Teacher: Bill Wellons
Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 CSB "Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person's wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed. Keep the king's command because of your oath made before God. Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence, and don't persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. For the king's word is authoritative, and who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though a person's troubles are heavy on him. Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen? No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; no one is discharged during battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm."
There are 2 kingdoms. The temporal kingdom and the eternal kingdom. 1. What is true about these kingdoms? 2. How do you live wisely in the kingdom?
TEMPORAL: The king's authority is absolute. In addition to absolute authority and because we live "under the sun" in a fallen world, His character is deeply flawed. This is a perfect example that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
While his authority is absolute, it is important to know that the temporal kingdom's king has an authority that is limited by death. His character is flawed and his rule is harsh.
The King's of Israel were appointed by God, but even with this appointment, the person of Jesus is the only 'man' to lead a perfect life. Because they are appointed by God, even though flawed, Solomon says it is wise to submit to the King's authority.
There is a time and a place for everything, a time to talk and a time to be silent. A wise person listens more than he speaks...submission to the king is not blind passivity.
The wise in the land know something is missing. They realize they live in a fallen world under a sinful, human king. They are dissatisfied, but they know more is to come...So they patiently wait. The wise also know what is coming. They know the current kingdom is temporal and the end is coming.
LIKE SOLOMON'S TIME. We all live under an authority, and it is flawed as well.
WE MUST
- Submit to authority (Pray for our leaders)
- Remain patient
- Know what's coming. The current leadership group will end, the world will end, a new kingdom is coming.
ETERNAL: The King's authority is absolute, it is not limited by death and extends to the heavens and beyond. The King's authority knows no bounds or limits.
The kingdom of God is already, and not yet. It already rules (or should) in our hearts, but it is not fully consummated on this earth, and won't be until Christ's return.
The character of God is perfect. Jesus was tempted in every way, yet lived without sin. In the temporal world, the ruler is flawed, in our eternal world God's character is perfect in every possible way. He is a loving and just God, therefore he is a loving and just ruler.
The wise trust God's perfect character, nothing is missing and there is complete satisfaction. The wise know what is coming, not death...but eternal life. We will be raised with Christ. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God. The wise in the kingdom pursue a person named wisdom...Jesus Christ.
We must reflect on what aspects of our life need to be submitted to the eternal kingdom, and move them out of the temporal kingdom. What is there to worry less about today, and simply long more for His kingdom that is coming?
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