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:

 

A.     Solomon now begins to set forth some simple proverbs, that is, pithy statements of truth

that he had learned during his experiment.

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

2.       The first statement addresses those who are wise men when they enter into their position of power.

 

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

destroyeth the heart.

1.       A gift in the context is a bribe:  money, land, a benefit, sexual advances, and future

      opportunities.

2.       When a judge accepts a gift, he ceases to be honest, discerning, and impartial.

a.       Exodus 23:8

 

And thou shalt take no gift:  for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

 

b.      Deuteronomy 16:19

 

Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift; for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

 

c.       Proverbs 17:23

 

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

 

3.       Examples of bribery in Scripture

a.  The sons of Samuel (1 Sam. 8:1-3)

 

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.  Now the name of the firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah:  they were judges in Beersheba.  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

 

b.  Haman bribed Ahasuerus (Esther 3:9)

c.   The Roman soldiers were bribed by the Jews to say that the apostles had stolen Jesus’

      body (Matt. 28:12-15).

d.      Felix hoped to receive a bribe Paul (Acts 24:26).

 

He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him:  wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

 

e.       Elders are warned against “filthy lucre” in 1 Peter 5:2.

 

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

 

1)      Elders can be led astray from the truth by large contributors.

a)      They will always ask this man’s opinion about the decisions they make.

b)      They will not discipline him or his family if they are in sin.

c)       They will fire a minister rather than lose the “big donor.”

2)      Paul was right when he said:  “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:8 – Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:  and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

 

Thought:  The end is better than the beginning.  Most of the time this is true in the physical realm.  At the end, we reap the benefits of hard work.  This truth is especially applicable in the spiritual realm.  We often cannot see the end.  We groan and complain because times are hard.  We blame God.  We curse God.  Then comes the end.  The end is phenomenal.  We see God’s wisdom.  We rejoice.  My friend, with this in mind let’s be patient in spirit instead of proud in spirit.

 

Psalm 126:5-6

 

Commentary: 

 

A.     The end of a thing is usually the fulfillment of a goal that was set.

1.       When we begin something, there are many things that have to be put in place.

a.  Planning

b.  Developing a ready mind and positive attitude

c.  Acquiring knowledge and training

d.  Commitment to the grind of hard work

e.  Overcoming obstacles

2.       Then, we finally reach the end.

a.  We achieve the goal.

b.  We reap the rewards.

c.  We receive the accolades.

3.       The example of Nehemiah

a.  The beginning of the thing (Neh. 1:3-4)

 

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach:  the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.  And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.

 

b.  The end of the thing (Neh. 6:15-16)

 

So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty and two days.  And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes:  for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

 

4.       Examples in our lives:

a.  Losing weight

b.  Building a business

c.  Memorizing Scripture

d.  Studying books of the Bible

e.  Growing a church

 

B.      “…and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

1.       If this portion of the verse is connected to the previous statement, Solomon, then, has reference to the spirit of a person as he seeks to accomplish his goals.

2.       The patient individual…

a.  Perseveres

b.  Is steady and focused on his efforts

c.  Solves problems and overcomes obstacles as they present themselves.

d.  Does not grow discouraged

e.  Does not become negative and agitated

f.  Does not resort to evil schemes to accomplish his goal

g.  Does not blame others for difficulties and failures

3.       Some are not patient, but are proud and arrogant.

a.  They do not believe they should face hardship and struggle.

b.  They believe they are “owed” the things they desire.

c.  They gripe and complain about how unfair the world is.

d.  They seek to get ahead by any means at their disposal, even if it is illegal or immoral.