Ecclesiastes Part 14

8/5/18 Bad Things Happen...To Good People
Ecclesiastes 8:10-18
Teacher: Rob Sweet


Ecclesiastes 8:10-18 CSB "In such circumstances, I saw the wicked buried.  They came and went from the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they did those things.  This too is futile.  Because the sentence against an evil act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit evil.  Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before him.  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.  There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve.  I say that his too is futile.  So I commend the enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.  When I applied by mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one's eyes do not close in sleep day or night), I observe all the work of God and conclude that a person is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun.  Even though a person labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if a wise person claims to know it, he is unable to discover it. "


 Key verse 8:14

Theme: life just isn’t FAIR
Where does our instinct for fairness come from? We are made in the image of God...He is JUST. We were made to extend the glory and righteous rule of God.
In the fall our image became deformed...greed

We have to wrestle with the truth...NO life isn’t fair.

V11 because the sentence against an evil deed (consequence) is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the son of men among them are given fully to do evil.
*if we think we won’t get caught and it’s to our advantage we will...without the hilt spirit.
Solomon is posing ?? “Why doesn’t God shut down the evil in the world by punishing the evil doers?”

Answer: v12-13
You can’t count on justice in the world under the sun. Justice will win out and make things right...but ONLY to if there is something after death. He doesn’t know what’s after life (based on progressive revelation of God)
Solomon can’t see past death...but he thinks something must be on the other side “I know...it will be well, it will not be well”
Reckoning and restoration
Well-Hebrew “Tove” good, pleasant, orderly, right...gen 1 god saw that it was Tove. One day everything will be Tove...like pre-fall...restoration.

The reckoning and restoration of God all come together in the person of Jesus.

Cross was reckoning...resurrection was restoration. More unfair and unjust than anything we think is unfair. I (and all who believe) am the beneficiary of that unfairness

V16 “when I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night).

V17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which had been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously he will not discover: and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.

why does god allow all of this? We cannot know!!!

How? How should we live in an environment where things are not how they should be.

Present: v15 at 1st glance...numb the pain. Truth-open your eyes to the gifts God has placed in your hands and enjoy them. Life has bitter and sweet...focus on sweet.Find joy in your gifts. Life is gift, not gain. An undeserved (therefore unfair) gift.


God not only do understands injustice...he bore it on his back and walked in it....for me.

When Christ returns...final reckoning and restoration. Evil one banished...broken creation made new, justice will be all there is.

If life is not fair...how do we live?

THE FEAR OF GOD:

A wholesome dress of displeasing God

A holy awe of God as he is revealed in scripture

A holy awareness that to hear God is to obey God

A Hope-filled faith in Jesus who died and rose, to make all things new.
(We cannot fear God apart from Christ)

Jesus:unfair but beautiful.