Eld Ko Swee Chay

Introduction

In Ecclesiastes 7:25-29 we learn about Solomon’s diligent search for wisdom, his observation of the “strange woman” and man’s depravity. Man ought to take heed of the warning that the “strange woman” is seductive and dangerous and to guard and protect himself from being snared by such women and a life that is ruined in shame. Man and woman are born sinners and are totally depraved. Only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ can mankind be made righteous before God.

In Ecclesiastes 8:1-8, Solomon described who a wise man is, and offered advice on how to live a wise and fulfilling life by submitting to and obeying authority and by knowing that man is powerless over many things, particularly over death.

The Wise Man Described (Eccl 8:1)

¹ Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

Solomon reminded us again that wisdom is an invaluable virtue to seek after. He described a wise man as one “who knoweth the interpretation of a thing”, i.e. God’s Word, works and promises. He understands the reasons for things, the issues of life, human affairs and God’s will and purpose and in all that is happening, and finds solutions to problems and difficulties. He knows how to conduct himself and interact with others. He has the right discernment and hence the right view of life and behaves wisely in every life situation. He is content and cheerful. The wisdom within the wise man will make “his face to shine” as Moses’s did after the LORD spoke with him upon mount Sinai, reflecting the glory and goodness of God. It makes him look amiable, gracious, cheerful and lovely in the eyes of others. Through the wisdom and knowledge in him, the ferocity or austerity of his countenance, the pride and arrogance, the roughness or fierceness, the inhumanity or impudence that appeared in him before shall be changed into gentleness, lovingkindness, meekness and humility.

The Wise Man Submits to and Obeys Authority (Eccl 8:2-5)

² I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. ³ Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. ⁴ Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

⁵ Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.

Solomon gave us advice concerning the subject of human authority. He counselled the people to keep the king’s commandments and to view them out of respect for the oath of God. This is similar to apostle Paul’s teaching in Roman 13:1-7 and Titus 3:1-2. Rulers or government authorities are ordained by God, the ministers of God, to praise those who do good works and to punish the evildoers, and we are to obey and honour them. This means that we view our submission to government authorities as not submitting for the sake of submission and not solely to honour the king or government authority as part of our obligation, but primarily as obeying God. Solomon went on to advise the people: i) “Be not hasty to go out of his sight” – to show respect to the king, and not to rebel against him or show dissatisfaction and ill-regard by turning their back on him; ii) “stand not in the evil thing” – to not take their stand or persist in the evil thing. 

An important spiritual lesson we need to recognize and remember is that we are always to obey God rather than man if the two contradict (Acts 4:19). While we submit to and obey the government authority God has placed in our country and accept that “he doeth whatever pleaseth him”, we must hold our ground and make sure that our obedience to authority will not lead us to an evil thing and sin against God. When that happens, we ought to obey God rather than man and leave the outcome in God’s hands.

Solomon further emphasised the importance of obeying the word of the king or authority, for his word has power and is authoritative, and no man may question his rule or his decisions. A wise man, therefore, will know how to discern time and judgment. He will humble himself to submit and obey the commandment of the king, for he has a discerning heart to know how to conduct himself, when the right time and right place and right action to take is, to speak up or to keep silent, to give judgement and comment or to withhold it. In so doing, the promise is that he will never be subject to feel or to know and experience any evil thing. All of us know that rulers are there to rule and minister justice, that violating the laws will result in a lot of trouble and pain. If we are law-abiding citizens, there is nothing to be afraid of and we “shall feel no evil thing.”

Man’s Powerlessness Over Life and Death (Eccl 8:6-8)

⁶ Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. ⁷ For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? ⁸ There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

Solomon was saying in these three verses that we mortals are by nature frail, limited in our understanding and powerless, incapable of knowing the future, and have no power to control death.

Solomon again stressed that there is a proper time and judgment for every matter or event (cf. Eccl 3:1-10). Just as we saw in Ecclesiastes 8:5 how a wise man will know how to discern time and judgment, God in His perfect wisdom is the one who ordains every time and every judgment. Man, on the other hand, can never know what shall be on the morrow, neither can he control life and death. Truly no man, even the mightiest and wisest despot, knows “what will happen” and “when it will happen” or can predict when challenging times might come or calamities might strike. Therefore, regarding a man who does not know God is described “the misery of man is great upon him.” He lives in constant fear and anxiety and is frustrated by the many things that he cannot control or predict.

Solomon emphasised the powerlessness of man before death. Regardless of how much power and authority a king or a ruler has, he is still limited by his mortality and has no power to keep life or to prevent death when his call comes. “War” is the metaphor for the struggles due to the approach of death. This “war” between life and death is a daily battle that will end only when we die. In the battle with death, no earthly authority or measure can rescue and deliver one out of this struggle. Death is the common enemy that we must all face eventually. Man’s works cannot secure them from the arrest of ageing and death. Man may invent all sorts of methods like a whole range of vitamin supplements and health foods, all sorts of body and mental exercises. Doctors and biomedical scientists and engineers may come up with all kinds of medications, vaccinations and treatments to try to slow down ageing and extend their lives; yet we know that such methods and inventions can’t even prolong one second of life when the call comes. No measure, however brilliant, ruthless, and rebellious it might be, will deliver a man from God’s appointment of death and, after that, the judgment. Our lives are in the hands of God, and He alone has the power to give life, to take life, and to judge life.

Conclusion

A wise man is spiritual, knows how to interpret things and views life in accordance with God’s Word. The wisdom within him makes his face shine and changes his sternness to a loving, gracious, humble and cheerful demeanour. He can see life from God’s perspective and then take the best course of action using the knowledge of God, behaving wisely in every life situation.

The government authority has great power, and can do whatever it pleases. Its word is supreme, and no one can say to it “what are you doing?” A wise man respects authority and knows how to tactfully approach an authority figure with the right message and right attitude, at the right time and in the right place. One caveat is we are always to obey God rather than man if the two contradict.

Man is powerless in knowing and controlling the future. He cannot control the days of his life and has no authority over the day of death. God knows and is in control of all things. Our lives are in God’s hands. Recognising these facts, seeing things as they are, and fearing and obeying and trusting God for who He is, is wisdom. AMEN.