The House of Mourning Is Good for the Soul

Reflecting on Ecclesiastes 7:2

Because the Bible is filled with the perfect wisdom of God, we should expect verses that surprise us. Does Ecclesiastes 7:2 surprise you?

The writer says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart” (Eccl. 7:2).

We should reflect on that observation, for the writer is telling us something that’s “better.” In such “better” statements, the “better” way is the wise way.

Two houses are contrasted: the house of mourning and the house of feasting. The house of feasting would be understandably appealing. Feasting denotes celebration, liveliness, fellowship, joy. Haven’t you been at a table with friends or family and thought, “I don’t want this to end. The joy is so palpable, the company so delightful”?

We are more comfortable at the house of feasting, for sure. Laughter rings in the air, and it’s contagious. The atmosphere can be relaxed, and it’s a breath of fresh air.

So how is going to the “house of mourning”…better? After all, mourning denotes sorrow and grief. There’s loss to face, and the older we get the more losses we experience. The “house of mourning” is about the reality of death. A friend or family member dies, and then the tears of sorrow fill a place with mourning.

The writer didn’t say the “house of feasting” was bad, as if you shouldn’t go there. We know how joyous a festive time can be! But the “house of mourning” is better for this reason: “for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart” (Eccl. 7:2).

This verse is not a statement about the afterlife. It is an observation about earthly life only. Death—represented by the “house of mourning”—is the end of all mankind. Everyone is heading toward death. The rich and the poor, the young and the old, the wise and the fool—everyone dies.

Thinking about death doesn’t have to be an overly morbid exercise. The writer aims the wisdom of Ecclesiastes to guide and nurture the fear of the Lord and wise living. Apparently, then, thinking about death is good for your soul. Contemplating death is something the living do.

We should consider the humbling truth that we are not invincible. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. A house of mourning will one day convene because of our death. Facing the truth of our mortality can have a sobering effect. Earthly life really ends, and earthly life really matters.

The living “will lay it to heart”—they will reflect on and live in light of their inevitable death. Remembering our death can give the soul needed focus, an orientation beyond what is temporal. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your soul is to go to a funeral or attend a graveside service.

Remembering death can disentangle the heart from the frivolities that beckon us. Remembering death can guide us toward eternal matters that might not seem as pressing at the moment. Growth in wisdom will involve thinking about what’s difficult, what’s uncomfortable. Ignoring the reality of death will not change reality.

The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us what is “better.” I wonder if we believe him?

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