Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

Solomon has been giving us much practical wisdom through these passages.

Practical wisdom for life, and how to live that life in a proper manner with at least some measure of wisdom.

This morning, we will consider together how Solomon gives some further advice relating to our posture before the “King”.

In our case, the “king” would be the ruling authorities - those who hold power over us.

1.

A Call to Serenity (v.1)

As Solomon does this, he doesn’t dive directly into what he wants to say concerning our submission to authorities / our posture before the authorities.

Rather, he transitions from what he’s been saying in chapter 7, and particularly the last section where he’s dealt with man going in search of many schemes, and he begins by addressing the presentation of the wise man, as opposed to the fool.

I’ve titled this section of the sermon (first point) “A Call to Serenity”

This really speaks to that presentation of the wise man - how he comes across to others, and in this case particularly leaders.

One could ask if this verse fits in with the previous verses in terms of normal wisdom, or if it stands with the verses that follow.

I don’t think the answer to that is perfectly clear.

But it would seem that this is a transition verse, that leads the learner of Solomon into this section that follows, which has primarily to do with submission to the King (or in our case, submission to the ruling authorities).

Solomon begins by asking the question: “Who is like the wise man?

Who knows the explanation of things?”

It may be thought that the answer to the question is that there is none who fits this description.

If you focus your attention on what Solomon said in Ecc 7:23-24, you may then hold the idea that there certainly is no person on earth who is wise and understanding.

But I don’t think that would be an accurate interpretation of Solomon is saying here.

Also in Ecc 7:11, Solomon spoke of wisdom being a good inheritance, and also in Ecc 7:12 of the advantage of wisdom over money.

He also said in Ecc 7:25 that he set his own heart to search out and seek wisdom.

So certainly, wisdom (being the humble fear of God in living in this world) was esteemed by Solomon, so long as that didn’t attempt to take the place of God in terms of understanding every little thing that takes place in the world.

Furthermore, as Solomon continues in this verse, we again find support for the fact that Solomon is speaking positively about finding wisdom, when he says that “A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.”

These are words which convey the reality that a man has found wisdom, has become wise, and the way in which that man’s face radiates something of the goodness of God through the wise man’s countenance.

A wonderful example of this great wisdom and filling with God’s Spirit was Stephen, when he was before the Sanhedrin...

What a beautiful description of a man who was so filled with the Spirit of God through his knowledge of God that his face was just radiant before those who hated him.

But friends, if that is the manner in which Stephen’s face shone, we should not think that God cannot so wonderfully work in our own hearts and lives such that we are filled with His Spirit and so radiate something of His beauty and love and care through our own lives.

We read in Proverbs about the way in which wisdom will esteem the one who possesses her and pursues her.

This is a wonderful description of the presentation of a person with much wisdom.

It is like someone that you can just sense their winsomeness through your interactions with them.

Not only can you see this wisdom through the countenance of the wise person, but “the hardness of his face is changed.”

A person who has grown in wisdom, has also grown in gentleness in their approach to people, to life and to circumstances.

If you consider the wisdom literature, particularly proverbs, you will find numerous exhortations to gentleness as opposed to harshness in responses.

In Proverbs 21:29, we read a very striking summary of this truth in discerning a wise man as opposed to a wicked man.

The wicked man puts up a bold front, meaning they are harsh in their responses, almost threatening and intimidating.

They put on a facade - a “front” - as they are confronted with a situation, and its appearance is boldness.

And yet, they are wicked.

The righteous man (the wise man) on the other hand, doesn’t put up such a bold front, but rather gives thought to his ways.

He considers things without a harsh front.

He gives much prayerful thought to his way since his desire is to please God, not only in what He does, but in the manner in which he does it.

Another Proverb which speaks to this is Proverbs 29:9

Here we see that a fool is the one that is not peace-loving and gentle in their approach, but rather they are harsh, and they rage and scoff against their opponent.

By implication, the wise person is gentle in their approach, and is not harsh.

Indeed, Proverbs 17:28, confirms this, when it says...

But it’s not only the wisdom literature that speaks of this.

We also find many examples in the New Testament.

Remember that the fruit of the spirit includes love, peace, kindness, gentleness...

It’s beautiful the way James puts these facets of wisdom and a peaceable disposition...

In many other places in the NT we find this idea that a wise person is not harsh or hard, but rather is a peace-loving person...

Before we move on, let me encourage us as the body of Christ to be earnestly seeking after this wisdom which comes through a filling of the Holy Spirit.

Being a fruit of the Spirit, we must not think that this kind of character of being gentle is an impossibility for us.

As we look to Christ, as we think through what God has done for us and His amazing grace, and as we humbly allow the word of God to do its work in our hearts by the power of the Spirit, we will grow in our wisdom, and we will grow in our character such that we ourselves more and more will radiate this beauty of a gentle approach.

As we move on to the remainer of this text, one more Proverb will be helpful for us in terms of launching us into the remainder of Solomon’s teaching here...

That verse is particularly fitting within the broader context of this passage, and where it is going to in terms of submitting to rulers.

2. A Caution Against Subversion(vv.2-4)

The first instruction from Solomon regarding submission to ruling authorities is that one should “obey the king’s command.”

The instruction from Solomon here was that all people should listen to the king as he commands them.

For us in our day, this is directly applicable to us listening and following commands / instructions from any ruling authority that is over our lives.

This is most certainly first and foremost applicable to the governing authorities - those who are responsible for the rule of the nation.

Following that, however, it could be extended to others who hold some position of authority over us - for example a parent / child relationship, or an employer / employee relationship as well.

It’s interesting to consider that Solomon himself was a king… he had a perspective on this that not many other people would have.

He speaks and gives advice based on his position of authority over the lives of the people around him.

He knew what went through the mind of a king when a subject of that kingdom failed to obey the command that was given.

Having said that you should obey the king, Solomon goes on to give the reason for you to obey the king.

What is the basis that Solomon presents in terms of why it is that we should obey the rulers and those in authority over us?

And the reason is because of an oath...

Now, depending on which translation you are using, you will have it written differently in the English.

In the original language, the Hebrew literally says “because of the oath of God.”

The question then is, whose oath to who??

This question is what raises the different interpretations in the translations.

So the NIV reading is “because you took an oath before God.”

If that is the oath that is intended here, it speaks of the oath that a person took (or in this case probably the nation of Israel took) before God to live in subjection to and obedience to the king of that day.

An example of this could be found in 1 Chronicles 29:24

The alternative reading of this oath of God is that God made an oath to the king when the king was placed on the throne.

The ESV translation reads here: “because of God’s oath to him.”

If this was what was intended, then it would refer to the authority that God had bestowed on the anointed leader by promise to him.

For example, David writes in Psalm 110:1

These words were an echo of God’s promise to David made in 2 Samuel 7:1-17.

As a result of this, to honour the king was to give honour to God, because this was the one anointed by God.

Think of how David, before he was king, was being chased by king Saul, and how he refused to raise his hand against Saul, because he recognised that this was a man anointed and placed by God.

In terms of how this would apply to us in our own day, we must consider that God himself has indeed established every ruler and authority, even those authorities of nations.

Romans 13:1-2 is clear on this...

Here Paul warns the Roman believers to submit to the Roman authorities, even though those Roman authorities were not at all friendly towards Christians.

In fact they were distinctly hostile towards Christians because of their beliefs.

So friends, we must hear the words of Solomon, that we too should submit ourselves to the ruling authorities in all things, even when that is somewhat uncomfortable (unless of course they require clearly and blatantly sinful actions from you).

As Solomon continues, he warns against open rebellion to a king’s command:

When Solomon says that one should not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence, what he’s conveying is that we should be respectful before the king (or in our case the governing authorities).

We should conduct ourselves always in a respectful manner before them.

“In the ancient world, an audience with the king was a matter of life and death.”

(Ryken, 186)

When a person hastily departed from the presence of the king, it was certainly a sign of disrespect.

Furthermore, the context here seems to suggest that the departure from the kings presence was because a person wasn’t in agreement with what the king was commanding, and was thus going to support a cause that was subversive to the kings command.

That’s why Solomon says there that you should not stand up for a bad cause, for the king will do whatever he pleases.

Solomon goes on to explain in verse 4...

The king or the ruler has authoritative power, and so it helps little to enter into a debate with the king, or to show some kind of disrespect in your conduct, or perhaps to engage in a bad cause against the king.

Rather, Solomon suggests that you hear what the king says, and respectfully listen and obey.

3. A Commendation to Submission (vv.5-6)

At this point, Solomon proceeds by giving a commendation to submitting to the ruler.

He says in verse 5:

For the person who will hear the king and obey, they are spared from harm.