Ecclesiastes 8

• Our review of Ecclesiastes:

  • This book is Wisdom literature, written by Solomon, a man God gave wisdom and discernment greater than any man ever.

  • The book of Ecclesiastes establishes Solomon’s theory of the meaning of life.

    • The thesis is the meaning of life can’t be found in the creation, therefore it is vanity to try and seek for it there.

  • Solomon began providing proof through the repeating cycles in nature that display a meaninglessness in understanding an advantage in life.

    • Solomon continued to establish this by his personal experiences concluding that wisdom and wealth and seeking an earthly legacy are meaningless in understanding an advantage in life.

  • There is a God-appointed time for every event under heaven. Man’s purpose in life is to seek God’s sovereign will lived out.

    • God has allowed wicked men to oppress others, do not be surprised when you witness this truth.

    • Approach God in reverence seeking only to know His Will in every situation. Be satisfied in what God provides. In that is true contentment.

  • All things come from the hand of God because God is sovereign over His creation. Man was not created to change the mind of God, because all things are from God man is to be content in every situation.

    • When confronted with pain in life we must embrace it for what it can do in our lives, this is wisdom. Ultimately both prosperity and adversity are from the hand of God, what we endure during this life is not an indication or our stance before God in eternity for this is not how God’s ways are revealed to man.

  • God’s measurement of righteousness is perfection while man’s measurements are self-righteous often followed by a denial of God. There is no bargaining with God. Solomon reveals his life of seeking explanations to understand or predict God’s determinations and it was futile.

    • This conclusion is seen in how Solomon continues.

Eccl. 8:1 Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.
Eccl. 8:2 I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.
Eccl. 8:3 “Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.”
Eccl. 8:4 Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

• v.1 What rhetorical question does Solomon ask? (Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter?)

  • Solomon just explained why he was not a wise man.

Eccl. 7:23 I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.

• Who can be wise is what Solomon is asking.

  • Who also knows the interpretation of a matter.

  • What matter is still on Solomon’s mind? (He is trying to figure out what God is doing when he rewards evil men and does not reward righteous men, according to what man’s standard would be, here on earth)

• What does Solomon say about man’s wisdom? (A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.)

  • What does man’s wisdom do for him? (Illumines him)

  • What does Illumine mean?  (Dictionary.dotcom notes illumination as to make lucid or clear; throw light on (a subject).)

    • When a man believes he has found on answer to these types of questions what does that do for him? (causes his stern face to beam)

• v.2 What is Solomon’s advice? (I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.)

  • In Israel in this time those elevated to leadership gave an oath before God to the newly recognized king. 2 Samuel 5:1-3, 1 Chronicles 29:23-24.

2Sam. 5:1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2Sam. 5:2 “Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.’”
2Sam. 5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the LORD at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel.

1Chr. 29:23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.
1Chr. 29:24 All the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David pledged allegiance to King Solomon.

• When God brought a king to the throne those in leadership acknowledged the king’s authority was given by God by taking an oath before God.

• Eccl. 8:3 What does Solomon say the duty of those men who gave their oath before God to be? (“Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.”)

  • What would it mean for someone to ‘leave him?’

    • To take the loyalty promised to one man as king and to give that loyalty to another man.

  • When someone would ‘leave the king’ what does Solomon call this? (Do not join in an evil matter)

  • What right does the king have? (for he will do whatever he pleases.”)

    • The king will do whatever he pleases yet because he is placed there by God and men have given their allegiance they are not to abandon their oath.

• v.4 How does Solomon continue this thought? (Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”)

  • The word of the king holds authority, God given authority, man acknowledged authority.

    • Because this is God given what is Solomon’s challenge? (who will say to him, “What are you doing?”)

  • Who would be able to question the king given his authority by God.

Eccl. 8:5 He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.
Eccl. 8:6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him.
Eccl. 8:7 If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?

• v.5 What example of following the king’s authority is given? (He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble)

  • A royal command would come from who? (The king)

  • To keep the command is to do what? (To obey the command)

    • When one obeys the command of the king what is the outcome? (experiences no trouble)

  • Why is this true? (for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.)

  • What is this time and procedure in regards to? (The command of the king)

    • Do what you are to do in regards to the king and there will not be trouble.

    • Keep in mind this ties back to following the king’s command not because of the greatness of his commands but because one took an oath declaring his recognition this man is king only because God made him king.

• v.6 What is true? (For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight,)

  • The truth is there is always a correct time and process for everything that happens.

  • This is true even when what is seen? (though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him.)

    • When man is going through trouble it is proper to keep in mind this too is in accordance with an understanding there is a proper time and procedure for this in his life.

• v.7 One must endure what is placed before him why? (If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?)

  • What is meant by ‘If no one knows what will happen’? (No man knows what events will happen to him or to any other man)

  • If we can accept that no man can know what events will happen then logically who would say what? (who can tell him when it will happen?)

    • Man is not in a position to predict outcomes. When men claim otherwise they are not speaking truth. When men claim to know what is going to happen to another man or even when events are going to happen to other men they are not speaking truth. Only God knows.

Eccl. 8:8 No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it.
Eccl. 8:9 All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.
Eccl. 8:10 So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility.
Eccl. 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.

• v.8 What examples does Solomon give to demonstrate man can’t change events of life? (No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death;)

  • How does one restrain the wind? (Man can’t stop the wind from blowing)

    • Man can create shelter from the wind but he can’t stop the wind blowing.

  • What foolishness would there be for man to try to stop the wind by creating a contrary wind. The conclusion is this is impossible.

  • What else does man not have authority over? (or authority over the day of death;)

    • The day of a man’s death is just as certain as wind blowing. Man has no more control over this in his life than he has over the wind blowing.

• v.8 What else did Solomon say? (and there is no discharge in the time of war,)

  • A man can’t leave his military service during war.

    • One can’t wait to see the clear signs of danger and think he can escape then.

  • In the same way that this is true how did Solomon end? (and evil will not deliver those who practice it.)

    • There are men who practice evil and do not seem to endure the consequences during their lifetime. There will be a point when the evil will be judged.

    • Paul encourages this perspective.

1Cor. 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

• This would have been good advice for Solomon.

• Eccl. 7:9 What did Solomon say this reminded him of? (All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.)

  • Solomon begins with what phrase? (All this I have seen)

  • What did we say this means? (Solomon was a witness to this events)

  • After witnessing these things what did Solomon try to understand? (and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun)

  • What specific events? (wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt)

    • Solomon applies his mind specifically to situations in which those who are exercising authority over another man to his hurt.

• v.10 What was an outcome Solomon witnessed? (So then, I have seen the wicked buried,)

  • How are these wicked described? (those who used to go in and out from the holy place,)

  • What men would go in and out from the holy place? (Priest)

    • These priests are described as wicked.

    • They also used to go in and out from the holy place. They did at one time and then they did not.

  • They died but what else was true for them? (and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus.)

    • These men will not be remembered not even in the city where they committed their acts of wickedness.

  • This is ultimately what? (This too is futility.)

• What event can we find where Solomon has experience with a priest who in the end demonstrated himself to be wicked?

  • We start with David asking Solomon to take out a wicked man in 1 Kings 2:5-6.

1Kings 2:5 “Now you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed; he also shed the blood of war in peace. And he put the blood of war on his belt about his waist, and on his sandals on his feet.
1Kings 2:6 “So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace.

• Prior to David asked Solomon to do this what other event is recorded that Joab was involved in with a priest? 1 Kings 1:5-7

1Kings 1:5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.
1Kings 1:6 His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.
1Kings 1:7 He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him.

• When did Solomon have to deal with these men? 1 Kings 2:22-34.

1Kings 2:22 King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom — for he is my older brother — even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!”
1Kings 2:23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “May God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
1Kings 2:24 “Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father and who has made me a house as He promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.”
1Kings 2:25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him so that he died.
1Kings 2:26 Then to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth to your own field, for you deserve to die; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted in everything with which my father was afflicted.”
1Kings 2:27 So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD, which He had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
1Kings 2:28 Now the news came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
1Kings 2:29 It was told King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD, and behold, he is beside the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, fall upon him.”
1Kings 2:30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and said to him, “Thus the king has said, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, for I will die here.” And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus spoke Joab, and thus he answered me.”
1Kings 2:31 The king said to him, “Do as he has spoken and fall upon him and bury him, that you may remove from me and from my father’s house the blood which Joab shed without cause.
1Kings 2:32 “The LORD will return his blood on his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he and killed them with the sword, while my father David did not know it: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
1Kings 2:33 “So shall their blood return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever; but to David and his descendants and his house and his throne, may there be peace from the LORD forever.”
1Kings 2:34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell upon him and put him to death, and he was buried at his own house in the wilderness.

• What we learn here is that David asked Solomon to bring down the judgement of death upon Joab for his wickedness of killing 2 righteous men, this was to happen after David died.

  • Joab tried to hide in the tent of the Lord, beside the altar. The holy place at this time.

  • Joab and Adonijah had also aligned with the priest Abiathar, he would have been the high priest. We see this clarification in Mark 2:23-26.

Mark 2:23 And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain.
Mark 2:24 The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
Mark 2:25 And He  said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry;
Mark 2:26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”

• Joab and Abiathar the priest had conspired with Adonijah to usher him in as king in Israel to replace David instead of Solomon. 1 Kings 1:18-19

1Kings 1:18 “Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it.
1Kings 1:19 “He has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.

• The sacrifices offered by Adonijah would be overseen or administered by a priest to be seen as legal and honored by God to the people of Israel. Abiathar may have been honoring to David in early years but he abandoned him in his last years and tried to make Adonijah king without David’s consent and obviously without consulting God.

• Eccl. 8:11 What observation was Solomon able to make? (Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.)

  • In the case of Joab he committed his murders when there was conflict after Saul was killed and there was some power struggle where David ultimately became the king. It was 4 decades of time that passed before Joab was brought to justice for the murders he committed.

    • Solomon says this delay of a sentence against an evil was not executed quickly. This was true for Joab.

• v.11 What happens to men where there is a delay in carrying out a sentence? (therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.)

  • There is not a complete list of all the evil Joab did during his lifetime. We do know he was willing to stand up for a son of David, Adonijah, who was not the anointed of God to become king of Israel. Solomon may have been privy to other evils done as well.

  • When men don’t receive justice in the moment of their sin they are inclined to commit more sin thinking they are getting by with something. Just because we don’t see all justice carried out here on earth we are to know there will ultimately be justice.

    • This is what bothered Solomon so much that he could not tell where men stood before God by what was going on here on earth.

Eccl. 8:12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.
Eccl. 8:13 But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.

• v.12 What does Solomon say next? (Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life)

  • What does it mean ‘a sinner does evil a hundred times’?

    • This is just a way of saying a sinner who continues to do evil, over and over.

    • His evil does not cause him to die. In this way Solomon says ‘may lengthen his life’. Think about a sinner who lies about his sin to keep from being discovered, or conspires to have someone else convicted for his sin.

  • What did Solomon declare? (still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.)

    • In the end Solomon declares it will be well for those who fear God.

  • Who are those who fear God? (Believers)

  • How are these men described? (who fear Him openly.)

    • Those who would do what they took an oath before God to do openly or publicly to do.

• v.13 What is the result of the man who will not do this? (But it will not be well for the evil man)

  • What exactly does Solomon say will not go well for this man? (and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow)

    • This man will not lengthen his days.

  • How is the lengthen of days described? (like a shadow)

  • What is a shadow? (The impression of something but not the substance)

    • The impression that a man was extending his life on earth without actually adding another day to his life.

    • This ultimately happens why? (because he does not fear God.)

  • What is one who does not fear God? (He is not a believer.)

  • Can we conclude that one who is a believer can extend his life on earth? (No)

    • Solomon just gives what one might say is obvious to say it is better to fear God than to not fear God. Fear God for others to see ‘openly’, those who hide their actions do so because they do not fear God. They do not believe there will actually be a day of reckoning.

Eccl. 8:14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.
Eccl. 8:15 So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

• v.14 How does Solomon describe what he can’t understand? (There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked.)

  • What does Solomon describe first? (There is futility which is done on the earth)

    • This futility is seen by Solomon in men’s lives.

  • How is this futility described? (that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked.)

  • How are the men described by Solomon? (that is, there are righteous men)

    • What happens to these righteous men? (to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked.)

    • What happens to the righteous men look like what should happen to those who are committing deeds of wicked.

  • What else does Solomon describe? (On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.)

  • How are the next set of men described? (there are evil men)

  • What happens for these evil men? (to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous)

  • ‘It happens’ describes what? (The events that occur for the evil men)

    • The events that occur for the evil men are described how? (according to the deeds of the righteous)

    • The events that happen for the evil men look as though the events should be happening for a righteous man, for the deeds a righteous man would have done.

  • When evil men are rewarded as thought they were righteous and the righteous man receives as though he was evil what is Solomon’s conclusion? (I say that this too is futility.)

    • Solomon says seeing this is futility.

    • Trying to figure all this out is futility.

• v.15 If these reversed appearances of reward are true what does Solomon say? (So I commended pleasure,)

  • Under what condition does Solomon say he commends pleasure seeking? (for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry,)

    • Man can’t guarantee he will receive what he deserves out of life.

  • Where is this man described to be by Solomon? (under the sun)

  • Man should do what? (eat and to drink and to be merry)

    • If there is nothing else to consider for man except that which can be measured from his earthly life man should just live for what he can experience in this earthly life.

  • What will this perspective give to man? (and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.)

    • The sum of what man accomplishes in this life will be what stands by him in this earthy life.

  • Where is this perspective seen? (That which God has given him under the sun.)

  • What does ‘under the sun’ refer to? (Here on earth)

  • What is ‘under the sun’ a reference to? (That which occurs during a man’s life on earth)

Eccl. 8:16 When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),
Eccl. 8:17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.

• v.16 What did Solomon say he did? (When I gave my heart to know wisdom)

  • What did Solomon’s wisdom lead him to observe? (and to see the task)

  • What is a task? (Work)

  • Work done where? (which has been done on the earth)

    • How important is this work? ((even though one should never sleep day or night),

• v.17 Solomon compared this observation to what? (and I saw every work of God,)

  • What did this comparison cause Solomon to conclude? (I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun.)

  • Where is the work done? (under the sun)

  • Where is ‘under the sun’? (On earth)

  • What is true in regards to man for this work done on earth? (man cannot discover)

    • Man cannot discover work done on earth to match the work of God.

    • Man’s work does not line up with how God responds in terms of rewarding righteousness and wickedness

  • This is true beyond what? (Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.)

    • This is not something given to man to know.