Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Ecclesiastes
Book: Ecclesiastes
Chapter: 7
Overview:
The benefit of a good name; of
Death above
Life; of sorrow
above vain mirth.
(1-6) Concerning oppression,
Anger, and
discontent.
(7-10) Advantages of
Wisdom.
(11-22) Experience of
the evil of
Sin.
(23-29)
1-6 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
Saviour 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 be 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.
7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often better
than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in
Spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick
in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though
Anger may
come into the
Bosom of a
Wise Man, it passes through it as a
way-faring
Man; it dwells only in the
Bosom of fools. It is
folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have
more reason to cry out for the badness of our own hearts; and
even in these times we enjoy many mercies. It is folly to cry up
the
Goodness of former times; as if former ages had not the like
things to complain of that we have: this arises from discontent,
and aptness to quarrel with
God himself.
11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It
shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth
will not lengthen out the natural
Life; but true
Wisdom will
give spiritual
Life, and strengthen men for services under their
sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as
the work of
God, and at last all will appear to have been for
the best. In
Acts of
Righteousness, be not carried into heats or
passions,
No, not
By a zeal for
God. Be not conceited of thine
own abilities; nor find fault with every thing, nor busy thyself
in other men's matters. Many who will not be wrought upon
By the
fear of
God, and the dread of
Hell, will avoid sins which ruin
their health and estate, and expose to public
Justice. But those
that truly fear
God, have but one
End to serve, therefore 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. Forget not at the same time, that personal
Righteousness, walking in newness of
Life, is the only real
evidence of an interest
By Faith in the
Righteousness of the
Redeemer.
Wisdom teaches us not to be quick in resenting
affronts. Be not desirous to know what people say; if they speak
Well of thee, it will feed thy pride, if ill, it will stir up
thy
Passion. See that thou approve thyself to
God and thine own
Conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee; it is easier
to pass
By twenty affronts than to avenge one. When any harm is
done to us, examine whether we have not done as bad to others.
23-29 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,
1Ki 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.