Two weeks ago studying Ecclesiastes I came across chapter 7, it quickly became another favourite and in particular, verses 16-18:
"Be not over much wicked, neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all."
This is what the Life Application Bible's commentary says about 7:16 -
"How can someone be too good or too wise? This is a warning against religious conceit or false righteousness. Solomon was saying that some people are excessively wise or righteous in their own eyes. They become deluded by their own religious acts. They are so rigid or narrow in their views that they lose their sensitivity to the true reason for being good - to honor God. Solomon may be taking to task the wisdom teachers of the day, who often mechanically and coldly applied their teachings to others (Job's three friends did this in the book of Job). Balance is important. God created us to be whole people, not extremists whose specific viewpoints become more important than the people we should love."
This is what the Life Application Bible's commentary says about 7:16 -
"How can someone be too good or too wise? This is a warning against religious conceit or false righteousness. Solomon was saying that some people are excessively wise or righteous in their own eyes. They become deluded by their own religious acts. They are so rigid or narrow in their views that they lose their sensitivity to the true reason for being good - to honor God. Solomon may be taking to task the wisdom teachers of the day, who often mechanically and coldly applied their teachings to others (Job's three friends did this in the book of Job). Balance is important. God created us to be whole people, not extremists whose specific viewpoints become more important than the people we should love."
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