For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy (Ecclesiastes 7:7)

3 min readJul 21, 2024

“For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy, and a gift can destroy the heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:7). An extreme physical and emotional suffering can cause the loss of the psychological, mental until the spiritual balance of a person who has the reputation of being a wise one (see the example of Asaph in Psalms 73).

“Everything I have seen during my vain days. There exists the righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there exists the wicked one continuing long in his badness” (Ecclesiastes 7:15). There is a same proverbial sentence in the chapter 8: “There exists a vanity that is carried out on the earth, that there exist righteous ones to whom it is happening as if for the work of the wicked ones, and there exist wicked ones to whom it is happening as if for the work of the righteous ones. I said that this too is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 8:14). The absurd human condition, created surrealistic situations, the righteous who die prematurely because of their justice and the bad guys who manage to live for a long time. The righteous ones suffering from horrible death in labor camps and concentration camps, so as not to compromise with their conscience, while the torturers die cozy in their bed, after a long life and a beautiful old age. Sometimes the vision of things is completely reversed, the righteous man has the result of life of the bad guy and the wicked one with good results in life, by accusing reversal and inversion of values (read Isaiah 5:20). This is another revolting expression of the current absurdity of the human condition (read Habacuc 1:2–4).

“Do not become righteous overmuch, nor show yourself excessively wise. Why should you cause desolation to yourself?” (Ecclesiastes 7:16). This text shows that a psychological rigidity that even tends towards what is right, can create serious relationship problems. The best example is that of the Pharisees of the time of Jesus Christ, who ended up having a high opinion of their person, while despising those who were not like them (read Luke 18:9–14).

“A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born” (Ecclesiastes 7:1–4). It is at the end of a life, that a human has made a beautiful or a bad name, a renown or a reputation (good or bad) before God and men. Given that death is naturally part of the human condition, it is necessary sometimes, to think about it, especially when accompanying the family and friends, in the expression of their mourning, due to the loss of a loved one. The fact of wanting to deny this reality by leading a life essentially oriented on pleasures, without any reflection on this reality, is completely stupid: “Better is vexation than laughter, for by the crossness of the face the heart becomes better. 4 The heart of the wise ones is in the house of mourning, but the heart of the stupid ones is in the house of rejoicing” (Ecclesiastes 7:3,4).

THE SPIRITUAL MAN (Existential meditation on the biblical book of Ecclesiastes):

English: http://www.yomelyah.com/435966902

French: http://www.yomelijah.com/435950338

Spanish: http://www.yomeliah.com/436032401

Portuguese: http://www.yomelias.com/436041981

The Promise of God. The complete explanation of Genesis 3:15.

English: http://www.yomelyah.com/439659476

Portuguese: http://www.yomelias.com/435612656

Spanish: http://www.yomeliah.com/441564813

French: http://www.yomelijah.com/433820451

Catalan: http://www.yomeliah.com/441436117

Article in more than 70 languages