There is a gentleman, who calls himself an evangelist, who is fond of quoting Ecclesiastes 7:20 in his support of a Christian’s continued sinning. That verse says: “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” These, of course, are the words of a rank pessimist and idolator, a man who said he was “an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished” (See Ecclesiastes 4:13). Those who quote Solomon to reinforce their doctrinal position need to read all twelve chapters of Ecclesiastes very slowly and carefully. They also need to read the 11th chapter of I Kings slowly and carefully, too. Though God had early on given Solomon wisdom and understanding, as with Lucifer, Solomon’s wisdom became corrupted.
Ecclesiastes needs to be read in the same manner as one should read the Book of Job. In the final chapter of the Book of Job “the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite,’My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends (Zophar and Bildad), for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right.” (See Job 42:7). There are nine complete chapters in the Book of Job wherein these three men are speaking, and Job concurs with God “that in your answers (the statements of Eliphaz, Zophar and Bildad) THERE REMAINS FALSEHOOD!” (See Job 21:34). The nine chapters that contain false assertions are chapters 4,5,8,11,15,18,20,22 and 25.
God would say to any preacher, evangelist or Bible teacher today what He said to Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar long ago should any teach error and ascribe to God something God has never said: “My anger is kindled against you for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right!” There are a multitude of pastors, preachers and Bible teachers I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes when they stand before Jesus Christ to be judged. They are going to come face to face with an angry Lord.
There is much in the words of Solomon, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar that IS correct and utter truth, but intermingled in what they say is error. For instance, when Eliphaz says,”I have seen they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same,” he speaks the truth! But when he says, “Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent, or where were the righteous cut off?” he is speaking error. Multitudes of innocent men and women, boys and girls, have died in their innocence, having their lives cut short by premature death. (See Job 4:7-8).
The books of Job and Ecclesiastes are not doctrinal dissertations like the apostles letters. One must keep this ever in mind when reading those two lengthy books and quoting from them to support their own doctrinal stand.
Solomon would have scoffed at Jesus’ command to “Go, and sin no more!” He would have argued that the parents of John the Baptist could not possibly have been “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (See John 8:31-36 and Luke 1:5-6).
Brethren, I urge you to let the Word of God correct you and depart from iniquity and sin NOT!
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley