Author : Keith Sharp
Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed (Ecclesiastes 8:1).
The wise have a cheerful heart reflected in a cheerful countenance even though evil often prevails in this world.
I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.” Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” (Ecclesiastes 8:2-4)
Though rulers may make bad laws and even be oppressive, obey the law, pay your taxes, honor and respect your rulers, and pray for them (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Most American citizens have repeatedly given the pledge of allegiance as a promise before God (cf. 1 Chronicles 28:24; New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version). The only justifiable reason to disobey civil law is if it contradicts divine law (Acts 5:27-29; cf. Daniel chapter 3). Even this does not justify rebellion against the government. We should desire, pray for, and work toward “a quiet and peaceable” society (1 Timothy 2:2) that the gospel might be spread. Civil government has the God ordained power to make and enforce law with lethal force (Romans 13:4).
He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, because for every matter there is a time and judgment, though the misery of man increases greatly. For he does not know what will happen; so who can tell him when it will occur? No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it (Ecclesiastes 8:5-8).
By obeying even onerous laws we avoid the punishment that comes on the disobedient (cf. 1 Peter 4:15). The Lord ultimately controls the affairs of men, in God’s good providence bad rule carries with it the seeds of its own decay, and eventually bad governments will fall (Daniel 4:17,25,26,32; 5:21; Revelation 19:11-16). We do not know when this may occur for any particular evil ruler or bad government, but though we see misery increase greatly under misrule, we calmly, cheerfully obey and wait for divine judgment, both of the wicked governments in this life and wicked people in the great day of judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). We do not control when we shall die, and we do not control the affairs of state. Wicked behavior such as violent demonstrations will not change either. Be calm and cheerful, do your duty, and leave such things in the hands of God.
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt. (Ecclesiastes 8:9)
That is, the harm is done to the one being ruled. This states the theme of Ecclesiastes chapter eight. How do wise people behave when government is harmful rather than beneficial to those being ruled?
Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity (Ecclesiastes 8:10)
Often in this world the wicked receive the good that should be for the righteous. Many of our most popular politicians, movie stars, and business leaders are unscrupulous and immoral, but they are eminently successful. This demonstrates the futility of just living for this life and forgetting God.
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
Wicked people should see the dawn of another day among the living as an opportunity to repent, but because God doesn’t immediately punish them, they falsely conclude He will not do so, and use it as an excuse to commit even more sin (cf. 2 Peter 3:1-12).
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13)
Through faith we recognize that eventually, whether both in this life and in eternity or only in eternity, the justice of God will prevail, the wicked will be punished, and the righteous shall be rewarded (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10). Thus, the prosperity of the unrighteous is just a fleeting shadow.
There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity (Ecclesiastes 8:14)
But as often as not what we see in this world is wicked men reaping the rewards that should belong to the righteous and good people receiving the evil that should be for the wicked. This demonstrates the futility of living just for here and now.
So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun (Ecclesiastes 8:15)
Don’t become depressed and cynical by what you see around you. Enjoy the good blessings God gives you and live cheerfully. This is what God has given you to enjoy in this life.
When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17)
You can study and observe without rest day and night until you have found out all that goes on in this world, but you will never be able to comprehend all the ways of God. His thoughts and ways are as far above ours as the starry canopy is above the earth (Isaiah 55:8-9). All we can know of His mind is what He has chosen to reveal (Deuteronomy 29:29). Fear Him, obey Him, live cheerfully even when evil prevails in this world, enjoy the blessings He richly bestows, and live in view of a just judgment to come.
