Good Old Days (Ecc. 7:10)

[Gilligan]

How can Ecclesiastes 7:10 still be good advice? In light of the rampant wickedness of today's society, the old days ARE better in that respect. Even just fifty years ago there wasn't nearly as much atheism, homosexuality, drug use, and crime as there is now. Those things did exist then, but it was rare, now it is rampant. I cannot believe how many atheists there are nowadays, especially on the Internet. I'm 51 years old and the first time someone told me religion and politics are two subjects that shouldn't be discussed was in 1979. It's gotten much worse just since then.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 was written at a time when things stayed the same for century after century.

 

[12strings]

How can Ecclesiastes 7:10 still be good advice? In light of the rampant wickedness of today's society, the old days ARE better in that respect. Even just fifty years ago there wasn't nearly as much atheism, homosexuality, drug use, and crime as there is now. Those things did exist then, but it was rare, now it is rampant. I cannot believe how many atheists there are nowadays, especially on the Internet. I'm 51 years old and the first time someone told me religion and politics are two subjects that shouldn't be discussed was in 1979. It's gotten much worse just since then.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 was written at a time when things stayed the same for century after century.

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.

 

[saturneptune]

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.

 

[Scarlett O.]

How can Ecclesiastes 7:10 still be good advice? In light of the rampant wickedness of today's society, the old days ARE better in that respect. Even just fifty years ago there wasn't nearly as much atheism, homosexuality, drug use, and crime as there is now. Those things did exist then, but it was rare, now it is rampant. I cannot believe how many atheists there are nowadays, especially on the Internet. I'm 51 years old and the first time someone told me religion and politics are two subjects that shouldn't be discussed was in 1979. It's gotten much worse just since then.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 was written at a time when things stayed the same for century after century.

Crying out for the “good old days”? You mean like the children of Israel did in the wilderness complaining to Moses that they should stayed in Egypt because at least they had food there? They didn’t quite think that one through, did they.

They had selective memory. So do we. We like to romanticize the past and it never serves any purpose doing that.

I believe that homosexuality, drugs, immorality, lying, and all the rest have always been what they always have been because humanity has been what it has always been. It’s just in our faces so much today because of instantaneousness of the internet, TV, radio, cell phones, etc….

If the Bible says that pining for the “good old days” is foolish, then it is foolish. Here’s a nice quote by someone whom I couldn’t find a name for.

This seems to refer to the "privilege" and tendency of the older to look back and pine for the way things were done (Job does something similar in Job 29:2-5, although he had perhaps more reason). The memory is very selective and only remembers the nice things, and forgets the difficulties (as the children of Israel did when recalling life in Egypt: Exo 16:3; Num 11:5,6; 14:1-4). We are dealing with the matter of discontent. Looking back to "the good old days", is pouring scorn on the present and implying, quite wrongly, that there is no hope for the future. There is always hope for the present and the future, because God is in control!

I agree with King Solomon – pining for the past is not healthy. But don’t take my word for it. Here are some thoughts of others who LIVED the old days.

“Morose and querulous, praising former days when he was boy, now ever blaming youth .... all that is most distant and removed from his own time and place, he loathes and scorns.” (Ancient poet Horace)

"There is no weight nor truth in it; but men use it to excuse their crimes, and the folly of their conduct. 'In former times,' say they, 'men might be more religious, use more self-denial, be more exemplary.' This is all false. In former days men were wicked as they are now, and religion was unfashionable: God also is the same now as he was then; as just, as merciful, as ready to help: and there is no depravity in the age that will excuse your crimes, your follies, and your carelessness." (Clarke, 200 years ago).

"It is folly to complain of the badness of our own times when we have more reason to complain of the badness of our own hearts (if men's hearts were better, the times would mend) and when we have more reason to be thankful that they are not worse, but that even in the worst of times we enjoy many mercies, which help to make them not only tolerable, but comfortable. It is folly to talk up the goodness of former times, so as to derogate from the mercy of God to us in our own times; as if former ages had not the same things to complain of that we have, or if perhaps, in some respects, they had not, yet as if God had been unjust and unkind to us in casting our lot in an iron age, compared with the golden ages that went before us; this arises from nothing but fretfulness and discontent, and an aptness to pick quarrels with God himself. We are not to think there is any universal decay in nature, or degeneracy in morals. God has been always good, and men always bad; and if, in some respects, the times are now worse than they have been, perhaps in other respects they are better" (Henry, 350 years ago).

 

[Iconoclast]

Gilligan,

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

You said:

How can Ecclesiastes 7:10 still be good advice? In light of the rampant wickedness of today's society, the old days ARE better in that respect. Even just fifty years ago there wasn't nearly as much atheism, homosexuality, drug use, and crime as there is now. Those things did exist then, but it was rare, now it is rampant

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.

 

[saturneptune]

Gilligan,

.

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.

 

[Scarlett O.]

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.

Excellent point.

 

[Iconoclast]

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]

Everyone has made good points. There are things about the present I like such as technolical advances and help for the disabled. One of the things I'm referring to is the in-your-face atheism that we have now that we didn't have long ago. I had heard that ministers and priests were respected in the 1950s even by unbelievers, now they are hated.

Look at the comments about religion on YouTube. Click "Show More" about twice at bottom of page and read to newset to see what I mean.
They way Vincent rousseau is, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a spooky sunvisor shortly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8EWbJ0w68U (Caution: Comments Contain Profanity)

Also, Many Christians always say our generation is the most wicked ever (mostly because they believe we are in the Last Days). My pastor also always used to say in his sermons "We live in a day when...." and names something negative.

 

[Iconoclast]

Gilligan

Everyone has made good points. There are things about the present I like such as technolical advances and help for the disabled. One of the things I'm referring to is the in-your-face atheism that we have now that we didn't have long ago. I had heard that ministers and priests were respected in the 1950s even by unbelievers, now they are hated.

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.

Also, Many Christians always say our generation is the most wicked ever (mostly because they believe we are in the Last Days). My pastor also always used to say in his sermons "We live in a day when...." and names something negative.

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:

 

[Gilligan]

One of the things I hear about the old days is that you didn't have to lock your doors. Not sure how true that is. And we didn't have terrorism like we have recently: 9/11, Sandy Hook, Aurora, CO, Boston, etc.

 

[Van]

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.

 

[Scarlett O.]

One of the things I hear about the old days is that you didn't have to lock your doors. Not sure how true that is. And we didn't have terrorism like we have recently: 9/11, Sandy Hook, Aurora, CO, Boston, etc.

Certainly 40, 50, and 60 years ago there was no 9/11 or Columbine or Sandy Hook.

But there was Pearl Harbor, Adolph Hitler, the atomic bomb, polio, influenza, small pox, Jim Crow laws, lynchings, Iranian hostages, the Cold war, assassinations of presidents, expansion of sexually transmitted disease from 1 in 300,000 to 1 in 5 (just in the early 70's), race riots, and more.

Gilligan, to me, the point of King Solomon is that trading today's troubles for yesterday's troubles serves no purpose.

To pine for yesterday out of fear of today is placing one's trust in a past that's murky at best and not placing our trust in the LORD to get us through the trouble of today.

Even Jesus said - 2000 years ago - not to even worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough trouble of it's own.