Who is like the wise?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
and the hardness of his face is changed.
2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. Ecclesiastes 8 ESV
Ecclesiastes 8
1 Who is like the wise - The wise become gentle, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. They speak truth without regard of reward; it is blessing enough. The martyr Stephen preached a wonderful message, and received a stoning for it, but his last words were, "hold not this sin against them.
2-9 God puts kings and governments over people to protect from the evil doer, to provide for those who would lead a quiet and peaceful existence. We did not want God, so why are we so quick to leave the presence of kings, to berate them. They have the power here to take life, so for that reason under the sun, that thing called fear, take care how you act before the king. Be careful where you stand lest you fall.
This also makes us reflect on our obedience to God as the Great King. “If he be a King, then it is a solemn hazard to your soul if you come short of the least of his commandments. Remember that one treason makes a traitor; one leak sinks a ship; one fly spoils the whole box of ointment. He that bought us with his blood deserves to be obeyed in all things with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength.” (Spurgeon)
…18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20 For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”… Acts 4:19
10-15 Men see wicked people doing well, or living long lives, improving their position by evil methods, taking what they should not, and so men see evil as good means. Why aren't they punished immediately, and the mind set upon prosperity forgets the lessons of Job, forgets that the prophets, those who truly loved and spoke for God, were hated by men, yet God was pleased with them. This will pain a lot of minds, but my doing well here, under the sun, as far as you call well, is no proof of God's blessing. Blessed are ye when men revile you, persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely. Whether the throne or the wheel chair, God is looking at my heart, and I am completely dependent upon His mercy to make it acceptable before Him. Here the righteous often receive the reward that we would expect to be reserved for the wicked, but in eternity they would only know this as hell, and the wicked would miss their worst day under the sun.
16-17 Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out - Many have held up a model, say they know how the universe was made, some claim to know the goings on outside of the place of time and space, yet they understand so little under the sun.
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