Gleanings from Reflections

Ecclesiastes Study, 2024

Series Title: The Pursuit of Purpose

Message #16

Ecclesiastes 7:15-22.

ETS: Solomon concluded that living with balance is best.

ESS: We should be intentional to have balance in our life, fearing God as the center point through which everything else flows from.

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to examine their lives and evaluate if there are any areas that need more balance or re-centered focus.}

PQ:

What gleanings are gained from this set of Solomon’s reflections?

UW: Gleanings

Note of observation:

Verse 15 is the summary of his reflections for this section— life is unfair. There are those who have strived so much— and died so soon; yet those who have not strived at all— and lived so long.

TS: Let us examine a few gleanings together, now:

Don’t be too hard on yourself; instead, live with balance. [vv. 16-18]

Zeal for righteousness often lends itself to legalism and overburdening oneself with to-do’s. [v. 16]

Zeal for wickedness lends itself to paganism and destruction of oneself. [v. 17]

These two are polar extremes, both of which should be avoided. “The right life walks the path between the two extremes, shunning self-righteousness, but not allowing one’s native wickedness to run its own course.” (Eaton, Michael A. 1983. Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 18. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

Thus, balance between the two is key. “The righteous person must see both clearly and walk betwen them, motivated by reverence towards God...” (Ibid.)

No one is immune to sin. [vv. 19-22]

We need wisdom. [19]

To know how we are to apply the fear of the Lord to our lives and live.

We need righteousness. [vv. 20-22]

Because we are sinful and need to be restored to that which God created us to be.

Reflective Question:

[1] Understanding your natural inclination towards sinfulness (paganism) as well as the danger involved in hyper-zealousness for righteousness lending itself to legalism, what does balance look like in your life this week— balance that flows from the fear of God as the central focus of your life?