Learning from the Experience of Solomon (26) - Understanding “the Righteous Suffer and the Wicked Prosper” (Ecclesiastes 8:14-17)

Elder Ko Swee Chay

Introduction

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

A ruler who rules wickedly hurts not only his subjects but himself as well. 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 immediately for the sins we commit. Solomon assured us that it shall not be well with the wicked because they do not fear God. But for those who fear God, the promise is that it will be well with them.

Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 reflects on the paradoxes of man’s life, the interplay between good and evil, and the inability of man to fully comprehend the work of God. It reminds us to accept the reality that some things remain beyond our comprehension, even as we seek wisdom and understanding diligently.

The Paradoxes of Man’s Life (Eccl 8:14-15)

¹⁴ There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. ¹⁵ Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

Solomon highlighted the apparent paradoxes and injustice of man’s life, where outcomes don’t always align with man’s expectations, in that the just men get what the wicked men deserve, and the wicked men get what the righteous men deserve. Throughout the generations, men have been perplexed with this difficulty, how the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous can be reconciled with the holiness and justice of God. Concerning this, Solomon gave us his observation. He would not have us to be surprised at it, as though some strange thing happened, for he witnessed it in his days.  

Amid the apparent paradoxes and injustice that we see happening around us, we as Christians must realize that God is in control. From a human perspective, it doesn’t seem right. We expect rewards for good deeds and punishments for evil doings. However, things under the sun do not always happen the way we think they should. That is why Solomon called this a vanity twice.  Therefore, as we observe how power is abused by authority (Eccl 8:9), that judgment to the wicked is delayed (Eccl 8:11), good people are suffering while the wicked are doing well (Eccl 8:14), we must realize that there is a higher authority whom we worship and serve, and He is the only one who is in control of all things. We must realize that there are depths in Providence far beyond our vision and accept that God alone knows what He is doing and why He does it. As Christians, we ought to know that God is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. He is an infinite being with infinite wisdom, and He is sovereign and righteous. Ultimately the wicked will be punished, and the righteous will be rewarded (Eccl 12:14, 1 Cor 3:12-15). 

Having mentioned the apparent paradoxes, Solomon once again recommended that there is nothing better for man to do “than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry”, to enjoy the fruits of his labour in the days of his life that God gives him under the sun (cf. Eccl 2:24; 3:12-13; 5:18-19). “I commended mirth”, is literally “I sang the praise of joy or contentment”. “To be merry” means to rejoice or be content. The fruit of one’s labours are the gifts that God gives to a man to enjoy all the days of his earthly life. We must accept each day with its daily measure of work, food and pleasure as from our heavenly Father, with cheerfulness and contentment.

Solomon is advising us to find joy and contentment from what God has given us despite life’s complexities and challenges. Although many things in life seem unfair and not what we expect, we should not question God’s acts or murmur or complain about our lot in life. Rather than obsessing over the inequities and uncertainties, we should submit to the will of God, be grateful and content with His blessings, and wait upon the Lord and His righteous acts which He will certainly do one day.

Please note that what Solomon is saying is different from the doctrine of hedonism which advocates that pleasure or happiness is the highest good, as a way of life, at the expense of God and His will. The enjoyment of Christians can never be in unholy sensualism and unconstrained indulgence.

The Incomprehensibility of God’s Work (Eccl 8:16-17)

¹⁶ When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) ¹⁷ Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

Solomon, the wisest man on earth during his time, confessed that even though he applied his heart to seek wisdom and see all the activities on earth diligently and tirelessly, he failed. A parenthetical clause is added here, as evidence of man’s eagerness and restlessness in pursuing his business, which he does unceasingly, not stopping for sleep, day and night. The idea here is that man’s affairs on earth are with endless cares and labour, and beyond a single man’s comprehension.

Solomon concluded his observation of the paradoxes and complexities of human life on earth by acknowledging the incomprehensibility of the work of God. He emphasized this point by repeating thrice that man cannot find out the work of God that is done under the sun: i) “a man cannot find out” (v17a), ii) “he shall not find it” (v17b), iii) “shall he not be able to find it” (v17c).

Solomon reinforced the truth that full understanding is beyond human grasp. We can see and enjoy the work of God, but we cannot fully comprehend it. Truly no one can understand God’s ways, even if he labours with all his energies or is wise and claims he can. There are always more questions than answers. The knowledge and wisdom of God are far greater than man’s, “⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:8-9). We must embrace the reality that man will never fully comprehend nor understand God’s ways and works. We cannot allow our desire for understanding or proof in all things to undermine our faith in God who created all things out of nothing simply by His word. (Ps 33:6). We are foolish if we think and act as though we know better than God. But the unknown should not cast a shadow over our faith, work or pleasure because we know that God is in control and that we can put our trust and hope in Him.

Conclusion

Accepting the apparent paradoxes and injustice of man’s life on earth, that the righteous often suffer and the wicked prosper, is wise and biblical. As Christians we must realize that God is sovereign and He is in control of all things, even though we cannot fully comprehend the reason and purpose. Amid life’s complexities and challenges, we are to enjoy the fruits of our labour in the days of our life that God gives us, with joy, gratitude and contentment. 

Man must humbly accept the reality that he is unable to fully comprehend the work of God, for the knowledge and wisdom of God are far greater than man’s and no one can fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end. 

All that man can do is to humbly submit to God in the mysterious works of His providence and His holy will, to acknowledge He is sovereign and all-wise, to have faith in Him, and to trust Him in all things. May God give us tranquillity and peace of heart no matter what.

AMEN.