Dealing with an Unjust World

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning

Release the children

Hope you are having a great summer

Thank you to so many people who are stepping in to serve in different areas as we have numerous families out of town this summer

Ecclesiastes

“Under the sun” - meaning and purpose apart from God

“Vanity, meaninglessness” - the wrong pursuits we strive after for meaning, apart from God

PRAY

East of Eden - meaning and purpose

Wisdom vs Broken World

Last week

Big Idea This Week / Hook / Connection

Under the Sun - Realities of a Broken World extend to those in power

Nations

(Iran, China, Brexit, another political season)

Authority

Police - we see those who serve and protect the community and those who abuse their power

Military

Workplace

manager

boss

teacher

Parenting

Love or ridicule

Protect or abuse

School Kids

Popular kids or class president - serve the student body or bully

How do people get to positions of authority?

How should we respond as Christians to leaders/people in authority when they are wicked/fools?

How can we be strengthened to sustain godliness in a broken world under foolish leaders?

You begin to realize the challenge that God does not always put the wisest person in charge.

Sometimes - those in authority over you are the fools described in Ecclesiastes and/or proverbs

How then should we respond when we find ourselves under the authority of a fool?

Pray

Apply Wisdom to These Questions

[8:1a] “Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?

In chapter 7 the teacher just said no one is truly wise. Fully wise.

[8:1b] “A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.”

Nobody is absolutely and fully wise

But we can possess some human (man’s) wisdom and this impacts our lives, our countenance.

GOD ESTABLISHES THE AUTHORITIES (8:2)

QUESTION: How are people put in positions of authorities?

ANSWER: Leaders are established by God

This does not mean that all leaders are good or wise

At times, we see God allow wicked and foolish people to become leaders.

Hosea and in “do everything they say to you, for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their King any longer.”

[Politically charged environment] Please do not hear any political undertones here. I am not speaking in code. What I pray we see here this morning are biblical principles concerning wisdom and how we relate to people in authority according to God’s Word

.

[8:2] I say: Keep the King’s command, because of God’s oath to him.”

2 Meanings:

ESV translates this: “God’s oath to the King”

Can also be translated “because of your oath to God.”

Or is it the King making rash oaths before God...

Context is for someone in the King’s Court, under the King’s authority

Either way: [] speak directly to this:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.”

“For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority - whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed.”

Not every person in authority is righteous and wise. At times, according to God’s purposes, he also allows wicked fools to be in positions of authority.

This may raise questions in your mind and heart - “why did God allow ____________ to be in authority?”

Maybe this is Hitler, Kim Jung Un, Teacher, Boss, Parents

Answer: That may not be for us to know.

Remember “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

At times, we see God allow wicked and foolish people to become leaders.

Hosea and in “do everything they say to you, for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their King any longer.”

Hosea and in “do everything they say to you, for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their King any longer.”

[Politically charged environment] Please do not hear any political undertones here. I am not speaking in code. What I pray we see here this morning are biblical principles concerning wisdom and how we relate to people in authority according to God’s Word

But these are national leaders. These authorities and powers over my life...

“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” (NIV)

QUESTION: How should we respond as Christians to leaders/people in authority when they are wicked/fools? Especially when that person in in direct authority over us (context of a person in the court of the King)?

SHREWD CAUTION (8:2-9)

The Answer: As Christians we should respond with shrewd caution

DON’T DISRESPECT THE LEADER

[8:3] “Be not hasty to go from [the king’s] presence.”

CONTEXT

“Who is wise”

A king was the ultimate authority. To enter the King’s presence could mean your life. To quickly leave was to turn your back on the King which was extremely disrespectful.

Even today, it is against protocol to show your back to the Queen of England. Just back away.

The purpose though is ultimately about respect

APPLICATION

Don’t disrespect those God has place in authority.

Insults, jokes, slander, gossip, etc.

Sometimes we assume that a person is either deserving of respect or not and if they are a fool or wicked - then we are permitted to disrespect them. I believe this is telling us to not be disrespectful

We also show respect through submission to the governing authorities [“keep the King’s command”]

William Tyndale, “the powers that be”

Martin Luther, “political obedience”

Philip Graham Ryken, “Every Christian is called to be a law-abiding citizen and to respond to any godly request the government makes for help. This includes everything from paying our full taxes to answering the president’s call to volunteer service.”

DON’T RETURN EVIL WITH EVIL

[8:3] “Do not take your stand in an evil cause”

APPLICATION

Taking a stand against the authority but your position against them is with evil intent.

President - assassination plot

Boss / Co-Worker - lie, plant false information, sabotage their work, don’t do your best, etc

Parent - pitting parents against one another,

Teacher - spreading rumors, sharing untrue stories, etc

GODLY DISOBEDIENCE

”wisdom changes our countenance”

QUESTION: Is there ever a time when it is OK to disobey the governing authorities over you?

ANSWER: Yes

[8:6] “There is a time and a place to resist the authorities but this should weigh heavy on our hearts”

When the command is in direct violation of God’s Word

[] The religious leaders strictly ordered the Apostles to stop preaching in the name of Jesus… yet, Peter and the other apostles replied: “we must obey God rather than men.”

Boss asks you to lie, steal, forged documents...

Parents are asking you to shoplift

Resistance and Consequences

Preaching the Word: Ecclesiastes—Why Everything Matters Chapter 17: Command and Consent (Ecclesiastes 8:1–9)

Helmuth von Moltke was drafted to work in counterintelligence for Nazi Germany; yet his Christian faith made him a resolute opponent of Adolf Hitler. Although he believed it would be wrong for him to use violent force against the Nazis, von Moltke used his high position to rescue many prisoners from certain death. Not surprisingly, eventually he was accused of treason, put on trial, and sentenced to die.

In his final letter home to his beloved wife Freya, Helmuth described the dramatic moment at his trial when the judge launched into a tirade against his faith in Christ. “Only in one respect does the National Socialism resemble Christianity,” he shouted: “we demand the whole man.” Then the judge asked the accused to declare his ultimate loyalty: “From whom do you take your orders, from the other world or from Adolf Hitler? Where lie your loyalty and your faith?”

Von Moltke knew exactly where his loyalty lay. He had put all his hope and trust in Jesus Christ. Therefore, he stood before his earthly judge as a Christian and nothing else. His faith had enabled him to act wisely in government service, and now it enabled him to act wisely when he faced his final hour

We must we willing to suffer the consequences for doing what is right. It may mean losing our job, our freedom, or even our life.

Wise Man in the Court of Folly

[8:2] Obey human authorities,

[8:3] Don’t avoid work, but also, don’t Get caught up in doing evil

[8:4] King has power

[8:5-6] wisdom will lead you to do what is right at the right time

[8:7-8] We are all powerless over what is going to happen. Even the wicked cannot rescue the wicked

Slow to Speak, Quick to Leave

[8:3] Help restrain the king from making foolish decision on account of “his oath to God”

Courage to confront someone is absolute power - wisdom to know the proper time and the just way for doing so.

Wise as a Serpent, Innocent as a Dove

QUESTION: How can we be strengthened to sustain godliness in a broken world under foolish leaders?

PATIENT FAITH (8:10-13)

DELAYED JUDGEMENT

[8:10] Sometimes the wicked are buried with honor - they walked in and out of church - they are even praised in the place where they served - where they committed crimes!

[8:11] When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong

FEEL UNJUST (10)

Why is the life of the wicked prolonged?

LICENSE FOR EVIL (11)

People assume God’s delayed judgement gives them a license to continue sinning.

I got away with it that one time - maybe I’ll do it again.

why does God delay?

MOTIVATED BY MERCY [FEAR GOD]

[8:12] BUT even if a person sins much and lives long - it is better to fear God

[8:13] There is a time after these times

[] “The Lord is slow to fulfill his promise [day of final judgement] as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

FEAR GOD

2 Kinds of Fear

Judge - punishes the guilty

Father - disciplines those he loves

For those who have placed their faith and trust in God’s Son Jesus - we fear God as a loving father, with respect, awe, and loving obedience

For those who have not yet trusted in Jesus - you should fear God as the creator, and judge over all his creation.

God’s merciful patience is allowing you still time to trust in him.

FINAL JUDGEMENT

King’s folly in God’s Court

God’s Mercy is Not a License

There is a time beyond our time

As Christians in a broken world, he invites us into more than just a patient trust. He also invites us into...

JOYFUL TRUST (8:14-17)

Meaninglessness in our world

[8:14] Sometimes good people are treated as though they are wicked and wicked people treated as if they are good.

You may be like… WOW, that’s isn’t so encouraging

[8:15] so have fun...

In despair...

In joyful trust...

[8:16] ceaseless activity...

[8:17] all of our activity will not help us to understand everything that God is doing. Even the wisest among us will not understand everything.

What is the source of our joy?

Wrongly

conclude that in chaos and injustice - party on!

Correctly

God is in control

God will judge the

[17] “then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun.”

Conclusion

Live with a patient faith in the fear of God in this broken world as you joyfully trust in him.

GOSPEL CONNECTION

Creator and King

Created

Awareness of God presence and work at work around us throughout the day.

We won’t always understand the why

We can know for certain though that God is present, in control, and at work

May this be enough

CONCLUSION

Where are you currently struggling with impatience toward God’s timing and purposes?

Are you walking in the “fear of God” or are you trying to control the circumstances around you?

What would it look like for you to joyfully trust in God this week?

Are you living with a shrewd caution?

PRAY

disrespecting that person

justifying evil

submit and obey or resist and endure consequences

Are you living patiently faithful to God?

does delayed consequences cause you to sin

walking in the fear of God (believer and unbeliever)?

Are you able to joyfully trust in God’s sovereignty?