Maybe We Should be Serious
Ecclesiastes 7:1-7
Chapter 7 is a chapter of wisdom, and reads much like the Proverbs. It covers three subjects, the first of which is being serious here in vv. 1-7. This section, in turn, is divided into three subsections.
The first of these is found in verses 1-2, and deals with maintaining a good name. This expression would mean the same thing to Solomon that it would have meant to out fathers’ generation; a good reputation in the community. With a good name, many doors will open, with a less than good name, many will be closed. The Teacher brings some other ideas into this, but we aren’t to be confused, because on this most excellent adventure of ours, we pay closer attention to context that many others do!
A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth. (v. 1)
The good name set the subject for this verse, and in that context, of course the day of death is better for you went through life with your good reputation intact. Verse 2 works the same way:
It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to [heart.]
Source: Maybe We Should be Serious | The Life Project
- The Life Project. 2016. Maybe We Should be Serious | The Life Project. [ONLINE] Available at: https://lifereference.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/maybe-we-should-be-serious-2/. [Accessed 28 October 2016].
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