Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

            Solomon’s Practical Counsel

                                        Ecclesiastes 7:15 - 8:17

 

“I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless.” - Ecclesiastes 8:9-10

            Injustice exists in everyone’s life at one time or another or at the very least the perception of injustice. It many cases we can do nothing about it. For believers in Christ God says, “vengeance is mine”. ^{(Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35*)} Those that have a black heart are evil and do evil things. We are seeing this in our world today. To those evildoers God says, your day is coming. The day when my hand will no longer be held back. I will bring revenge on behalf of all my children whom you have struck down and tried to force them to do YOUR will against their own will. God is displeased with all who overextend the limits of their power and authority to rule harshly over their people. The evil praise and honor their own and because they do not believe in Almighty God believe they truly are in control, and nothing can stop them. Their rash and ungodly behavior will bring about their downfall.

            It must be pointed out that a lack of action by God to avenge the wrongs done to good people does not imply his indifference. What it reveals is his longsuffering toward the unsaved. His word explicitly states in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” When the end comes, and time is no more God will settle all accounts justly.  He knows what he’s doing at all times and will not fail us.

            Solomon finds everything in his life meaningless. A chasing after the wind. Evil treated as good. Good punished or erased. To the naked eye this all seems meaningless. Even Solomon in all his God-given wisdom has limits to his understanding. It could no doubt be because he strayed from the path God provided for him for a time. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Reformation Study Bible.

* Deuteronomy 32:35 “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”