MAY 11

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
Memorise Ecclesiastes 5:8
“for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they”

Next, concerning the oppression of the poor which Solomon mentioned earlier, again he points us to view it with reference to the sovereignty of God. He tells man not to marvel or be surprised when they see wicked men oppressing others, for God is the one watching over all things. God sees and knows the plight of the poor and the wickedness of the oppressors. Solomon observes that over all these oppressors, there are human governments and authorities, who are the ones that are ‘higher than they’. But above that, God also knows, and will judge. God is referred to here as the one that is higher than ‘he that is higher than the highest’ – the supreme authority, far greater and higher than any power on earth!

So for us we realise that oppression and abuse of power are part of life, and if we see such abuses in life, or if we ourselves are the victims of it, we rest in the fact that the highest authority is God, and He will work all things in His season and in His time. We marvel not, but take comfort in the fact that God is still on the throne. Furthermore, this earth that God has made is for all men to enjoy, and even kings must rely on this earth that God has made. Therefore it is fully within the power of God to humble kings and exalt the poor – something which Solomon will also speak of in the following chapters.

We must remember that God always regards the affairs of everything that happens in this world. God never loses control of matters, and neither is He ever taken by surprise. All the world governments, the multinational corporations, all the international organisations, are all subsumed under the sovereign hand of God. He knows exactly what each individual on Earth is going through. But also remember that His divine wisdom is far greater than ours, and does not always work things out the way we expect Him to. But this does not mean He does not care for the oppressed. In fact, the frequent mentions of the poor, oppressed and suffering in the Word of God show that He truly does care, and in His own time and will, He will work out things according to His perfect plan.

Thought: God cares. Do I care?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the comfort to know that You know and regard every little thing that happens in my life.