Ecclesiastes 8
Introduction
This section, in our Bibles, comprises the eighth chapter and revolves around a question proposed in the first verse: “Who is like the wise man who understands the interpretation of reality?” (My translation). The remainder of the chapter provides two answers to the question. The first is proposed in verses 1-10 and the second in verses 11-14. Verses 15-17 offer a summative conclusion.
The Question
Who is like the wise man who understands the interpretation of reality? This refers to himself, who demonstrated the wisdom he had gained in the first seven chapters and reiterated it in the concluding verses 16 and 17, “I gave my heart to know wisdom…and I saw every work of God.” While it may be tempting to judge such self-identification as arrogant, consider this. He had wealth, freedom, authority, and the time to dedicate himself to both the intellectual and experiential aspects of conducting his research. In addition, he had the proper orientation, as stated in his book of Proverbs, 1:7: “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”
Answer One
His first answer is stated in the second half of verse one, “A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.” It can be paraphrased this way, “A man’s wisdom illuminates his understanding and causes his arrogant face to take on a pleasant demeanor (Hebrew עֹז conveys might or strength, hence, self-assured) face to take on a pleasant demeanor.” He follows this with five examples of applied wisdom and its pleasant outcome.
- Do keep the law as a matter of your relationship with God (2).
- Do not resist authority or rebel against it for the law (the king in this passage was the ultimate authority of his day, whereas for us, the law is our earthly king) (3).
- Do not question the authority of the law (4).
- Do not act impulsively, but know the protocol and act accordingly (5-6).
Sidebar: In 1977 or 78, I had an experience that illustrates these last two points. I left home at 6:00 a.m. and drove for an hour and a half to work. After a full day of teaching and counseling, I finished at nine that evening and was exhausted, facing the drive home. Leaving the city limits of Macon, I decided to stop at a good friend’s and drink a cup of strong coffee. Thirty minutes later, choosing the back roads over the boring interstate, with the windows rolled down, the air conditioning on, and the radio blaring to stay awake, I sped past a patrol car parked at the entrance of the local sand quarry at about 70 mph. As I crested the hill, I saw the flashing light. I pulled over, got out of the car, and stood by the front door holding my driver’s license visibly in my fingers. When the officer approached, I admitted, “Yes, I was speeding.” He asked, “And where is the fire?” I replied, “No fire, sir, I am just trying to stay awake and get home. It’s been a long, intense day. So, I cranked up the radio, rolled down the windows, and kept the air conditioning full blast to stay alert.” He checked my license for warrants, then returned and asked, “Are you alert at this point?” I answered, “Yes, sir, I am.” He said, “Ok, keep the radio and air blasting with the windows rolled down, but stay within the speed limit. Now, get home and rest.”
- Do not attempt to win points by predicting the future, and here is why (7):
- You don’t have the authority to make it happen (8a)
- There are no exceptions to this (8b)
- Attempting to do so will not pay off (8c)
In verse 10, he sums up his first answer. It is the same bottom line that appears several times in this treatise. The wicked and the righteous are soon forgotten. The actions of both are futile, empty, or vain. He implies, nonetheless, it is wise to choose to live by wisdom.
Answer Two
Who is the wise man? It is he who, by wisdom, understands the course of evil in our reality. He offers three observations to substantiate his answer.
- Lax social justice (as defined biblically, not by the non-essence of our contemporary society) gives innate evil a pass, and as a result, it increases. While the Old Testament system of implementing justice (such as the stoning of a rebellious youth) represents the principles embedded in it, which reflect the character and guidance of God, the evidence of not following them is evident in the lawlessness of contemporary society, as demonstrated throughout history (11).
- Wickedness may yield perceived benefits in a life on earth, but it will end with the righteous judgment of God (12-13).
- Bad things happened to good people, and evil good things happened to bad people. Either way, it is ultimately vanity because both will die (14).
Conclusion (which provides a framework of implementation on a practical level)
His answers to the question he proposed led to this. God has given you life. Live it in a manner that enables you to enjoy it (15).
I assure you that I have dedicated myself to exploring meaning and purpose (16). And this is what I conclude. Moses was right when he wrote, “Deuteronomy 29:29,” and stated that there are limitations on what humans can know. The wise man can know or understand what God reveals, and that is all he can know for sure. He implies, and the wise man understands, that what God reveals is sufficient for him to enjoy his life wherever God has providentially placed him by living in the environment of God.