2019 Mar 27 Ecclesiastes 2, 2Peter 2
2019 Mar 27 Ecclesiastes 2, 2Peter 2
Welcome, wishing you again a pleasant day! Let’s continue in Ecclesiastes 2, this time verses 12-16:
“12 Then I turned my attention to wisdom and madness and folly. (For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.) 13 And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, just as there is an advantage to light over darkness. 14 The wise one has his eyes in his head; but the stupid one is walking in darkness. I have also come to realize that there is one outcome that befalls all of them. 15 Then I said in my heart: “What happens to the stupid one will also happen to me.” What, then, did I gain by becoming excessively wise? So I said in my heart: “This too is futility.” 16 For there is no lasting memory either of the wise one or of the stupid one. In the days to come, everyone will be forgotten. And how will the wise one die? Along with the stupid one.”
Eccle 2:12 After Solomon had accomplished so much through much hard work, he reflected upon it and considered it all futile, as there was no lasting benefit to such things in this life. Here, he laments that there was little point in planning for the next person to come after him, as he could only do what Solomon had already done. Thus he wishes to examine and discern between wisdom, “extreme foolishness,” and folly. Let’s see what he realizes.
Eccle 2:13,14 Solomon compares the difference between wisdom and folly to that between light and darkness. The wise one walks in the light of truth, seeing what’s coming with God-given shrewdness, or foresighted prudence, aware of the dangers ahead and acting to protect oneself from them. Proverbs 22:3 says “ 3 The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, But the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.” The “inexperienced,” or naive, one does not have to experience good and bad things for him- or herself in order to learn—that idea is a fallacy! Rather, by gaining shrewdness or prudence, learning to look ahead and understand the consequences of right and wrong decisions and actions, such a person can learn to act wisely.
Psalm 119:97-101 says to God: “97 How I do love your law! I ponder over it all day long. 98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, Because it is with me forever. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, Because I ponder over your reminders. 100 I act with more understanding than older men, Because I observe your orders. 101 I refuse to walk on any evil path, So that I may keep your word.”
It is not only the naive, however, that are unaware of dangers. Solomon say the “stupid one” is walking in darkness. The stupid one is not simply one getting bad grades, but is morally foolish, disregarding God’s wise guidance and instruction. He is choosing to do what he knows God says is wrong, with no insight into why God gives us such guidance. He thus chooses to blindly be “walking in darkness.” Such a person suffers spiritual and physical harm often without even realizing it. Like the naive, the stupid one needs more understanding of the consequences of right and wrong decisions. Proverbs 17:10 says “10 A rebuke makes a deeper impression on one having understanding Than striking a stupid person a hundred times.” Thus, may such ones receive encouragement to receive such understanding, which may also be found in God’s reliable word. (Prove 2:1-6).
Eccle 2:15,16 Again, Solomon is looking at life as it is in this system of things, as most only conceive. He would die, along with his wisdom, and so would the stupid one, with his foolishness. He says later, in Ecclesiastes 9:5,10: “5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten...10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going.” Thus death, called an “enemy” in God’s word, came to mankind according to Romans 5:12, saying “12 That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned.” (also 1Cori 15:26). However, Solomon was aware of God’s purpose for a bright future, as he expresses in Proverbs 2:20-22: “20 So follow the way of good people And stay on the paths of the righteous, 21 For only the upright will reside in the earth, And the blameless will remain in it. 22 As for the wicked, they will be cut off from the earth, And the treacherous will be torn away from it.” Thus, the lesson should be clear, that we are much better off including God’s delightful will and purpose in our plans for the future, rather than focusing only on this life. The Scriptures make reference to the life to come. For instance, regarding those well off in this world (as Solomon was, albeit with much divine wisdom) Timothy is told, at 1Timothy 6:17-19: “17 Instruct those who are rich in the present system of things not to be arrogant, and to place their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all the things we enjoy. 18 Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, 19 safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life.” The “REAL LIFE”—what faith we should have in the fulfillment of God’s promises for this future time—even an everlasting one! May we find life rewarding by including God’s will and purpose in our decisions, plans, hopes and aspirations! (Isaiah 25:8).
2Peter 2:4,5 responds to earlier mention of false teachers among the early true Christian congregation, who would by their mixing human philosophies and false religious ideas with the truth, “disown the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves.” This is a serious matter to God, as it is the truth of God that is life-saving, and that will “set you free.” (1Timo 2:3,4; John 8:32). Peter continues, showing God is not averse to acting against ungodly sinners. Verses 4,5 read: “4 Certainly God did not refrain from punishing the angels who sinned, but threw them into Tarʹta·rus, putting them in chains of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment. 5 And he did not refrain from punishing an ancient world, but kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a flood upon a world of ungodly people.” May we therefore appreciate God’s loving instructions for eternal life, responding to His kind discipline and correction. Jehovah wants the best for us, in harmony with His primary quality, mentioned at 1John 4:8, “8...God is love.”
Find Life and See
Between Winchester, Virginia, and hopefully, Washington D.C., having confidence that our thankful trust in God will not fail to inspire us to the peace He has purposed via His Kingdom!
