Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

Solomon has been dealing with various issues that he perceives concerning life under the sun.

A key word is “Vanity” - everything in life is vanity, and meaningless.

But this morning he outlines a number practical proverbs concerning the living of a wise life in this world.

This morning we’re just going to consider some of these sayings of Solomon concerning wise living in the world.

1. Wisdom Gained Through Death (v.1-4)

1.1.

Pursuing a Good Name

As Solomon introduces his arguments this morning, he begins with two proverbs that are somewhat difficult to tie up, but which certainly belong together:

The first proverb that he presents is that “A good name is better than fine perfume...”

Solomon is here expressing the fact that the name that a person has among others in this world is important.

He is speaking about being highly esteemed in the eyes of other people in the world, and the great benefit that this is.

When Solomon speaks here of the “name” of the person, he is not merely speaking about what they are called.

We should understand that the “name” of a person within the Hebrew culture referred to their person-hood.

It referred to who they were as a person in their entire character and nature.

Who were they known to be, and what did their actions and lifestyle say to others about who they were as a person.

Let us be clear, that every person in this world is developing a name for themselves, and will be known by others in some way or another.

Solomon declares here that a “Good Name” is “Better than sweet perfume”...

The word “Sweet perfume” here can be used also to refer to anointing oil.

This oil / Perfume that is spoken of was always very highly valued in that society.

Perfume was and is that which is a delight to the senses of people around it.

When a man or a woman has a sweet perfume on, it is a pleasing thing to those who smell that fragrance...

In that day and place, where there were dusty deserts, and the mode of transport was on foot or camels, rather than in air-conditioned motor vehicles, you can imagine that sweet perfume, fragrant oil, was a very welcome smell!!

One point we should add to this is that the sweet perfume that Solomon had in mind was not only a pleasant fragrance, but it was something very costly, something that had great value.

Solomon said it elsewhere with these words:

And so despite the great value of sweet perfume, and despite the great benenfit that the perfume is to the wearer and those around, a good name exceeds this in excellence.

As we just pause to apply this thought to ourselves, listen to the words of Philip Ryken:

“Qoheleth calls us to wear the cologne of good character.

Consider, therefore, what kind of name you are making for yourself.

When people think of you, what character traits come to mind?

Are they the characteristics of Christ?

To give just a few examples: Are you known more for being cheerful or for having a critical spirit?

Do you have a reputation for speaking the absolute truth or for coming up with stories that are hard to believe?

Are you generous with what you have, or do you err on the side of stinginess?

Character is as character does, and sooner or later you will be known for the character you keep.

Make a good name — not for yourself but for Jesus.”

(Ryken, 150)

…the day of death better than the day of birth

This idea of a good name leads Solomon to speak of the “day of death” being better than “the day of birth.”

We could see these two proverbs as being linked in this way:

“As a good name is better than fine perfume, so the day of death is better than the day of birth...”

We’ve seen previously Solomon’s assertion that under certain circumstances, it is better to have passed on than to still be alive.

Last week we looked at Solomon’s words that if a man was not able to enjoy his prosperity and also a proper burial, then a stillborn child is better off than that man (Ecc 6:3)

He has argued that death allows an end to the sufferings and pains, the travails, and what appears to human eyes to be the unfairness of life in this world.

Solomon now again speaks of the day of death being better than the day of birth.

Certainly, he speaks here more particularly of that man, who in his death, indeed has a good name.

If a man’s life is such that he leaves a good name behind him, then the day of his departure is better than that of his birth, because in the latter he had nothing before him but labour, and trouble, and fear, and uncertainty

But we must keep in mind that this can only be fully true for the person who is in Christ.

For an unbeliever, their death may be better from a purely physical perspective, where the pains of this life are halted.

But for the believer, they not only have the pains of this life stopped, but the pains for eternity are washed away, and they have a future rest.

As we just take this a small step further, consider that the good name that Solomon speaks of, when we consider it from the broader perspective of Scripture, is a name that is developed through the growth in godliness of the Christian.

It is in Christ that this fruit is brought forth.

It is in Christ that a truly good name is developed and built through the fruit of the Spirit.

And if this is the case, then that person, the Christian, the born-again believer, will be better off at death, than he was in this life.

Thomas Boston once wrote of the Christian...

“In the day of his birth he was born to die but in the day of his death he dies to live.” (A view of this and the other world, p.263).

The best day of life for the believer is in fact the day of their death, for it is at that moment that they enter into a new life that is glorious and joy-filled, with no more suffering or shame.

And we must ask ourselves, firstly, are we born again?

Do we know Christ as our Saviour, having repented and believed.

But beyond that, for those who know and love Christ, are we developing a good name through living in a Christ-like manner, and growing in holiness, bearing much fruit?

1.2.

The Benefits of Mourning (vv.2-4)

With that assertion, and with the perspective of death still in the mind of Solomon, he goes on to convey 3 further proverbs concerning the benefits of death.

Firstly, in verse 2, he says...

Solomon is here looking at life under the sun, and considering the ways of man in this world.

Based on his observations of the world and life, he comes to some conclusions, and these conclusions are certainly most contrary to normal human thinking!

He states outright that it is better to go to a house of mourning.

The house of mourning speaks of nothing other than the house where a loved one has passed away, and those who live there are grieving the loss of a loved one.

In that house of mourning is a very sad, sorry and somber atmosphere.

On this past Thursday, I received the news that a young man who would often attend our church, was home from the hospital, but not in a good way.

I went out to go and visit him, expecting that he probably wouldn’t live much longer.

By the time I reached him, he had just passed away.

Even though this was the passing of someone that was anticipated, and anticipated well in advance, it was a sobering moment, and one in which the tears of loved ones around flowed.

In the house of mourning, there is scarcely a person present who will think in that moment that they are in a better place than is the person who is in the house of feasting and celebration.

And yet, according to Solomon, there is great benefit to this situation. .

Surely the benefit that Solomon is speaking of here is the deep awareness of the frailty and the brevity of life.

It is in such a moment that each of us comes to the realisation that our lives are not forever.

If you’re in the house of feasting, all you can think about is delighting in the present moment, enjoying the pleasures of this life.

If you’re in the house of feasting, you care very little for the fact that life is so short.

But come to the house of mourning, and you will be brought face to face with the reality that your life truly is a vapour.

When my own mom passed away in January this year, as I considered all of the memories from a lifetime of a mother caring for me, I had to say indeed, life is short.

Death surprises one, shocks one, but therein is the hand of God to bring us to remember that we are but a vapour.

Our lives are a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow!

Solomon continues...

To be filled with sorrow in the face of death, is better than to be filled with laughter, and so to forget your place before God, and in light of eternity.

Now, let us be clear, and remember that it is not as if there is no place for joy and laughter in life.

The Scriptures always speak positively about godly joy and rejoicing.

For Solomon thus to be speaking about sorrow being better than laughter, it must be understood as that which brings great benefit to a person.

“A sad face,” says Solomon, “is good for the heart”.

When our faces are downcast, very often this brings us to a point of brokenness and a point in which we are no longer self-centered.

Pride is a great sin that puffs us up, and we very often see ourselves as self-sufficient, and able to rule and be master over our own lives, as if we don’t need to give an account to God.

This is a dangerous place to be.

When hardships and trials come, we have the opportunity to refocus our minds and hearts towards humility and a deep recognition of our need for God.

Thus Solomon continues...

It is in the house of mourning that we truly gain wise perspective in life.

It is in the times of friction, difficulty and trial that we find our greatest growth, particularly as those who love Christ.

While the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, so the heart of a fool is in the house of pleasure.

This is where a person is in a place full of rejoicing and fun and seeking pleasures to satisfy their carnal desires.

Their life is driven by pleasures, particularly pleasures outside of God

James warns of this in James 4, asking “what causes quarrels and fights among you...” etc.

Essentially, he argues that these quarrels and fights are due to selfishness, and pride of heart, and then he gives these words of warning: