Life's Mysteries - Wrestling with Injutice - Ecclesiastes 3, 4, 8 - January 17, 2010

Bible Study – Life’s Mysteries – Wrestling with Injustice – January 17, 2010

This is lesson three (3) in our series of study entitled “Life’s Mysteries.”

Our scripture is Ecclesiastes 3:16-17; 4:1; 8:2-13.

King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes late in his life after he had done it all and accomplished all the desires of his. His conclusion to living life by enjoying what the entire world could provide and satisfying the desires of the flesh was meaningless and the only real meaning to life was to obediently serve GOD.

He looked around him at all the human activities “under the sun” and observed the injustices in the court system and powerful people oppressing others. To me one of the attributes of a good manager or leader is for him/her to observe what is going on; who is doing what he/she is supposed to be doing by periodically walking around or through his/her area of responsibility. It does not take long before a pattern emerges. Solomon used the phrase “under the sun” to mean the normal everyday activities people did in everyday life.

Solomon discovered injustices and oppressions as he observed life “under the sun.” This is a message to us. GOD wants believers to open their eyes to the things going on around them on a daily basis. When believers observe injustices or oppressions, what do they do about them? Most often, we do not want to get involved. Should we? Let the LORD lead you.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 3:16-17:

The Mystery of Injustice and Death

16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every work.”

Solomon was observing life’s activities “under the sun” and he observed wickedness in the court system. Those judging were to be guided by the Law of Moses, thus the use of the word “place of righteousness” referring to the court system. If those judging others were righteous then there would not have been wickedness in the court system. Again, he was observing the absence of GOD in the lives of those responsible for judging others in a system that should show no prejudice or injustice.

The phrase “place of righteousness” could be expanded to include all human activity where people deal with each other.

Even though those meting out judgment were not executing their job as GOD desired, GOD would be the final judge for all human beings.

In life “under the sun” people think they will get away with their unrighteous deeds but GOD will judge every person according to the responsibility HE has given them. GOD appoints and allows certain people to fill certain positions of responsibility “under the sun” and HE will hold them accountable for their actions.

Solomon was coming from the point of view, as we saw in our last study, Ecclesiastes 3:11a - 11 He (GOD) has made everything appropriate[3] Or beautiful in its time.
Solomon saw GOD as sovereign in all things. People can ignore GOD but judgment day will come.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 4:1:

1 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them.

Solomon continued to reveal activities he had observed “under the sun.” He observed acts of oppression. Oppression occurs when a power or person with power takes advantage of those subject to that power. I immediately thought of those on Medicare and Medicaid. Let’s look at what is happening today with our own government. Our government needs money to fund programs the current leadership thinks is good for the people. Because our government has the power and it needs money for these new programs, the current leadership is taking it from those who need medical care. Thus those on Medicare and Medicaid become the oppressed. The insurance industry is another example. They can deny a claim or increase our premium and there is little we can do, if we want to keep insurance. The electric and gas companies appeal to a commission and if approved, they raise our rates.

Those on Social Security are not getting a cost-of-living increase for the next two (2) years but some in the government are. The current leaders are living like kings and queens as they fly from one place to another in these hard economic times. At least we have the power of our vote but people in Solomon’s day did not have that privilege. They could appeal to the king. It is interesting that King Solomon was king and could right some of the wrongs he was observing.

In some of our lifetimes we have seen the rise and fall of Hitler, Edi Amin, former leader of Uganda, the atrocities in Rwanda and many other examples of a group oppressing others in a country. America is a great country but we the people must, remain in control by exercising our rights as citizens or else we will become the oppressed. When a group is not the oppressed group they tend to remain silent as long as they are not affected.

There is an appropriate quote made by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”

Most of us do not want to get involved. We think that things will work themselves out in due time. But when we wake up one day to find our freedom gone and paying higher and higher taxes without any additional benefit, we will ask ourselves, “How did this happen?”

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 8:2-9:

2 Keep[1] Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg, Tg, Syr; other Hb mss read I, keep the king’s command. Concerning an oath by God, 3 do not be in a hurry. Leave his presence, and don’t persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. 4 For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. 6 For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man’s troubles are heavy on him. 7 Yet no one knows what will happen, because who can tell him what will happen? 8 No one has authority over the wind[2] Or life-breath to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; there is no furlough in battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. 9 All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one man has authority over another to his harm.

Solomon continued to address injustice and oppression and what a person can try to do to address those issues. Those receiving injustice or being oppressed can go to the king for help. But a person must be careful when he/she approaches the king. There was a certain procedure. Solomon advised that a person carefully consider his/her request and that the person makes sure he/she was not guilty of violating the king’s commands. A person did not need to come in the presence of the king with an issue the king could use against him/her.

The use of the statement “Concerning an oath by GOD, do not be in a hurry” is interpreted in a number of ways. Some Bible scholars tie the statement to a person’s responsibility to obey the king as they would obey GOD. Some interpret the “do not be in a hurry” phrase to mean do not leave the king’s presence when things are not going your way, which is captured in the New International Version (NIV) of

Ecclesiastes 8:2-4:

(2) Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. (3) Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. (4) Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

In verse 3, as you can see in the Holman version, which is used in our studies, versus the New International version, the placement of the period changes the interpretation. I will confuse you further. “Hurry” can be translated “troubled.” So another way to look at verse 3 is don’t be troubled or (my words) intimidated when you are in the presence of the king. Be courteous and not having to hang your head because you have disobeyed the king. But since you are coming from being a loyal subject to the king and you have considered your request carefully, go into the presence of the king with confidence.

I am taking the approach of what I think was the underlying idea behind Solomon’s thinking. I think Solomon was comparing the authority and power of the king to the authority and power GOD. The foundation of Jewish governance for those in power was to follow and obey the commandments of GOD, both in their personal life and in governing.

Solomon was telling people to obey the king’s commands, because they follow the commandments of GOD. However, if the king’s commands were contrary to GOD’S, then a person could question the king’s commands but he must be careful in doing so.

Certain kings required those getting an audience with him to discuss an issue to enter and leave his presence in a prescribed manner. People would enter the king’s presence and wait for the king to indicate whether or not they could come closer to him for him to hear their request. If the king was in a bad mood he could have a person executed or thrown into prison for simply being in his presence.

If the king did not indicate for the person to come closer he/she should not press the issue and gracefully leave hoping for another opportunity. Kings have an ego and use their power to control others.

There were also “courtiers” who were trained how to approach the king and could be approached to present a person’s request to the king. When a person approached the king, he/she had to be certain he/she had obeyed the commands of the king or else his/her request was destined for rejection. Plus the person making the request could be punished or put to death.

When a person was obeying the commands of the king, he/she had nothing to fear from the king. Because of the authority and power of the king, a person better think long and hard before asking him “What are you doing?” There was a right time and procedure for approaching the king even though a certain matter weighed heavy on a person’s mind. He/she must choose the appropriate time to wisely approach the king.
Solomon says that no one can tell a person needing to approach a king, what the outcome would be. He compared the uncertain decision and power of the king to the uncertainty and power of the wind, death, trying to furlough troops during a battle or trying to escape from the grasp of wickedness.

These are the things Solomon had observed “under the sun” when a person of power has authority over others and wants to do him/her harm.

Parallel to the king’s authority was the authority and power of GOD. No person, regardless of his/her power or authority, has power or authority over the wind, natural death, to win a battle by telling the troops to take a holiday or to win a spiritual battle once enslaved by wickedness. Only GOD has the power and authority for this. By the same token, GOD does not use HIS authority or power to oppress people or to harm them.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 8:10-13:

10 In such circumstances, I saw the wicked buried. They came and went from the holy place, and they were praised[3] Some Hb mss, LXX, Aq, Theod, Sym; other Hb mss read forgotten in the city where they did so. This too is futile. 11 Because the sentence against a criminal act is not carried out quickly, therefore the heart of • people is filled [with the desire]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. to commit crime. 12 Although a sinner commits crime a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before Him. 13 However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God.

Solomon continued to report on things he had observed “under the sun.” He had observed wicked people, who had harmed others, worshiping. These wicked people tried to cover their wickedness by seeming to be religious. But they died like anyone else. After they were buried, people praised them. People praised them but what good was human praise because the praise that was important was the praise from GOD for being obedient to HIM. The wicked people were only fooling themselves to think that they could go through the motions of worship and GOD would overlook their evil deeds. Another consideration was that the evil people thought that because they went through the motions of worship, GOD had blessed them because they were prosperous. In Solomon’s day those who were rich were considered blessed by GOD. This sent the wrong message to those who thought that the evil doers were so cool in getting away with their evil deeds. Little did those watching know they were being led to becoming entangled by the same evil snare.

It seemed that those who were wicked got away with their wickedness. They were buried and people praised them. People saw that they had prospered from their wicked deeds and nothing was done about it either by the authorities or GOD. It seemed that the wicked got away with their wrong doing, which influenced others to join them in their practice because punishment for their evil deeds was slow.
Likely, we have all known or heard about people who were wicked and prospered while GOD fearing people suffered. We ask why? Solomon was saying there will be “payday some day.” The final judge will be GOD and although the wicked seem to get away with their evil deeds in this life, they will be judged by GOD. Those who respect GOD and seek a relationship with HIM will receive the benefit of having been obedient to GOD when they stand before HIM on Judgment Day. “Pay day someday” will be the final judgment by GOD and it will be for eternity.

The bottom line is that the wicked seem to have their day upon earth but there will be a reversal in eternity. The righteous will reap the rewards of their obedience to GOD for all eternity.

Folks, there will be “Payday some day.” Are you prepared to stand before GOD? Do want to have the assurance that you will not be judged? The answer was recorded in John 5:24: (These are the words of JESUS.)

24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

Now that is Good News!

Ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and ask HIM to come into your life today. If you did ask HIM, then thank HIM because you have been born anew into the family of GOD and you have become HIS child. Read the Bible. I suggest beginning with the Gospel of John. The HOLY SPIRIT will lead you to all truth in the eyes of your heart.