THE `REASON' OF EVIL DISCOVERED
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of the Lord. The word `straight' occurs again in Ecclesiastes 12:9, `set in order'. In the Chaldee of Daniel 4:36
(LXX. 33), it is rendered `I was established', with reference to a kingdom.
Such straightening out of the crookedness of Adam's race can never be accomplished by man. We patiently
await the day of Christ. We shall not sit inert, we shall not be idle, but rather shall be occupied with nobler and
more fruitful service by a due recognition of the true dispensational character of many of the things around us.
(3) The practical problem of good and evil (7:14)
Four times in chapter 7 does the Preacher bid us `consider'.
`Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?' (7:13).
`In the day of adversity consider ...' (7:14).
`Behold (Consider), this have I found ...' (7:27).
`Lo (Consider), this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many
inventions' (7:29).
Let us look at verse 14.
`In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against
the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him'.
It is sometimes helpful to work back through a passage and it may help us here.
`After him'. - The baffling nature of God's providential dealings is to prevent a man discovering that which
comes after him. This is a theme many times repeated in this book. When Koheleth had expended his energies and
wisdom on labours vast and wonderful he said:
`What can the man do that cometh after the King?' (2:12).
His further investigation was not encouraging:
`I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall come
after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool?' (2:18,19).
Having traversed the thoughts of chapters 2 and 3, Koheleth arrives at the conclusion:
`Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his
portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?' (3:22).
The question forms the very closing words of the first half of Ecclesiastes, before he begins to enumerate the
good things for this life:
`For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow?
for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?' (6:12).
Following the verse under consideration (7:14) we pass on to:
`A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?'
(10:14).
These six references focus the attention on the problem of what shall be `after'.
The reference in 3:22 shews resignation and contentment, the enjoyment of one's rightful portion, and leaving
the `after' with God. This is seen from another angle in 7:14. The experiences of prosperity and adversity which
come upon man are intended to prevent discovery of that which shall come after: `To the end that man should find
nothing after him' (7:14). There is a close parallel here with 3:11 :