Not Righteous Over Much or Wise - Ecclesiastes 7:16

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness”, and in chapter seven and verse sixteen of his book Solomon said, “be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise” where we read,

Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: 

why shouldest you destroy yourself?

The verse reads, “Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise:” Solomon began with the words, “be not righteous” or “do not exist as just, lawful and correct” “over much” which means “to an increased, numerous and an overly measured state”; “neither make yourself” or “no and not in any way cause and fashion your own self” “over wise” which means “in superior, advantaged, better than and excess skill, shrewdness and prudence”. Solomon instructed his readers not to exist as overly just and correct, nor were they to exist in an excessive shrewdness or prudence.

The verse continues, “why should you destroy yourself?” Solomon added the words, “why should you” or “for what reason and cause should you, Solomon’s readers” “destroy yourself” which means “stun, stupefy, desolate and cause horror to your own self”? Solomon asked for the reason people reading his words ought to ruin and cause horror to their own selves.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon instructed his readers not to be overly just and lawful while also telling them not to be too skilled and prudent. He asked for what reason they were to ruin themselves, and the same question might as well come from Jehovah God. God loves us, and for this reason He gave us His commandments. His commandments protect us from ruin and destruction, and when we obey Him, our lives are the better for it. However, we have violated His law, and this is sin. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (See Romans 6:23),  and for this reason He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and resurrected Him from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us how to be “righteous, wise and without destruction” as we live before His eyes. 

Next time Solomon says, “be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish”, 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".