Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

Today we finished our 14th book of the Bible. Congratulations and this is the last

we'll see of possibly Solomon's wisdom. Let's look at what the preacher had to say to us today. In chapter 7 he urges

his readers to take life and death seriously and to let sadness do its job. Even though life is

fleeting, there's still weight to the human experience and

value in the emotions that come with it. He encourages us to wait on God's timing as we walk

through life.

Pride and patience are at odds.

Waiting requires humility.

And in the same way that we shouldn't look forward longingly,

we also shouldn't look backward longingly. In verse 10 he says it like this. Say

not why were the former days better than these for it is not from wisdom that you ask

this. Trusting God means we live in contentment in the now.

In verse 16, he seems to frown on wisdom and righteousness, but that feels contradictory to

everything else he said.

So what do we make of this verse?

It says,

Be not overly righteous and do not make yourself too wise.

Why should you destroy yourself?

The word righteous here isn't referring to morality. It's a word used most often in terms of a judicial system.

Given the context and word choice here, it almost seems like the preacher is saying,

don't puff yourself up. Don't be the person. here, it almost seems like the preacher is saying,

...