Ecclesiastes 8:12 – Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.

 

Thought:  There are times when those who fear God can be fooled into thinking wrong things.  We can look at the sinners of the world and be fooled.  They do evil over and over again.  However, they continue to live long lives.  Sometimes the life of the righteous ends too quickly.  The righteous wonder:  “Why?”  They may be fooled into thinking that being a sinner is more profitable.  Solomon assures his readers that this is not the case.  “I know that is shall be well with them that fear God.”

 

Psalm 115:12-13

 

Commentary:

 

A.     After the fall of man (by man’s “choice” in the Garden of Eden), the world was cursed and Satan became the prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

 

B.      His efforts in this world have been extremely successful. 

1.       Man has strong desires of the flesh.

2.       Satan entices these desires.  Too, he makes false promises regarding the outcomes of yielding to the flesh.

3.       Evil, therefore, prevails in our world.

 

C.     Solomon notes two truths about sinners that are often seen by the righteous.

1.       Sinners do evil a hundred times. 

2.       Sinners have their days on the earth prolonged.

 

D.     These two things can adversely affect the child of God.

1.       He begins to doubt God, especially His love and care for His people.

2.       He begins to doubt the profitability of living a life in service to God.

3.       He is tempted to turn to a life of sin himself.

 

E.      Remember, Solomon has conducted a massive experiment.  He has seen the very things of which he writes.  He has seen evil committed by sinners over and over.  He has seen the lives of evil people prolonged on the earth.

 

F.      Thus, he gives an assurance to the followers of God.  “…yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.”

1.       Fear

a.  Which fear God.  This involves the internal aspect of fear.  It denotes a person’s awe and

      respect for God.

b.   Which fear before him.  This involves the words and behaviors that spring from that

       internal fear.  Those who fear God praise Him, serve Him, and proclaim His love and

      greatness to others.

2.       Those who continue to fear are promised “that it shall be well with them.”

a.   Strong (2896):  good (in the widest sense)

b.   BDB:  good, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, valuable in estimation, becoming, better,

      happy, prosperous, prosperity, happiness, moral good

 

G.     LESSON:  When we look at the welfare of others, especially those who are evil, we might miss all of the good and the blessings that we are experiencing at the hand of God.

 

 

Ecclesiastes 8:13 – But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are a shadow, because he feareth not before God.

 

Thought:  The average age to which any human being lives is very short.  Our lives come and go like a shadow.  At times, it may appear the wicked live longer, but they do not live any longer than the average man.  The wicked are not blessed because they do not fear God.  One day their lives will pass from the earth.  At that time, they must be ready to stand before their Creator. 

 

Psalm 144:4

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon corrects the incorrect thinking on the part of some when he writes:  “But it shall not be well with the wicked.”

1.       We often falsely assume the wicked lead wonderful lives free from the hardships of the righteous. 

2.       However, this is not usually the case.

a.  They have family problems.

b.  They face financial struggles.

c.  They face sickness and death.

d.  They have their enemies.

e.  They face difficult decisions.

 

B.      Solomon also reminds us that the wicked will not prolong his days.

1.       The average age of a man and woman is between 70 and 80 years old.

2.       The life of the wicked passes just as the life of any person, that is, as a shadow.

 

C.     LESSON:  The wicked are not blessed because they do not fear God.

1.       Their lives will come to an end.

2.       They, too, will have to face God in judgment (Heb. 9:27).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 8:14 – There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happened 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.

 

Thought:  Life does not always appear to have rhyme and reason.  Sometimes it appears like the righteous are treated like a wicked man should be treated.  At other times, it appears like the wicked are treated as if they are righteous individuals.  Solomon saw this during his experiment with life.  He refers to this as vanity.  What must be remembered is that there is coming a day of equity.  God will right all the wrongs.  The righteous will be rewarded.  The wicked will receive their rewards as well.

 

Romans 2:6-11

 

Commentary:

 

A.     We often have preconceived ideas about the way life should happen both to ourselves and to others. 

1.       We have in our minds a standard that involves right and wrong.

a.  Those who do right should be rewarded thusly.

b.  Those who do wrong should be punished according to their works.

2.       Solomon addresses these preconceived ideas by stating:  “There is a vanity which is done upon the earth…”

 

B.      He notes two scenarios that go against the common thinking of men.

1.       There be just men, unto whom it happened according to the work of the wicked.

a.   Good men have hardships.

b.   Good men have prolonged illnesses.

c.   Good men cannot seem to get out of a deep hole in life.

d.  Good men have major family issues.

e.   Good men have financial problems.

f.   Good men have enemies who attack them.

g.  Good men die early.

2.       There be wicked men, to whom it happened according to the work of the righteous.

a.  Wicked men become wealthy.

b.  Wicked men live lives free from illness and disease.

c.  Wicked men have few hardships.

d.  Wicked men live long lives.

 

C.     “I said that this also is vanity.”

1.       We can complain about the dichotomy, but it will not change.

2.       It is one of the vanities of this world.

3.       The righteous must remember:

a.  A righteous life is better and more lasting than a wicked one.

b.  Life is short.

c.  The wrongs of the is life will be addressed in the world to come.

      1)  The righteous will be rewarded.

      2)  The wicked will be punished.