Ecclesiastes 8:9 – All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun:  there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

 

Thought:  Solomon saw so many things during his lifetime.  It would have been a blessing to sit at his feet for a day to glean from his wisdom.  Here, he notes that a ruler can rule in such a way that he produces his own hurt.  We are reminded of Pharaoh in the days of Moses.  He was a man full of pride.  Rather than heeding God’s warnings he continually hardened his heart.  Ten plagues devastated his kingdom.  Eventually, he lost his army in the Red Sea.  He brought the destruction of his own nation.

 

Exodus 15:3-4

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon was thoroughly impressed with the findings of his experiment.

1.       All this have I seen.

2.       And applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun.

 

B.      He states another truth that he learned.  “…there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.”

1.       Evil rulers hurt those who are under their authority.

a.  They oppress their citizens.

b.  They use their citizens for their advancement.

c.  They will dispose of those who are of no benefit to them.

d.  They will literally kill their servants if they are not loyal and useful.

2.       There are times, however, that an evil ruler rules over others to his own hurt.

a.  Eventually, their evil ways come back to haunt them.

b.  There are many types of judgments that can come upon them.

      1)  Their own policies and decisions bring them harm.

      2)  Individuals under their authority conspire against them.

      3)  Their enemies finally gain the advantage over them.

      4)  God rises up in opposition to them and dethrones them.

3.       Example:  Pharaoh of Egypt in the days of Moses.

a.  After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally let Israel go (Exo. 12:30-32).

b.  However, not long after their release, Pharaoh regretted letting them go and pursued

      after them (Exo. 14:5-6).

 

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled:  and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?  And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him.

 

c.  This maneuver Pharaoh made to his own destruction (Exo. 15:27-28).

 

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.  And the water returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 8:10 – And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done:  this is also vanity.

 

Thought:  Rulers die.  Both good and bad rulers die.  Solomon had seen wicked kings buried.  They departed from their “holy place,” that is, their holy position on earth.  Once these evil men were buried, they were forgotten.  Their subjects were glad to forget them.  Their lives were vanity.  Their rule was vanity.  Their chance to be great, to make a difference, to have a legacy was wasted.  Vanity!

 

II Kings 9:34-35

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The words of the inspired Hebrew writer found in Hebrews 9:27 apply to all men, including rulers.  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die…”  When they die, they, like others, are buried.  LESSON:  Death is one of the equalizers of mankind. 

 

B.      Solomon makes an interesting statement about these dead men.  He says they had “come and gone from the place of the holy.”

1.       One of the definitions of “holy” is “that which is set apart.”

2.       All positions of leadership are “set apart” places.  Thus, they are, in a sense, “holy.”

3.       Rulers come and go from these places.

a.  They are there for a time, but eventually die.

b.  All places of leadership are temporary.

c.  Many times, those places are filled by another.

 

C.     Once a leader dies, he is often quickly forgotten, even in the place where they exhibited their authority. 

1.       Other than Ahab, name one of the kings of Israel.  There were 18 others.  All of them were wicked.

2.       Sometimes it is difficult for us to remember the past Presidents and certainly not their Vice-Presidents.

3.       Individuals may be aware of their names, but they do not know much about their policies and actions while they were a ruler.

 

D.     A wicked man enters into a position of leadership.  After several years, he dies only to be forgotten by those over which he ruled.  Solomon says:  “…this is also vanity.”

1.       When individuals are put in positions of leadership, they need to lead.

2.       They need to lead their nation in paths of righteousness. 

a.  When they die, they may be forgotten.

b.  However, the positive things they do as leaders may continue for years after their death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 8:11 – Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

 

Thought:  We often hear that punishment is not a deterrent to crime.  The Bible does not affirm such a doctrine.  When there is no sentence against an evil work, “the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”  If evil individuals are not punished quickly, they continue their evil ways.  A lack of punishment also causes others to think they can get away with similar crimes.  Quick and just punishment will cause some criminals to think before they act.  In fact, they will not act. 

 

I Corinthians 5:1-6

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon now addresses how the authorities are supposed to respond to “evil works.”

 

B.      “An evil work” can involve many things:

1.       Transgression of God’s law

2.       A violation of the rules the authorities have put in place

3.       A unlawful rebellion against the established authorities

 

C.     When evil works transpire, the sentence against them needs to be carried out “speedily.

1.       Speedily

a.  Strong (4120):  properly a hurry, (adverbially) promptly

b.  BDB:  haste, speed

2.       There needs to be servere, prompt actions.

a.  The actions need to be duly noted.

b.  Confrontation regarding the behaviors needs to be done swiftly.

c.  If there is no repentance, decisions regarding the punishment need to be made.

d.  The punishment needs to be carried out speedily.

3.       This has become a problem in the home, in society, and in the church.

a.   Parents warn and threaten their children over and over about their bad behavior, but

      little action is taken.

b.  We have criminals who have been on death row for over ten years since they were

      convicted of their crime.

c.  Individuals become unfaithful or practice sin for a long time before church discipline is

      ever carried out.

 

D.     Solomon reveals one of the consequences of not carrying out the sentence against an evil work quickly enough.  “…the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

1.       Solomon teaches us a powerful lesson.  “Punishment of evil is a deterrent.”

a.  Paul teaches this also in Galatians 6:1.

 

Brethren, if any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness:  considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

b.  If punishment is not a deterrent, why has God warned mankind about the horrors of

      hell?

2.       There are some who will argue against this teaching.

a.  They do not believe punishment is a deterrent.

b.  When they do, they are arguing with the wisest man who have ever lived.  Too, they are

     putting themselves in opposition to the Word of God.

c.  Even an evil king understood the need to punish someone who went against his

      authority, lest others in the kingdom rise up in rebellion as well (See Esth. 1:17-18).

 

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when is shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.  Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen.  Thus shall thee arise too much contempt and wrath.