EGW WritingsEcclesiastes 7

Conflict and Courage

A Late Awakening, July 9

CC 196.1

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11.

CC 196.2

By his own bitter experience, Solomon learned the emptiness of a life that seeks in earthly things its highest good. He erected altars to heathen gods, only to learn how vain is their promise of rest to the spirit. Gloomy and soul-harassing thoughts troubled him night and day. For him there was no longer any joy of life or peace of mind, and the future was dark with despair.

CC 196.3

Yet the Lord forsook him not. By messages of reproof and by severe judgments, He sought to arouse the king to a realization of the sinfulness of his course.... At last the Lord, through a prophet, delivered to Solomon the startling message: ... “I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.”

CC 196.4

Awakened as from a dream by this sentence of judgment pronounced against him and his house, Solomon with quickened conscience began to see his folly in its true light. Chastened in spirit, with mind and body enfeebled, he turned wearied and thirsting from earth’s broken cisterns, to drink once more at the fountain of life.... He could never hope to escape the blasting results of sin; he could never free his mind from all remembrance of the self-indulgent course he had been pursuing; but he would endeavor earnestly to dissuade others from following after folly....

CC 196.5

The true penitent does not put his past sins from his remembrance. He does not, as soon as he has obtained peace, grow unconcerned in regard to the mistakes he has made. He thinks of those who have been led into evil by his course, and tries in every possible way to lead them back into the true path. The clearer the light that he has entered into, the stronger is his desire to set the feet of others in the right way.22Prophets and Kings, 76-78.

Life Sketches of Ellen G. White

Chapter 59—The “Elmshaven” Funeral Service

LS 451.1

The Scripture reading, by Elder George B. Starr, comprised the following passages, some of which were read only in part: Psalm 116:15, Ecclesiastes 7:2, 4; Romans 8:35, 37-39; John 6:39, 40; Daniel 12:2, 3; Revelation 14:12, 13; Ezekiel 37:12-14; Isaiah 26:19; Revelation 7:9-17; 21:4. The reading closed with a few verses especially illustrative of Mrs. White’s life experience: Psalm 40:9, 10 and Mark 14:8.

Radiant Religion

All Experiences Are God’s Workmen, April 11

RRe 103.1

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Ecclesiastes 7:3.

Radiant Religion

Foolish Talking, Jesting, Joking, August 23

RRe 237.1

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7:5, 6.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 19, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 19, 1896, par. 7

“It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this is also vanity.” Ecclesiastes 7:5, 6.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 3 (1876 - 1882)

Lt 18, 1877

3LtMs, Lt 18, 1877, par. 2

Father endured the journey well yesterday. We had to change cars four times—waited. We were at the depot at Morrisville at half-past six o’clock P.M. Cars delayed. We were a large number waiting for the train. Some of the frivolous sort were there keeping up a constant train of levity and small, foolish talk, loud and boisterous laughter—was quite annoying and disgusting. I could but think of the words of inspiration, “As the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool.” Ecclesiastes 7:6. Shallow, weak heads and hard hearts we meet everywhere we go.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 19 [Nos. 1360-1419]

MR No. 1411—The Ladder to Heaven

19MR 344.1

Patience implies that we have difficulties to encounter, annoyances to meet. The Word of God says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). The injunction of the inspired apostle is to “be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Anger provokes anger.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)

Ms 13, 1884

4LtMs, Ms 13, 1884, par. 21

Patience implies that we have difficulties to encounter, annoyances to meet. The Word of God says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1. “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9. The injunction of the inspired apostle is to “be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19. Anger provokes anger.

Education

Chapter 13—Mental and Spiritual Culture

Ed 126.3

“The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” “The words that I speak unto you,” said Jesus, “they are spirit, and they are life.” “This is life eternal, that they should know Thee the only true God, and Him whom Thou didst send.” Ecclesiastes 7:12; John 6:63; 17:3, R.V.

My Life Today

Wisdom Giveth Life, April 13

ML 107.1

The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Ecclesiastes 7:12.

Radiant Religion

In Prosperity, January 27

RRe 29.1

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. Ecclesiastes 7:14.

To Be Like Jesus

Examine Diligently Every Belief, April 12

BLJ 112.1

I applied my heart to know, to search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. Ecclesiastes 7:25, NKJV.

Conflict and Courage

One Expensive Mistake, January 15

CC 21.1

God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29.

My Life Today

God Made Man Upright, May 4

ML 128.1

God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29.

Our Father Cares

One Expensive Mistake, July 1

OFC 194.1

God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29.

With God at Dawn

Man Made in Uprightness, December 6

WGD 342.1

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Ms 22, 1895

10LtMs, Ms 22, 1895, par. 21

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak ye also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily, My Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations: that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” “Six days may work be done; but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy unto the Lord; whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath of the Lord shall surely be put to death.” Has Satan succeeded in removing the sanctity from the day thus distinguished above all others? He has succeeded in putting another day in its stead, but never can he take from it the blessing of the Lord. “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” [Exodus 31:12, 13, 15, 16.] What can be more positive and clear than these words? And has God changed? He will remain the same through all eternity, but man “has sought out many inventions.” [Ecclesiastes 7:29.]