Wise Living, Wicked Leaders

Lead Vocalist (Joel )

Welcome & Announcements (Mike L)

Good morning family!

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Announcements:

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Now please take a moment of silence to prepare your heart for worship.

Call to Worship (Exodus 15:3-11)

Prayer of Praise (Daphne Brewton)

God of Wonders

Your Name

Prayer of Confession (Ronnie Evans), Pride

Assurance of Pardon (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

OCC Video

The Wonderful Cross

Scripture Reading (Eccl. 8:1-17)—page 661 in the black Bibles

Pastoral Prayer (Mike L)

Prayer for PBC—Give us wisdom

Prayer for kingdom partner—Emmaus Baptist (Scott Wade)

Prayer for US—Attorney General

Prayer for the world—Botswana

Pray for the sermon

SERMON

Joseph’s life is one of the most remarkable stories in all of Scripture. He was betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and left to rot in prison. Again and again, those in authority over him abused their power. Potiphar used him. Pharaoh’s cupbearer forgot him. Even when he did right, he suffered wrong.

And yet, through it all, Joseph didn’t crumble. He endured faithfully in the face of corrupt authority, unfair treatment, and deep injustice.

What was it that enabled him to stand? Joseph was a man of wisdom.

Eventually, after Joseph successfully interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, the King of Egypt said “there is none so discerning and wise as you are.” [1]

And yet, despite Joseph’s incredible wisdom, he still suffered.

He was lied about, sold to his enemies for a few pieces of silver, falsely accused, arrested, and mistreated.

The story of Joseph screams a powerful truth about wisdom: Wisdom helps us respond rightly to unjust authority, but it cannot fix everything.

That’s the Big idea I hope to communicate from God’s Word this morning.

Turn in your Bibles, not to the story of Joseph, but to passage we just read in Ecclesiastes 8.

Now I need to be honest with you, this chapter gave me fits this week.

Typically I write my sermons on Mondays. Because I work so far ahead, typically I can finish 90% of a sermon in one focused day of study. If it’s a really good day I’m completely done. Then I can devote the rest of the week to meetings, discipleship, hospital visits, preparing Bible studies, and all the other things you pay me to do.

Last week did not turn out that way. I worked on the sermon all day Monday and I couldn’t figure it out. I studied Monday night after the kids went to bed. No progress. I studied half a day on Tuesday and I couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t until Wednesday that the sermon truly began to take shape.

It helped me immensely when I settled on the fact that this chapter is about wisdom.

We know that because wisdom is mentioned at both the beginning and the end of this chapter, sort of like bookends on a shelf.

This is a common feature in Hebrew poetry called an inclusio.

The author begins and ends a section with similar ideas as a way to draw attention to what’s in the middle.

Let me show this to you...

Ecclesiastes 8:1a—Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?

The answer to the Preacher’s rhetorical question is not many people.

Wise people aren’t impossible to find, but under the sun they are few and far between.

Is it any wonder that Joseph stood out wherever he was—whether in Potiphar’s house, in prison, or in Pharaoh’s courts? He was a wise man, and true wisdom is rare.

But those who take the time to cultivate wisdom will find a surprising benefit...

Ecclesiastes 8:1b—A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

Often we imagine a wise person as being very serious-looking. Perhaps he has a perpetual scowl on his face.

But the Preacher says wisdom has the opposite effect. It makes your face shine. It makes you gentle and kind, not hard and stern.

Because if you’re a wise person, you are able to face a broken world with joy.

Wisdom is helpful.

That’s the beginning part of our Big Idea. We get the last part by looking at the second half of the inclusio in chapter 8...

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17—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, 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.

Even though wisdom is valuable, in a way it’s also vanity.

The Preacher isn’t discounting the value of wisdom, he’s just being realistic about the effects of wisdom.

No matter how wise you are, you’re going to face things that you can’t figure out. And you’re going to face challenges you can’t escape.

Joseph’s wisdom didn’t keep him from suffering. It didn’t answer every question.

Wisdom is helpful, but it cannot fix everything.

We get the middle part of our big idea—about responding rightly to unjust authority—by looking at all the verses in the middle.

Verses 2-15 show us what wisdom looks like.

Perhaps you already noticed that these verses talk a lot about kings and injustice.

This chapter isn’t about wisdom in your finances, or wisdom in marriage, or wisdom in parenting.

All those things are important, but the focus here is responding wisely to unjust authority.

So from this chapter I want to show you 6 Principles for Responding Rightly to Unjust Authority.

Most of us will never suffer like Joseph.

But we all feel the weight of life in a broken world.

We all know what it’s like to deal with leaders who disappoint us, with authorities that are difficult, with injustices that go unpunished, and with problems we are unable to solve.

All of us need wisdom to respond rightly to unjust authority.

And that begins when we…

1) REMEMBER God establishes authority.

Ecclesiastes 8:2—I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.

What does the Preacher mean when he mentions “God’s oath” to the king?

It could be a reference to God’s promise to King David, especially given that this is an Israelite audience.

But it could also be a reference to the biblical truth that God is the One who appoints our rulers, both good and bad.

The prophet Daniel says this in...

Daniel 2:20–21—… “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding”

Because God is the One who establishes our authority, we need to submit to them.

We do not submit to our leaders because they’re good. We submit to them because they’re God’s.

Even wicked leaders like Pontius Pilate, who crucified the only totally innocent person who ever lived. Jesus said to Pilate in John 19:11, “You would have no authority over Me at all unless it had been given you from above.”

Jesus submitted Himself—even to the authority of Pilate—because the authority Pilate had was given to him by God.

Even when you vehemently disagree with the authorities in your life, you must submit to them because God has ordained their authority.

Christian, are you submitting to the authorities in your life? Your government? Your boss? Your pastors? Wives, are you submitting to your husbands? Kids, are you submitting to your parents and teachers?

Because you believe God establishes authority, you should submit.

You will respond wisely to unjust authority when you remember God establishes authority.

But also you must...

2) RESPECT your authorities no matter what.

Every parent knows there’s a difference between submission and respect.

Submission is about our actions—are we actually doing what our authorities have commanded?

Respect is about our affections, our attitudes, and our words. How do we talk about and treat our rulers—even when we disagree with them?

Wisdom is not just submitting to our authorities, but respecting them.

Ecclesiastes 8:3-4—Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

To leave hasty from the king’s presence would be a sign of disrespect and disloyalty.

To take your stand in an evil cause is probably a reference to some sort of evil attempt to overthrow the king.

And the Preacher says this level of disrespect is not only morally wrong, it’s foolish.

Only a fool would stand against the king in an age where kings had unlimited authority.

He did whatever he pleased. His word was supreme.

But in a constitutional republic like ours, where we have the freedom to criticize our rulers, we don’t have to worry about things like this. Our rulers can’t do whatever they please. Their words aren’t supreme. We can ask them, “What are you doing?!?”

As Americans, I believe we should support and defend our first amendment right to speak dishonorable words about our leaders.

But as Christians, I believe we should not exercise those rights. It’s okay to disagree with our leaders, but we should not dishonor them.

Now it’s easy to agree with this when our leaders do things we agree with, but it’s very hard when our leaders do things we seriously disagree with.

But when Nero was the emperor of Rome, the Apostle Peter wrote this...

1 Peter 2:13–14, 17—Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. . . . Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

If the Holy Spirit can command the Christians in the 1st century to honor Emperor Nero, what would He say about the way we treat our authorities today?

Christian, are you respecting the authorities in your life? Do you speak to them and about them respectfully? Kids, how do you talk to mom and dad? Employees, how do you talk to or about your boss? How do you talk about the politicians you disagree with?

You will respond wisely to unjust authority when you respect them no matter what.

Perhaps you’re struggling with this point. What about when an authority commands something evil? What should I do then?

If you’re wise you will…

3) RESIST your authorities with great care.

I think I can safely say we should always honor our authorities. But I can’t say we should always obey them.

There are times when an authority might command something that God forbids. What do we do then?

Ecclesiastes 8:5-7—Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?

These verses can feel a bit confusing, but I think the Preacher is saying this:

Usually it’s best to obey our authorities. When you keep their commandments things typically go well. Those who obey their rulers typically “know no evil thing.”

You typically don’t get a speeding ticket unless you’re speeding. You usually don’t get arrested unless you’ve done something wrong.

But a wise person understands there are times when a ruler might require something that is wrong.

Like when King Nebuchadnezzar told Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to bow down and worship a golden image.

This commandment troubled Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They didn’t know the future. They knew the king threatened to burn them alive if they disobeyed. So to disobey the king was a great risk.

And yet, they disobeyed anyways. They resisted King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree.

But they did resist him carefully.

They resisted the king at the proper time and in the just way.

They picked their battles. Earlier in the book of Daniel, when they were concerned about the king’s food, they made a respectful appeal. Here, there was much more at stake. So they couldn’t simply make an appeal. They had to resist.

And they still honored the king, even when they disobeyed him.

Christian, there may be times when it’s right for you to do the same.

But pick your battles. If you fight your authorities over everything, you’re a fool. Generally your posture should be to either submit or appeal, unless it’s clear your authorities are asking you to disobey God.

And keep honoring your authorities, even when you disagree. Don’t blast them on social media or slander them behind their backs.

You will respond wisely to unjust authority when you resist them with great care.

And it will help you to resist well if you…

4) RECOGNIZE the limits of human power.

Just what can an unjust authority do to you if you choose to resist?

Probably more than you’d like, but also less than you think.

Ecclesiastes 8:8–9— 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. 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.

An evil authority can do a lot of damage.

He can send you to war and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Isn’t that what King David did to Uriah the Hittite?

He can deliver you over to wickedness, and you can’t really stop him.

Like Potiphar throwing Joseph in jail, or Darius throwing Daniel in the lion’s den.

Do if you’re going to resist your authority, count the cost. Recognize there may be penalties for resisting. You might lose your job, or get expelled, or pay a fine, or worse. Don’t complain when this happens.

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, trust that God will deliver you through the fire, even if He doesn’t deliver you from it.

But even though an evil authority can do a lot of damage, he can’t do whatever he wants.

The king has no power to retain the human spirit.

He can reach a lot of things, but he cannot reach your heart.

As Viktor Frankl, who survived Nazi death camps, once said: “The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me.” [2]

The king also has no power over the day of death.

Kings don’t get to decide when people die.

That one might seem strange to you. After all, there are millions of examples throughout history of rulers killing those under their authority.

But think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego again. When they disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar, he was furious. He was determined to put them to death. He heated up the fiery furnace so high it killed the guards standing near it. But the king was unable to kill Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as long as God wanted to keep them alive.

The missionary John Paton was convinced the Lord had sent Him to bring the gospel to a tribe of Cannibals on South Pacific island now known as Vanuatu.

After enduring multiple attempts on his life, John Paton wrote this...

“I realized that I was immortal till my Master’s work with me was done. The assurance came to me, as if a voice out of Heaven had spoken, that not a musket would be fired to wound us, not a club prevail to strike us, not a spear leave the hand in which it was held vibrating to be thrown, not an arrow leave the bow, or a killing stone the fingers, without the permission of Jesus Christ, whose is all power in Heaven and on Earth.” [3]

Christian, how much peace could you have in this world if you would but fight to believe this? Do you really believe God is in control? Do you believe that God limits the power of your enemies?

You will respond wisely to unjust authority when you recognize the limits of human power.

But also you must...

5) REALIZE the shortcomings of earthly justice.

Ecclesiastes 8:10—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.

Obviously, this is a problem. The Preacher sees wicked men who go in and out of the holy place—probably the temple—without punishment. Instead, they’re celebrated.

Why does this happen? Why do good things happen to bad people?

At least one reason is found in...

Ecclesiastes 8:11—Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

Imagine a child who repeatedly breaks the rules at home. Each time, the parent says, ‘I’ll deal with this later,’ but never actually enforces consequences. Over time, the child grows bolder, testing limits, convinced they can act however they want without being stopped.

The same happens in society. When evil isn’t addressed speedily—when laws are ignored, leaders fail to act, or punishment is delayed—people are emboldened to continue in evil.

Delay in justice isn’t just frustrating—it actively encourages wrongdoing to flourish.

But even though earthly justice has it’s shortcomings, we shouldn’t throw our hands up in the air and stop trying.

Let me talk to you for a moment about an injustice that I believe we have a responsibility to fight against.

As you can see in your bulletin inserts, the Virginia House of Delegates has begun the process to amend the Virginia Constitution.

The proposed amendment will enshrine “reproductive freedom” as a fundamental right through all nine months of pregnancy.

SHOW AMENDMENT SLIDE

It could make it illegal for pregnancy centers like CareNet—a ministry which PBC enthusiastically supports—to discourage women from killing their preborn babies.

The amendment has already passed once through the General Assembly, and will be voted on a second time in January 2026.

Right now the Virginia House of Delegates is 51-49 pro-abortion. But if that flips to a pro-life majority, the amendment can be stopped.

So I would implore you to know where your local House of Delegates stand on life by scanning the QR code on the screen, and vote pro-life on November 4th.

SHOW PROTECT LIFE SLIDE

But as important as issues like this are, we cannot allow ourselves to think that justice is limited to what we can do under the sun.

As we’ve already said in our Big Idea, wisdom cannot fix everything.

We must look beyond the sun...

Ecclesiastes 8:12-14—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. 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. 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.

Just because a wicked person prospers now, doesn’t mean he will forever.

When Jesus returns, justice will be done.

If you’re not a follower of Jesus, you need to fear God’s justice, not earthly justice.

Jesus put it this way in...

Luke 12:4–5—“I tell you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!”

What does it mean to fear God?

It means you recognize what you deserve. Because of your sin you deserve to face the wrath of God. You deserve to suffer forever in an eternal hell.

But God, because of His great love for His people, sent His Son Jesus Christ to suffer hell in your place.

Jesus endured the wrath of God on the cross in our place.

On the third day He rose from death so that whoever turns from their sin and trusts in Him can have eternal life.

Dear friend: when you die you will either receive what you deserve or what Jesus deserves. Would you turn from your sins and trust in Jesus today?

If not, you will face the unwavering justice of God on Judgment Day, and you will suffer for eternity for your sin.

I realize some of this is very heavy. It would be tempting to end this sermon on a very somber note, given the heaviness of some of what we’ve had to discuss.

But the Preacher has a different idea.

Rightly responding to unjust authority means you will…

6) REJOICE while you toil under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:15—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.

This seems strange.

How can you rejoice while you’re living under an unjust king who does whatever he pleases because his word is supreme?

How can you rejoice when you’re constantly under threat of someone who has power to hurt you if he wants?

How can you rejoice when the wicked are praised while the righteous suffer?

How can you rejoice when the wicked live long and the good die young?

You have to look beyond the unjust authority to the power of God to use evil for good.

Remember the story of Joseph?

When it was all over, Joseph met his brothers and told them...

Genesis 50:20—“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Solomon could look back to that story and encourage his readers to rejoice in the face of injustice, because God can turn evil into good.

We can look back to another story, where God turned an even greater evil into an infinitely greater good.

Like Joseph, Jesus was lied about and sold to his enemies for a few pieces of silver.

Like Joseph, Jesus was falsely accused, arrested, and mistreated.

Like Joseph, Jesus suffered immensely.

And like Joseph, Jesus’ suffering was used by God to rescue His people.

So cheer up, Christian!

No matter what injustices you’re facing, no matter how difficult your authority, no matter what evil is celebrated in our culture, you are always doing better than you deserve.

So enjoy a good meal. Eat a donut. Drink whole milk. Rejoice! Because when you celebrate you’re practicing for what you’re going to do for eternity!

It’s significant that the symbol Jesus gave His people to celebrate and remember His death in our place requires eating and drinking with joy.

FENCE THE TABLE

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Keep the Feast

LORD’S SUPPER

Doxology

Benediction (Numbers 6:24–26)