Solomon Was Wrong

I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes. [Ecclesiastes 7.15-18]

Okay, I am just going to say it. Solomon was wrong here.

In the presence of a Holy God, it is not possible to be too good!

Furthermore, for any human to judge whether another human is good or wicked is wrong also. Deuteronomy 28 is very clear that blessings are the destiny of the obedient and curses are the destiny of the disobedient. Who is any man to declare another righteous or wicked?

Frankly, Ecclesiastes is laced with wrong thinking. Yes, some excellent points are made, but some flat-out un-scriptural statements are made as well.

It is the very thinking displayed in Ecclesiates that has the Church largely confused about God today! We must remember that Solomon, wise as he was, was led astray by his many foreign wives and even worshipped false gods with them!

Ecclesiastes, in contrast to Proverbs, shows the difference in Solomon before and after his fall from favor with God.

None of us would be comfortable with a convicted child molester coming into our home to babysit. Why then would we listen to the "wisdom" of one who betrayed God (without careful scrutiny relative to the established law of God)?

Father, I don't want to be led astray by thinking everything Solomon said was right any more than I want to do everything everyone in the Bible did! David committed adultery, Judas hanged himself, etc.. Help me to learn from these peoples' stories and live a life pleasing to You!