Getting Perspective About Power

Paul Hamilton

Exposition of Ecclesiastes • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Ecclesiastes 8:1–17

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Notes

Transcript

Intro Eccl. 8: 1-15

The corn maze at Beachmont here, just came to an end. My family has not attempted that yet, but back in North Carolina we went through a pretty easy one.

When you’re in the middle of the maze you have no idea what’s coming around a corner? Is it a dead end? Will it bend and go the wrong way? You have no idea. When you are in the maze you don’t have enough information to make a good choice.

You need to get high up, you need perspective. When you can see the whole picture you can figure the way out. When you look at the map on your phone, you can zoom in to a street view to see what that will look like, but to find you way you ZOOM OUT. To get perspective.

In the maze, or on the street, with that limited point of view things may seem right, but may not be the best choice. They might be a dead end.

Solomon here in Ecclesiastes is all about Perspective. As he has examined life he’s been working to give us some perspective.

Particularly, here in Chapter 8, Solomon is giving us some PERSPECTIVE About POWER.

To do that Solomon makes three COUNTER INTUITIVE STATEMENTS. Counter intuitive means it is something that may not feel right, it goes against our intuition.

Solomon will call us to 1) OBEY THE KING – political power 2) FEAR GOD – ultimate power and 3) Be Joyful recognize our lack of power. And there will be times one or more of those three will not feel like the right response. these can be COUNTER INTUITIVE. We need perspective. GETTING PERSPECTIVE ABOUT POWER

But first Solomon sets the context:

Context

Ecclesiastes 8:1 (ESV) — 1 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.

These are proverbial statements and it is hard to get a clear, interpretation of them in detail, but it seems Solomon puts this here to transition us into his next topic.

Wisdom is good, it makes a face shine. The hard face is changed- maybe that means – the hard face of discord or confusion is enlightened AH HA! Wisdom is GOOD. we saw that last week… wisdom is good, but it’s hard to get!

But who is like the wise? Who know the interpretation? Who has perspective? I think that Solomon is coming back to that point to launch into this next section. By God’s inspiration he is giving us PERSPECTIVE. Leading us towards wisdom.

James 1:5–6 (ESV) — 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

So, may God help us get wisdom, by his Spirit as we look into his word, in faith.

Obey the King (vs. 2-9)

This first paragraph is more dense, it has several layers of argument, so we’ll spend more time here and move more quickly through the other two paragraphs.

Counter-Intuitive Issue:

Ecclesiastes 8:9 (ESV) — 9 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.

Here, Solomon see this issue. man has power over another man, to his hurt. There are a lot of pronouns in that sentence and it’s not clear if the man with power is hurt, or the man his oppressing is hurt, following the bigger theme in the book, I think he’s referring to hurting others.

This king, has the power to do whatever he pleases, and with that power he does cause harm. Verse 6 in the middle – man’s trouble lies heavy on him. Sometime Governments seem like heavy trouble.

So, we would intuit that we should rebel, reject, fight against that power. But Solomon gives us a counter-intuitive response: Keep the kings commands. And Solomon gives us several reasons to obey the king.

A. God’s Oath (Spiritual Responsibility)

Ecclesiastes 8:2 (ESV) — 2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.

Now this is another odd sentence, it is not clear if it should be God’s oath to the king, or your oath to God. Literally it is simply: “the oath of God”.

What exactly is the oath that is view here? Is it referring to the oath God made to David?

2 Samuel 7:16 (ESV) — 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

If that is the case, this specific application is very narrowly focused on the Divinely appointed monarch in Israel. However, the apostle Paul makes it clear that this concept is applied to all government authority.

Romans 13:1 (ESV) — 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

The word of God establishes governmental power. We have a responsibility to God that directs how we relate to our government.

Don’t be hasty to leave the kings presence. Don’t take your stand for an evil cause. I believe that means that we are not to rebel against the God—appointed authority over us. Don’t take a stand for that evil cause. God has put the government over us.

Mark 12:17 (ESV) — 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” …

To CAESAR! With all his wickedness!

This is Solomon’s first response to power used to the hurt of others. Should we do our best to do good to those around us, even those who suffer from the evil of government. Should we vote the best way we can to accomplish the most good we can.

In early days of the church, it was legal and not uncommon for people to abandon unwanted babies. Abortion was much more dangerous and less common what you would do if you didn’t want the child, you take it outside after it was born and just leave it on the ground. That evil and horrendous act was legal.

Christians were thought to be crazy because they were in the habit of finding and taking in those unwanted babies and adopting them into their families.

It is not within our power to abolish abortion. If Roe V Wade were overturned that would simply allow states to pass laws to make abortion illegal, but the states where most abortions take place have no interest in outlawing abortion, so nothing would change. So, here in Maryland, nothing would change.

Nationally there is no consensus to ratify a constitutional amendment, more than half of Americans support some form of abortion in some cases. Should we work to change minds and pray that God would change the government? YES. But we don’t have the power to change it, so we obey the government and do what good we can, adopt, support crisis pregnancy centers, support mothers and their children.

Working to create a culture and society where even the wrongly-felt need for abortion is far far less.

But what we are instructed to do here, is we are NOT to rebel and fight against our governments, seek to change them, but governments were always unjust. We must refuse to obey when we are called to sin, and we work to mitigate the impact of our sinful culture – abortion is devastating.

The sexual revolution is going to lead to untold misery. We are called to love, share the gospel, speak truth and do good. Racism and the lingering effects of racism is devastating, - do good, speak truth, share the gospel. We should hide righteous behavior when it is illegal. You can Protest, advocate. But the Government has its authority from God. we have a spiritual responsibility to obey.

B. The King is the Highest Authority in the Land (Practical Reality)

Solomon is nothing if not a realist. You should keep the commands of the king, because it is your spiritual responsibility. But you should also keep the commands of the king because…

Ecclesiastes 8:4 (ESV) — 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

IT is unwise to wage a war you can’t win! So the safe way is to obey.

Ecclesiastes 8:5 (ESV) — 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

Just plain-old practically speaking, fighting against the authority of the government is not going to go well. The kings has overwhelming power. And join that with God’s delegated power..

Romans 13:4 (ESV) — 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

So be wise, be careful, not foolish. Keep the commands of the king.

C. Recognize the Limits of the Kings Power

The kings power is limited, he can kill you. He can wage war. But what he can’t do is avoid death. And he can’t keep you from dying. And he can’t tell you what comes after.

Ecclesiastes 8:7–8 (ESV) — 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 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.

The king doesn’t have the power to avoid consequences – if he wages war, death will come, a price is paid. If godless laws are passed, society will crumble. – he doesn’t know what will come after, and he cannot avoid the day of death.

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) — 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

I believe Solomon here is just calling us to recognize the limits of the kings authority. There is an authority greater than his. So, we pray every week during our evening prayer meeting: we PRAY…

1 Timothy 2:1–4 (ESV) — 1 ....2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

There is an authority greater than the kings and if we want to lead peaceful lives where we can share the gospel, we need to pray for our wicked leaders. That’s what Paul told Timothy to do. There was no doubt the leaders were pagan, debauched immoral men. Paul said pray for them, that is good and pleasing in the sight of God our savior.

When we recognize the limits of the kings power that helps us get perspective. They have a lot more power than we have, but compared with God, they have nothing.

This is not our home, this is not our identity. Political parties will come and go, they will be right about somethings and wrong about others. This is not our kingdom. With all the good of America, this is not our home.

Our perspective is broadened when we get the big picture, allowing us to obey without fretting, doing good without worry. It allows us to weather the political storms with faith.

Matthew 6:27 (ESV) — 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Or perhaps to bring that into our immediate context. Which of you by worrying can add one single vote or change one single court judgment? Or flip a single state? We can’t. It’s outside of our power. Maybe it should, maybe. You can have that discussion, but the reality is you and I can’t change it.

God is in control, so we rest in him. SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM and all these things will be added to you. Keep the commands of the king.

II. FEAR GOD (vs. 10-13)

This too has a counter intuitive problem.

Counter Intuitive Issue:

It seems like God’s dropping the ball.

Ecclesiastes 8:10–11 (ESV) — 10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

The wicked people (now dead) used to go in and out of the HOLY PLACE and they were praised. GOD, were you not paying attention? It’s not like there were far off, they came right in to your house GOD!

Sin isn’t being punished quickly! The lived a long time! laws are unjust. The hearts of men are fully set to do evil. GOD WHERE ARE YOU?!

Perhaps it seems best to forget God and take matters into our own hands. God says vengeance is mine, what happens when it doesn’t look like he’s taking it!

We need a bigger perspective: The counter-intuitive reality

Counter-Intuitive Response : Fear God

Because IT Will Not Be Well with the Wicked

Ecclesiastes 8:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

We need to get perspective. Big picture, though a sinner, rejecting Christ may prolong his life through his wickedness, yet it will not be well with them.

Ultimately, he will not prolong his days, but like a shadow they will be gone. All the mocking will be gone, all the oppression and evil. All the power and confidence, all the sexual immorality and debauchery – GONE!

It may seem like it will never end.

2 Peter 3:8–10 (ESV) — 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

God is patient. BUT ONE DAY Everything will be laid bare before God and there will be no hiding. And on that day, it will go well for all those who fear the Lord! But it will be a horror for all those who did not. For those who did not turn and find life in Christ.

Matthew 10:28 (ESV) — 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

We need to have perspective so that:

ONE – so we aren’t tossed about by winds of this world. Not resting on the power of this world, not fearful about what is going on. We are resting in a GREATER POWER.

TWO – to see those people rejecting Jesus and doing evil and work to not be filled with hatred, but with compassion. God is patient not wishing that any should perish.

They will be in hell one day. That is their end. IF they don’t repent. Pray, love, do good and share the gospel. Fear GOD.

That leads us to the third counter-intuitive response.

III. BE JOYFUL (vs 14-15)

Counter-intuitive issue:

The apparent vanity of this world. where it doesn’t seem to matter what you do. No good deed goes unpunished. The bad guys get away with it. (vs 14) VANITY – it seems right to DESPAIR. Give up, get angry, get in a fight with someone.

Solomon writes, Be Joyful.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (ESV) — 15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

So much of your life is out of your control. But get perspective. TRUST GOD! find your Joy in the life you have in CHRIST now and forever, and that joy will go with you into your toil under the sun. You carry it with you!

Life will be hard. the world is getting worse. Sexual revolution is accelerating. Even the desire for justice is perverted and twisted. Be we can go with JOY, in the toil of these days, because. Friends, we have JESUS!

CHRIST MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

1) Christ is the perfect King and perfect authority

Revelation 19:16 (ESV) — 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

1 Corinthians 15:25–26 (ESV) — 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Where all the kings of this world fail. President’s all fail, governments fail, empires fall. But the king of kings will reign until the last enemy is destroyed! Death will be defeated and only life will remain.

This perfect King, came into the world, gentle and lowly. To save all his people. And all who come to him he will never cast out! Don’t fight against Joy any longer, come and rest, lay down your war and burden and rest in Christ!

2) Christ makes all things right!

He is our justification, in him there is no condemnation. This is the word of hope for everyone who hears:

Romans 8:1 (ESV) — 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Christian does this fill you with hope? You are victorious in Christ, your sins are forgiven, you are not condemned so live for him!!! HE MAKES US RIGHT! RIGHTEOUS, HOLY JUSTIFIED

And he will come in judgment, and right every wrong.

Matthew 25:31–34, 41 (ESV) — 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. …. 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

All things will be made right. every wrong righted, every sin paid for. On the cross or in hell. Won’t you trust in Christ today and follow him into life? Don’t stand alone waiting for that day!

3) Christ is our joy!

Psalm 16:11 (ESV) — 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV) — 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

We can rest here, in this certain joy. And we can engage all our energy in the path of life God has laid before us.

Give all your life to displaying Christ in this sin-cursed world. you have a perfect King, making all things well, who is full of joy.

So come,Get perspective, you don’t have any power, but you are connected to the one who has it all! Rest in him! believe on Christ, come and follow him!

PRAY

SING – He Will Hold Me Fast (call up men who are serving the Lord’s Supper)

LORD’S SUPPER

We are One in Christ. One Body

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 (NASB95) — 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

Family we are ONE in CHRIST HOLY and BELOVED – because of what CHRIST OUR KING has accomplished! This table shows the mercy, love and faithfulness of God. on the cross the curse was defeated!! and it empowers us to be changed so that we BE HOLY, we can live for him!! To Live for the Glory of God, in all things. That is what the GOSPEL Is for.

So, the Supper is a time to EVALUATE and CELEBRATE.

We evaluate our selves, we see our need for change, we have sin, we have failed. We have been distracted, we’ve gone the way of the world too often, looking to the world and it’s power, we haven’t kept the right perspective and rested in Christ and his power!

In repentance, then we turn to find help. And at the table we remember, there is boundless help for us in Christ Jesus. There is help, so we CELEBRATE! We are not defeated, we are victorious in Christ, we are not out of control. We are at PEACE!! WE ARE HOLY!! We are not BEYOND GOD’s Power to change! so from that GOSPEL Power we move forward together in peace, for the glory of God.

THIS is for DISCIPLES of CHRIST

“Our understanding of being a disciple of Christ in the New Testament is one who has been transformed through FAITH in Christ, has been baptized into Christ and into his church, and continues to be committed to and serving CHRIST in the body of Christ – a local church. The Lord’s Supper is the fellowship meal for the covenant family of Jesus Christ.”

For those who are not Christians, and this is not for you. This is not for you, you have said no to this, with your life. No to this community, no to Christ. but this SALVATION is for you, Jesus is for you! You’ll see the emblems passing you by… don’t let salvation pass you by again. Make no more excuses, take hold of Christ and live!

Children – boys and girls. I know some of you are believing on Christ, as you wait to take that public step of baptism, and openly commit to be a disciple of Christ, it is good for you to wait to take the Lord’s Supper. For you, feed on Christ as this passes you by, think to yourself, I won’t let this day pass me by without Christ, and call out to him, and then turn and follow Jesus. I know your mom and dad would be delighted to talk with you about what that might look like. Believe on Jesus and live.

The men will distribute the elements and then we’ll take them together at the end.

BREAD

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (NASB95) — 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

CUP

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 (NASB95) — 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

731 Doxology

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB95) — 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

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