Just when we think life might be getting back to normal, another variant of the virus surfaces and is more contagious than the last. Now with the Lambda variant pouring in from South America, we are facing the reality that Covid is here to stay for a while. So, how do we figure out how to live with all of this. Can harmony of life be found is such a broken world? Has it really changed things so much? Before the virus, we continuously were dealing with turmoil, pain, sorrows, and difficulties. Life is complex and difficult. So many search for some harmony of life through many means, just longing to find some balance between the good and the bad. Hoping to find meaning amid the chaos. A harmony of life that weathers the storms without capsizing.
Has it always been such? It would seem all of Ecclesiastes asks that question. Perhaps most of the Bible deals with that. We live in a broken world with broken spirits, because of sin. Created in the image of God; yet, so incapable of truly being like Him. So, where do we go? How do we navigate our ships through the storms of this life without capsizing? Is there such a thing as harmony of life that can be found?
As we turn to Ecclesiastes 7, we may want to keep these questions in mind as we consider both our finding harmony of life in this world and within our own individual hearts.
Harmony of Life
Max Lucado wrote in a commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:18 through 8:17:
Although people cannot fully understand all of God’s plan, the author of Ecclesiastes believed people could find some of God’s goodness.
In this passage, Solomon made it clear that wealth cannot buy happiness and that enjoying your work and life is a God-given gift.
Take your seat in the chair and look across the table at the psalmist David. He motions for you to lean forward. “I have a secret to tell you,” he whispers, “the secret of satisfaction: ‘The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing’ ” (Ps 23:1).
David has found the pasture where discontent goes to die. It’s as if he is saying, “What I have in God is greater than what I don’t have in life.”
Dichotomies of Life: Ecclesiastes 7
A good reputation[a] is better[b] than precious[c] perfume;[d]
likewise,[e] the day of one’s[f] death[g] is better than the day of one’s birth.[h]
2 It is better to go to a funeral[i]
than a feast.[j]
For death[k] is the destiny[l] of every person,[m]
and the living should[n] take this[o] to heart.
What could Solomon mean by this?
3 Sorrow[p] is better than laughter,
because sober reflection[q] is good for the heart.[r]
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.[s]
When is sorrow better than laughter? Why?
5 It is better for a person to receive[t] a rebuke from those who are wise[u]
than to listen to the song[v] of fools.
6 For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns[w] under a cooking pot,
so is the laughter of the fool.
This kind of folly[x] also is useless.[y]
How can we see criticisms in a positive light? It is hard to do; yet, do we grow if we always only hear about our good? How can we better learn to take criticism as beneficial?
7 Surely oppression[z] can turn a wise person into a fool;[aa]
likewise,[ab] a bribe corrupts[ac] the heart.[ad]
Didn’t Solomon just say that sorrow was better than laughter to teach? Yet, now he writes oppression can turn a wise person into a fool? Which is it? Or is it both depending upon the response of the person?
8 The end of a matter[ae] is better than its beginning;
likewise, patience[af] is better than pride.[ag]
9 Do not let yourself be quickly provoked,[ah]
for anger resides in the lap[ai] of fools.
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?”[aj]
for it is not wise to ask that.[ak]
What about wisdom and righteousness? Are they the answer?
This too is a dichotomy. For the only righteousness and wisdom that truly counts is that which comes from God. So if we get too caught up in our own self-righteousness, we only become more dismayed than ever. Therefore, to find harmony of life, we must also find the balance between these two dichotomous truths.
As outlined in Ecclesiastes 1-3, we are God’s blessed, chosen, redeemed, beloved children, clothed in the righteousness of Christ as Saints, filled with spiritual gifts from on high. Yet, at the same time we are broken creatures incapable of righteousness by our own strength. This is what Solomon was referring to when he wrote:
During the days of my fleeting life[aw] I have seen both[ax] of these things:
Sometimes[ay] a righteous person dies prematurely[az] in spite of[ba] his righteousness,
and sometimes[bb] a wicked person lives long[bc] in spite of his evil deeds.
16 So do not be excessively righteous or excessively[bd] wise;[be]
otherwise[bf] you might[bg] be disappointed.[bh]
17 Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool;
otherwise[bi] you might die before your time.
18 It is best to take hold of one warning[bj] without letting go of the other warning;[bk]
for the one who fears God will follow[bl] both warnings.[bm]
One Enigma that can break Harmony of Life
Don’t become too caught up in trying to determine God’s plan. His plan is higher than we cana ever understand. When we get caught up in the ideas of the prosperity gospel, we become frustrated rather than being filled with faith.
14 Here is[be] another[bf] enigma[bg] that occurs on earth:
Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve,[bh]
and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve.[bi]
I said, “This also is an enigma.” Ecclesiastes 8:
Conclusion to finding Harmony of Life
When I tried[bs] to gain[bt] wisdom
and to observe the activity[bu] on earth—
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night[bv]—
17 then I discerned all that God has done:[bw]
No one really comprehends what happens[bx] on earth.[by]
Despite all human[bz] efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp[ca] it.[cb]
Even if[cc] a wise person claimed[cd] that he understood,
he would not really comprehend[ce] it.[cf]
Proverbs3:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [b]direct your paths.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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Scripture used from the
New English Translation (NET)
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