| Author | Message | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 935 Registered: 5-2007 |
In all probability this passage has been discussed before. So please forgive me if it is a repeat. I have read different takes on the following. I have my own impression about what it's intended meaning might be. However, I desire to know , in a Spiritual sense, what others believe (in context) what the following is saying. "Not" what you wish to express to me as to what you think "I" should take it as, but how do you recieve and understand this passage as it applies to your own reality and/or how you believe God intends it to be understood. How you yourself frame this contextually. Ecc 7: 16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time? 18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes Jim | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 723 Registered: 7-2000 |
V16...reminds me of an old Southern saying 'so heavenly minded they are no earthly good'. Folks who starve their kids because they won't spend tithe money fit into this category. V. 17...Original sin is bad enough. Don't strive to add to it by murder, lying, adultery..etc. Living a hard, evil life often means a very short life on this earth. V. 18 Says it all with 'the man who fears God will avoid all extremes'. | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2017 Registered: 5-2007  |
Jim, To understand this and respond to your question, we must have a grasp of the Hebrew language or turn to those who do. For this, I am quoting a sermon by Ray C. Stedman:
His complete sermon can be found at this website: http://www.raystedman.org/eccles/3811.html As you well know, context is vital. So, read this passage by keeping what come before and after the verses you are asking about. Also, it would be good to read all of Stedman’s sermon. He does what we all should do, build our theology around what Scripture really is teaching. Fearless Phil | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 936 Registered: 5-2007 |
My take on this book is that from the start we are hearing from a man who did it all, had it all and he still did not find fullfillment. In the end , I find that there is very little if anything that can be taken as instructive except that it did not work for him. If anything , he demonstrated , his was not the path to take. Secondly, because the book is abstract and mixed between bitterness , futility and injected with some positive comments. It is difficult to not look at this work and anything more than a commentary on a life long experiment. Finally, I cannot even take any positive advice from this work since it is mired in failed experiments, other than to avoid the examples all together. It is kind of like this. If I knew a man like this today with big money, would I listen to much of anything he had to say about anything? I doubt it. Jim | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10994 Registered: 12-2003  |
Ecclesiastes is a book that describes the life of a man who lives without trust in God. He lives from a natural perspective. It is not intended to be a book from which to derive doctrine; it is considered to be of the poetic genre, and it is reflecting this man's (probably Solomon in his later life) observations of life viewed from a natural man's vantage point. Natural man IS hopeless and negative. People are supposed to see in this book the fultility of living apart from trust in God. This is what life looks like when WE stay "in charge". We ultimately die, and there's no hope beyond this short life. When we submit to God, however, we find hope and a complete reality that was invisible to us before the Holy Spirit gave us life and reveals truth to us. Colleen | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 938 Registered: 5-2007 |
Colleen , Well spoken.  Jim |
