The Book Of Ecclesiaste Pt. 33 A Wise Man Serves God & Others First

Ecclesiastes 8:1  Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

Solomon is the "Preacher" who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. In chapter eight, he introduced what it means to be a genuinely wise man. 

This is someone who seeks the things of God, who sets his heart on receiving wisdom from God.

Gaining Divine wisdom is connected with Bible study and the illuminating work of God's Spirit in our hearts. 

Now, Solomon is going to point us to some practical examples of wisdom. 

Ecclesiastes 8:2  I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 

Solomon shows the practical side of wisdom, where the king's advisor is discreet. He does not discuss the king's policies or strategies with other people. He does not gossip about what goes on inside the king's residence. 

The wise man has learned to be loyal, knowing that he serves at the pleasure of the king. Thus, all the king's business that the wise man is involved with, is kept in strict confidence.

Do we need wise men serving in government today? We certainly do. There are far too many bureaucrats who leak information harmful to the three branches of our government. 

They divulge secret and confidential information simply because they do not like the ideology of those who won elected offices.   

The wise man will not undermine the administration that he serves. 

Ecclesiastes 8:3-4  Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4)  Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 

The wise man is steady and faithful in rendering service to his king. He will stay on his job as long as the king requires him to and he will not complain. 

Solomon reminds us that the wise man will not become caught up in some evil scheme. He knows firsthand that the king's decrees are absolute, and that he can do as he pleases. His word has power. 

No counselor or adviser can question why the king is doing some particular thing. To do so would place his life in peril.

Proverbs 14:35  The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. 

Remember that King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs and it is also full of wisdom. 

Since he was a powerful king, Solomon was well acquainted with royal protocol. A king will be blessed by his wise servant, and he will be gracious toward him.

On the other hand, if the king discovers that his servant is a fool, his displeasure will be directed at the foolish servant. A foolish servant may do something which damages the king, and the monarch will turn his wrath toward that servant. 

Proverbs 16:10  A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. 

The idea of a divine sentence being spoken by a king, connects with Romans 13. God establishes rulers and governments for our good. 

Therefore, the people of God are expected to be subject to their rulers, as long as they do not compel us to do something contrary to God's will (Romans 13:1-5).

Proverbs 16:12  It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. 

A wise king is one who recognizes that God has set him on the throne and that he is to govern according to God's righteous standards (See Proverbs 20:8; 26; 28; 25:5). 

Wicked rulers cause untold misery, destruction, hardship and grief. 

Proverbs 16:13  Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. 

This is why Solomon advocates for a king's servant or counselor to be a wise man. A servant who speaks truth and tells his king that which is accurate and right, is a blessing to the ruler.

Proverbs 25:6  Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

The wise man will not be a self centered, self promoting man. He will not seek to gain a prominent position before the king, at the expense of others. 

The wise man knows that many powerul leaders and people will seek an audience with his king. He knows that he must fade into the background until needed by the king. 

Proverbs 22:11  He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

A wise man loves having a pure heart before God. He seeks wisdom from God and how he might please Him. 

A wise man who serves God first, will be a great asset to his king, and his speech will be known for grace and truth instead of lies and gossip. 

Proverbs 16:14-15  The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. 15)  In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. 

The wrath of a king can be a death sentence against the foolish servant (See Proverbs 19:12; 20:2). The wise man knows how to help the king set aside his anger, so that he can look at the problem in a more objective light. 

A wise man who blesses his king by rendering faithful service, will find that the king's countenance is favorable to him. It is like receiving a shower of blessing on a hot summer day. 

Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

This is the ultimate truth that the wise servant knows. Jehovah will set kings up and He will remove them as He sees fit. Jehovah can turn the kings heart in the desired direction, to accomplish His good purposes. 

Ecclesiastes 8:5  Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. 

The wise servant will keep the commandments of God and those of his king. This man will not become embroiled in evil because he has loved God and served his king faithfully and loyally. 

Quiet submission to the powers that be guarantees a peaceful and happy life. 

The "heart" includes the moral and mental function in us. The wise man bears oppression and remains calm even in evil days, because he knows there is a time of judgment coming when all wrongs will be righted (See Ecclesiastes 12:14). 

The certainty of God's future justice is so strong in his mind, that he does not resort to rebellion in order to rectify matters. Rather, he possesses his soul in patience, leaving the correction of abuses in God’s omnipotent hands.

Thoughts to Ponder...

We see the practical application of Divine wisdom in our lives. We may not serve a king, but we are subjects to some for of human government. 

God has plainly commanded us to obey civil authorities. The only time what we would not do so, is if we are told to do something that is contrary to the revealed will of God.

On any occasion when a ruler or governing authority tells us to do something we know is wrong, our response should be like the apostles: "We ought to obey God rather than men." (acts 5:29).  

The wise man has gained wisdom from God. 

The wise man has a servant's heart. Christians must seek to be more like Christ for He came to seek and save the lost, and to serve others rather than Himself.

The wise man puts the king's interests before his own. Christians must put heaven's agenda before our own. We must obey Jesus Christ our King. 

May these truths guide us as we go about performing our duties and fulfilling our obligations. May we seek to serve God first, and serve others before ourselves.

Bob