Good Old Days (Ecc. 7:10)

Eccl. 7:10 - Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

1. It is good advice because it is in the bible.

2. It is good advice because our perceptions of the "days" and
times" is often limited, and biased by our location and scope of view...Consider:
-God once killed every human being on earth except for 8 due to their wickedness.
-God's covenant people worshiped idols for centuries...to the point of sacrificing their own children to fire.
-God's covenant people once murdered the son of God.
-Roman emperorors outlawed Christianity for a while.
-Catholics and protestants killed each other by the thousands for about a century.
-Protestants killed and banished each other at the beginning years of american colonization.
-In the middle of the 20th century (your good ole days), China was oppressive that there was very little Gospel fruit...now it is exploding.

3. Times ebb and flow from better to worse, and from good in one region and bad in another...Eccl. 7:10 helps us remember that, and to put our hope in Christ and his promise to complete what he has begun, in individuals, in his Church, and in the world...not to put our hope in a better earthly situation.

 

Eccl also says there is a time to be born and a time to die. Each of us is living in the time exactly as God ordained. I was born in 1952, grew up in the 50s and 60s, raised a family in the 70s, 80s and 90s, and that is exactly how it should be.. I know people in my own church who live like they were born in some other decade years ago. Others wish they had been born in a different era. I am thankful for the life God gave me at the time He gave it to me. Really, issues like how moral people were in the 30s and 40s, (certainly not the 20s) has nothing to do with my life. We are to live a life for God in the here and now.

 

Gilligan,

Posts 2,3,4.....were all really good responses...12strings,SN,and S.O. opened up the verse quite nicely.

You said:

Externally it might seem that way.But what you are describing as worse today is the judgement of God upon our nation for national sins that were being committed behind the scenes 50 years ago and we are now reaping the judgement.

What appeared to be "better" then was an outward form of morality ...without God in it.

Did you ever see Donna Reed, or My Three Sons , or the Cleavers having prayer or bible study...thanking God for his mercy and provision??...nope...it was living a clean life without God...and thanking Lassie for saving the day.

No we see the results of living as if God was not really in control.

 

And what would drive me nuts about those shows was Ward walking in from work, never taking off his tie, coat or shoes. He read the paper in them, ate in them, and if I had to guess, slept in them or whatever else went on in the two bed bedroom.

 

:laugh::laugh::thumbsup:

 

Gilligan

In Psalm 73 Asaph also was discouraged when he looked at the activity of the wicked....when he drew near to God and considered the judgement to come, he understood how they end up at the judgement.
Psalm 73 (King James Version)


73 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

If the tribulation of God's people will increase at the end of the age, why does it show a lack of wisdom to observe increased tribulation? The idea is that the end of a thing is better than the beginning. To be disgruntled over increased tribulation reflects anger and a lack of patience. Or to be troubled because a just man perishes while a wicked man thrives. God is being patient, not wanting any to perish eternally, and our job is not to say woe is me, but to say how can I further the ministry of Christ.