Not being Overly Righteous and Wicked (Ecc 7: 15-18)

NOT BEING OVERLY RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED (Ecc 7: 15-18): 

After reflecting on the works of God at all times, the author writes about certain things during his days, that he sees as vanity. The author says that the righteous man perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil-doing. We could see that there are people who stand firm for justice and truth all alone, while the whole world denies justice and truth, compromising it because of selfish interests. Sometimes, the righteous people become perished because everyone turns against them though they are genuine and good with the perfect values. Also, there are people who show injustice, exploit, act as they wish, gain wealth by unfair means, and at times those people prolong their life by all of their evil actions.

The author’s perception of righteous perishing and the wicked prolonging their life made the author make a suggestive statement to his recipients, not to be righteous overmuch; neither makes the self wiser. The author rhetorically asks why a person should destroy himself. The author makes another suggestive statement, not be overly wicked or be a fool. The author again rhetorically asks why a person should die before his time.  The person who is overly righteous doesn’t think beyond certain rules or norms in the act of trying or showing to be very wise. Trying to be too wise may cause to confuse too many things without any conclusion. It would make some to deviate from God and the purpose for which He had made human beings, because of the imbalance of intellect along with physical and emotional aspects, which could also make a person destroy self. The person who is overly wicked earns a lot of people who plot against him and a fool doesn’t know what to do at what time. They would die before the time of their destination because of their deeds.

The author makes a conclusive statement after reflecting about overly righteous and overly wicked, that it is good that a person should take hold of something without withholding the hand, which could help to find a balance for a really worthy life. The author says that one who fears God shall be able to come out from both, being overly righteous and overly wicked. For the person who fears God would strive hard to know His thoughts, follow His commandments that really pleases Him. The person who fears God would also avoid all that is ungodly in spite of all his limitations, humble himself before God without upholding self-righteousness but considering the Holiness and Sovereignty of God.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What does the author see in his vain life?

2.    Why does the author say that righteous man perishes in his righteousness?

3.    Why does the author say that a wicked man prolongs his life in evildoing?

4.    Why does the author mean by saying, not to destroy self? Why?

5.    What does the author mean by saying, not to die before a person’s time? Why?

6.    What does the author mean to say, to withhold in hand?

7.    How a person could come out from being overly righteous or overly wicked by fearing God?

8.    How can we protect ourselves from being wicked or self-righteous?