Ecclesiastes 7  The Preacher takes another look at wisdom and foolishness.. and sees little benefit in either.  "I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in wickedness."  ( v15)  His advice?  "Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?" (v17-18) 

It is impossible, the Preacher tells us, to be completely righteous. "Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices." ( v29) 

God made days of "prosperity" and days of "adversity", the Preacher writes.  We all will know those kinds of days.  It is better to walk in wisdom and righteousness..  he admits.. "A good name is better than a good ointment..(v1) "It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools." (v5)..." Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit." (v8)  Yet, the Preacher still searched for meaning in it all. 

Eccl. 12:10-11 tell us that the Preacher wanted to write "words of truth".. words that would "goad" his readers.. to think.. to consider.. to come to the conclusion that he came to.. "when all has been heard... fear God and keep His commandments... for God will bring every act to judgement.. " 

Perhaps chapter 7 is "goading" us to consider "wisdom" or "folly".. to consider "righteousness" and "wickedness"... to consider our purpose and God's purpose for us.  He wrote at the beginning of this chapter, ".. the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth...It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart." (v1-2)    It is similar to the Psalm of Moses (90:12) " So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom."  Life is fleeting.. we need to  know that.. to consider it seriously..  and not waste our days with "chasing after the wind"... on futility and folly.. but to live in the Truth of God's word, keeping His commandments.. trusting in His will and purposes for us. 

"Oh satisfy us in the morning with Thy lovingkindness That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Moses prayed.  "And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and do confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes confirm the work of our hands." ( Psalm 90: 14, 17)

Father in heaven,  our days have been ordained for each of us.. written before we were even formed in our mothers' wombs.  You made us for Your purpose and for Your glory.  We are Your "workmanship".. Your creation in Jesus "for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to live in faith and obedience.. in truth and righteousness with wisdom from above.. pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering and without hypocrisy. ( James 3:17).  Let all we do and all we say be for Your glory and honor!  Bring Your Kingdom, Lord! Let Your will be done and Your Name exalted in all the earth.  We ask these things in the Name of Jesus. Amen.