ECCLESIASTES 8
Statement of the importance of wisdom verse 1
Who is as the wise man? – Who knows the interpretation of a thing?
a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine
AND the boldness of his face shall be changed
Statement of the importance obedience to ruler verse 2- 6
I counsel you to keep the king’s commandment
AND that in regard of the oath of God
be not hasty to go out of his sight
stand not in an evil thing
for he does whatsoever pleases him
Where the word of a king is – there is power
and who may say unto him
What do you?
Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing
AND a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment
because to every purpose there is time and judgment
THEREFORE the misery of man is great upon him
Statement regarding the day of personal death verse 7- 8
For he knows not that which shall be
for who can tell him when it shall be?
There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit
NEITHER has he power in the day of death
AND there is no discharge in that war
NEITHER shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it
Statement of the importance of inequities of life verse 9- 15
All this have I seen
and applied my heart unto every work
that is done under the sun
there is a time wherein on man rules over another
to his own hurt
AND so I saw the wicked buried
who had come and gone from the place of the holy
AND they were forgotten in the city where they had so done
this is also VANITY
Because sentence against an EVIL work is not executed speedily
THEREFORE the heart of the sons of men is fully set
in them to do EVIL
Though a sinner do EVIL an hundred times
AND his days be prolonged
YET surely I know that it shall be well with them
that fear God – which fear before him
BUT it shall not be well with the WICKED
NEITHER shall he prolong his days
which are as a shadow
BECAUSE he fears NOT before God
There is a VANITY which is done upon the earth – that there be just men
to whom it happens according to the work of the WICKED
AGAIN – there be WICKED men
to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous
I said that this also is VANITY
Then I commended mirth
BECAUSE a man has no better thing under the sun
THAN to eat – to drink – to be merry
for that shall abide with him of his labor
the days of his life
WHICH God gives him under the sun
Statement of the importance of mystery in life verse 16- 17
When I applied mine heart to know wisdom
AND to see the business that is done upon the earth
(for also there is that neither day
nor night see sleep with his eyes)
Then I beheld all the work of God
that a man cannot find out the work
that is done under the sun
BECAUSE though a man labor
to seek it out
YET he shall not find it – YEA farther
though a wise man think to know it
YET shall he not be able to find it
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Who is as the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. (5797 “boldness” [‘owz] means loud, might, power, or strength.)
DEVOTION: Our face can give away our thoughts. Some people can read body language. The face gives many signs of what is going on in our life.
Solomon continues to lift up wisdom as a source of strength to face life. He doesn’t want anyone to be too wise because then he thinks too highly of himself.
This verse gets us into the practical side of life. Here is a man with wisdom in the court of a king or ruler. Those who are in places of leadership have the ability to keep us alive or the ability to send us away to our doom. A king in Solomon’s culture had the ability to execute those who didn’t please him. This man has a face that is shining which signifies that he has stability in discerning what is right to do in a given situation. He is blessed.
Moses’ face shone when he returned from the mountain. HE had been in the presence of God. The glory of God brightened his face. He had to wear a veil when he spoke to the people. When he was in the presence of God, the LORD gave him instructions regarding leadership of the people. They talked for long periods of time. The LORD gave Moses the Ten Commandments on the mountain.
Solomon thinks that wisdom only comes to those who are in the presence of God on a regular basis. Those who are wicked don’t have a shining face. God wants our faces to shine because we have HIS wisdom in our hearts. With HIS wisdom our whole personality is different or changed. We have strength because of HIM. We have power because of HIS presence in our lives.
Do we act like cowards because we think our wisdom is the wrong wisdom? Our responsibility is to tell the world in a loving manner that our message is the only real message. Christ died for their sins and they need to accept this message. It is the ONLY message of salvation. The world wants us to believe that there are many ways to God. The Bible says there is ONLY one way and that is through Christ. We have the ONLY TRUTH. Please share it with others. Remember to start each day in the presence of the LORD!!!.
CHALLENGE: What do people see in your face? Do they see the presence of the LORD? Do they see the love of God? Our body language is being read each day.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
:2 “I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: In Solomon’s day the king was representative of God and often was looked upon as God. To disobey the king was to be in rebellion to God. While we do not have a king today it is still unwise to oppose the structure and authority of those placed in control. God has ordained people to be in authority and institutions to run large populations so that there is order and continuity. To go against the established authority is something that must be done carefully and after all avenues of dialogue has been exhausted. As believers we are to see that the authority is placed there by the Lord and to alter or oppose that is dangerous! Proverbs 21:1 states, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
Romans 13:1-2 tells us, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves.”
When we are in disagreement with the authority that is placed over us we need to pray, present our case and intercede to the Lord! May people see, in the public arena, Christ in our actions and attitudes.
CHALLENGE: Consider how we can be a picture of Christ in the public court of opinion instead of bigots, hypocrites, angry malcontents and outcasts. They will know we are Christians by our love (1John 3:1) (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (6599 “sentence” [pithgam] means decision, announcement, a final judgment of guilty in a legal case and the punishment that is imposed, decree, or verdict.)
DEVOTION: If evil work was not judged quickly then it leads to more wrongdoing. People think because there is not a quick judgment then more people will think that they can get away with not obeying the laws of God and this leads to chaos.
Solomon thinks and we also think that because judgment is not done quickly then the hearts of men will be filled with schemes to do wrong.
God is longsuffering with us and this causes some to think that they are getting away with sin and that God doesn’t care but this can’t be further from the truth. HE wants us to realize our sin and confess it before HE sends judgment. If there is no confession and repentance than HE will send judgment. Sometimes the judgment is death.
God is not indifferent toward our sin but HE is willing to give us time to confess our sin and turn in a different direction. However, HE is going to hold all men accountable for their actions.
We have to realize that sin has consequences and if we are not willing to confess it and ask for forgiveness, HE is going to show us the consequences either here on this earth or in the final judgment.
If we are genuine believers our hearts will cause us to want to confess and move closer to the LORD. Once we realize that God is not blessing us we need to make sure that we are asking HIM why.
CHALLENGE: Keeping short accounts with the LORD is important for our spiritual growth. If we want blessings there has to be confession of sin and a turning back toward HIM and HIS commands.
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: 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. (4639 “work” [ma’aseh] means deed, practices, accomplishment, achievement, design or business.)
DEVOTION: We are informed that there are two types of wisdom in our world: earthly wisdom and Godly wisdom. Those who are believers can ask for the wisdom of God according to the book of James in the New Testament. Also, we are told that we have the “mind of Christ” once we become a believer.
Does this mean that we are omniscient? Do we have equal knowledge with God? Is that possible for a human being to have the same wisdom as God has? We know it is impossible. There is a difference between what we can handle and what God can handle. HE knows all. We can have wisdom but not all the wisdom of God.
Solomon informs those who are hearing and reading this book that if we try to figure out the actions of God we will fail. Some people think this is possible and continually try to figure out what God is going to do next in their life. Others give up and don’t pray because they think that prayer doesn’t work. Their thoughts are that whatever is going to happen will happen and prayer can’t change that. The problem with this thinking is that God commands us to pray. Christ prayed to the Father while HE was here on the earth. We learn from the Old Testament that prayer does change our thinking. The example of Elijah is given regarding what can happen with prayer. James 5: 16 informs us that the “effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
So God has a design for each of our lives. HE wants us to bring glory to HIS name. HE is sending trials and blessing into our life for good. HIS desire is that we become more like HIS Son.
The warning of Solomon was good for his time period and for ours. We need to realize that God is in control. HE is working HIS plan. Everything HE is doing in our life is for our spiritual growth.
Those who are outside of Christ are in darkness and blind to the workings of the LORD. They will never understand what HE is doing because they can’t gain that knowledge without the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers should always be that those we love will become followers of Christ.
CHALLENGE: Don’t confuse having the mind of Christ with being omniscient as to what God is doing in your life or the lives of the ones we love. Never stop praying for Godly wisdom.)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Knows the interpretation verse 1
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 2, 12, 13, 15, 17
Oath of God verse 2
God gives days of life verse 15
Work of God verse 17
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Man verse 1, 5, 6, 8,
King verse 2, 4, 5
word of a king – there is power
commandments
Wise man’s heart verse 5, 17
discerns both time and judgment
Sons of men verse 11
Wicked verse 13, 14
Just men verse 14
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil thing verse 3, 5, 11
Misery verse 6
Wickedness verse 8
Wicked verse 10, 13, 14
Vanity verse 10, 14
Evil verse 11, 12
Sinner verse 12
Fears not God verse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Wise verse 1
Interpretation verse 1
Wisdom verse 1
Boldness verse 1
Oath of God verse 2
Don’t be haste verse 3
Stand not on a evil thing verse 3
Wise man’s heart verse 5, 16, 17
Discern: time and judgment verse 5
Fear God verse 12
Just verse 14
Righteous verse 14
Apply heart to know wisdom verse 16
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon verse 1- 17
Keep the king’s commandment
Be not hasty to go out of king’s sight
Where the word of a king is
there is power
Every purpose there is time and
Judgment
No man has power over the spirit
To retain the spirit
Sentence against an evil work
is not executed speedily
Commended mirth
Man has no better than to eat, drink
and be merry
Labor all the days of his life
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Day of death verse 8
Buried verse 10
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QUOTES regarding passage
15 Once more the Teacher advocates the joy of life. As in 2:24–25, the gifts that God has given can be properly enjoyed only if they are accepted as God’s gifts for use, not misuse. Both passages speak of the toil, or work, that God has given us to do to provide for our food and drink (cf. Gen 3:19; Ps 104:23). The verses say much the same as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. Do not let your life be burdened with anxiety; relaxed enjoyment comes through seeking first the kingdom of God and taking food, drink, and clothing from the hands of your Father (Matt 6:25–34). So the Teacher refers to God-given work, God-given food and drink, and God-given joy. It is the realization of this that he commends. (Wright, J. S. (1991). Ecclesiastes. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, pp. 1180–1181). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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8:15. Having shown that there are enigmatic contradictions in the doctrine of retribution—righteousness is not always rewarded and wickedness is not always punished, and sometimes the wicked prosper and the righteous meet with disaster—Solomon again recommended the enjoyment of life. He said that life’s best is to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor (i.e., to eat and drink; cf. 2:24; 3:13; 5:18) and“to rejoice” or be glad (cf. 3:12; 5:19). Also he noted that this joy would enliven one’s labor (i.e., it would accompany him in his work). As is obvious from earlier occurrences of this theme (cf. 2:24–26; 3:12, 22; 5:18–20), this is not Epicurean hedonism based on despair but is a note of submission. Man cannot control or predict adversity or prosperity; however, each day’s joys should be received as gifts from God’s hand and be savored as God permits (3:13; 5:19). All this is to be while one is under the sun (twice in 8:15; cf. comments on 1:3). (Glenn, D. R. (1985). Ecclesiastes. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 997). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The person who has to know everything, or who thinks he knows everything, is destined for disappointment in this world. Through many difficult days and sleepless nights, the Preacher applied himself diligently to the mysteries of life. He came to the conclusion that “man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun” (v. 17; see 3:11; 7:14, 24, 27–28). Perhaps we can solve a puzzle here and there, but no man or woman can comprehend the totality of things or explain all that God is doing.
Historian Will Durant surveyed human history in his multivolume Story of Civilization and came to the conclusion that “our knowledge is a receding mirage in an expanding desert of ignorance.” Of course, this fact must not be used as an excuse for stupidity. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29). God doesn’t expect us to know the unknowable, but He does expect us to learn all that we can and obey what He teaches us. In fact, the more we obey, the more He will teach us (John 7:17).
A confession of ignorance is the first step toward true knowledge. “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Cor. 8:2, NKJV). The person who wants to learn God’s truth must possess honesty and humility. Harvard philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said, “Not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowledge.”
The French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote in his famous Pensees (#446): “If there were no obscurity, man would not feel his corruption; if there were no light, man could not hope for a cure. Thus it is not only right but useful for us that God should be partly concealed and partly revealed, since it is equally dangerous for man to know God without knowing his own wretchedness as to know his wretchedness without knowing God.”
For the fourth time, Solomon told his congregation to enjoy life and delight in the fruit of their labors (v. 15; see 2:24; 3:12–15; and 5:18–20). Remember, this admonition is not the foolish “eat, drink, and be merry” philosophy of the unbelieving hedonist. Rather, it is the positive “faith outlook” of God’s children who accept life as God’s special gift and know that He gives us “all things richly to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, we give thanks for what we do have and enjoy it.
This ends Solomon’s re-examination of “the vanity of wisdom” (1:12–18). Instead of rejecting wisdom, the king concluded that wisdom is important to the person who wants to get the most out of life. While wisdom can’t explain every mystery or solve every problem, it can help us exercise discernment in our decisions. “Yes, there is a time and a way for everything” (8:6, TLB), and the wise person knows what to do at just the right time. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Satisfied (pp. 101–105). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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8:15 The only logical policy, as far as he was concerned, is to enjoy life while you can. There is nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and have a good time. This will stand by a person as he toils on throughout his life which God gives him in this world. No pie-in-the-sky philosophy for Solomon. He wanted his pie here and now. (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 906). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
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8:15 pleasure. In no way does Solomon commend unbridled, rampant indulgence in sin, which is implied in Christ’s account of the man whose barns were full. That man may have justified his sin by quoting this passage (cf. Lk 12:19). His focus here is on the resolve to enjoy life in the face of the injustice which surrounded him (see 2:24). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ec 8:15). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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15. mirth] Better, Gladness, or “joy” (as in 2:10). The Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the bodily senses, but also frequently to religious joy. The sentiment of this verse is a frequent conclusion of the writer’s personal experience (cp. marg. reff.), and is unfairly charged with Epicureanism. The Preacher is careful to set forth pleasure as a gift from God, to be earned by labour, and received with thankfulness to the Giver, and to be accounted for to Him. His estimate of the pleasures of the senses is recorded in 7:2–6. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Jeremiah, Lamentations & Ezekiel. (F. C. Cook & J. M. Fuller, Eds.) (p. 106). London: John Murray.)
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Ver. 15. Then I commended mirth, &c.] Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state and condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortable use of it; this the wise man praised and recommended to good men, as being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, and because they had not so much of them as others; who yet had reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their heads and be cheerful, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God in another world. The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law. Because a man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely and cheerfully, with moderation and thankfulness, to enjoy what God has given him; this is what had been observed before, ch. 2:24 and 3:22 and 5:18 and is not the language of an epicure, or a carnal man, who observing that no difference is made between the righteous and the wicked, that it is as well or better with the wicked than the righteous, determines to give up himself to sensual lusts and pleasures; but it is the good and wholesome advice of the wise man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with their present condition and circumstances, and be cheerful and pleasant, and not distress themselves about things they cannot alter. For that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun; man’s present life is under the sun, and is continued as long as it pleases God; though it is but short, rather to be counted by days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink, cheerfully; and this he may expect to have and continue with him as long as he lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 604). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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1 Peter 3
Husbands and wives should be sensitive to the responsibilities and needs of each other.
INSIGHT
In a Christian marriage, the wife should submit to her husband and live an exemplary life which validates her faith. The husband should love his wife unconditionally, be sensitive to her, and seek to understand her. When both spouses assume a proper role before God and each other, a harmonious and satisfying relationship will result. If not, conflict or alienation can result
(Quiet Walk)
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VICTORY OVER THE WORLD
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:5
Faith enables us to have victory over the world and to overcome it directly—passively—by the resting of a naked faith upon the Lord Jesus Christ. I am increasingly convinced that this is the greatest lesson that we as Christian people can ever learn in this world. It is the possibility of directly and immediately and passively resting upon the power and the ability of our risen Lord. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (verse 4)—my faith in Him, my belief in Him, that He is the Son of God. The result of that is that I go to Him and rest upon Him.
This is something of the meaning that you will find enunciated everywhere in the Bible. Let me give you just one quotation that will illustrate it perfectly and represent all others: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). That is it! Read the various Psalms too, and see how those godly men of old were struggling against the world and its temptations and insinuations, and they will all tell you that was the only thing they could do. They say that the forces were too great for them. They might have failed, but they said, “There is only one thing to do—I will run into the tower, and there in the tower I am safe.”
Or if you like it in New Testament form, it is the doctrine of the vine and the branches, as seen in the statement of our Lord: “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). It is put positively by the apostle Paul: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13); and “nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20).
A Thought to Ponder: I will run into the tower, and there in the tower I am safe. (From Life in God, p. 56, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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God’s Ways Are Best
“And the word of the Lord came unto [Elijah], saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” (1 Kings 17:8-9)
The leading of God is not always clear to our understanding or satisfying to our pride, but it is always directed to God’s glory and our good. Elijah had been supernaturally fed by ravens until the brook of Cherith dried up due to the very drought that Elijah had prophesied. Then, instead of supernaturally providing water, God told Elijah to move to a village in Zidon to stay with a poor widow who would feed him.
But Zidon was the home of the idolatrous queen, Jezebel, who would soon become Elijah’s implacable enemy. Furthermore, he would have to so humble himself as to request that the widow share what she thought would be her last meal with a stranger whom she had never met and who had claimed to be the prophet of a God she did not know. What a strange way for God to deal with His servant!
Nevertheless, Elijah obeyed God without question, and so did the widow of Zarephath, and thus the Lord was able to perform two of His mightiest miracles of creation. At the same time, He was able to meet the deep spiritual needs, as well as the physical needs, of this unlikely duo—the greatest spiritual leader of his age and an insignificant widow. An amazing daily miracle of continuing the creation of oil and meal took place as long as the drought continued. And then an even more amazing miracle was accomplished, when, for the first time in all history so far as the record goes, one who was dead (the widow’s son) was restored to life (1 Kings 17:20-24), and the woman came to believe that Jehovah was the true God. God’s ways may not be our ways, but they are always best. May He give us the grace always to obey His word, whether or not we fully understand. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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