Ecclesiates 7:1-9 Mourning is better than feasting!?

7:1 -6

“A good name is better than perfume”. The writer is brutally honest, but also does not discard wisdom entirely. Earlier he has said wisdom is better than folly, and here he stresses the value of a good reputation. But then some might think he spoils it by saying “the day of death is better than the day of birth”, and goes on to say several things in  the same vein. It is perhaps useful to remind ourselves of his general purpose. One is that life without God makes no sense, and he is not prepared to put up with any fairy tale nonsense. The book also proves the need for Christ. “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting”. Christmas is near!  Why does he say this? The clue is in the end of v2, “death is the destiny of everyone, the living should take this to heart”. In a “house of feasting” we may for a while forget our state, and live in fantasy. It is better to have an honest and realistic view of life. To live properly, indeed to live well, we need to face up to our mortality. Also facing up to the reality of the problems we face is also important. This can even be god for the heart. The rebuke of a wise person is better for us than the flattery of fools.

7:7

“Extortion turns a wise person into a fool and a bribe corrupts the heart” This is the sort of statement that would be at home in Proverbs. Financial sin has a deep effect on us, diminishing the person. 

7:8,9

More proverb-like statements. Anger is not good for us, and to act out of anger is usually a foolish way to go. Patience is far better, and we should not let pride rule our lives.