Dead Flies in the Ointment - Ecclesiastes 10:1

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroys much good”, and in chapter ten and verse one of his book Solomon shared about, “dead flies in the ointment” where we read,

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor:

 so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

The verse reads, “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor:” Solomon began with the words, “dead flies” or “lifeless, pestilent and ruinous flittering fly insects” “cause the ointment” which means “pour out, gush forth, spring, bubble up, ferment and belch forth the fat, oil, medicament or unguent” “of the apothecary” or “belonging to the mixer, compounder or perfumer” “to send forth a stinking savor” which means “to pour out, gush forth, spring, bubble up, ferment and belch forth a stink, bad smell or odious and loathsome savor”. Solomon said pestilent and ruinous insects known as “flies” within the perfumer’s medicament or unguent causes an odious and loathsome smell. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.” Solomon continue the the words, “so does a little folly” or “even so and indeed a small amount of silliness and foolishness” “him that is in reputation” which means “to the person whether male or female who exists with a valuable, prized, precious, rare and splendid honor and excellence” “for wisdom and honor” or “because, since and on account of skill, shrewdness and prudence and glory, abundance, splendor and abundance”. Solomon said a small amount of foolishness in a person of skill, prudence and excellence is similar to the stinking smell that is caused by a “fly” in the medicament of the perfumer. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how purification to precious medicaments or perfume can be ruined by a single “dead fly”, and in the same way, foolish acts can ruin the “reputation  and honor” of a person. God doesn’t want this for us, and because He loves us, He gave us commandments that will keep us from this type of destruction. Because sin, error and wrong are in our lives, sometime we commit foolish acts, and for this reason God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When Jesus rose from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and given His Holy Spirit who will teach us to keep away from foolish acts that may ruin our “reputation and honor”.

Next time Solomon says, “a wise man’s heart is at his right hand”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".