The Fear of God, a Sure Guide Through Folly’s Temptations
This journal article by Thomas Miersma offers an exegetical meditation on Ecclesiastes 7:15-18, wrestling with the apparent inequity that righteous people sometimes perish while wicked people prosper. Through careful exposition of Solomon's observations, Miersma reflects on God's sovereign providence and how believers should respond to life's trials and the seeming randomness of divine judgment, ultimately pointing toward the fear of God as a guide through temptation and folly.
Previous article in this series: May 1, 2016, p. 345. All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Be not righteous over much; 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...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org