Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.07UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.03UNLIKELY
Fear
0.06UNLIKELY
Joy
0.7LIKELY
Sadness
0.17UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.7LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.08UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.74LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.53LIKELY
Extraversion
0.08UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.56LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.44UNLIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Ignorance is bliss?
Ignorance (noun) lack of knowledge or information.
Sometimes we may think it is better not to know something than to know something and be responsible for knowing it, right?
Well Koheleth starts into a long section (chapters 7-9) that are some wisdom, instructions for application.
So no more ignorance, more application.
Thomas Gray “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College.”
“Alas, regardless of their doom, the little victims play!
No sense they have of ills to come, nor care beyond today.
Yet ah! why should they know their fate?
Since sorrow never comes too late, and happiness too swiftly flies.
Thought would destroy their paradise.
No ore; where ignorance is bliss, ‘ Tis folly to be wise.”
His conclusion was logical: for young people, college people it was better to be ignorant and happy, for soon enough there would be plenty of time to experience the sorrows that knowledge may bring.
So may we not be ignorant, may we be people with the wisdom of God that is given to us through His Word and have the enjoyment made available through God too!
Some observations seen along the way:
Koheleth has searched “under the sun” for meaning of life (Ecc1:1-2:24)
Koheleth made a conclusion (Ecc1:2) “vanity of vanities”
Koheleth showed how he concluded his thesis (Ecc3:1-6:12)
Koheleth has expanded on his conclusion; showing you his research (Ecc1:2, 1:14; 2:11 and 3:1-6:12)
Koheleth made an important couple of stops along the way too
The value of friendship (Ecc4:9-12)
The importance of enjoying God’s gifts(Ecc2:24-26; Ecc5:18-20)
Now as we draw to the next sections, 6 chapters, Koheleth, the preacher, Solomon, through a mixture of proverbs and narrative gives us some instructions for better living.
While there is the conclusion of “vanity of vanities” he also gave another conclusion about ignorance
But in these chapters we are starting to look at he gives another look, another observation, and some positive application.
He concluded that though wisdom cannot explain everything and all of life’s mysteries, it can makes some positive contributions to our lives
Wisdom can make life better (Ecc7:1-10)
Wisdom helps us to be able to see life clearly (Ecc7:11-18)
Wisdom helps prepare us to face life stronger (Ecc7:19-29)
Wisdom can make life better (Ecc7:1-10)
Who does not desire better things?
There are lot’s of betters you can find in the scripture, and in our passage tonight we see lot’s of better (11 times to be exact).
So let’s see what better instructions for better living we can glean from this chapter.
Starting with (Ecc7:1-10)
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
______________________________________________________
Better things: Sorrow is better than laughter (Ecc7:1-4; Jm4:14; Pro10:7; Pro22:1; Mk14:1-11)
Better things: rebuke is better than praise (Ecc7:5-6; Ps141:5; Pro27:6: Pro12:1)
Better things: Long haul better than short cut (Ecc7:7-9; Rom8:28; Jm1:13-15; Php1:6; Heb12:2; Heb1:1-3 )
Better things: Today is better than yesterday (Ecc7:10;)
_____________________________________________________
Better things: Sorrow is better than laughter (Ecc7:1-4)
If we are honest we must admit we would rather go to party, a celebration then to a funeral.
But in the words of wisdom from Koheleth here he says the contrary.
Sorrow can do more good for the heart than laughter can, it can have longer effect on you than laughter.
While it is true that “laughter is good medicine” it can heal a broken heart; sorrow is the nourishing food that strengthens the inner man.
It takes both sorrow and laughter to have a balanced life.
Better is date of death than birth (v.1)
Better is date of death than date of birth, why?
First look at (v.1) again.
Look how it starts, what does it say?
A good name is better than good ointment.
a name can be lasting an ointment is only temporary.
Death is eternal and life here is but a vapor (Jm4:14)
A good name, good character, good reputation can carry on long beyond this life and the grave, but laughter is but for a moment.
Solomon is not a bummer, remember he wrote Proverbs, wrote Song of Songs so he is not morose.
He is contrasting two undeniable facts, birth and death, and the life experience between the two.
How we live our life between the dashes is going to determine if we leave a fragrant aroma or a foul stench.
Speaking of a good name, look at what more scripture says about it.
and add to that
Then look at the New Testament illustration of a good name from Mk14:1-11, but will give just a couple of verses from it
You have Mary who will always be remembered for a good name; and then there is Judas (whose name means praise) who is forever remembered for evil not good.
Better is house of mourning then house of feasting (v.2)
Koheleth is saying in (vv.2-4) to look death in the face; you cannot stay away from morning, we need to have the balance in our lives
Sorrow is better than laughter (v.3)
Then mentions the mind of the wise and the fool (v.4)
While humor, laughter is good, it is healthy we need to beware of frivolous laughter for that can lead to the mind of fools and the house of pleasure or mirth as it says in other versions.
Better things: Sorrow is better than laughter (Ecc7:1-4)
Better things: rebuke is better than praise (Ecc7:5-6)
Throw a thorn bush into a fire and it is gone instantly; burns up and avails nothing but flash.
The praise of man, praise of the fool has no lasting effect
A wise rebuke will accomplish far more than the flattery of fools.
Check out some of these truths
and one ore
Don’t be a fool, don’t be stupid, for it is better to have correction, a rebuke than the flattery words of a fool.
Better things: Sorrow is better than laughter (Ecc7:1-4)
Better things: rebuke is better than praise (Ecc7:5-6)
Better things: Long haul better than short cut (Ecc7:7-9)
Have you ever plugged-in a location into your GPS maybe into Google maps or ON-Star etc and you pick my direct path and you end up on dirt roads etc?
The easy way, most direct way may not be the best way and that is what Koheleth is giving us in these verses.
He mentions bribery, or some may say “greasing the wheels of justice” is the way to get things done, but in reality it just further encourages corruption of an already corruptible human heart.
The truth of the matter is found in (v.8)
It is better for us to wait for the Lord and the Lords timing for we know.
For we can also know, when we are tempted on our own, by our own devices it can bring sinful death.
But if God is in it, if we wait for Him and His timing and His way it is eternally worth it for we know He will complete it.
Not only complete it, but perfect it
Some biblical example
Prodigal son, was in a hurry and it cost him dearly
Joseph was in a bind but ended being exalted
God always saves the best for last (see Jn2:10; Heb1:3), so the end is better than the beginning.
Better things: Sorrow is better than laughter
Better things: rebuke is better than praise
Better things: Long haul better than short cut
Better things: Today is better than yesterday
All to often we look back, think back and think “oh the good old days.”
especially when we are frustrated with something in the today,something we don’t like, something we don’t agree with or we are impatiently waiting on God to move in.
In the days of Ezra the 2nd temple was rebuilt and many wept because of the old days the old temple, while others shouted for joy at what the Lord had done that day.
It was so hard a time right then others could not distinguish between the joy and the sorrow.
You can read about this in Ezr3:8-13
You may have heard this saying “Carpe Diem!” which means to seize the day.
This means make the most of today for you cannot change yesterday and you are not yet in tomorrow, so seize today and make the best of it today.
Essayist Hilaire Belloc wrote
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9