putting your trust in a false wisdom which is of this world. Both of these things will ruin you; so why destroy yourself? Why play the role of a fool through excessive wickedness? Such behavior will lead you to an early grave!

COMMENT 7:16-17

Ecclesiastes 7:16 There is a righteousness that is unhealthy and a wisdom which should be avoided. One would normally pursue both. However, upon closer study of the Word of God, it is apparent that there is a kind of righteousness that causes spiritual and mental harm. There is also a wisdom which fosters pride and produces a false foundation upon which to build a life.

We call this kind of righteousness self-righteousness. It questions God's dealings and judgments. (Cf. Romans 9:19 ff.) It elevates man and leads him into arrogancy. It is this strained, dangerous righteousness that Jesus publicly derided and condemned. (Cf. Matthew 23; Luke 18:10-14) Solomon is warning his readers against such temptations as this will lead them to grow bitter and resentful. Especially would this be a threat when the truly righteous person is persecuted and suffers while the wicked person prospers. Losing sight of God's higher purposes in history will lead to a crooked or perverted sense of ethical behavior. This is vividly illustrated in the words of Malachi 3:13-15: -Your words have been arrogant against Me,-' says the Lord. -Yet you say, What have we spoken against Thee? -You have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in the mourning before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also test God and escape.-' Such attitudes and behavior are indeed dangerous. If you persist in this direction, Solomon states, you will ruin yourself.

He also warns against false wisdom. Here again the Bible is clear concerning the type of wisdom which destroys. This wisdom grows out of self-righteousness. Paul wrote concerning it: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, -he is the One who catches the wise in their craftiness-'; and again, -The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless-' (1 Corinthians 3:19-20). The wise man will not ruin himself. He will cope with the pressures of the day as he properly interprets the events of life in the light of God's overall purpose. Once again, Paul summarized the proper attitude one should have when he said, For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

Ecclesiastes 7:17 God can neither condone nor encourage the slightest degree of wickedness. This statement in Ecclesiastes 7:17, like the preceding ones, must be explained in the context of the passage. Solomon is pointing out that righteousness is not immediately rewarded. Neither does God's judgment fall suddenly upon all who engage in wickedness. However, this does not give one God's approval to sin. Neither does the wise man interpret it as discouraging righteousness. One is indeed a fool if he thinks that he can entangle himself in sin and not pay the penalty for such involvement. As it is written, The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened (Proverbs 10:27). Exceptions to this rule are just thatexceptions! No sin will go unpunished forever. This principle is foundational and is expressed throughout the Bible.

There can be no such thing as excessiveness in true righteousness. There are no limitations which God places upon us in respect to true wisdom. On the other hand, God cannot approve of any sin, nor does He want man to play the part of a fool. The explanation given here to the problems of these two verses is in harmony with the general purposes of Scripture. Furthermore, it fits the immediate context of this chapter. Solomon's contention is to find a wise man. He will be a man who protects himself from the deceitfulness of self-righteousness, the power of self-indulgence, the destruction of self-esteem and the pitfalls of foolishness. He will not knowingly ruin himself or die before his time.

FACT QUESTIONS 7:16-17

363.

What kind of righteousness should be avoided?

364.

Why would one be tempted to grow bitter and resentful?

365.

What will happen to a person who persists in the wrong kind of righteousness?

366.

False wisdom grows out of what?

367.

Should long life for the wicked and short life for the righteous be considered exceptions to the general rules of life? Explain.

368.

A wise man will protect himself from what four general areas which, if pursued, could kill him before his time?