22/1/22. Study 21. Ecclesiastes 8:10-17

 ¹⁰ Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. ¹¹ Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. ¹² Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. ¹³ But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

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. ¹⁵ And I commend joy, for man has nothing better 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.

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. How does Qoheleth describe the experiences, attitudes, motivations and encouragement of evil people? 

Wicked people regularly visited the Temple and were very religious outwardly (v.10a). They were praised by others (v.10b). Their hearts were 'fully set to do evil" (cf. Gen 6:5). This was 'vanity'. Qoheleth may say this because 1) they were revered and now they were dead 2) they were revered even though they were evil.

They were encouraged to do evil because they were not speedily called to account for their crimes (v.11). Justice had failed (cf. 3:16, 5:8). They were able to "prolong [their] life" through repeated ("a hundred times") evil deeds. 'Prolonging life' in this context probably does not mean the prolongation of length of life, but rather, their lifestyle.

The root of this was that they did not "fear before God" (v.13)

 

2. What is Qoheleth's understanding of the problem that evil people are seen to prosper and bad things happen to righteous people?  (cf. Ps 73:1-28, Ps 37:1-7, Prov 23:17, Job 21:7-26).

Does the New Testament throw more light on this issue?

In this life, wicked people get what righteous people deserve, and righteous people get what the wicked deserve (v.14)

This is 'vanity', meaningless (v.14, twice). Qoheleth cannot fully understand it.

Yet Qoheleth affirms that those who fear God will 'be well', and those who are wicked will 'not be well' (v.12b)  and that they will not have length of days (v.13)  So for him, the key to ultimate 'good' (the Hebrew word describes what is pleasant, agreeable, best, prosperious, beautiful, glad) is fearing God. 

What does it mean to 'fear' God?

It means that our lives are orientated and centred around God's reality. We live and think in line with his His holiness and hatred of sin. We are accountable to His judgment. More on the fear of God here.

God will certainly judge everyone in the hereafter (3:17, "I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work"). 

The NT most clearly shows the purposes of God accomplished through the suffering and death of Christ. God ordains evil in order to accomplish good.

 

3. What does Qoheleth say our response should be to the injustices of life, and why does he say this?

He says we should not let this kind of lack of full understanding of the ways of God stop us from enjoying life. This repeats previous advice in 2:24-26, 3:12 and 5:18-20. We are definitely called to full appreciation and gratitude for every good thing God gives us (1 Tim 4:3-4).  T

There will be many things about life we do not understand, like the meaninglessness of work  ("go with him in his toil through the days of his life"). We should not live in the future, because that cannot be predicted, but we should enjoy the present fully. Here is the Kung Fu Panda quote:

But how do these truths help us view injustice we face in our lives?

Injustice is temporary. We look forward to better things in hope

God is still in control. We keep trusting in His goodness. 

Suffering is purposeful. We look forward to transformation and spiritual growth. 

4. What is Qoheleth's conclusion about trying to be wise and understanding? Where has he said this before?

 In 1:13-18 he had said wisdom could not change things and did not bring joy, 

in 7:25 he only came up with the conclusion that man wa morally corrupt.

In 3:11 and 7:23-24  he said that God had hidden His work from man's full understanding. Even the wisest of men could not understand life well.

Earthly business comes with inability to rest