Semper Reformanda

Ecclesiastes 7:6 | Word Study

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7:6 (KJV)

Pleasure in the ‘laughter of the fool’ is vain because it adds nothing substantial to the state of our existence. Qoheleth likens it to the crackling of thorns under a pot, “which makes a great noise and a great blaze, for a little while, but is gone presently, scatters its ashes, and contributes scarcely any thing to the production of a boiling heat, for that requires a constant fire! The laughter of a fool is noisy and flashy, and is not an instance of true joy. This is also vanity; it deceives men to their destruction, for the end of that mirth is heaviness.” (Henry)

Reference:

Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 7:1-6

Ecclesiastes 7:5 | Word Study

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5 (KJV)

‘The rebuke of the wise,’ perhaps follows from the previous verse – the understanding of a wise man. Wisdom is understood as an understanding of the reality of sin, suffering, death, et cetera. To be reminded of such reality seems to be a thing of wisdom, and of the wise that is worth listening to. The song of the fools seems to be a contradiction and an ignorance of such reality. To quote Henry, “that it is much better for us to have our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise than to have them gratified by the song of fools.”

Reference:

Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 7:1-6

Ecclesiastes 7:4 | Word Study

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:4 (KJV)

The ‘heart’ refers to the centre of anything… it may also refer to consent, will, intellect, et cetera. (H3824)[1] It seems the ‘heart’ refers to, where the focus of a person is located. Henry notes that for the wise, the focus remains on the natural state of our existence: sin, suffering, and death. Perhaps, this is why Qoheleth prefers this over empty indulgence of joy. Henry writes, “Sorrow is better than laughter, more agreeable to our present state, where we are daily sinning and suffering ourselves, more or less, and daily seeing the sins and sufferings of others.” This is why, the wise man centres himself to such state. Bartholomew writes, “The heart is the center of the person, and for Qohelet the ‘wise’ person’s center dwells in the house of mourning. Qohelet’s logic leads him to the view that the wise person is consumed with death and the fool with celebration and joy.” (212)

References:

Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic

Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 7:1-6

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3824/kjv/wlc/0-1/