He began by exposing our ignorance of the significance of adversity and prosperity (7:1-14; cf. Job). Both of these conditions, he noted, can have good and bad effects depending on how a person responds to them. Prosperity is not always or necessarily good (cf. 6:1-12), and adversity, or affliction, is not always or necessarily evil (cf. 7:1-15). Really adversity is often a greater good than prosperity.53
"With his sure touch the author now brings in a stimulating change of style and approach. Instead of reflecting and arguing, he will bombard us with proverbs, with their strong impact and varied angles of attack."54
7:1 It is better to end life with a good reputation than to begin it auspiciously but then ruin it through folly. This emphasis on the importance of living wisely continues through the rest of the book (cf. 2:26; 11:9; 12:14). The mother rubbed the "good ointment"on her baby and supposedly got it off to a good start in life by doing so.
7:2-4 The point of these verses is that it is wise to bear the brevity of life in mind as one lives. The "heart,"mentioned in all three verses, is where we make moral decisions (cf. Prov. 4:23). Thoughtful rather than thoughtless living is wise (cf. Ps. 90:12). Sobriety contrasts with self-indulgence.
"A sorrow shared may bring more inner happiness than an evening with back-slapping jokers (vv. 3-4)."55
7:5-6 All things considered it is wiser to live a life of thoughtful self-restraint than to pursue a life of hedonism.
7:7-10 Both adversity and prosperity tempt people to abandon a wise lifestyle for one of folly. The wise man's prosperity might tempt him to accept a bribe, or his adversity might tempt him to oppress others (v. 7). Impatience and pride (v. 8), anger (v. 9), and dissatisfaction (v. 10) might also lure him from the submissive attitude that is part of the way of wisdom.
7:11-12 Prosperity can also be a good thing, especially if the prosperous person behaves wisely. Note that the wise normally live longer than the foolish (v. 12b).
7:13-14 We cannot understand why God uses adversity and prosperity as He does. A man or woman of faith trusts God nonetheless (Rom. 8:28). Therefore we should enjoy the times of prosperity and remember in the times of adversity that God is in control.
The phrase "man cannot discover"or the equivalent is another structural marker in Ecclesiastes that indicates the end of a subsection in chapters 7 and 8 (cf. 7:14, 24, 28 twice; 8:17 thrice). Other key structural markers are the phrases "vanity and striving after wind"(1:14; et al.) and "man does not know"(9:1; et al.).56
