The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 35 The Righteous Suffer and The Wicked Prosper But Judgment Day Will Come

It is vanity that the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper.

Ecclesiastes 8:14  There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. 

Wise and good men have, of old, been perplexed with this difficulty. How can the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous be reconciled, with the holiness and goodness of the God that governs the world. 

Concerning this Solomon here gives us his advice.

He has the righteous people suffer greatly in this life, often abused by the wicked. The righteous are often troubled and perplexed in their minds by the afflictions and trials that come their way. 

The wicked seemingly prosper without hindrance and their minds are at ease. They have no fear of God and are secure (for now) in their sins and evil doing. 

Psalm 73:13-17  Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14)  For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15)  If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16)  When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17)  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 

The Psalmist also was perplexed like Solomon was. It seemed that his desire to live a holy life (cleansed heart) and to walk close with the Lord (washed hands) only brought trouble. 

He was plagued all day long by troubles and trials, as the wicked seemed to prosper. God chastened him (and all believers) and this was, and is sometimes hard. 

The Psalmist thought about this contradiction of the wicked prospering now while the righteous seemingly suffer, but it was too hard for him to contemplate. 

Then, he entered the sanctuary of God. He looked in the scriptures and saw the end of the righteous. 

He saw that God's Word declared that all men will die and face judgment. The righteous will receive their reward but the wicked will receive everlasting punishment. 

The world says eat, drink and be merry. 

Ecclesiastes 8:15  Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. 

These are objections of an unbeliever.  Since believers in Jesus Christ are constantly under attack and the ones who know not Christ, enjoy health and wealth, we should not trouble ourselves about future things. 

Everything around us screams eat, drink and be merry, consume your time, energy and resources upon your fleshly lusts. This is the philosophy that shapes our culture. 

Wisdom cannot penetrate the wonderful things of God.

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17  When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) 17)  Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. 

This is the reply of the wise man. Solomon considered these contradictions that we see in this life. God governs the world, but we cannot see the  good purposes of His will. We cannot know why He does what He does. 

We may study night and day, and deprive ourselves of rest and sleep, but we shall never fathom the depths that are in the things of God.

Even so, all is right and just. In this present evil world the wicked will not yet be punished, and the righteous will not yet be rewarded. 

Eternity is at hand, and then every man will receive according to his works. 

A man that has squandered life by eating, drinking and pleasure seeking, will find he is unprepared to meet God. He will die in his sins and suffer eternal separation from God. 

Solomon reaches the end of his reflections and concluded that even if we work hard to discover it, no man can find out the works that God is doing. No man can delve into the deep things of God. 

We can expend all of our time and resources trying to find these things out, but we will fail. 

Fear God. Trust Him. Obey His Word and do not worry about the wicked. God will judge them in due time. 

Thoughts to Ponder....

Solomon is writing about viewing life that is lived for self instead of for God's glory. Such as life is ultimately empty and unsatisfying. 

Let all believers in Christ praise God, for He sent His Spirit to live in us. 

The Spirit of God will guide us as we study God's Word. He will open our eyes to behold wondrous things in His law. He will patiently teach us and guide us along in the things of God.

May the Psalmist's words encourage us each day, to walk with the Lord, no matter how hard it may become.

Bob

Psalm 40:5  Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 

Psalm 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.