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David Poland

Ecclesiastes: Life in a Broken World • Sermon • Submitted 17 days ago • Presented 20 days ago

Ecclesiastes 8:1–9

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Sermon 15 in a series through the book of Ecclesiastes

Notes

Transcript

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 54

Psalm 54 ESV

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?” O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Scripture Reading: John 14:15-16

John 14:15–16 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Sermon:

Well once again and as always good morning church, I was as always glad when they said to me let us go and Worship in the house of the Lord.

And I am glad to be back here with you. I was gone last week for annual conference, got to spend Last Sunday, the preaching at Trinity, Bible Fellowship Church in Blandon, Pennsylvania. It was a joy. To fellowship and celebrate with other Saints. Many like-minded ones. It was a joy to Get to call another church, nothing but beasts. And tell them that life was vain and pointless. While I tried to preach the gospel from Ecclesiastes to them. But this is home. This is where I love to be and I'm glad to be here and I'm glad that you all put up with me.

So Let's dive into Ecclesiastes, that's where we're at. That's where we're working our way through. Last week, Daniel had A very difficult portion. Of Ecclesiastes. And this week some of those same difficulties Are going to continue, we're dealing with the shift to the end of Ecclesiastes, where it's much more like the Book of Proverbs which is probably if I were to sit down and think difficult books to just preach through. Proverbs might be the hardest, because There's not a cohesive thought, and storyline the melodic line. That's what I like to call it. The sort of one continuing message becomes wisdom in Proverbs and it's wisdom. Wisdom, wisdom, and you get wisdom, and here's wisdom. And here's some more. Wisdom. And as we move to the end of Ecclesiastes, there's a lot of similar thoughts. We'll find that our passages become much more Loosely tied together and trying to understand how to get through these things. Well, it can be difficult. And so, as we move to the final portion, the final Chunk, you could say of Ecclesiastes. We need to keep in mind, all that has come before. But also the voice of Solomon. Who's speaking? This the wisest man to ever live? What is he giving us? And why is he telling us these things? And importantly, I would say. Why is he telling us these things? After all of the things that he said before? So those thoughts maybe prepping our mind. Let's read our passage for today.

Ecclesiastes chapter 8, we're going to start in verse one and chapter eight, that's pretty good… There's only 12 chapters. So we're two-thirds of the way through this book Ecclesiastes chapter 8 verse 1, through verse 9 this morning.

Ecclesiastes 8:1–9 ESV

Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's open with the word of prayer.

Our Father in Heaven. We thank you. For the privilege of being yours. Of being known by you of knowing you. We thank you for your word given to us, that we might know you. Pray that you would speak to our hearts and our minds reveal yourself, and your truth to us. Make us willing. Vessels able to hear and receive your word. Help us to be a people who hear your word and are changed by it. Soften our hearts, make our hearts good soil for you. Pray that you would speak through your word and speak through your servant this morning. May your spirit Empower us. To hear and know you. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen. And amen.

In reality, in this portion that we we just read. There are two things going on that we have to tackle both of them, but one of them would be too short to be its own sermon. And that is chapter 8, verse 1. And really, What Solomon's doing here is laying the groundwork for what will be the rest of in many ways? The book of Ecclesiastes He's telling us in some ways, his aim. Right life has been vanity. Wisdom, vanity, living a wise life. Vanity pleasure, vanity. Working hard vanity trying to know and understand the times and have control over the times and the seasons of the world, vanity trying to think that you can be in God's spot vanity trying to fight against the tide of this world where we live from point. A to point B and then we die vanity, that's where we've been But now we need to understand, the wisdom was better than Folly. He already said that that there were certain ways that we ought to live, you know, toil is Vanity and yet we should find pleasure in our toil. So what's going on here? Well, he's giving us now, the aim this is where he's been building to, and this is how we are going to understand how to live in the broken world. He's described. And the aim, he's trying to get us to see is to live and have and understand practical wisdom.

The Aim: PRACTICAL WISDOM

We should be wise. But it's not just this sort of wisdom that exists in The Ether, floating around, doing whatever it wants to do. No, this is practical wisdom. It's knowing the interpretation of a thing. In other words, it's knowing how to see this and then make a wise decision in how to go about your Affairs. Wisdom in and of itself is Vanity. And yet there is wisdom and understanding and knowing God has given me this toil. So I'll take pleasure in it. It's practical wisdom. And what then does practical wisdom, do chapter, 8, verse 1, it makes your face shine.

Is a cheerful heart that then shines forward in the brokenness. This becomes in many ways, our testimony to the world around us. They live different. They act different. Why?… Cuz you're wise... but that sounds kind of arrogant. But here's the answer, because in living, in the wisdom of God, there's an important caveat in living in the wisdom of God, our face shines, we endure things differently, we see the world differently, we have a reason, Right. First, Peter says, always be quick to give a reason for the hope that is in you, when your faith shines with hope in a broken World wisdom, the wisdom of God, the Practical wisdom Solomon's, getting us to see That's the reason Your face shines and you are able to understand and live and sit and rest. In a broken world.

Your face shines with wisdom and the hardness of your face is changed. Your face being the reflection here. I believe of your heart. This idea of If you have wisdom. When you get to be more aged in years, You won't have frown lines. You'll have smile lines. Your face is soft. And as you smile and your face shines with the wisdom that God gives, that's the point. And so, we're gonna spend the next weeks understanding what this practical Wisdom looks like.

So how do we get practical wisdom, when we start here by wrestling? With the king's command.

Wrestling with THE KINGS COMMAND

I say verse 2, keep the king's command.

But we got to remember all that came before. Why do I say wrestle with? Well, because we have to sometimes wrestle with this: The world is broken and in a broken world, we may have broken Kings who say broken things and command broken things. Let's wrestle with the king's command. We live in a world where we have to have an Earthly King though. When we were originally created and walking in the garden, it was not the case. So we walked with God. He was our King and our God. There was intimacy there Adam and Eve sinned. It got broke. Now, we have to have a king.

There's all of these thoughts in understanding. It's not ideal, it's not perfect, but in a broken world, sometimes having a king is our best option. And to us Americans. That sounds crazy, right? A king is never the best option. Well, if your option is the cycle of Judges, those of us who were here, when we preached through judges, remember how just swimmingly awful that was Or you have a king. Well in this case a king is better. But in all times that we have a king, we must understand that this is the god-ordained way of things. Therefore, In some sense. It's better. Knowing and understanding and wrestling with, how do we make sense of this becomes important? So, We wrestle with the king's command, keep the king's command. Well why?

WHY?

Why do we keep the king's command? We're going to dive into this on Thursday. It's in your grace point. You can read it if you're interested. There's a sort of translation issue here. I don't want to deal with it here again it's in your Grace point or come on Thursday and we can talk about it. BUt solomon tells us why

Ecclesiastes 8:2 ESV

I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.

One of the biggest whys to boil it down to the the thing here. Is because God has made the king king. Right. Solomon is saying the same thing Paul says in Romans chapter 13, God, plays authority over you. Therefore submit to the authorities over. You, why do we obey the king's command even in a broken world where the king himself is broken and sinful?

Why Because God told us to Because that's how God ordained the world because there are already always authorities over us in every aspect of life. I just spent the last week.... Joyously Would be an overstatement.... But sitting in annual conference of a denomination that has in some sense, authority over me. And then in some sense, authority over this church too. Right by by being in the Bible Fellowship Church denomination. We have said we are going to submit to the authority of the denomination because it is for our good to submit to this Authority. Even when some decisions we think, maybe I wouldn't do that. Even when some other things go on, we submit to Authority. All right, we live in a world where there's police officers, we submit to their Authority. There's courts. We looked back earlier. This is the message I preached when I was in Blandon at Trinity this last Sunday, right? That even in the halls of Justice there is sometimes wickedness, yet we submit to the authority of the courts. We submitted the authority of the federal government even though they can't ever get their act together. Why? Because God is the one ultimately who places them there. Okay. we got the why, but now another, sometimes more difficult question: HOW

HOW?

How do we obey the king's command? Well. We do not be Hasty. To take a stand for an evil cause. And we do not run from his presence. Here's the two things going on here. This idea of not fleeing do not be Hasty to go from his presence is this idea of Immediately and quickly. Well, I don't want this King. I'm gonna go to this other King fleeing from one King to another jumping from one. To the other Solomon's Point here is that God has placed you where God has placed you. So trust in that King, Don't wish you had this other King, this better King. Don't wish that. Well, I'm sick of this one. I want the other one. Instead rest, this is going to be a big point of Ecclesiastes. It has been it's going to continue to be rest where God has placed you, so do not be hasty to go from his presence.

And secondly, do not take your stand in the evil cause This is a very interesting thought here. Understanding that a broken King will sometimes say broken things and we may have to wrestle with the king's command. Do not. Side with evil ways. To get rid of this Tyrant. Do not think that the end justifies the means. Violent opposition. Largely. There are exceptions and we can talk about those if we want. The heart of a Solomon saying here is, It's not for you. To think that this sinful way of getting rid of this King is okay. Do not take your stand in an evil cause. if some evil person is plotting and scheming what you think is, ultimately, maybe better, right? The overthrow of some tyrant and King, if the way they are approaching, that is in and of itself evil, don't join forces with it. Instead rest. Keep the king's command. In so far as the king's command does not dictate and mandate that you break the commands of God. Keep the king's commands.

What does this look like? and in all honesty up to about 4 years ago I would struggle with giving you practical answers, but we have all lived through this one? We have all lived through this. Each and every one of us has lived through this. When the government in our case, the king, then mandates that you must wear a mask. That in and of itself does not break any of God's commands. So, keep the king's command. But it makes no sense but this but that but...

Solomon Admitting we live in a broken world and broken government. Sometimes, say broken things that will break us further. Keep the king's Command. and when the king does broken kingly stuff.... keep the kings commands…

But, If that same government says, you can't go to church. Now they're violating what God is command. Do we see the difference here? This is the how we still don't take a stand for evil causes, right? We're not plotting assassination attempts or figuring out how we can violently overthrow. That's not what we're doing here. We keep the king's command. Not siding with an evil cause that's how we think we can get ahead…

What are we doing? We're understanding that there is authority over us. So why do we submit? Because God has placed these Authority structures over us. How do we do so? living Peace to be with all. That's would be the New Testament, way to say it: “in so far, as it's up to you live peaceably with all.” Right. This again, this is Paul submit to those in authority over you for. They are God's vessels, right? The government wields, the sword. And if we are living good and righteous lives, we do not need to fear them. That's the Pauline way of saying this. We live peaceably. But what is this?

WHAT?

What is going on when we follow the kings command and WHAT is the end view in all this… Well we star here: we must understand. The word of the king is supreme, there is authority over us. And who may say to him? What are you doing?

This is another one of those Solomon rhetorical questions That have two kind of answers: who can say to the king What are you doing?”

on one hand No one. the king is King, he can do what he wants, but ultimately and Solomon's main point in all of Ecclesiastes is who can say to the king?

God can and more importantly, He will. God will call the king to account for every decision for every action, for every word said, Therefore, they must be very careful. Fearful. There will be a day of judgment for every ruler for every word that they say. So, for our rulers… For our governor.... I don’t always like to get super political, but this needs to be said… so to our governor… Who vocally and passionately Advocates, abortion tourism, come to our state and we will kill your baby for you… God. Will say to her. What are you doing? Tough it's for God to decide when and how… there will be an account to be made.... So, we may wrestle. And in so far, as the king's commands may drive us insane. We still submit why? Because we're submitting to God how with a Peaceable heart. With wisdom that to go back to the original Point here, makes our face shine and softens. The hardness of our face. Because what's happening, God is the one ordaining These things. It is not for us to know the times and Seasons. This is all up to God. Because ultimately, and this is where we go next, even as we follow the king's command, even as we do these things, even as we struggle to know and understand the times, we wrestle with our uncertainty,

we wrestle with UNCERTAINTY

we don't always know, we can't always know, we won't always know The times the seasons, what's going on this or that we don't always know. We are uncertain in all sorts of things. And so, what we need is the same practical wisdom. That helps us understand the king's commands help us live in an uncertain time. Here's your first point, this living in uncertainty, helps us know how to live

In how to LIVE

See, we don't certainly know all the time.... there is wright and wrong that is always clear, and ther eis a knowing how to live that sometimes is much more difficult to understand. Ever decision, every plan ever step forward is not equally clear...Right

by practical example. I just spent this last week at annual conference And one of the things for me that was frustrating just in Honest transparency. Right. I submitted the authority of domination doesn't mean. I agree with everything all the time.... It seems that the denomination in general agrees, in principle on a whole bunch of theological topics. Perfect. It's why I can fit here in this denomination. But, How do we have that theology? Play out in our day-to-day lives? There's some uncertainty there. As you try and find your particular calling… it can be uncertain how exactly to live. and how does this play out in the life of the local church? I don’t always know… this can be hard.

so Solomon says, Ecclesiastes 8:5

Ecclesiastes 8:5 ESV

Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

wisdom will help us. Hey, we don't always know. In the moment, in the instant from the outside looking in. But if we are wise, if we trust in God's wisdom, He'll guide your steps. He'll teach us, he'll train us. Though we might have some uncertainty, right? Okay, well, how do we practically work out this idea of The authority structures of men and women, and how does that play out in the local church in the family, in the world. How does, how does this all work? How do we live this out? It's hard, it's difficult. There's sticky issues. Anyone who's telling you there is not is lying to your face. There is sticky issues and it's hard to always know exactly how to live… so use wisdom. It'll give you understanding. In how we live but also Solomon's theme through the last portion of Ecclesiastes in understanding the times.

In Understanding the TIMES

Verse six, we've heard this phrase. How many times in Ecclesiastes for there is a time and a way for everything. Although man's trouble, lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be for. Who can tell him what will be? We don't always know the times. We don't know what's going on as we're struggling under the king's command. And we think why do I have to live in such an unjust Wicked time as this? It's not for me to decide the times. Is this the time of Justice or the time of wickedness? It's not for me to know the times. Is this the time of mourning or is this the time of laughing and how do I know which one it will be? I don't, I don't always get to understand the times so, Use wisdom, the wisdom that God gives.

for man's trouble. Lays heavy on him, it's difficult, it's hard. I'm not here today to give you full understanding. I'm here to say that wisdom can help you when you feel like you lack that understanding And this is why so many times when people seek advice and you come Pastor, how can I? I don't know. Have you prayed about it? Have you trusted the Lord? Sometimes the times we are in our difficult. And the answer must be found in the Practical wisdom that God gives you trusting in him.

Let's put the gospel to apply here. How do we live in uncertain times, not knowing how to live? Not understanding the time we wrestle with this uncertainty. Trust in the God, who saved you. Trust in the spirit who works within you. Jesus came. Lived and died. That we might have life abundantly for all who trust in him, he is a perfect savior. I don't understand the times, Jesus seated in the Heavenly Realms lives forever to intercede on our behalf. He knows, Trust in him. The spirit is at work within you teaching, you molding, you shaping, you giving you this wisdom. That's how you live. Because we have uncertainty and understanding the time. Specifically, here's where Solomon goes. In seeing the future

In seeing the FUTURE

We do not know. We already read this. What is to be for? Who can tell him how it will be? No, man has the power to retain the spirit or power over the day of death. There's no discharge from war nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. We don't know what the future holds. Except for one thing, the Solomon's been dwelling on, it's a painful it's a difficult thing. We will die. When I don't know how, I don't know. This is what we know. But there's uncertainty as I look ahead day by day Moment by moment year by year decade by decade, we don't know. There is complete uncertainty. We don't know what it is to be, we have no idea. We have no power. We have no power over the day of our death over anything. We don't know. It's uncertain. So, trust in the Lord. Use the wisdom that he has given to us. That's the answer. I think sometimes we get ourselves in trouble. Because we always want to have the right answer for the right situation at the right time, and we just cannot no. How do we live in a broken world? I think step one is admitting that. We can't know how to always live in a broken world. It's hard, it's difficult. So what do we do? Have wisdom. Wisdom makes our face shine. It. Softens our heart.