Today in God's Word—July 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
July 20, Ecclesiastes 8
Then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
- Ecclesiastes 8:17
Authority is one of the foundation principles of civilization. For people to live together in a society, there must be recognized authority and submission to that authority. We might expect a king to say what Solomon said here: "Keep the king's command." As much as it is possible, we ought to, as Paul wrote, “be subject to the governing authorities." What Solomon called God's oath to the king, Paul put this way: "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
All human rulers are by definition human, and therefore flawed. The best of us cannot lead with absolute discernment and unerring decisions. When the authorities make and enforce a demand that is contrary to God's clearly written command, we may need to do something Peter and the other apostles did. When the Jewish authorities forbade them to preach anymore about Jesus, Peter and the others said, "We must obey God rather than men." The exception does not invalidate the rule. God calls his people to honor and submit to authority.
There is a king who is perfect in all he says and does, one who is always and only righteous. His commands are for the good of his people and his will is always to bless them. I am thinking of King Jesus, the one we have named Lord of our lives. All that Solomon wrote about obeying the king is without exception true about the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Anointed of God. His word is supreme, and we have no business to say, "What are you doing?" to anything he says or does. When we keep his commands, we are truly spared from knowing any evil thing.
Our questions about what God does, how he does it or when he does it may disturb our peace, but are no threat to his sovereign rule over us and all things. We may not understand why God does not do what we think needs to be done when we think it needs to happen. But we will keep trusting and fearing God because we have assurance that it will be well with those who do so.
Solomon admitted that his quest had been unsuccessful. He thought he could figure it all out by wisdom. But he was forced to concede that God's ways were beyond his ability to find out.
The three big ideas in Chapter 8 reach far beyond theological studies to touch our everyday lives. You and I will be blessed when we obey authority, and especially God's authority. Do we believe (and live as if) God’s will is the best way for us to live? We may not agree or realize that his will is best. But God can see beyond here and now, and he knows what lies ahead and what is best for his children. Regardless of how smart we are or how hard we try, we will never be able to fully comprehend or explain the ways of God. We’re called to move beyond our understanding and accept by trusting faith what God tells us.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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