Eld Ko Swee Chay

Introduction

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.

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 stern demeanour to one that is loving, gracious, humble and cheerful. The government authority has great power, 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 attitude, at the right time and 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.

In Ecclesiastes 8:9-13, Solomon showed us the behaviour and end of the wicked ruler, the wicked man, and righteous man, and fearing God is the only safeguard against living a life of wickedness.   

The End of the Wicked Rulers (Eccl 8:9-10) 

⁹ All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. ¹⁰ And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

Again, Solomon spoke of his in-depth and careful observation of Divine Providence and Government. He makes a special reference to a man who rules over another perversely. Such a wicked ruler is the cause of hurt, not only to his subjects with his tyranny but also to the ruler himself. “Agens agendo repatitur” - “What hurt men do to others will return, in the end, to their own hurt.” Solomon may have been speaking of rulers in general or explicitly referring to King Saul – the first king of Israel who had repeatedly sinned against God without repentance, resulting in the LORD rejecting him from being king over Israel. He died in battle against the Philistines and was buried. The wicked rulers may have come and gone in pomp and ceremony “from the place of the holy,” but death comes without respect of persons. Instead of being embalmed in memory, their life of great power, honour and prosperity was soon forgotten, even in their own cities. 

Solomon spoke of those who had stood in positions of authority and power. They were wicked rulers, were selfish and self-serving, and never did good for those under them. This, indeed, is vanity, emptiness, worthlessness and meaninglessness.

The End of the Wicked and the Righteous (Eccl 8:11-13)

¹¹ Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. ¹² Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: ¹³ But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Solomon gave us three observations in these three verses:

1. Men set their hearts to do evil because they are not immediately judged and punished for their sins.
2. The wicked shall not be well “because he feareth not before God.”
3. The righteous shall be well, for he fears God.

Solomon lamented that because the punishment against evil work is not speedily carried out, men set their hearts to do more and more evil. The delay in justice makes a sinner think he can sin with impunity. The apparent prosperity of the wicked has long been both an obstacle to faith and an encouragement to evil-doers. Yet Solomon stressed that “it shall not be well with the wicked” in that the sentence will be fully executed eventually. Regardless of how long justice is delayed, a day of reckoning is certain. Christians ought to understand that delayed judgment is Divine longsuffering in action, a glorious manifestation of God’s grace and mercy, to give the sinner time and space for repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Sadly, the wickedness of men abuses God’s goodness, mercy, forbearance and longsuffering to their own destruction and terrible end.

As genuinely born-again Christians, we must not think that God does not care about sin or that sin has no consequence just because He does not punish us immediately for our sin. Remember, God is Omniscient; He knows every sin we commit, and one day He shall bring every work with every secret thing into judgement (Eccl 12:14).    

Solomon emphatically highlighted two kinds of people:

1. The wicked – His heart is so fully set to do evil; he may do it a hundred times. Instead of severe destructive vengeance, his days may be prolonged. He wantonly continues in his sin, without any fear at all. He may be exalted in outward prosperity, while the children of God are crushed in afflictions. Solomon said, “it shall not be well”, “it shall be very ill”, with the wicked. He grasps at wealth, power and happiness and embraces vanity. The wicked one can be cut off quickly and vanish like a shadow, all because he has no fear before God. So long as the wicked remains not fearing God, rejecting God, and living in sins, an eternity in the lake of fire and torment is sure to be his reward.
2. The righteous – He is known by his fearing before God, before His face, a holy, filial fear of offending God. He lives to a good purpose according to God’s Word, trusting and obeying God, and believing in His promises. He aligns his desire, goal, and purpose with God’s Will. Note Solomon’s firm conviction, “surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.” The righteous may suffer for a moment in this earthly life, but his wellness is for eternity, rejoicing with God in heaven forever.

Solomon passionately believed that life is well for God-fearing people. Fearing God in life is the only protection against doing evil, sinning, and falling into the punitive will of God. Fearing God defines the essence of Christian living, encompassing our attitude of reverence toward God and our behaviour before God. Eccl 8:12-13 makes it clear that fearing or not fearing God will be crucial in the day of judgment. 

Conclusion

A ruler who rules wickedly hurts not only his subjects but himself as well. Though he apparently has a good life, Solomon knew that his end will be in God’s hands and will not be good. His outward honour and respect, evil and wicked deeds, will soon be forgotten even in his own city.

Delayed judgment is Divine longsuffering in action, a glorious manifestation of God’s grace and mercy to give the sinner time and space for repentance. Christians must not think that God does not care about sin or that sin has no consequence just because He does not punish us immediately for the sins we committed.

Solomon assured us that it shall not be well with the wicked because they do not fear God in their life. But for those who fear God, the promise is that it will be well with them. Let us sincerely examine ourselves before God: Am I a wicked or righteous person? Do I live a God-fearing life?

AMEN.