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242 THE CONVENTION TEACHER [[column 1]] to teach men in all the complex relations of human life and conduct, to know and do His will. If we accept this divine wisdom, then we shall be kept from stumbling. We will be dependable persons, and in whatever we undertake we will succeed. Because we are competent, we shall be kept from failure, and because of our successes we will be honored and respected. We will find our whole lives beautiful, because divine wisdom teaches us how to place value on the truths which promote our wellbeing. The book of Ecclesiastes has been considered to have been written by Solomon toward the close of his life, after he had tested in personal experience the whole gamut of the wisdom and pleasures which the world could offer. Solomon was inspired to write accurately and truthfully the conclusions to which he [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] had come after his weary search for peace and contentment; yet these very conclusions truthfully expressed, are in themselves not always true. In other words, Solomon in searching for wisdom often failed to find it, and in giving expressions to the emptiness and vanity of life gave his testimony out of a life which had drifted away from the definite will and purpose of God; and his dismal conclusions concerning life are absolutely not the conclusions of one who walks in the way of the Lord. Thus many of the things that Solomon said in this book could never be said by Christian believers, but they can be said by those who are in the world and futilely seeking peace and joy, which the world has never been able to give and which will never be found outside of Jesus Christ. [[/column 2]] EXPOSITION [[column 1]] I. WISDOM SHOWS THE VALUE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RICHES. (VV. 1-2.) (1) The Proverbs of Solomon, A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Solomon speaks to us as unto children. Observe here how much the comfort of parents--natural, political, religious-- depends upon the good behavior of those under their charge. A wise son maketh a glad father --Here is a reason why parents should be careful to give their children a good education and to train them up in the ways of religion, which if it obtain the desired effect they themselves will have the benefit and comfort of it. but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother --The child who has no training will bring sadness to his parent. It adds to the guilt of those who conduct themselves ill, that thereby they grieve the ones to whom they ought to spread joy, and are a sorrow to the mothers who bore them. (2) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. Wisdom speaks pointedly as it tells us that treasures of wickedness profit nothing. The wealth that men get unjustly will do them no good, because God will blast it. The treasures of wicked people, possessions which they have made themselves masters of by any wicked device, by oppression or fraud, though it be ever so much a treasure, and laid up ever so safe, yet it profits nothing. When profit and loss can be balanced, the profits gained by the treasures will by no means countervail the loss sustained by the wickedness. They do not profit the [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] soul; they will not buy true comfort and happiness; they will stand a man in no stead at death, or in the judgment of the great day; and the reason is, because God casts away the substances of the wicked. Riches have no power to deliver men from moral strains, but righteousness can and does. II. WISDOM SHOWS THE USE AND NEGLECT OF OPPORTUNITIES. (VV.3-9) (3) [[bold]] The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. [[/bold]] God rejects the consideration of riches, not regarding the wealthy more than the poor. Wisdom points out the opportunities at our command and how we should use them, showing us the damage to ourselves when we neglect and abuse them. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish --God is on watch. He sees the soul of the righteous bent to do right, and He will not allow that soul to famish; but He casteth away the substance of the wicked. He removes that from them which they have wrongly secured. He has no bias in His dealings, but does that which is right, so that all who are concerned will have an impartial allotment. We often see that scattered by the justice of God which has been gathered by the injustices of men. How can the treasures of wickedness profit when, though it be counted substance, God casts it away, and it vanishes as a shadow? That which is honestly gained will turn to good account, for God will bless it. Righteousness (signifying both honest and charity) delivers from death; it answers the end of wealth, [[/column 2]] [[end page]] [[start page]] THE CONVENTION TEACHER 243 [[column 1]] which is to keep us alive and be a defence [sic] to us. The soul of the righteous shall be kept alive by the Word of God, and faith in His promises. (4) He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. We are informed in this verse who they are, who, though rich, are in a fair way to become poor; those who deal with a slack hand, who are careless in their business, never minding which end goes foremost, nor ever set their hands vigorously to their work. They deal with a deceitful hand, who think to enrich themselves. Not only do they bring the curse of God on what they have, they forfeit their reputation with me. We are also informed who they are, who, though poor, are in a fair way to become rich: those who are diligent and honest, who are careful about their affairs, and what their hands find to do, do it with all their might, in a fair and honorable way. This is true in the affairs of our souls, as well as in our worldly affairs. Slothfulness and hypocrisy lead to spiritual poverty, but those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith and rich in good works. (5) He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. There is a just praise that comes to those who improve their opportunity, both for soul and for the body, who provide for hereafter while provision is to be made, who gather in summer, which is gathering time. He who does so is a wise man. They who trifle away these opportunities are to be justly reproached and blamed. He who sleeps, loves his ease, idles away his time, and neglects his work, is a son that causeth shame. He who gets knowledge and wisdom in the days of his youth gathers in summer; he will have the credit and comfort of it later. But he who idles away the days of his youth will suffer and be shamed for it when he is old. (6) Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The head of the just is covered with blessings both of God and man. A variety of blessings, abundance of blessings shall descend from above and visibly abide on the head of good men. They shall not only be spoken well of, but done well to. Blessings shall be on their head as a coronet to adorn and dignify them, and as a helmet to protect and secure them, but violence covereth [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] the mouth of the wicked --Their mouths shall be stopped with shame for the violence which they have done. They shall not have a word to say in excuse for themselves. Furthermore, their violent dealings shall be returned upon them. (7) The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. Both the just and the wicked, when their days are fulfilled, must die. Between their bodies in the grave there is no visible difference. Between their souls, in the world of spirits, there is a vast difference; and so there is, or ought to be, between their memories that survive them. Good men are, and ought to be, well-spoken of when they are gone. It is one of the blessings that comes upon the head of the just. Blessed men leave behind them blessed memories. It is a part of the dignity of the saints, especially those who excel in virtue and are eminently useful that they are remembered with respect when they are dead. Their good name, their name with good men, for good things, is then in a special manner as precious ointment. Those that honor God. He will thus honor. We must take delight in making an honorable mention of good men who are gone; bless God for them; and especially be followers of them in that which is good, but the name of the wicked shall rot --Bad men are, and shall be, forgotten, or spoken of with contempt. When their bodies are putrifying in the grave, their names also shall rot. No good can be said of them, and therefore the greatest kindness that can be done them will be to say nothing of them. Or they shall be loathsome, and mentioned with disgust, and thus that rule of honor, "saying nothing to the disadvantage of the dead," will not protect them. Either they shall be remembered with contempt, or buried in oblivion. (8) The wise in heart will receive commandments; but a prating fool shall fall. It is to the honor and happiness of the obedient to receive commandments. They will take it as a privilege, and really a relief to them, to be under government. They will accept it as a favor to be told their duty, and admonished concerning it. They are wise in heart who are tractable; and those who thus bend, thus stoop, shall stand and be established, shall prosper, being well advised. The shame and ruin of the disobedient is that they will not be governed, nor endure any yoke; they will not be taught, nor [[/column 2]] [[end page]]
