20/5/22. Study 24. Ecclesiastes 10:1-11

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
² A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
    but a fool's heart to the left.
³ Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
    and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
⁴ If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
    for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: ⁶ folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷ I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

⁸ He who digs a pit will fall into it,
    and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
⁹ He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
    and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
    he must use more strength,
    but wisdom helps one to succeed.
¹¹ If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
    there is no advantage to the charmer.

 

 1. What does it mean that a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour?

The "perfumer's ointment (cf. 7:1) is precious and valuable, but ruined by a small fly in it. Just as 'one sinner destroys much good', so a little foolishness/lack of wisdom disproportionately outdoes actions and lives of wisdom and honour. People are more likely to be remembered for moral failures and foolish words than for previous consistent righteousness.

2. What is it to have one's heart inclined to the 'right' or to the 'left'?

 The 'right hand' in the Bible is associated with the Lord's presence and action (e.g. Ex 15:6, Ps 16:11, Is 41:10). The right side is the side of favour (Gen 48:15,  Mt 25:33).

 

Qoheleth may simply be saying that the heart's (the seat of the will, values and representative of the entire inmost being) inclinations will result in corresponding behaviour. (cf. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life, Pr 4:23)

Speech comes from the heart (Mt 12:34)

Actions come from the heart (Mt 15:19)

3. What descriptions are given of a fool in vv. 2-3? And of a wise man in v.4?

The fool has a foolish heart, inclined to wicked speech and action.

A fool's character is visitlbe to others even in routine circumstances (i.e. it does not take major events to reveal his lack of wisdom)

The wise man knows how to face angry authority well - not by resigning one's position, but by calmly dealing with anger. This can allow even great errors or disagreements to be forgiven. This proverb counsels steadfastness in the face of opposition from those over us.

4. What does Qoheleth say in vv. 5-7 is yet another evil he sees under the sun? How does this arise?

The error proceeds 'from the ruler', because of poorly wielded authority. Because of this, foolish and unworthy people are given authority and honour, and those with resources and  who should be honoured (the rich and noble) are not 

This is a comment on injustice, likely because of favouritism. 

5. verses 8-11 give some life situations where wisdom and good judgment are needed. What are we to learn from these situations?

These situations are all accidental in nature. As Qoheleth has said  in the past, life is random. Every endeavour carries risks. These are not inevitabilities, but possibillities.

• The dug pit (cf. retribution in Ps 7:15, 57:6; Prv 26:27, 28:10)
  
• The breached wall (cf. the Day of the Lord in Amos 5:19)
  
• The quarried stones
• The split logs
• The bluint iron
• The biting serpent
  

There are times we perform works and projects, or simple are engaged in normal work, when the unexpected disaster arises from our work.

We should learn to improve our methods or resources to do something, or else we will need to expend more time and effort.

If we miss the opportunity to control a situation, and the situation turns on us, we have lost the potential reward of our efforts.

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