Ecclessiastes Chapter Seven cont... Do not listen too closely to what is being said about you!

21 “Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:”

Be careful about being over affected by what people say about you; people bless and curse indiscriminately. If you hear, by accident, something someone said about you then let it roll off you. Bear in mind you probably said (or thought) at one time or another troubling things about others (See next verse as well Ecclesiastes 7:22). Whilst the scriptures do talk quite a bit about a good name and even of being well spoken of by others the truth of the matter is that some will have very negative feelings about you (Cain hated Abel because Abel’s works were righteous and Cain’s were evil, this is the natural animosity that exists between the righteous and the wicked). You must not let these opinions and words spoken against you have to much affect on you.

22 “For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.”

Building upon the last verse (V:21) Solomon is saying, "Be realistic, have you yourself only spoken positive things about others?” If you have said things without much forethought then is it not reasonable to expect others to do the same. And so do not take their words to heart. That being said we are told in the scriptures to let our conversation be chaste; let it be pure and without sin and hypocrisy. The words of our mouth are so important with it we praise and bless the Godhead let us not use it to tear down His creation.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven cont.... There is no justification for pride!

20 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”

This verse, as is understood from other translations, is saying there is not a man upon the earth who never sins; that we are all subject to the fallen nature is the real meaning of this verse. There are several verses in the bible which state as a matter of fact the failing nature of man (This verse being one of them along with: Ezekiel 22:30; Psalm 14:1-3). It is curious, therefore, in spite of his true sinful condition that man by nature is so proud so arrogant? We look at times academically with full disdain at king Nebuchadnezzar as he audaciously declares "…Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Dan 4:30) and yet every day through out the world mankind is full of himself reeling as if drunk, intoxicated with self love and self exaltation. However, to whom does God show His favor, to whom does God look, is not to the man or woman who soberly confesses their need for the Great Sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ; the man or woman who knows without that sacrifice they are doomed because of their sin. Oh, the great need for humility of character and brokenness if we desire His favor and blessing (See Isaiah 66:2)

Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven cont... The wise are strong through wisdom!

19 “Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.”

The key phrase here is "Wisdom strengthens..." What an important virtue to possess. Wisdom strengthens the wise making them stronger than the mighty. Solomon knew the merits of wisdom; he knew it is more powerful than physical strength. We have examples in the word of God where this is so Ecclesiastes 8:1 “Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.” Also, in Ecclesiastes 9:15-16 “Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.   Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” So the question is this, where does wisdom come from and how do we obtain it? We have the answers to these questions in Proverbs and Job. Proverbs tells us that wisdom comes from the mouth of the Lord (Proverbs 2:6). And to whom does God give wisdom? To him that is good in His sight (Ecclesiasts 2:26). Job tells us that we obtain it by walking in the fear of the Lord Job 28:28 “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Now that we comprehend this merits of this virtue let us take the heed of Wisdom herself as she tells us to cry out for her as if we were seeking for hidden treasure (Proverbs 1:20-23; Proverbs 8).

Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven cont... The Wicked Will Have Darkness But Those Who Fear The Lord Will Come Forth From Them All

17 "Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?"

The wicked will have their day of judgment; they will laugh and play in this world but they will pay for it in the world to come. It says in Proverbs 31:31 concerning the virteous woman "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." the same is true of the wicked only replace the word "praise" with the word "judge". In the succeeding verse we will see why Solomon is saying V:16-18

18 "It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all."

The wise will take hold of this but the foolish will not be able to grasp it that he that fears the Lord comes forth from them all. This illustrates what we have discovered in the book of Proverbs (See introduction on Proverbs for specifics) that Gods blessing is upon those who fear the Lord and that hand of blessing brings one to the front. Life for the wicked is tangled and complicated fraught with problems and dilemma's for which there seems to be no solution.  Obviously one who "chooses" the fear of the Lord has chosen wisely. The fear of the Lord is a path that one seeks that one puts themselves on but it is also one of the Seven Spirits of the Lord that God can place on an individual or a group of people or even a nation (Isaiah 11:2). This individual, corporate assembly, city, state or nation that chooses the fear of the Lord will eventually emerge from them all.