So Alshech, “a good name is better than the greatness of a king, though anointed with oil;” and the day of death than the day of one’s birth ; some render it, in connection with the preceding clause, “as a good name is better, etc. so the day of death than the day of one’s birth” f153 ; that is, the day of a man’s death than the day of his birth. This is to be understood not of death simply considered; for that in itself, abstracted from its connections and consequences, is not better than to be born into the world, or come into life, or than life itself; it is not preferable to it, nor desirable; for it is contrary to nature, being a dissolution of it; a real evil, as life, and long life, are blessings; an enemy to mankind, and a terrible one: nor of ether persons, with whom men have a connection, their friends and relations; for with them the day of birth is a time of rejoicing, and the day of death is a time of mourning, as appears from Scripture and all experience; (see John 16:21 Genesis 40:20) ( Matthew 14:6-10 Genesis 23:2 John 11:31,33). It is indeed reported of some Heathenish and barbarous people in Thrace, and who inhabited Mount Caucasus, that they mourned at the birth of their children, reckoning up the calamities they are entering into, and rejoiced at the death of their friends, being delivered from their troubles: but this is to be understood of the persons themselves that are born and die; not of all mankind, unless as abstracted from the consideration of a future state, and so it is more happy to be freed from trouble than to enter into it; nor of wicked men, it would have been better indeed if they had never been born, or had died as soon as born, that their damnation might not have been aggravated by the multitude of their sins; but after all, to die cannot be best for them, since at death they are cast into hell, into everlasting fire, and endless punishment: this is only true of good men, that have a good name living and dying; have a good work of grace upon them, and so are meet for heaven; the righteousness of Christ on them, and so have a title to it; they are such who have hope in their death, and die in faith and in the Lord: their death is better than their birth; at their birth they come into the world under the imputation and guilt of sin, with a corrupt nature; are defiled with sin, and under the power of it, liable in themselves to condemnation and death for it: at the time of their death they go out justified from sin through the righteousness of Christ, all being expiated by his sacrifice, and pardoned for his sake; they are washed from the faith of sin by the blood of Christ, and are delivered from the power and being of it by the Spirit and grace of God; and are secured from condemnation and the second death: at their coming into the world they are liable to sin yet more and more; at their going out they are wholly freed from it; at the time of their birth they are born to trouble, and are all their days exercised with it, incident to various diseases of the body, have many troubles in the world, and from the men of it; many conflicts with a body of sin and death, and harassed with the temptations of Satan; but at death they are delivered from all these, enter into perfect peace and unspeakable joy; rest from all their labours and toils, and enjoy uninterrupted communion with God, Father, Son, and Spirit, angels, and glorified saints. The Targum is, “the day in which a man dies and departs to the house of the grave, with a good name and with righteousness, is better than the day in which a wicked man is born into the world.”

So the Midrash interprets it of one that goes out of the world with a good name, considering this clause in connection with the preceding, as many do.

Matthew Henry Commentary

Eccl. 7:1-6 Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world. It will do more good to go to funeral than to a feast. We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion; our Saviour both feasted at the wedding of his friend i Cana, and wept at the grave of his friend in Bethany. But, considerin how apt we are to be vain and indulge the flesh, it is best to go to the house of mourning, to learn the end of man as to this world Seriousness is better than mirth and jollity. That is best for us whic is best for our souls, though it be unpleasing to sense. It is bette to have our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise, than to have them gratified by the song of fools. The laughter of a fool i soon gone, the end of his mirth is heaviness.

Eccl. 7:7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often bette than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resentin an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of ou times, when we have more reason to cry out for the badness of our ow hearts; and even in these times we enjoy many mercies. It is folly to cry up the goodness of former times; as if former ages had not the lik things to complain of that we have: this arises from discontent, an aptness to quarrel with God himself.

Eccl. 7:11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. I shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will no lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let u look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at las all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no, not by a zeal for God. Be no conceited of thine own abilities; nor find fault with every thing, no busy thyself in other men's matters. Many who will not be wrought upo by the fear of God, and the dread of hell, will avoid sins which rui their health and estate, and expose to public justice. But those tha truly fear God, have but one end to serve, therefore act steadily. I we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves. Every true believer i ready to say, God be merciful to me a sinner. Forget not at the sam time, that personal righteousness, walking in newness of life, is the only real evidence of an interest by faith in the righteousness of the Redeemer. Wisdom teaches us not to be quick in resenting affronts. Be not desirous to know what people say; if they speak well of thee, it will feed thy pride, if ill, it will stir up thy passion. See that tho approve thyself to God and thine own conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee; it is easier to pass by twenty affronts than to aveng one. When any harm is done to us, examine whether we have not done a bad to others.

Eccl. 7:23-29 Solomon, in his search into the nature and reason of things, had been miserably deluded. But he here speaks with godl sorrow. He alone who constantly aims to please God, can expect to escape; the careless sinner probably will fall to rise no more. He no discovered more than ever the evil of the great sin of which he ha been guilty, the loving many strange women, I Kin. 11:1. A woma thoroughly upright and godly, he had not found. How was he likely to find such a one among those he had collected? If any of them had bee well disposed, their situation would tend to render them all nearly of the same character. He here warns others against the sins into which he had been betrayed. Many a godly man can with thankfulness acknowledg that he has found a prudent, virtuous woman in the wife of his bosom but those men who have gone in Solomon's track, cannot expect to fin one. He traces up all the streams of actual transgression to the fountain. It is clear that man is corrupted and revolted, and not as he was made. It is lamentable that man, whom God made upright, has foun out so many ways to render himself wicked and miserable. Let us bles Him for Jesus Christ, and seek his grace, that we may be numbered with his chosen people __________________________________________________________________

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