8/4/22. Study 20. Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

 Who is like the wise?
    And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
    and the hardness of his face is changed.

² I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. ³ Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. ⁴ For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” ⁵ Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. ⁶ For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. ⁷ For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? ⁸ No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. ⁹ All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

1. What is Qoheleth's point in vv. 1-2? What does i mean thtat wisdom makes one's face shine and changes the hardness of the face?

8:1 asks 2 rhetorical questions. This does not mean that there are no wise people around, but does suggest that true wisdom is not commonly found. There are 2  possible ways to view these verses:

a) If we link them with the subsequent verses of how to deal with difficult rulers, they can be taken to mean, "pretend to be happy and not irritated" in front of kings if you have to.

b) I prefer to think that Qoheleth is introducing this section on wise living by telling us how to identify the rare wise man - that wisdom and godliness should be evident on one's face (just as a fool's behaviour tells everyone his foolishness, cf. 10:3). Wisdom also moderates a harsh attitude where we are preoccupied with right vs wrong and see things in simplistic terms.

2. In vv 2-9 Qoheleth thnks of the rule of kings and gives advice on interacting with them. This advice can be taken as pointers in dealing with those in authority. What does he say about the way kings rule?

•  Kings rule by divine permission and authority (v.2). This implies that God still controls the appointment and actions of rulers (Da 2:2, Prov 21:1) and can override them any time He wills (Is 40:15)
  
• Kings rule as they please, their 'word is supreme' and unquestionable (v.3b, 4). ASo, in their own kingdom/domain, some people have absolute authority
• Kings rule over people to their 'hurt' (v.9) - authority is usually misused for personal gain.
  

What advice does Qoheleth give?

• Do obey out of reverence for God (v.2)
  
• Don't give the appearance that you don't like to be with him (v. 3)
  
• Don't do bad things just because bosses cannot be questioned (v. 3)
• Don't argue when it is pointless (v.4)
  
• Do find the best time and method to fulfil your instructions, even if they are difficult and you cannot tell how things will turn out (v.5-6)

What does it mean that "whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing' (v.5a)? Does it mean that if we just obey orders we cannot go wrong?

The Hebrew word translated 'keep' can also mean 'to guard, have charge of, to watch, observe, wait for, restrain, protect'. It therefore does not mean blind obedience, but to be able to weigh instructions and fulfill them rightly.

 

3. On the flip side, what does the passage teach us about the wise excercise of authority?

• Remember that God is still your master (Eph 6:9, Col 4:1). Do not give evil instructions.
  
• Be willing to listen to people (Prov 11:14, 12:15, 13:10, 19:20, 24:6)
  
• Don't insist on your own timing and methods all the time
  

4. Should we only do as Qoheleth suggests? Is there ever a time to speak up against unjust authority?

We are to speak up when the authorities God has set up over us command us to do what God forbids, or forbid us to do what God commands. In practice, this can be most difficult to determine.

Yet there are models (Esther, Mordecai, Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, Abednego, Nehemiah) of faithfulness under autocratic pagan authority that teach us nuances of how to deal practically with situations.

5. There are 4 things that Qoheleth says (v.8-9) that people, even kings, cannot control. What are they?

• You can't keep your life when it is time to die
• You can't choose when you are going to die.
• You can't escape a war when it is on your doorstep.
  
• You can't escape the consequences of wickedness.
  

Why does he stress this point about inability to control things?

 Even though kings may have unquestioned authority in their realms, they cannot overcome death and every external circumstance in life. Also, God will hold evil deeds to account (11:9. 12:14).

The authority of kings is therefore limited and illusory before the authority of God.