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. – Eccl. 8:12-13
Ecclesiastes 8 begins with a small poem about wisdom which serves as a transition from his extended musings on the benefits of wisdom (7:1-14) as well as the unrighteous condition of mankind (7:15-29). The words of 7:1 in Hebrew can be understood to ask the rhetorical question, ‘Who is truly wise?,’ with the implied answer intended to be something along the lines of, ‘In and of themselves, no one.’ As we have seen, wisdom cannot originate from within us because we are by nature unrighteous and prone to folly. In 7:2, however, we are reminded of the importance of wisdom because it softens us. With this poem, the Teacher invites us to consider the practical outworkings of wisdom within our lives, and his words serve to anticipate the life of Jesus, the wisest man of all, which is available to His people because of the presence of His Spirit.
The Teacher observes that the first way wisdom is practically worked out in our lives is in how we both recognize and exercise authority. He begins by recognizing that God has established lesser authorities to rule (8:2-5) and that the wise must relate properly to these authorities by obeying and serving them in wisdom. The reality, however, is that those who rule and those they rule must both recognize that God is the ultimate authority so that they can be guarded from their own unrighteous tendencies. Those who rule are prone to exercise their power to the harm of others (8:8-9), while those who are ruled will often seek to undermine or usurp. True wisdom is found in recognizing that God has the power over life and death and that we are accountable to Him (8:8-9). In light of that, authority can be both recognized and exercised in wisdom.
Next, the Teacher points out that wisdom serves as a guard against wickedness. He begins by observing that the wicked lived their lives out among the people but that in the end it was hebel (‘vanity’). He then recognizes the universal tendency towards wickedness and that temporal judgment helps to constrain it (8:11). Even though an unrighteous person may seem to be living a good life, the reality is that his days do not give him comfort because he does not fear God (8:13). True joy is found in the fear of the Lord because His worshipers know that this life is as bad is things ever will be and nowhere near as good as how things will be in the end (8:12-13). Wickedness and unrighteousness are therefore show to be lacking in the end, even if they promised happiness in the short term.
Finally, the Teacher commends to us once again the enjoyment of life. Because there are no guarantees (8:14), we must find God’s goodness in the things which He has given for our enjoyment, such as food, drink, and relationships. The one who fears God can appreciate the small tokens of God’s goodness even in the midst of difficulty. This is an outworking of true wisdom because the reality of life is that we must constantly deal with frustration and disappointment. More than that, we face seasons of depression and anxiety because we will never find satisfaction and fulfillment in this life (8:16). People must face up to these realities and trust in God as they are reminded of His presence and His goodness through the good things which He has given.
In all of these things we are once again pointed towards Jesus Christ, the ultimate example of wisdom and the ultimate hope for our lives. True joy comes from knowing Him, being made like Him, and finally being with Him. He was the only one who has ever truly lived a life of wisdom. Because we are untied to Him by faith, His life is available to us to be manifested in and through us. The presence of His Spirit assures us that God is with us and available to work through us. True joy is found in loving Him and living our lives for His glory!
Join us this Sunday as we come together as His people to be reminded of these things and to sing His praises!
Soli Deo Gloria.
-Thomas