(“Anger – Fools – And Former Days”)

Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 (NASU)

9“Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. 10Do not say, ‘Why is it that the former days were better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9-10)

(A) REFLECTING THE IMAGE OF GOD (1) In his book, “The Knowledge of the Holy,” A. W. Tozer quotes four poetic lines written by Charles Wesley (probably taken from one of Wesley’s hymns) having to do with the attributes of God. The lines go like this:

“Sovereign Father, heavenly King,

Thee we now presume to sing;

Glad Thine attributes confess,

Glorious all, and numberless.”¹

When it comes to God’s “glorious” and “numberless” attributes, some Christians make a distinction between those that are “communicable” and those that are “incommunicable” – between those attributes of God that find some “likeness” in mankind (c.f. Genesis 1:26-27), and those that do not.²

Examples of God’s incommunicable attributes would include His self-existence (which refers to the fact that God doesn’t depend on anyone or anything outside Himself) – His immutability (which means He never changes) – and His infinity (which has to do with the fact that He is not subject to limitations like you and I are).

Examples of God’s communicable attributes would include His wisdom, His long-suffering (or forbearance), His faithfulness, His holiness, His mercy, and His love.²

Even though God’s image is stamped on every person, there are obviously limits to such semblances,² especially in fallen creatures. For example, while God’s knowledge is infinite and perfect (which means He has always known everything that can be known), we reflect His image in this area because we are capable of acquiring knowledge, even though ours is always limited and often imperfect.

(2) One of God’s communicable attributes is His anger. We usually think of anger as being a bad thing – however, in God’s case that’s not true. His anger is always tempered (if you will) by other attributes, like His justice, righteousness, and omniscience. Hence, God’s anger is always right and good – is never tainted by sin, like ours often is – nor is it ever motivated by selfishness, as ours often is. As one of the older commentators said: “Anger is a holy passion in the bosom of Jehovah”¹⁰ (c.f. Nahum 1:2).

Scripture tells us, “the Lord is slow to anger” (c.f. Numbers 14:18a; Psalm 86:15) – but it also says there are times when His anger “burns” against those who have sinned against Him (c.f. Numbers 32:13; II Samuel 6:7). What was the cross, if not God’s righteous anger “burning” against Jesus on account of our sins (c.f. Romans 8:8-9)?! What was the cross, if not our Savior taking the full brunt of the Father’s anger – so that His eternal wrath would no longer “burn” against us (c.f. John 3:36; Romans 1:18)?!

(3) Jesus, who was without sin (c.f. Hebrews 4:15), expressed anger on several occasions.

For example, in Mark chapter three the religious leaders were watching our Lord to see if He would heal a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath – and we read that Jesus said to the man: ^{3“‘Get up and come forward!’ 4(Then) He said (to those watching) … ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?’ But they kept silent. 5After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored”} (c.f. Mark 3:3-5).

Another time Scripture says Jesus “made a scourge of cords” and used it to drive money-changers “out of the temple”, “overturn(ing) their tables” and scattering their “coins” in the process (c.f. John 2:13-17). The word “anger” is never used in this passage – but does anyone seriously think Jesus was not filled with righteous indignation as He cleansed the temple?!

(4) In a fallen world, there are some things that ought to make us Christians angry³ – things mentioned in tonight’s Scripture lesson like “oppression”, “bribe(ry)” and “corruption” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:7-8).

Scripture exhorts us to “be angry, and … not sin” (Ephesians 4:26a; Psalm 4:4, NKJV) – which seems to indicate that it’s possible (by Christ’s enabling grace) for God’s redeemed people to reflect His image by expressing an anger that is sinless and holy. This kind of anger might be directed at evil in general – or at that which is done to disgrace the Name of God (c.f. Exodus 20:4) or the Person of Jesus Christ (c.f. Psalm 139:21) in particular. It might also be directed at those who degrade other human beings, or try to draw them into sin (c.f. II Samuel 12:1-6) – much like the English preacher F. W. Robertson, who once met a man who was trying to lure a young girl into prostitution, and became so angry he bit his lip until it bled.⁵

(5) Most of us, however, can’t stay angry very long without crossing the line into forbidden territory.³ As one writer said: “even righteous anger can easily turn into bitterness, resentment, and self-righteousness.”⁶ Hence, that same verse we quoted from the Book of Ephesians a moment ago also warns us, “not (to) let the sun go down on (our) anger” (c.f. Ephesians 4:26b). Moreover, the Book of James exhorts us to be, ^{19“slow to become angry, 20(because) man’s anger does not (usually) bring about the righteous life … God desires”} (c.f. James 1:19d-20, NIV).

(B) ANGER AND FOOLS

(1) “Anger that is selfish, undisciplined, or vindictive has no place in a Christian’s life, even for a moment.”⁶ Solomon was speaking of this sinful kind of anger in verse nine of our text when he said: “Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:9)

(2) The Hebrew word for “eager” (“bahal”) (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:9a) means to act “hurriedly, hastily, or quickly”.⁴ Hence, the first part of verse nine is a warning about not being in a hurry to express angry – about failing to control our temper – about letting ourselves be easily provoked to anger – about not becoming a person with a reputation for being quick-tempered.

Scripture speaks to this issue in other places, saying: ^{24“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, 25or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared”} (c.f. Proverbs 22:24-25, NIV). One reason we’re not to “make friends” with such people is because: “An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression” (c.f. Proverbs 29:22). In other words, “an angry man” is always stirring up trouble. What’s more, his anger invariably leads him into all kinds of sinful behavior – and if we become his friend, we’re apt to end up in sin and trouble too – or worse, we’ll become just like him! Hence, Scripture says: “he who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (c.f. Proverbs 13:20).

Because men who are easily angered always stir up strife – because men who can’t control their temper always abound in transgressions – Scripture says potential elder candidates must “NOT (be) quick-tempered” (c.f. Titus 3:7). Otherwise, they will stir up strife in Christ’s Church and create havoc among Christ’s sheep, which is something no local congregation needs. Churches already have too many problems in a fallen world the way it is, without having elders and deacons and pastors who are quick on the “temper-trigger”!

(3) In the last part of verse nine Solomon said: “anger resides in the bosom of fools” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:9b) – which I take to mean that in God’s estimation (which is always perfect), the man who harbors “anger” in his heart is a fool – that the man who nourishes his anger instead of dealing with it is a fool⁷ – that the person who takes pleasure in his “outbursts of anger” (c.f. Galatians 5:20) instead of trying to overcome them is a fool – that the woman who makes excuses for her anger (as in, “I just can’t help it”),¹¹ (who makes excuses) instead of confessing her anger as sin, is a fool – that anyone who draws some measure of personal satisfaction from their anger instead of repenting of it, who even goes so far as to look upon their anger as a positive character trait, (such a person) is a fool.

(4) Jesus warned us to be careful about calling other people fools (especially a “brother” or sister in Christ). Indeed, He compared such name-calling to “murder” – and went so far as to say that those who do it, “shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell” (c.f. Matthew 5:21-22).

In this instance, however, God is able to do what we can’t – i.e. call people fools because of certain sinful things they say or do – because He can discern what’s in their hearts, and we can’t.

The fact God does call some people “fools” suggests some transgressions may be MORE foolish than others. For example, Psalm fourteen says men who deny the existence of God are “fools” (c.f. Psalm 14:1) – Proverbs chapter twelve says people who refuse to listen to counsel (especially when it comes from God through His inspired, written word) are “fools” (c.f. Proverbs 12:15) – Proverbs chapter fourteen says people who take sin lightly are “fools” (c.f. Proverbs 14:9) – Romans chapter one says those who suppress the truth about God revealed in the created order, and do not honor Him as God or give Him thanks are “fools” (c.f. Romans 1:18-23) – and Luke chapter twelve says any person who spends their whole life storing up treasures for themselves here on earth, instead of using that time to become “rich toward God”, is a “fool” (c.f. Luke 12:20-21).

(5) Here in Ecclesiastes chapter seven, Solomon indicates that anger and foolishness often go hand-in-hand⁸ – that any person who can’t control their temper is a fool – that the man with a so-called “short fuse” is really a foolish man³ (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:9)

Scripture makes this connection in other places as well, saying that “a quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (c.f. Proverbs 14:17a) – and that “he who is quick-tempered exalts folly” (c.f. Proverbs 14:29b).

Elsewhere, Scripture praises people who (by Christ’s enabling grace) are able to control their temper, saying that: “he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (c.f. Proverbs 16:32) – and once more: “a man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression” (c.f. Proverbs 19:11).

(6) If an objective person were to follow you and me around for a month – if they were able to observe us as we really are, in public and in private – would they conclude that we have a problem with anger? Would they conclude we are “easily angered”? Would they conclude that “anger resides in our bosom” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:9)? Would they conclude that we are a “fool” in this particular area?

Solomon says it’s vain and futile to lose one’s temper – that it’s foolish to be controlled by selfish vindictive anger. Hence, God’s word exhorts Christians in a number of places to “put aside things like anger, wrath, malice and abusive speech” (c.f. Colossians 3:8) – to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (c.f. James 1:19) – to “be angry without sinning, and to not let the sun go down on our anger” (c.f. Ephesians 4:26) – to remember that “outbursts of anger” are one of the deeds of the flesh, not one of the fruits of the Spirit (c.f. Galatians 5:20) – and that an “angry temper” will tear the body of Christ apart, instead of building it up (c.f. II Corinthians 12:20).

In reflecting on this verse (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:9), one writer said we should carefully “consider the power of anger – because it has the ability to destroy the positive effect of a thousand well-spoken words.”⁶

(C) THE FORMER DAYS

(1) Moving on to verse ten, we find yet another vain, foolish thing people often do in a fallen world – hence, Solomon writes: “Do not say, ‘Why is it that the former days were better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:10).

Given the present context, the point is that people do not ask this question “from wisdom” – they ask it from “foolishness”.¹²

(2) Solomon isn’t putting down the study of history – or saying we shouldn’t enjoy happy memories from days gone by.¹³ Neither is he suggesting we shouldn’t lament the corruption that surrounds us in our own time⁷ – or fail to recognize that some aspects or eras of the Church, or a particular nation, or civilization in general, or the world as a whole have been better than others¹⁴ – while on the other hand, some have undoubtedly been worse.⁷

Rather, Solomon is talking about the kind of restless discontent with when and where our heavenly Father has placed us, that causes us to long for some so-called golden age from the past – that causes us to pine for “the good old days” as we remember them now, not as they actually were¹³ – that causes us (as one writer said) to “remember the past as better than it really was so that the present seems worse than it really is.”¹⁵

(3) Pining for the past, instead of being thankful for the present, was one of the recurring sins of Israel after they were set free from slavery in Egypt.¹³ Hence, we read: ^{2“The whole congregation of … Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness … 3(and) said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger’”} (c.f. Exodus 16:2-3) – and again: ^{4“… the sons of Israel wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? 5We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, 6but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna’”} (c.f. Numbers 11:4-6) – and once more (after ten of the twelve spies sent into the land of promise brought back a discouraging report): ^{1“Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’ 4So they said to one another, ‘Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt’”} (c.f. Numbers 14:1-4).

(4) Charles Bridges summed up the comparison game¹⁵ Solomon described in verse ten of our text (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:10) like this: “The rebuke is evidently directed against that dissatisfied spirit, which puts aside our present blessings, exaggerates our evils, and reflects upon the government of God as full of inequities, and upon His providence, in having cast us in such evil times.”¹⁴

Bridges is right. To ask: “Why (were) the former days … better than these?” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:10), in the manner we’ve described, is to call God’s sovereignty, His integrity, His goodness, His kindness, His wisdom, His love, and all His other attributes into question. It’s the equivalent of “answering back to God” – of asking: “Why did You make me like this?” (c.f. Romans 9:20). It’s the equivalent of “complain(ing) against (God) (because) He does not give (us) an account of all His doings” (c.f. Job 33:13) – of saying that the Potter does not have a right to do whatever He wishes with the clay (c.f. Jeremiah 18:1-6) – of saying that the promise in Romans 8:28, about “God caus(ing) all things to work together for good to those who love (Him) (and) are called according to His purpose”, isn’t always true!

Beloved, only a fool – or someone thinking very foolishly – would ever say or imply such things about God the Father, or our Lord Jesus Christ.

(5) One of the older commentators I read in preparation for these messages, named Edward Reynolds, draws three lessons from verse ten (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:10) – and with these we close.

(a) First he says Solomon is condemning the sinful tendency fallen people have to “pass over the good things we enjoy in our own age, and to only look at that which pinches us – to complain of the wrongs, hardships, oppression, or injustice we face in our own time – as if former ages did not face similar situations, or even other evils from which we are freed.”¹⁶

For example, do we really want to go back to the time when the use of leeches was considered good medical practice? Do we really want to go back to the time when Christians were being fed to the lions? Or when slavery was openly practiced in the United States? Or when the whole world was at war? Are the times we live in not better than those?

(b) Second, he says Solomon is teaching us not to be too quick to lay the blame on the evils we face to the times in which we live – but to consider whether or not our own sins may be a contributing factor¹⁶ – to consider, as we might say today, whether we have brought some of these things upon ourselves.

Genesis chapter three indicates fallen men and women do not naturally take responsibility for the situations they create – preferring, instead, to pass the blame onto someone or something else (c.f. Genesis 3:12-13). Hence, we tend to think life would be better if we just had a different job, or if we lived in a different state, or if were married to a different person – if we could just go back to the days of our youth, to the carefree days when we were in college, to the days when we were the best athlete on the team, or the star performer on stage – if we could just recapture the excitement we felt when we were first converted, or the satisfaction we used to get from being in charge of some aspect of the church’s work, or the pride we felt when our church was larger and more influential¹⁷ – if we could just go back, forgetting, as Reynolds points out, that a man who is wicked (or dissatisfied) in this age would probably be just as wicked (or just as dissatisfied) in any other age, including the best of times.¹⁶

(c) Finally, Reynolds says (and I’m going to paraphrase some of this) that Solomon’s principal purpose is to “reprove that disposition whereby we are apt to murmur against God’s providence, especially when He gives us our lot in an age of trouble where violence and oppression prevail; and so foolishly charge God with being unfair, because He has not blessed us the way we think we deserve to be blessed.”¹⁶

It’s common practice today to talk about people deserving or not deserving to have certain things happen to them – to tell people, for example, that they didn’t deserve to be passed over for a promotion, or that they didn’t deserve to fall and break their hip – to tell people that they deserved the raise they were given, or that they deserved to win the state championship.

One commentator reminds us, however, that “God isn’t obligated to treat us the same way He treats someone else – nor is He required to treat people today the same way He treated people in the past. Because God is God, and we aren’t, He has an absolute right to do as He pleases (c.f. Romans 9:21). And if that truth ever sinks in, it will render all comparisons useless and counterproductive”¹⁵ (which they are anyway!).

Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, He told Peter what kind of death he would die in the service of his Savior. When Peter wondered what was going to happen to John, thereby hinting (complaining?) that John might be getting a better deal, Jesus said: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You(r) (job is to) follow Me!” (c.f. John 21:18-22).

Reynolds says: “Do not question the way God governs the world, or His wisdom and righteousness in doing so. Leave God’s work to Him, to whom it belongs to order the ages of the world (and the affairs of men) in a manner that pleases Him. Attend to your own duty – be content to live in the times in which you have been placed – study how to serve God in your own generation – don’t desert your post – don’t resign you commission – don’t worry about things you are powerless to change. Walk with God, as Noah did in the worst of times (c.f. Genesis 6:1-9), and let the wickedness of the age make you more wise, more cautious, and more humble.”¹⁶

In good times or bad, we are to “Let (our) light shine before men in such a way that they may see (our) good works, and glorify (our) Father who is in heaven” (c.f. Matthew 5:16) – in good times of bad, we are to “do all to the glory of God” (c.f. I Corinthians 10:31) – in good times or bad, we are to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects” (c.f. Colossians 1:10).

(6) In summary, then, we have looked at two foolish things God’s redeemed people are to strive to avoid (albeit always and only by Christ’s enabling grace).

One involves an eagerness to become angry – to give way to outbursts of anger – to fail to keep our temper under control – to actually harbor anger in our heart (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:9).

The other is to question God’s dealings with us – to accuse Him of not treating us the way we believe we deserve to be treated – to long for the past, instead of striving to please Him in the present – to murmur and complain about our lot in life, instead of enjoying what God has chosen to give us.

May God graciously enable us to live wisely instead of foolishly. May He enable us to ^{12“deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age} (i.e. in the time and place where God has put us), ¹³(always) looking for the blessed hope and … appearing of … our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (c.f. Titus 2:12-13).

#926.

Ephesians; p. 184.

⁷Reynolds: A Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes;

p. 151.