Eccl 5_8-9
Life’s not fair! I think I said that more than once as a teenager. It certainly seems to a phrase on Solomon’s mind as he surveys life under the sun.
He sees injustice in the law courts. He observes the rich exploiting the poor and it bothers him. It ought to disturb us as well.
Let me read what Solomon has said so far in Ecclesiastes on this subject of injustice.
· Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 (READ)
· Ecclesiastes 4:1(READ)
Our passage for today is Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 (READ)
I. This is a brief passage of Scripture but it reminds us of the Reality of Injustice.
The beginning of verse 8 points out three examples of injustice in the world.
A. Oppression of the poor
v.8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor.
This word oppression literally means to crush. In many parts of the world poor people are held down.
They are given wages so meagre that they can only live from day to day. Corrupt employers love this because the people have to keep working just to survive, no matter how low the wage is.
The exploitation of the poor takes place even here in Ireland through some money lenders. These are people who loan out money but they charge super high interest rates that trap people in debt. They get away with it because they know people are not in a position to borrow from a bank.
Those who oppress the poor are warned in Proverbs 22:16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth . . . will only come to poverty.
B. The Violation of Justice is also mentioned in verse 8.
The full meaning of the word violation gives us an idea of what was happening. It means to rip away, to rob to deny or to pervert.
(ILL) A person goes to the courts because they were wronged but the judge rules against him because the other party bribed the judge. That man was robbed of justice.
Proverbs 17:23 makes it clear that only The wicked accept a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.
C. Verse 8 says there is also a Violation of Righteousness
The word righteousness here means conformity to the law. In other words the officials in charge of enforcing the law were not doing it.
This happens all over the world. Government officials turn a blind eye to wrong-doing. Basic human rights like religious freedom are ignored in many countries.
Again Scripture is clear about what God feels about this lack of righteousness. Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
The further a society drifts away from the Lord the more oppression and injustice we can expect to see.
(ILL) We can look through the Old Testament and see this in Israel. When the followed God’s law there was justice for all. When they drifted from the Lord corruption grew at every level.
We are living in a day when many Western nations are abandoning any vestiges of God’s law. Governments are replacing laws built on the solid foundation of the Bible with laws build on the shifting sand of popular opinion.
Because of this we can expect injustice and unrighteousness to increase.
II. How should God’s people respond to this?
A. Solomon says first of all don’t be shocked.
v. 8 do not be amazed at the matter. As Christians we are not caught off guard by corruption and sinful behaviour. We know we live in a fallen world.
Injustice has been part of the human race since Adam and Eve first fell into sin. Their son Cain committed the first murder. Cain’s great grandson Lamech used his physical power to threaten his wives and to crush those who slighted him.
It got so bad that the Lord had to intervene with a flood lest people completely destroy each other.
We know we live in a fallen world but we also know that the Lord is very much in control of what is happening.
B. Because of that we can trust in God to enact Justice
v. 8 for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. v.9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
1. Solomon is either saying corruption goes all the way to the top or he is giving a picture of accountability in these verses.
One version of the Bible sees this as corruption at every level of government. Each official is watching the one below to make sure he is getting a cut of the action. It even translates verse 9 like this: Even the king milks the land for his own profit! (NLT)
That would certainly leave us with a sense of hopelessness as far as justice goes.
2. Looking at these verses positively would mean that each official is accountable to someone above him. Like the role of Daniel in Daniel 6:1-3 (READ)
Solomon saying the king is committed to cultivated fields is another way of saying he’s committed to peace and prosperity for the nation.
Both interpretations are possible. I see these verses speaking more about accountability than corruption because of what Solomon said about injustice in 3:17. He said that God will judge the righteous and the wicked.
Matthew Henry said: Let it be a check to oppressors that perhaps their superiors on earth may call them to an account; however, God the Supreme in heaven will.
The Scriptures show clearly that God does take note of every act of injustice and He will hold people accountable for their actions. Both the Old and New Testaments end with a reminder that a time of judgment is coming.
· In Malachi 3:5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against … those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
· Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
Because God is the one who will right all wrongs we can repeat Psalm 140:12 with confidence. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.
C. In the meantime we can pray for justice
In the Lord’s prayer we say – Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Psalm 37:28 says: For the LORD loves justice; So praying for justice is definitely one way to pray for God’s will be done on earth.
Jesus also invites us to pray that justice will be shown to us. Luke 18:7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?
Of course the answer is yes! In His perfect timing we will receive justice.
D. We can uphold God’s standard.
1. Be fair and honest in all our dealings.
Psalm 106:3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
No sense looking for justice in society if you are not living with integrity. Often the officials of a nation just reflect the standards of the people.
2. When we live with integrity we are in a position to remind others of God’s standards.
Many passages in the Bible have a universal application. Every nation should follow Leviticus 19:15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbour.
Zechariah 7:8-10 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
There are opportunities to make submissions to the government officials and tell them what the Word of God says. Often the Church in Chains gives addresses where you can voice your concerns to other governments.
E. The best way to respond to injustice in the world is to preach the Gospel.
1. (ILL) There was a movement back in the 60’s & 70’s called Liberation Theology. In this movement religious leaders started getting involved in politics and even armed rebellion in order to create justice in the world.
They used Luke 4:18 to justify their actions. In that verse Jesus said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
There is a resurgence of this liberation thinking among Christians today. They’re not saying we should take up arms but they feel that fighting injustice and getting involved in social causes must be a major part of our ministry if we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
2. Before we accept this shift in thinking we have to ask ourselves was fighting injustice and oppression a major part of Jesus’ ministry on earth. (ILL) The Romans were certainly oppressing the Jewish people in Jesus’ day. Yet all Jesus said about the Romans was to pay the proper taxes to them.
There is not a single instance where Jesus speaks out against the Roman occupation of Israel. Even Pilate declared Jesus not guilty when the Pharisees tried to say Jesus was inciting rebellion.
Every time freedom is mentioned in connection with Jesus’ ministry it’s referring to freeing people from demonic oppression, slavery to sin, and false teaching.
3. How about Paul? Did he focus his ministry on freeing the oppressed slaves in the cities he visited?
No, Paul said in Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
A few verses later he said Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (Col 4:1)
That doesn’t mean that slavery is OK. Paul also said 1Corinthiains 7:21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For Paul the biggest issue in life is following Christ.
Another issue that Christians faced in the 1st century was persecution. Did Paul encourage the Christians to fight against the injustices done to them because of their faith?
No! In Romans 12:19 Paul says Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.
4. The ministry we are to focus was given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ right before He ascended into heaven. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus said: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Peter certainly knew what Jesus meant. He said in Acts 10:42 Jesus commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
Paul understood Jesus as well and he told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
5. As we preach the Gospel lives will be changed and society will change. This happened in England when slavery was abolished. The political changes took place because the Gospel had changed the hearts of the people.
Christians grieve over injustice in the world just like Solomon did, but they know that the best solution is changed hearts not just changed political or social structures.
· Helping the poor is part of our Christian duty. We ought to help meet the needs of people when we can. But when you take eternity into consideration it’s much better to help alleviate their spiritual poverty.
· It must be wonderful to see someone freed from slavery but it’s infinitely better to see them freed from slavery to sin.
· Social action helps people enjoy a more comfortable life here on earth but preaching the Gospel can result in a person enjoying eternal life in heaven.
May the Lord give you wisdom when you encounter injustice and oppression here on earth. There may be something practical you can do to ease these social ills.
But there’s always something you can do to confront the spiritual ills that cause those social problems. Preach the Gospel.
Never underestimate the power of the Gospel to provide good news for the poor, to proclaim liberty to those who are slaves to sin, to give sight to the spiritually blind and to free those who are oppressed by guilt and shame.
Let’s pray!
