Eccl 8_14-17

Anyone can see that we live in a fallen world; a world that is under the curse of sin.  There might be a few New Age gurus or blind optimists around who pretend nothing is wrong but the reality is recorded for us in Romans 8:20-23 (READ) 

In Ecclesiastes 1-6 Solomon has proved this point as well.  He shows that you cannot gain ultimate meaning, joy or purpose under the sun. 

Those who are trusting in Jesus Christ know there is a better day coming but what do we do in the meantime?  Q: How do we live for God in this fallen world?

That’s what Solomon has been speaking about in Ecclesiastes chapters 7-8.  The key word in these chapters is wisdom.  Wisdom is God’s gift to guide us through the vanities and confusion of this world.   Wisdom helps us get God’s perspective on life and it even helps us enjoy life as we wait for the Lord’s return. 

In Chapter 7-8 Solomon has told us much about wise living:   

·     The wise man thinks seriously about death for this is the end of all mankind.  This is not a morbid preoccupation with death like in Goth music.  Instead we are to be ready to meet your maker.

·     The wise person will be patient, humble and honest in his or her dealings. 

·     They will enjoy what God has given and not complain when God withholds material blessings.  Like the Apostle Paul the wise man is content in whatever state he is in. 

·     The wise person avoids the extremes of legalism and loose living. 

·     Wisdom helps us avoid dangerous temptations.

·     It shows us how to treat authorities with respect.   

·     Last week we heard that the wise person will walk in the fear of the Lord and keep an eternal perspective when they see injustice. 

This morning we will continue looking at how to live wisely in a fallen world by studying Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 (READ)

Like last week,  Solomon makes an observation.       

I.        Solomon’s Observation  (14)

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.

A.    The general pattern of life in that God rewards the righteous and He punishes the wicked. 


Paul told the Galatians: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Gal 6:7-9)

B.    But God does allow exceptions to this pattern.  Sometimes God does allow the righteous to suffer on this earth.  Look at some of the accounts in Scripture.

·       Abel was murdered because his sacrifice was accepted and his brother’s was not. 

·       Joseph was sold into slavery for recounting a dream God gave him.

·       David was chased by a jealous Saul.

·       Jeremiah was thrown into an old cistern because he preached the truth.

·       Paul was beaten to a pulp for preaching the Gospel.

·       Many servants of the Lord have been martyred throughout church history.

·       And the greatest example of a good man suffering the fate of the wicked is the Lord Jesus.  He lived a perfect life and yet He was treated like the world’s worst criminal. 

C.     Sometimes the righteous suffer and sometimes the wicked prosper for a season. 

·     Some the kings of Israel did not walk with the Lord yet they lived long lives.

·     Herod was a wicked king yet he had great wealth.

·     Even today countries that persecute Christians seem to be thriving economically. 

D.      Christians never pretend that these situations don’t occur.   We can observe them daily but we also keep in mind what Solomon says in verse 14.  These vanities take place on earth. 

We know it is not like this in heaven and one day it will not be like this anywhere.   Peter said in his second letter:  we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Pet 3:13)

Even the fact that we recognize that something is wrong, means that God has put a longing in our hearts for what is good and just and right.   

While we wait for God to fulfill that longing we are not to get discouraged or depressed instead we should follow Solomon’s advice in verses 15-17. 

II.      Solomon’s Advice (15-17)

A.    First off, Solomon says we should rejoice in God’s Goodness (15)

15 And I commend joy, for man has no good thing 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.

Solomon has given this same advice throughout this book - 2:24-26, 3:12-13 & 5:18-20 which reads (READ)

1.     Despite the injustices and heartaches of life we know God is good and He shows His goodness to us in many ways.  In verse 15 Solomon mentions food, drink and joyfulness as things that will ease our toil on this earth. 

(ILL) How often do we take our daily bread for granted.  Most nights we eat meat which is a luxury in most parts of the world.   If we lived in the middle of the Sahara Dessert I’d imagine we would really be joyful for that cold Diet Coke which can mean so little to us now.  

2.     And we can add family, health, religious freedom and many other items to that list.  James 1:17 reminds us that Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.

3.     Even in the difficult circumstances in life we can rejoice because God is using those circumstances to prepare us for glory.

Paul told the Corinthians  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  (2 Co 4:16-17)

So a Christian says: yes I know there is injustice and sadness in the world but God has also bestowed His goodness on mankind.  And one day He will remove all that is not good.

B.    Solomon also says we should Rest in God’s Omniscience (16-17)

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.

1.     Solomon worked hard trying to figure out the purpose behind all the business  that man engages in.  He wanted to understand the grand scheme of things but it kept alluding him. 

It’s great that man seeks to discover the meaning of life but often they start with the wrong premise which leads to the wrong conclusion. 

Many philosophers start with the idea that there is no God, and even if there is, He is irrelevant, to life on earth. 

·       That starting point will lead to naturalism which says this world is all there is. 

·       Or humanism which says man is the centre of the universe

·       or it will  lead to existentialism which says I’m the centre of the universe.   

Each of those philosophies lead to worship of the creation rather than the Creator.   Paul saw this happening in his day as well.  Romans 1:18-23 (READ)   

2.     Solomon doesn’t do that.  In the New Living Translation the beginning of verse 17 reads: I realised that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun.     

He knows there is a God and he knows God is in control of all that is done under the sun.   He just can’s figure out how and why God does what He does.

3.     In these verses you can see that Solomon comes to the realisation that only God knows everything.  He admits at the end of verse 17 that even if a wise man claims to know (exactly what God is doing) he cannot find it out.  

At some point we all have to acknowledge our limitations.   We can only comprehend a tiny portion of what the Lord is doing and then we need to trust Him for the rest. 

(ILL) Trying to understand how God’s moves in the affairs of man is like a child trying to understand the workings of a Swiss watch.  The child can see that the hands are moving but he cannot comprehend how all those gears, springs, and clogs work.

We can see the Lord working in the world but we can’t fathom how He does it and sometimes we can’t even figure why He does certain things. 

Like Solomon we should rest in the fact that He knows what is best and He is doing it. 

4.     This doesn’t mean you are to switch off your mind.  God does encourage us to observe life and learn wisdom. 

But instead of wasting our time speculating about life we are to study what God has revealed to us in His Word. 

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.


(ILL) We are so funny as humans.  We want to know the secret things and we often ignore the clear truths God has revealed in his Word. 

This tendency can be traced right back to the Garden of Eden. Q:  How did the devil tempt Adam and Eve?  By saying they could gain secret knowledge and be like God.  Then he tempted them to ignore the clear Word of God.   

If you are the type of person that has to have answers then I would encourage you to dig deeply into the Word of God.  When you master all the “simple” things that God has revealed then come to me. 

(ILL) When I graduated from Bible College I was convinced I had a pretty good grasp of God’s Word.   18 years of ministry has cured me of that notion. 

I now see myself as a sailor on a ship who every day drops his little bucket into the vast ocean of God’s Word.  I bring up the bucket, examine its contents and realise even that much fills my heart and mind with deep truth. 

May all of us be given a heart for God’s Word like David had.  Ps 119:160-172 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. . .  my heart stands in awe of your words.  I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.   give me understanding according to your word!  My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. 

III.         Conclusion

Solomon has reminded us that on this earth we will experience times when the righteous will suffer and the wicked will seem to prosper. 

Sometimes we are not sure how to respond to these situations.  Solomon gave us two pieces of advice from the Lord.

1.      Rejoice in God’s goodness.  There is a hymn that goes “Count your blessings, count them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done”

In the Lord’s providence there may be times of difficulty but there are also many times of refreshment that come from the Lord.  Be thankful for every little blessing that you will have no time for complaints. 

2.      Then Solomon reminds us to rest in the fact that God is all knowing.  We don’t need to know the how and why of everything.  What we should concentrate on is what God has revealed in the Bible. 

As you spend time in God’s Word you will get all the answers you need to do what God has called you to do in society, the church, your family and in your own life. 

Let’s Pray!   Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.  Fix it now in our hearts and mind.