Ecclesiastes 7:29 – Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

 

Thought:  Some believe that when man is conceived, he is evil.  We are told that he is stained with the sin of Adam.  It is said that mankind is totally depraved.  This is not what the Bible teaches.  Solomon tells us that God hath made man upright.  As man lives in this sin cursed world, he seeks out many inventions.  Man is tempted.  He thinks and reasons.  He follows his own inclinations.  Leaving the will of God, he finds himself deep in the cesspool of sin.  Seek God!  Do not seek your imaginations.

 

Genesis 6:5

 

Commentary: 

 

A.     One of the conclusions of Solomon’s experiment is found in this verse.  It contains two sections.

 

B.      First, God hath made man upright.

1.  Upright:

a.  Strong (3477):  straight                  :- equity, just, right, righteous

      b.  BDB:  straight, upright, correct, right, pleasing, fitting, righteous

2.  Calvinism and Roman Catholicism teach babies are born depraved or with sin. 

3.   This verse refutes that doctrine.  God makes man without sin.

a.  Man is composed of flesh and spirit.  It is God who forms the spirit of man (Ecc.12:7;

            Zech. 12:1; Heb. 12:9).

 

The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

 

b. Jesus said little children are the pattern for Christians (Matt. 18:1-3; 19:14).

 

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

 

C.     Second, after men are born, they seek out many inventions.

1.       Inventions:

a.  Strong (2810):  a contrivance, mental (a machination)

b.  BDB:  device invention

2.   Man seeks out things from his own mind and will rather than following the will of God. 

3.   This leads him away from God and into sin.

a.  Genesis 6:5

 

And God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

 

b.  Romans 1:21-22

 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

 

D.     “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Prov. 3:5)

CHAPTER 8

 

Ecclesiastes 8:1 – Who is 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.

 

Thought:  The possession of wisdom is a blessing.  It involves knowing and understanding.  The face of the person who has it shines.  His face is not confused.  His countenance is not gloomy.  His expression is bold and confident.  He knows that he knows.  He knows that he is not wrong.  The man who possesses true wisdom is sure, confident, secure, and at peace.  Yes, wisdom maketh his face to shine.

 

Proverbs 24:5

 

Commentary: 

 

A.     There are some who want to be wise, but have not invested in wisdom.

There are some who “think” they are wise, but they are only wise in their own eyes.

Then, there are those who are wise, truly wise.

 

B.      In Bible times, there were those in every society who were classified as “the wise men.”

1.       The wise men of Egypt (Gen. 41:8).

2.       The wise men of Pharaoh (Exo. 7:11).

3.       Wise men wrought the work of the sanctuary, the tabernacle (Exo. 36:4).

4.       Moses divided the work of judging among wise men of Israel (Deut. 1:15).

5.       Ahasuerus had wise men (Est. 1:13).

6.       Job was a wise man.  NOTE:  His book is classified among the “wisdom literature” of the Hebrews.

7.       Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were wise men (Dan. 1:6).

8.       The wise men came from the east to worship the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:1-2).

 

C.     It does not seem like we have a group known as “wise men” in our society.

 

D.     Solomon begins by asking two questions:

1.       Who is the wise man?  And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?

2.       There are numerous answers that some would give to those questions.

a.  Those who are well-educated.

b.  Those who have gone through the school of hard knocks.

c.  The elderly

3.       These standards do not always make one wise before God.

a.  Job 32:9

 

Great men are not always wise:  neither do the aged understand judgment.

 

b.  1 Corinthians 1:20

 

Where is the wise?  where is the scribe?  where is the disputer of this world?  hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

 

E.      A wise man is known by his countenance and his boldness.

1.       A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine.

a.  He is not confused.

b.  He is not gloomy.

2.       And the boldness of his face shall be changed.

a.  He has an expression of confidence, but not of arrogance.

b.  He is not easily flustered.

c.  He knows his arguments cannot be broken.

d.  He is sure, secure, and at peace.

3.       The greatest example we have of such a man is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:30).

 

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

 

a.  He was not afraid of His critics.

b.  He provided answers to His critics.

c.  He often questioned His critics.

4.       Following the Christ, Paul was a man of deep wisdom (Ex., Paul’s boldness, 1 Cor. 4:19-21).

 

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.  What will ye?  shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Thought:  One thing the Bible teaches over and over is obedience to those who are in positions of authority.  We may not like the person.  We may not agree with his policies.  We may be disappointed by his lifestyle.  We may desire another leader whom we believe to be better.  None of these things matter when it comes to our submission to the king in power.  When it is hard to obey, we must remember our oath to God.  We promised to submit to His will.  His will is that we keep the king’s commandment.

 

I Peter 2:13-15

 

Commentary:

 

A.     It is interesting that God does not shy away from our responsibilities to the government.  When Solomon wrote the government was in the form of a monarchy.

1.       “I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment.”

a.       The Bible teaches Christians over and over again to obey those who are in positions of authority.

1)      Romans 13:1-2

 

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God:  and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

 

2)      1 Peter 2:13-15

 

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake:  whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well.  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

 

b.  There are at least five times when it is difficult to obey the higher authorities:

       1)  When the higher authorities change previous laws under which a person has

            lived.

                               2)  When the higher authority will not obey the same laws he wants the nation to

                                    obey.

3)      When the law goes against my wishes and my wants.

4)      When the laws are extremely oppressive in nature and remove freedoms.

5)      When we do not like, appreciate, and respect in individual who is in authority.

2.       When it is difficult for a Christian to obey, he must remember his oath to God.

a.  That oath involved obedience to the will of God.

b.  Luke 6:46

 

And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

 

3.       The exception:  When those in authority oppose the will of God, then we must hold fast to God’s will and refuse to submit to the higher power (Acts 4:19-20; 5:27-29).