Ecclesiastes 8:1-8

C. ADMONITIONS TO USE WISDOM IN THE WORK OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE 8:19:18

1. Work in submission to the king. Ecclesiastes 8:1-8

TEXT 8:1-8

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.

2

I say, Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.

3

Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.

4

Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, What are you doing?

5

He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.

6

For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, when a man's trouble is heavy upon him.

7

If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?

8

No man has the 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.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 8:1-8

225.

Who is the man who knows the interpretation of a matter?

226.

What two things will wisdom do (verse one)?

227.

Are the king and God to be taken synonymously in verse three?

228.

After reading through verse eight, can you find evidence that requires that the king be interpreted to mean God? Discuss.

229.

Does God approve of entering into an agreement with Him through an oath? (Cf. Exodus 22:11; 2 Samuel 21:7; Ezekiel 17:18)

230.

Does the him in verse three refer to God or to the king who rules the land? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 10:4)

231.

What word in verse four indicates why the king can do whatever pleases him?

232.

What will keep a wise man from getting into trouble with the local authority? (verse five)

233.

What principle taught in verse six has previously been detailed in chapter three, verses one and seventeen?

234.

According to verse seven, man does not know what will happen to him or when it will happen. Read Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 7:14 and Ecclesiastes 9:12. In each case, determine if it is the when or the what that Solomon refers to.

235.

Identify the four things in verse eight that man cannot do.

PARAPHRASE 8:1-8

Who can compare with the wise man? Who but a wise man understands what things mean, or knows the interpretation of a matter? It is because of wisdom that a man's face shines like a light, and the hardness of his countenance changes until his face actually glows. It is wise counsel to keep the king's command. Have you not made an oath before God that you will keep his command? We know the king will do whatever pleases him. Therefore, you will be wise if you do not hurry from his presence simply because you are agitated with his command. Above all, do not stand for an evil cause. It is the king who has the authority in the land and his word is law. None dare say to him, What are you doing? A wise man knows when and how to acthe knows the proper time and procedure. He who keeps the law of the king will discover that he is free from every evil thing, and will therefore remain out of trouble. You have already been instructed in the truth that there is a proper time and place for every desire of manyet, you must be aware of the heavy judgment and chastisement which often presses heavy upon man. A wise man considers all of these things because he does not know what will happen, and there is none to tell him when it will happen. Consider this: no man has the authority to hold back the wind with the wind; no man has the authority to hold back the spirit of man in the time of death; neither can man claim immunity in time of war, nor be discharged from the battle; no man who practices evil or becomes involved in wickedness can expect to be delivered by such evil in his time of distress.

COMMENT 8:1-8

As noted in the outline, there are five distinct divisions in this section which relate to solving some of the problems of life. In each instance, wisdom is the guide which leads the reader to the correct solution. The first area of discussion calls attention to the authority in the land, suggesting that submission to the law will result in pleasant relationships between the king and his subjects. The heart of the discussion is summarized in the words, He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble.

Ecclesiastes 8:1 There is no man on earth who can compare with a wise man. Such a man excels them all. It is evident that Solomon continues to extol wisdom. His emphasis is noted by his declaration that only a wise man can explain the difficult, and drive to the very foundation of things. There is more to the wise man's ability than that which equips him to be an interpreter of proverbs or an adequate manipulator of words. He can unfold the mysterious. He has the ability to draw back the veil and present a clear word picture of why things are.

This gift of understanding has a direct result on the wise man's heart which manifests itself immediately in his face. His knowledge has brought an inner awareness that he knows and understands both God's word and God's providential activities. His face literally shows it. He has a cheerful soul and his face shines. His face is but a reflection of his heart.

His face was formally stern. This word is variously translated into hardness, harshness, boldness, and fierce countenance (Deuteronomy 28:50). His wisdom transforms his face and causes it to beam. The marginal reading in the NASB reads: causes his stern face to change. Examples of such changes of facial expressions are found in Exodus 34:29-30, Acts 6:15; Acts 7:14. Knowledge of the true God, and the awareness that one is keeping His commandments, results in both joy and happiness. Solomon's father had expressed it simply: The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (Psalms 19:8). Sin causes the hardness of face, while righteousness drives out sin and welcomes peace and contentment. Jesus aptly struck at the heart of the matter when He said, Therefore every one who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man (Matthew 7:24).

Ecclesiastes 8:2 Two problems arise from this verse: (1) Who is the king? Is this a reference to God or to an earthly king? (2) What oath was stated before God by the people in Solomon's day? Authorities are divided on the first question but have generally agreed on the second. Let us consider the latter question first.

It is not so important that one determines the exact wording of the oath as this is not the point of Solomon's argument. The point is that the oath was made before God, and it stands as a reminder that (1) it was made before the highest authority, and (2) it pertains to submission to the rule of the king. One such oath is recorded in 2 Kings 11:17 where Jehoida made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people, also between the king and the people. To be the Lord's people is tantamount to the submission to the rule or the authority of the Lord. It is further noted in this illustration that a distinction is made between the Lord and the king. Israel saw the king as God's representative who was appointed to carry out His will on earth. Thus, the oath was made to the highest authority and also bound the Israelites to the authority of their king. Instructions concerning such oaths are given in Exodus 22:11; 1 Kings 2:43; 2 Samuel 21:7 and Ezekiel 17:18.

To whom does the term king refer? Many commentaries view the king as God and suggest that the entire context must be interpreted as to our submission to the heavenly King. However, the 2 Kings 11:17 passage makes a clear distinction between the people, the earthly king, and the Lord. It appears that such a distinction would also capture the spirit of this passage. Everything spoken of in reference to the king could apply without difficulty to an earthly king. In forcing the meaning of the term king to refer to God, seems to be demanding more than either Solomon or the context intended to convey. New Testament parallels are found in Matthew 12:21; Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17.

Ecclesiastes 8:3 To break the oath is equal to entering into an association with evil. Therefore, the subjects of the kingdom are admonished not only to keep the command of the king, but to refrain from joining in an evil matter. The fear of the Lord has previously been defined (Cf. Ecclesiastes 5:7, p. 117) as departing from evil and doing that which is good. Solomon isn-'t introducing new material. He continues to pursue the characteristics of a wise man. In this instance, a wise man is one who recognizes the authority of the king and lives within the restrictions of the law.

Do not be in a hurry to leave him. The king is on the side of right; to depart from him would be to align oneself with evil. Cain is an example of one who because of his evil deed was forced to leave the companionship and security of the side of right. It is written of him, immediately after he had murdered his brother, that Cain went out from the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4:16). The relationship the kings of Israel enjoyed with God was unique in history. There was a much closer correlation between their laws and the law of God than has existed in any other period of time. However, the principle that authority is ordained of God is still true. On the whole, the admonition of this verse remains a valid one. Paul wrote: Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves (Romans 13:1-2).

To do whatever he pleases should be understood to mean that the king will inflict whatever punishment he wishes. It is the evil doer who draws the wrath of the king.

Ecclesiastes 8:4 The authority of the king has been established. On the basis of this conclusion, it must be admitted that none has the right to question the king's decision or to question the punishment which he places upon the wicked. The verse is not to be taken as blanket approval for all the activities of the king. It is to be understood in the light of two things: (1) Disobedient citizens who depart from the presence of the king and stand in an evil matter deserve punishment; (2) the punishment appointed is the prerogative of the kingnone has the right to question him on such a matter.

Ecclesiastes 8:5 For authority to be meaningful, there must be laws and subsequent punishment exacted upon those who break the laws. Who is the wise man? A partial answer is arrived at in this verse. A wise man is one who keeps a royal command. It is generally true that obedience to the law results in peace. This principle is valid whether the law is God's law or man's law.

Another characteristic of the wise man is that he recognizes that judgment and punishment will fall upon those who break the law. He knows there is a proper time and procedure. He practices patience and thus lives in peace. Sometimes such assurance is the only compensation for one who does right. Especially is this true when the authority is on the side of the oppressors (Ecclesiastes 4:1), or when the law-abiding poor have their wages withheld and on occasion are put to death (James 5:4-6). Even in the face of such extreme punishment they are encouraged to retain their wisdom: you too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:8). The lesson from Ecclesiastes, chapter three, had been that there is a time for everything under the sun. Now the Preacher is underlining his previous contention: God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man, for a time for every matter and every deed is there (Ecclesiastes 3:17). Even God patiently waits until the sin has ripened fully on the vine. Man would like for punishment to fall swiftly as well as justly but life is not always this way. The wise heart recognizes that such judgment will come with certainty and thus tunes all of his thoughts and activities to this channel. It is at the fountain of patience and deep conviction in the justice of God that he drinks.

Ecclesiastes 8:6 The preposition for indicates that this is an extension of the line of reasoning established in verse five. The phrase restates the closing thought of the preceding verse. A proper time and procedure for every delight has been sufficiently demonstrated in chapter three. However, the statement, when a man's trouble is heavy upon him, needs explanation. Who is the man who is under the burden of trouble? Is he the good, wise man or the sinner who has departed from the side of the king? If it is the good man, then evil men have afflicted him and he must learn to patiently wait until the time and seasons of God's providence bring about God's justice. It is considered a heavy trouble because he is required to bear it until the appropriate time. On the other hand, if it is indeed the sinner who is under consideration, then the heavy trouble is just and he anquishes beneath it because he knows it is of his own doing. He knows that the judgment of God will eventually fall upon him. He has broken all the rules and departed from the king's cause; he finds himself standing in an evil matter. Now he must subscribe to punishment decreed by the king. This latter interpretation is most tenable as it fits best into the total context of the passage. Such an argument presses upon the mind of the one who would choose the road of wisdom that there are rewards indeed! Additional proof for this contention is found in the major premise of the passage: He who keep the royal command experiences no trouble.

Ecclesiastes 8:7 The evil man's suffering is compounded because he knows neither when he will be punished nor what will be his punishment. He knows only that it is due him and will be forthcoming. Behind the law in the land stands the authority of God. Kings exact God's punishment and are thus a terror to those who do evil. However, kings may be bribed or influenced to compromise or act unjustly. In such instances the justice of God overrides the injustices of men. If not immediately, in due season (Cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11). This awareness weighs heavily upon the mind of the evil doer. He lives in constant fear as he does not know when or how his punishment will come. Solomon is careful not to insert the conditional if in his declaration. He is pressing for the inescapable: judgment is coming!

Ecclesiastes 8:8 The preceding interpretation appears to be logical in view of the closing fourfold argument Solomon now presents. He has contended that a wise man will live in harmony with the law of the land; in doing so he will neither bring the wrath of the king nor the wrath of God upon him. He now offers the closing arguments to sustain his contention:

(1) No man has the authority to restrain the wind with the wind.
The term translated wind in this first statement is also commonly translated spirit. It is improbable that one can arrive at sufficient proof to ascertain one or the other. It is obvious that the NASB translated ruach as wind. There is a rather equal distribution of views in both translations and interpretations. The primary purpose of the verse is best served when the lesson of the verse is determined, not necessarily whether the term is translated wind or spirit. On this same subject Jesus said, The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going (John 3:8). At least the truth taught in the two statements is the same: one cannot see or control the wind. But what is the intent of the observation? One conclusion is found in the fact that only God has control of the wind, man cannot hold back or control the wind even with the wind. The wind moves about according to an appointed order. Solomon described it as Blowing toward the south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along; and on its circular courses the wind returns (Ecclesiastes 1:6). Again he stated that we do not know the path of the wind (Ecclesiastes 11:5). The lesson seems to be that the evil man has no more control over his inevitable punishment which shall come upon him than he does over the wind. Both are in the hands of God. One is carried out through the laws of nature while the other is arranged on the basis of compensating for evil and is determined by the authority of the king. God is the author of both! This lessonGod is in control of the laws of ultimate justice just as He controls the wind and other laws of natureis in harmony with the immediate and greater context of Ecclesiastes. It also justifies this emphasis that Solomon places on the uncontrollable nature of the wind.

If one feels compelled to interpret the term spirit as breath of life, rather than wind, as many authorities do (Cf. A. R. Fausset, E. W. Hengstenberg, J. P. Lange, H. C. Leupold, Et. Al.) then this phrase is a parallelism with the following part and simply restates the same thought. If this is the preferred interpretation, then the following discussion will explain the parallelism.
(2) No man has the authority. over the day of death.
What has been referred to in this discussion as the ultimate justice of God is the judgment facing every man when his spirit is finally released from his body. The Preacher knows that when this happens, the spirit will return to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7), At that time, the unequal judgments of this earth, the suffering of the innocent, the apparent escape of evil doers, will be brought to light. The crooked shall be made straight. The New Testament is also explicit on this matter: inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Many would restrain the spirit in the face of death if it were possible. Fortunes would be exchanged for a little more time. The epilogue of men's lives under such circumstances would see a rash of repentance and restitution. However, no man can decide to add a few days or years to his own life when death calls. It was true in Solomon's time and it is still true today. Once again the Preacher is bringing into focus the distinction between the wise man and the fool. The wise man has no more control over his time of death than the fool does, but the wise man is prepared. He keeps the command of the king. and experiences no trouble.
It should be observed here for the Christian reader that Jesus teaches us to keep the command of the King and in so doing we shall find rest for our souls.(Cf. Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 11:29).

(3) There is no discharge in time of war.

Just as one is bound by the rigors of death and must submit to its call, there is no escape from the demands of service placed upon one during the time of war. The analogy is made to illustrate once more that a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure (Ecclesiastes 8:5 b). The following excerpt from The Pulpit Commentary illustrates the principle Solomon refers to:

Thus we read that when Oeabazus, the father of three sons, petitioned Darius to leave one at home, the tyrant replied that he would leave him all three, and had them put to death. Again, Pythius, a Lydian, asking Xerxes to exempt his eldest son from accompanying the army of Greece, was reviled by the monarch in unmeasured terms, and was punished for his presumption by seeing his son slain before his eyes, the body divided into two pieces, and placed on either side of the road by which the army passed, that all might be warned of the fate awaiting any attempt to evade military service (Herod., IV, 84; vii, 38).[11]

[11] J. S. Excell, H. D. M. Spence (Editors). Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, The Pulpit Commentary (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Company, 1893), p. 201.

Although there were exemptions prior to the battle (Cf. Deuteronomy 20:5-8), none were made during the time of war. It is inappropriate to use this argument as evidence that Ecclesiastes had to be written late, during the Persian period, because Israel made some exceptions and there were none granted during the Persian rule. The point is not that every man had to be engaged in warfare, but once the battle is underway there is no escape or discharge. One is locked in as surely as he faces death and judgment. The lesson once again teaches that man should be on the side of right and refrain from joining in an evil matter.

(4) Evil will not deliver those who practice it.

The fourth and final reason stated in this verse has a parallel truth given in Ecclesiastes 8:13 where Solomon reminds his readers, 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.

What wickedness or evil cannot do, wisdom can. Wisdom does deliver those who practice it.

The tragedy of practicing evil is not only its failure to deliver one from the judgment of the King or the Lord, but their own wickedness will stand against them in the face of that judgment. The rich oppressors mentioned by James are examples of the severity of casting one's lot with the wicked. He writes, Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the Last Days that you have stored up your treasure (James 5:2-3)!

The wicked could raise the question: Deliver from what? The inference is strong regarding the necessity of escape. Once again the reader is reminded of the law of retribution that has been presented in this section as a major theme: One will reap what he sows. The severity of their evil demands severity of judgment. They shall not escape!

FACT QUESTIONS 8:1-8

411.

Identify the guide that leads the reader to solving the problems of life.

412.

What will result in a pleasant relationship between the king and his subjects?

413.

What specific ability on the part of the wise man causes his face to shine (verse one)?

414.

What causes the hardness of face?

415.

Identify the two problems of verse two.

416.

Solomon is suggesting that the oath is a reminder of what two things?

417.

Give evidence that the king could be an earthly king.

418.

Breaking the oath is equal to what?

419.

Explain what is meant by leaving the king.

420.

What is the specific meaning given to the statement that the king will do whatever he pleases?

421.

List the characteristics of the wise man found in verse five.

422.

According to verse six, trouble is heavy upon a man. Is this man the wise man or the sinner? Discuss.

423.

Who is it that does not experience trouble?

424.

What compounds the evil man's trouble (verse seven)?

425.

Give evidence that both Solomon and Jesus taught that the wind is not controlled by the power of men.

426.

What lesson concerning the wind should the evil man learn? How will the same lesson comfort the wise man?

427.

Explain what is meant by the ultimate justice of God.

428.

Were exceptions from battle granted certain Israelites in time of war? Explain.

429.

Could one be dismissed from battle after the war began?

430.

What double jeopardy does the wicked man experience (verse eight)?