Day 140: Ecclesiastes 7-12

Ecclesiastes is an interesting book. Many of the sayings found here seem sort of...well, un-Christian. Things like:

Do not be overrighteous,
   neither be overwise—
   why destroy yourself?
Do not be overwicked,
   and do not be a fool—
   why die before your time?
It is good to grasp the one
   and not let go of the other.
   Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes. (7:16-18)

I'm trying to frame the book in my mind in a way that makes sense. My working theory is  that Solomon is presenting a completely secular view of life. In other words, without God this is what life looks like and this is some advice for dealing with it. I'll have to think more about this.

In the mean time I found this passage very intriguing. I sort of stopped and pondered each phrase.

It is better to go to a house of mourning
   than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
   the living should take this to heart.
Frustration is better than laughter,
   because a sad face is good for the heart.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
   but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person
   than to listen to the song of fools.
Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
   so is the laughter of fools.
   This too is meaningless. (7:2-6)

I think there is definitely wisdom here. None of us likes times of trouble, mourning, frustration or rebuke but I believe that these are the times that build us as mature people. A person who has experience nothing but pleasure and had an easy life...well, what does that person really have to offer the rest of us?

Here's another good one:

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
   For it is not wise to ask such questions. (7:10)

I wish he had developed that a little more. For example, I'd like to know why he thinks it isn't wise to ask such questions. I can think of some reasons but I'd like to know what was in his mind when he wrote that.

Here's something I think we all know but have a tendency to forget:

I have seen something else under the sun:
   The race is not to the swift
   or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
   or wealth to the brilliant
   or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all. (9:11)

I mentioned earlier that maybe the book of Ecclesiastes is written from a secular perspective. The way he closes the book seems to support that idea in my opinion. What I mean is that since life and everything you observe is meaningless without God then this must be the thing that brings meaning...

Now all has been heard;
   here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
   for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
   including every hidden thing,
   whether it is good or evil. (12:13-14)