There’s a strong direction of thought in this chapter that would lead us to the biblical imperative to walk forward in the light.
Remember that the book of Ecclesiastes has two authors, two voices:
- The opening and closing verses are written by a Narrator, who frames the book for us so that we know how to read it.
- The main bulk of it is written by someone called the Teacher. The Teacher searched for meaning in life but didn’t find it.
His search was limited though: It was only “under the sun” – in the material things around us. He never prayed or consulted Scripture. So although he makes some excellent observations, his conclusions are often off-target. The Narrator helps us see that at the end.
But among the Teachers excellent observations is this one: Life moves forwards towards death. So face forwards; walk forwards.
These notes accompany a sermon on YouTube delivered in January 2026. You can find more in the series in our sermon index.
Walk forwards (1-14)
You probably noticed quite a change in style of writing for the Teacher as we came into chapter 7.
He’s in the mood to dispense the wisdom he’s gathered in this list of proverbs.
He’s a clever man, and a gifted writer. Read Ecc 7:1.
In Hebrew poetry and proverbs, there’s always some link between the two halves of a verse or a saying. But the two halves of v1 don’t seem connected, really. What he’s saying is that the first statement is obviously true (and you’ll find similar things in the book of Proverbs), so the second part is equally, obviously beyond question.
He explains why next. Read Ecc 7:2-4.
Remember that all the thinking here is “under the sun” – there’s no room in this worldview for anything about life after death. To the Teacher, life is hard and ultimately utterly futile. To him, death is like a nice warm bed at the end of long and tiring day. He welcomes its embrace. The end.
It’s the kind of thinking that calls for euthanasia and assisted suicide. The idea that someone is “out of pain now” etc. The end.
And yet the Teacher does show some spiritual wisdom here.
You are moving forward; you do need to look ahead.
- Psalm 39:4-5 prays this to God: Lord, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am. In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor [הֶבֶל].
- But where the Teacher thought death was the end, the New Testament is clear: Hebrews 9:27 “…it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment…”
But this is the good news of the New Testament: Jesus is risen. He stands today ready to offer anyone and everyone eternal life – if only you will go to him for it. In truth, because of Jesus, for his people death really is gain. Not a warm sleep of oblivion, but a wide-awake, spectacular bliss of the presence of Christ, radiating glory, love, intimacy, holiness, wisdom – all over you, like the sun on a sunny day.
You are already walking towards death – the Teacher is obviously right about that. So walk forwards towards Jesus. Walk forwards with him.
Don’t let the world distract you away from him. Read Ecc 7:5-6.
- Christmas is obviously a good example of what can happen.
- You go to a carol service and are moved by the astonishing love of God who became flesh to save you.
- But then you’re drawn aside and join in with people who don’t really care for such things.
- No-one is saying that you can’t have fun! But there’s a warning that you can be distracted to hell.
If you have never come to Jesus for life, do so now. He stands ready to forgive your sin, to welcome you, to give you eternal life. Turn from the sin that keeps you from him. Ask him to forgive you. Ask him to help you live for him.
Then you’ll be walking towards him, not hell. And you’ll be walking with him every day.
Don’t measure his goodness and wisdom by everything you see in Christians: Read Ecc 7:7.
Even godly people sin; we’re all subject to temptation. My mum fell out with the church as a young woman, which meant she fell out with God. But God is perfect. Remember that, and go to him. You’re not called to Christianity; you’re called to Christ.
Verses 8 and 9 continue this sense of moving forwards in life: Read Ecc 7:8-9.
If you have your eyes fixed on the long term, on Jesus, you’ll inevitably learn more patience and grace. Be careful with your anger. Anger at sin is good; God shows righteous anger. But you’re not God, and not all your anger will be good. Often it’s just your pride that’s dented. Don’t let anger be a lodger in your heart. Chuck it out. Forgive quickly, if you can.
Again, the Teacher moves forward: Read Ecc 7:10. There’s no future in the past.
Sometimes, it is helpful to look back and assess failings. We learn from our mistakes only by actually analysing them. As we get older we do think more about the past (there’s more of it!) – but it’s not always helpful. Instead of hankering after days gone by, Christ gives you a future to look forward to. A new body to look forward to.
And so in v11 & 12 he speaks of how wisdom is good for making sure you don’t squander your wealth – or even squander life.
He concludes his proverbs in v13-14. Read Ecc 7:13.
Verse 13 shows why we need wisdom. The world isn’t black and white, it’s often grey. Instead of easy straight lines, it’s often crooked. Wisdom helps you steer a good course.
But the Teacher speaks as if you’re on your own in a world made crooked by God! No! Sin makes the world crooked. You can walk forwards in the wisdom of God – with the wisdom of God, even. Jesus is the very wisdom of God.
So read Ecc 7:14.
As ever, the Teacher urges you to make the best of life. You can’t know what God is doing, so muddle on. But the fact that we’re able to be here with open Bibles shows how wrong that is: God speaks! In fact, he speaks through Creation, the Bible, Jesus, the Spirit. He speaks!
More, God hears you: He binds his sovereign purposes to your prayers. That’s rather more hopeful than “muddle on”.
So this is the good news: You can walk forwards – with Jesus.
Walk forwards to Jesus, and you’ll find meaning and purpose.
And while you walk in wisdom and seriousness, walk in joy and laughter too!
Walk in the Light (15-29)
The Teacher goes on in his usual ‘under the sun’ thinking. Read Ecc 7:15.
So what’s his advice? It’s shocking, really. Read Ecc 7:16-17.
He thinks that because we’re unable to know what God has planned, and because both good and bad things happen to good and bad people, there’s not much point in being good or bad! He encourages moderation in both righteousness and wickedness!
How does that square up with what God would say?
- God says, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
- Jesus said, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20).
- He also said, “If your hand or your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.” (Matthew 18:8)
- There is no room for moderation when it comes to sin.
So why does the Teacher write what he does?
Well, he knows that no-one’s perfect. So in v18 he just says it’s good to get a balance. Then in v19 he recognises that wisdom is good, but: Read Ecc 7:20. He’s right about that, at least.
He supports his approach with an illustration. Read Ecc 7:21-22.
People say wrong things about you. So what? You’ve done it too, so you’re not perfect either. Let it go. It’s good advice. We tend to judge others by what they do, but judge ourselves by our intentions. That’s not fair. Seeing fault in others and in ourselves might be helpful, but no excuse to keep on choosing imperfection, choosing sin.
Realising that you’re not perfect and no-one else is either is to be done in a context of striving for holiness – not choosing a life of moderate sin and moderate goodness.
1 John 1:7 “If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
How do you “walk in the light as he himself is in the light”? He does it by his very nature: He is light. You can’t do it in your own steam. Apart from Jesus you can do nothing. But as you have union with him you can partake of his divine nature by living to be like him, with him, for him.
Of course you’ll step into the shadows, stumble into darkness. But you don’t dwell there, if you’re a child of the day, of light. So when you do sin (as you will), you go back to him. Always.
Just two verses on, 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you sin, go to him. Confess. He will forgive. He will be your advocate in heaven. Satan himself can try to accuse you of sin, but when you’re forgiven by God it’s all done, all gone.
Sin is your enemy within. Don’t put up with it.
- It harms you. It dulls you, spiritually. When you give in to temptation once, you find it easier next time too.
- Sin discredits the whole church. Don’t think your secret will stay hidden forever.
- Your sin robs you of joy and assurance.
- It hurts others as they’re affected.
- It dishonours the Lord who suffered for those very sins.
- And – perhaps above all – it grieves the tender, loving heart of your saviour.
Don’t dabble with sin. Kill it.
Replace it with righteousness, holiness, love, kindness.
Not in your own efforts alone – you’ll fail. But not without effort either. Pray for the Lord’s help.
Face forwards; face Jesus. Walk in the light of Christ.
You might think it’s too hard. I don’t get it. How am I to live?
Read Ecc 7:23-24.
You can’t work things out on your own, for sure. Job 28 is a poem that celebrates the ingenuity and engineering skills of humanity. We dig and delve and find out all sorts of wonderful things. But for some reason, we can’t find wisdom, we don’t know the meaning of things. We just exist. Wisdom can’t be dug up, caught in a trap, bought online. But the poem’s conclusion in simple: [God] said to mankind, “The fear of the LORD—that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.”
Wisdom is in the simple but profound step of turning from sin, and turning to the Lord God. He will forgive. Wisdom and meaning aren’t anywhere else. All have sinned.
The Teacher sought wisdom among people: Read Ecc 7:25-26.
What woman does he mean? All women, or just bad ones??
Read Ecc 7:27-28. He found 1 good man among 1,000, and no good women!
It’s interesting that the Narrator’s voice cuts in at this point, as if to remind us that these words belong to someone who only sees life ‘under the sun’. Men and women are morally and spiritually equal before God. And that means, equally sinful. In this, the Teacher does get a right conclusion: Read Ecc 7:29.
So where can you go for truth and wisdom, meaning and hope? The voice you need is Christ’s own.
Knowing that everyone is a sinner, and that even the intimacy of marriage is actually a union of two sinners, the Teacher would have been better to teach us how to love well, and to forgive.
Jesus explained that divorce was only permitted in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 24) because hearts were hard and unforgiving.
Forgiveness is always better, wherever possible.
So what have we got?
- In life, we’re all walking forwards to the grave.
- By grace, that can mean you’re walking to life, to Jesus.
- Do that, and then walk forward in the light.
- Put sin to death every day. Fear God and shun evil.
- Grow in love and forgiveness.
- Become like the light-filled child of God you were called to be. And that is meaning, and purpose, and hope in Christ.