Keep The Kings Command

Ecclesiastes 8:1–17
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The person who has been changed by wisdom can at least grasp the problems of society and how to deal with them. The first question in this chapter is how should we relate to authority?

l. Obedience (vv. 2-8) - There is no way a Christian can argue a biblical case for civil disobedience or violence in any form. Solomon makes it very plain that obedience to the king is of permanent importance. We are products of our environment as well as of our own sinful natures. Many of us have not learned to bring ourselves into submission to authority through obedience.

2. Discretion (v. 5) - It seems that the text is saying here that we must learn to work within the system.  This does not mean that we should always agree with the establishment. There is a proper time and a proper procedure for every matter and we need to seek the Lord for discernment as to when this is.

3. Caution (vv. 9-10) - What will you do when you are placed in a position where your decisions affect the lives of other people. The writer is saying that we are not to be using our position to beat other people into submission.

The second portion of this chapter deals with how we can cope with injustice (vv. 11-13). We need to realize that the world is perverted and we should not expect a keen, biblical and righteous sense of justice to prevail. The wicked often prosper and the righteous often suffer (vv. 14-17).

Application

If I’m wise I will trust the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Instead I will recognize His sovereign hand in everything and completely trust in Him for everything.  (Proverbs 3:5,6).