Ecclesiastes 7:13-8:1; Wisdom (Part 2)
Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 7:13-8:1. Please join us in study.
One of the themes that we have been dealing with up to this point is the work of man. Of what use and purpose is that work? Now we turn to consider the work of God and our relationship to that work.
Several of the ideas the Teacher deals with in these verses were introduced back in chapter 1, specifically vv.15-18.
In vv.16 & 17, the Teacher talks about being ‘overrighteous’, ‘overwise’ and ‘overwicked’. The word that the NIV translates as over is the same word that we saw in 7:11 where wisdom and inheritance are a benefit, an advantage, with the implication being that being overrighteous, overwise and overwicked is to take advantage of our righteousness, wisdom or wickedness in a way that God did not intend.