Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 (2)
Notes
Transcript
Mission Updates
Mission Updates
Verse Memorization
Verse Memorization
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 8
Ecclesiastes 8
Turn to and read Ecclesiastes 8:1-13. Pray.
Given the topic that we looked at last week and will again tonight, I thought it interesting an article which I read this afternoon from the Minnesota Public Radio website. The title of the article:
With violent crime on the rise in Mpls., City Council asks: Where are the police?
With violent crime on the rise in Mpls., City Council asks: Where are the police?
Just months after leading an effort that would have defunded the police department, City Council members at Tuesday’s work session pushed [the police] chief...to tell them how the department is responding to the violence.
This in some ways demonstrates how the thinking of an individual truly becomes so confusing when they have pushed God out of their thinking.
Now, let’s pick up where we left off last week...
“Where the word of the king is, there is power...”
“Where the word of the king is, there is power...”
We find these words in vs. 4 of Ecclesiastes chapter 8.One of the reasons why we should be cautious in how we conduct ourselves before and around our civil authority is because they do have power.
George Washington said, “Government is not mere advice; it is authority, with power to enforce its laws.”
As I think about this I am reminded of King Darius, in Daniel chapter 6. One of the arguments that his presidents and princes made, when seeking to find an occasion against Daniel was simply this: King Darius, your word is powerful!
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
As in Solomon’s case, the king could do as he liked. (Praise the Lord for the fact that we still, by and large, live in a country where our civil authority is bound to act according to the laws of the land.) However, for a moment look beyond the power of the king to see the True Power - God!
And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding:
Again, I remind us of what Paul wrote in Romans 13:
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
The true power behind any earthly authority is God.
Consider what Jesus said to Pilate:
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
One of the reasons, I believe, that there is lack of respect for civil authority is because there is no longer a fear of God in our society.
As Bible-believing Christians we must set the example and show respect to our earthly authority just as we would show respect to the Lord!
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
What we see here in vs. 5 wraps up Solomon’s thoughts from the previous verses.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
I believe that Daniel is an excellent example of Ecclesiastes 8:5. Even though he spent a night in the den of lions, notice what he said to King Darius in the morning:
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Because Daniel’s attitude was right toward the authority - even a wicked, evil authority - that God had allowed to be in control, God blessed Daniel and God took care of Daniel. In his response to authority, Daniel was a testimony to and for God. After Daniel came out of the den of lions, King Darius said:
Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
While we see our country seemingly spinning out of control, these verses should still be a challenge and encouragement to us that it is a wise thing to honor and respect the civil authority that God has placed in our lives. Ultimately, God will work all things out for good!
As we get to Ecclesiastes 8:6, Solomon’s humanistic and pessimistic perspective and attitude once again begins to rear its ugly head!
Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
Because…This is going to answer back to vs. 5.
To every purpose…To every matter of business.
There is time and judgment…There is a point in time when that matter of business must be dealt with.
Therefore the misery of man is great upon him!
Why is it “misery” to Solomon?
That is answered in vs. 7:
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
It was not in Solomon - humanly speaking - to know that which shall be and it was beyond his ability - humanly speaking - to tell when it would be. And, since Solomon had turned his back on God, Solomon was completely left in the dark - he was “flying blind” as they say - which I’m sure was a very frustrating condition to be in; especially for a man who had, earlier in his administration, experienced so much of the blessings of God!
Bible-believing Christians ,who know the real story of the founding of our country, find themselves in a similar situation. As I consider the many blessings that God has bestowed upon our country in the past, it is frustrating to me to see the condition she is currently in!
It is mind-boggling to see elected officials allowing individuals to tear down their own communities through rioting and looting;
It just doesn’t make any sense at all to hear elected officials call for the removal of law enforcement and then just a few months later complain that the police are no where to be found.
It is amazing that, just 19 short years ago, every elected official and US citizen, after 9/11, were singing the praises of our military and first responders but now protesters stand outside of a hospital emergency room hoping that two deputy sheriffs die!
All of these situations - and more - are very frustrating because any rational thinking individual knows that at some point, all of these situations are going to have to be dealt with but no one seems to know how they should be dealt with!
Again, remember that Solomon is writing these verses near the end of his life; near the end of his reign as king. Because he has turned from God, Solomon is beginning to be pressured from within and without his kingdom. (A quick look at 1 Kings 11:9-43 reveals to us some of the political and business matters that Solomon was having to deal with.) I believe that there is a definite parallel to what we see happening in our country today and what we see taking place in 1 Kings chapter 11.
Solomon was experiencing great misery because, while he knew that these matters were going to need to be dealt with, he was unsure how they were going to be dealt with and when they were going to be dealt with! (I point you back to the Minneapolis city council and their “We don’t want the police but where are the police?” drama!)
As we look at the condition of our country right now and the absurdity of the things taking place, it would be very easy for us to wring our hands in worry. It would be very easy to give in to a spirit of misery.
This is why it is vitally important for us to live Colossians 3:1-4 right now:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
I’d like for you to think, again, of Daniel as he spent a night in the den of lions. In Daniel 6:22, notice Daniel’s perspective:
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
My God...
Daniel looked beyond the physical situation he was in and set his affection on things above!
Then, in Daniel 6:23, notice Daniel’s attitude (as seen by King Darius’ testimony):
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Daniel believed - trusted - God!
Those are two things that were lacking in Solomon’s life as he penned the book of Ecclesiastes and as he lived through very challenging times and they are two things that - if we are going to survive in 2020 - we are going to need to not only remember but that we are going to have to practice in our lives; a perspective that includes God and an attitude of trust in God!
Prayer
Prayer
Elma & Kevy Jinard, two of our SCBA students and their family!
Stephen Wells
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