Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10:1

D. The Wise and the Foolish Under the Sun (Chap. 10)10:1 When flies get caught in the perfumer’s ointment and die, they cause it to give off a foul odor. And in this, there is an analogy to human behavior. A man may build up a reputation for wisdom and honor, yet he can ruin it all by a single misstep. People will remember one little indiscretion and forget years of worthy achievements. Any person can ruin his reputation by speaking just three words of the wrong kind in public. 10:2 The right hand is traditionally viewed as more dexterous, the left more awkward. A wise man knows the right way to do a thing; a fool is an awkward bungler. 10:3 Even when a fool does something simple, like walking along the way, he betrays a lack of common sense. He shows everyone that he is a fool, which may mean that he calls everyone else stupid or that he shows his own ignorance in all he does. The latter is probably the thought. 10:4 If a ruler explodes in anger at you, it is best not to quit in a huff. It is better to be meek and submissive. This will be more apt to pacify him and atone for serious offenses. 10:5, 6 Another inconsistency which bothered Solomon in this mixed-up world proceeded from unwise decisions and injustices proceeding from the ruler. Often men are appointed to positions without suitable qualifications, while capable men waste their talents on menial tasks. 10:7 Thus servants often ride on horses, while princes have to travel by foot. Such inequities exist in politics, in industry, in the military services, and in religious life as well. 10:8 He who digs a pit to harm others will be the victim of his own malice. Chickens have a way of coming home to roost. Whoever breaks down a wall of stones, either for unlawful entry, or mischief, or to change a property line can expect to be bitten by a serpent or to pay for it in some other unpleasant way. 10:9, 10 Even legitimate activities have risks attached. The quarryman is in danger of being hurt by stones, and the log-splitter is endangered by the ax. It’s a good idea to work with sharp tools. Otherwise it takes a lot more labor to get the job done. The time spent sharpening the ax is more than compensated by the time and effort saved. Wisdom teaches shortcuts and labor-saving devices. As Leupold renders it, “Wisdom prepares the way for success.” 10:11 What good is a charmer if the serpent bites before the charm begins? Or as we might say, why lock the barn after the horse is stolen? Things must often be done on time in order to be valuable and effective. 10:12, 13 The words of a wise man’s mouth bring him favor because they are gracious. The words of a fool prove to be his downfall. He may begin with harmless nonsense, but by the time he is through, he is engaging in raving madness. 10:14 A fool doesn’t know when to stop. Words, words, words. He talks on and on as if he knew everything, but he doesn’t. His endless chatter almost inevitably includes boasts of what he will do in the future. He is like the rich fool who said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’” (Luk_12:18-19). But he does not know what is going to happen next. He would be better advised to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (Jam_4:15). 10:15 He exhausts himself by his inefficient and unproductive work. He can’t even see the obvious or find the way to anything as conspicuous as a city. Perhaps we could add that he doesn’t know enough to come in out of the rain. His ignorance in such simple matters makes his plans for the future all the more ludicrous. 10:16, 17 Pity the land whose ruler is immature and impressionable like a child and whose legislators carouse in the morning instead of attending to their duties. The fortunate land is one in which the king is a man of character and nobility, and in which the other leaders manifest propriety and self-control by eating for strength and not for drunkenness. 10:18 Continued laziness and neglect cause a house to fall apart, whether that house represents a government or an individual life. Any roof will leak unless the owner provides regular maintenance. 10:19 Meal time is a happy time. Wine adds sparkle to life. Money answers everything.Did Solomon really believe that money is the key to all pleasure? Perhaps he simply meant that money can buy whatever man needs in the way of food and drink. Or maybe he was just quoting the drunken rulers of verse 16 when they were warned where their excesses would lead (v. 18). The fact, as someone has said, is that money will buy anything except happiness and is a ticket to everywhere except heaven. A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. 10:20 Be careful not to speak evil against the king or his rich subordinates. You may think that nobody hears. But even the walls have ears, and some unsuspected bird will carry the message to the royal palace. “Indiscretions have a way of sprouting wings.”