Ecclesiastes 7:4 – The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning:  but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

 

Thought:  The house of mourning causes us to focus on the afterlife.  The house of mirth focuses us on the here and now.  The house of mourning makes us focus on our soul.  The house of mirth focuses us on the flesh.  The house of mourning reminds us that death will come.  The house of mirth causes us not to want to leave the pleasures of this world.  The house of mourning causes us to think about God.  The house of mirth causes us to forget God.  My friend, where is your heart?

 

Daniel 5:1-4

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Where one spends his time often manifests the character of the individual.

1.       Who is in the house of mourning?  The wise

2.       Who spends his time in the house of mirth?  The fool

 

B.      Take three or four individuals with you to a graveyard and see how they act.  Then, take that same group of people to a loud, late-night concert or a football game between two rivals.

1.       In the graveyard, we see individuals who are serious and who learn from the dead.

2.       At the concert, or, ballgame, we see fools acting like fools.  Little is learned, but much is lost (time, morality, money, learning, character, reputation, holiness, etc.).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:5 – It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

 

Thought:  This is another statement that is difficult for most to digest.  Which would you rather hear?  A song?  Or, A rebuke?  Solomon says that the rebuke of a wise man is better.  The song of fools may be pleasant, comforting, and may spark positive emotions.  They, however, will not change a man for the better.  The rebuke of a wise man will.  If heeded, it will make one better, purer, and stronger.  The key is being receptive to it instead of dismissing it.  A wise man knows what he is talking about.

 

Proverbs 15:31-32

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This is something we know is true, but we would still rather hear the song of fools.

 

B.      Rebuke:

1.       Strong (1606):  a chiding

2.       BDB:  reproof

 

C.     The rebuke of the wise:

1.       The negatives involved in a rebuke:

a.  Stings

b.  Humbles

c.  Angers

d.  Embarrasses

e.  Causes one to withdraw

2.       The positives of a rebuke:

a.  Correction of wrong behaviors

b.  Growth

c.  Strength

d.  Salvation

3.       When a wise man rebukes us, we must resist the negatives.  This is difficult because they show themselves immediately.  The positives of a rebuke come sometime after, but they are long lasting.

4.       Examples:

a.  Nathan rebuked David after his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12:7-12).

b.  Paul said he withstood Peter to the face because he was to blame (Gal. 2:11).

 

D.     The song of fools

1.       We have many songs that fall into this category:

a.  Immoral:  the song is immoral or it promotes immorality

b.  Blasphemous:  the song speaks against God and spiritual things

c.  Divisive

d.  Speak evil of others

2.       Sadly, there are many people who would rather hear the song of fools than receive a rebuke from a wise man, even though the songs profit them nothing.

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:6 – For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool:  this also is vanity.

 

Thought:  Thorns crackle and pop loudly while they are burning.  They burn extremely hot.  But, they are soon burned up.  All of the show is quickly gone.  The same is true of the laughter of a fool.  It is loud and boisterous.  It is intense.  A fool’s laughter, however, is quickly spent.  Often the thing about which he laughed has brought a curse upon him.  The burning of thorns and the laughter of fools is vanity.  Both make bold boasts but are empty.

 

Luke 6:25

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Thorns crackle and pop while they burn. 

They burn extremely hot.

They burn quickly.

 

B.      The laughter of fools is much like the thorns.

1.       They crackle and pop.

2.       Their laughter is intense.

3.       Soon their laughter is gone.  Sometimes the very thing laughed at is the thing that causes them to no longer laugh.

a.  The use of drugs

b.  Alcohol

c.  Speeding in a car

d.  Engaging in a risky behavior:  hurt, arrest, death

4.       Question:  How much laughter of fools was there at the foot of the cross of Jesus? 

           

C.     Solomon teaches that the laughter of fools is vanity.

1.       It does not provide lasting joy.

2.       It does not benefit the spiritual man.

3.       The laughter is sometimes turned into sorrow and regret.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:7 – Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

 

Thought:  This is a couplet that speaks about those in leadership positions and positions of judgment.  If a man who has been wise begins to oppress others, he becomes mad.  The definition of “mad” is:  “one who makes a show” and “one who is foolish.”  Rather than displaying his wisdom, he declares his foolishness.  Another way a good man is destroyed is by accepting bribes.  “A gift destroyeth the heart.”  The heart ceases to be honest, discerning, and impartial.  Judgment is corrupted.  Justice is removed.

 

Deuteronomy 16:19

 

Commentary:

 

1.       Solomon now begins to set forth some simple proverbs, that is, pithy statements of truth that he had learned during his experiment.

2.       This proverb speaks about those in positions of leadership and positions of judgment.

3.       The first statement addresses those who are wise men when they enter into their position of power (Eccl. 7:7a).

a.  Wise men often enter into leadership positions.

      1)  They have been well-educated.

      2)  They served in other important places:  the military, business, the law, the medical

            field.

      3)  They have been successful and have accomplished much.

b.  However, when they begin to rule, they start to oppress others.

c.  Solomon tells us that this oppression makes a wise man “mad.”

                        1)  The word “mad” means “one who makes a show” or “one who is foolish.”

                        2)  Instead of leading by example and with a servant’s heart, he oppresses those under

                             him.  His words, his behavior, his methods, and the intimidation he uses to control

                             others causes him to look like a mad man.

                        3). Two examples:

                              a)   Pharoah when he put Israel into bitter bondage (Exo. 1:8-11).

 

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt which knew not Joseph.  And he said unto his people, Behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:  come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.  Therefore they set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.

 

                              b)   Rehoboam when he told the northern nations that he would make their yoke

                                    harder and the discipline more severe (1 King 12:13-14).

 

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke:  my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

 

4.       The second portion of the verse addresses those leaders who accept bribes.  “…a gift

destroyeth the heart” (Eccl. 7:7b).