The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 42 The Right Hand Is Wisdom But The Left Hand is Foolishness

We now move into Ecclesiastes 10, as Solomon nears the end of his discourse about living a life without knowing God. 

A vivid picture of moral integrity marred by a lapse into sin.

Ecclesiastes 10:1  Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

What great need for each wise man or woman, to avoid being guilty of folly. "Folly" is not merely acting in a foolish manner. "Folly" is weakness of our moral will, that clouds our understanding of God's holy standard. 

"Folly" is doing that which is highly sinful. It is any of our conduct that is contrary to the laws of God or man. It is sin that violates God's moral precepts and dishonors the one who sinned.

Precious ointment is dedicated to Jehovah.

Exodus 30:34-35  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35)  And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy

Solomon would have been well acquainted with the special ointment made for Jehovah's tabernacle. Some rare, sweet spices are combined with frankincense, into a sweet smelling ointment, used as a sweet smelling savor to Jehovah. It was holy and sanctified  for the Lord.

True wisdom from God is having something that is built into our character over time, as the Spirit of God uses the scriptures to mold us. God seeks to instill a wonderful moral character into each believer. Solomon compares this with that precious holy ointment for God, which protects and preserves our moral foundation.

Solomon's picture is very graphic. A Christian who willfully sins, is compared to someone opening a jar of the best ointment. When the lid is removed, they find dead flies and larvae in it. The precious ointment is ruined, and its smell is repugnant. It must be cast out. 

True wisdom will gain a man a good reputation, which is like the precious ointment, pleasing and valuable.

Such integrity is gained with difficulty, and it can be easily lost, by a little folly. Thus, even a "little folly" tarnishes the believer's reputation and compromises our integrity before God and man.  

Those who watch us along with our enemy, seize upon our "little folly"  and magnify our sin. Not only is our character tarnished by this, but God's holy name is also dishonored. 

King David sinned and dishonored Jehovah.

2 Samuel 12:13-14  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14)  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 

This happened to King David, after he sinned in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah, her husband. Jehovah sent the prophet Nathan, to confront the king over his transgressions. What David did in committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, gave opportunity for Jehovah's enemies to blaspheme His holy name. 

King Solomon committed flagrant immorality and idolatry.

1 Kings 11:1-6  But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2)  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3)  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4)  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5)  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6)  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 

King Solomon began well as king and in his faithfulness to Jehovah. However, as he grew older, he disobeyed God's commandments and did not follow Jehovah as fully as David did. 

Solomon's heart was turned away from the LORD, and he committed idolatry and immorality. Once again, the holy name of Jehovah was blasphemed by Solomon's sins. 

The sons of Jacob killed some neighboring people to exact revenge for the rape of their sister, Jacob said their actions made him to "stink among the inhabitants of the land" (Genesis 34:20).

A right hand pictures God's righteousness and the left hand pictures a deviant path. 

Ecclesiastes 10:2-3  A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 3)  Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.  

The picture here is the command a wise man has over his own mind, feelings, passions, which guide him (or her) to act with prudence. 

Keeping our will and emotions in check comes from reading and studying the Bible, where our mind is renewed day by day. 

Thus, the wise man's heart is at his right hand, which pictures a man whose heart is governed by God's truth.

The right hand is more skilled than the left. The godly man is more on guard against sin, than the foolish man. Though at times he may slip, the wise man will confess and forsake his sin. 

The left hand is typically the weaker hand. The fool, represented by the left hand, wallows in his sin and does not care if he has offended God or not. 

We also see a lack of prudence from the fool, who has no restraint on his passions, and no guard upon his tongue. A fool's heart is at his left hand, a picture of a man whose heart is governed by his fleshly lusts. 

Examples of the right hand and the right ways of God.

Exodus 15:6  Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

In this manner, the right hand and the left are often used in Scripture, to express good and evil. The right hand goes with being in your right mind and guided by the righteousness of God. 

The left hand represents a deviant path, choosing to follow fleshly lusts. The wise man is always employed in doing good, while the fool engages in doing evil.

Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3:1-3). 

The holy law of God went out from His right hand (Deuteronomy 33:2). 

Eternal joys are found at the right hand of God (Psalm 16:11). 

Jehovah saves us by His right hand (Psalm 17:7; 18:35: 20:6).

Jehovah's right hand is full of judgment (Psalm 21:8) and righteousness (Psalm 48:10).

Thoughts to Ponder....

Jesus gave us teaching about His second coming and the final day of judgment. This establishes a standard that the right hand represents that which is good in the sight of God and is worthy of eternal life. In contrast, the left hand represents that which is evil and worthy of eternal condemnation. 

Matthew 25:31-34; 41  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32)  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33)  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34)  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 41)  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:   

Jesus gave this teaching to show us what the final judgment would be like. The sheep represent all believers in Jesus Christ. The goats represent all who reject or do not know Christ. 

The sheep will be set at the right hand of Jesus Christ and they will be invited to enter the kingdom of God. The goats will be placed at the left hand of Jesus Christ and they will be condemned to eternal Hell. 

My prayer is that all who read this post, have already given their hearts to Jesus Christ, with repentant faith. I pray that each one will be numbered in this vast throng of believers, who are the sheep at Christ's right hand.

What about those who do not know Christ? They are the goats who are destined for Hell. 

If you can read this, then it is not too late to repent of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. 

All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). 

May the Spirit of God do a mighty work with the Word of God, in the hearts of men, women and children in all parts of the world reached by this blog. 

Bob