Have you ever spent time in the Book of Ecclesiastes? I have recently been studying through it and in doing so I went back to some notes I had made a number of years ago about it. I found that my observations and thoughts were shall we say, “light.” This time as I read through, pray, meditate on it, and consider how the Holy Spirit is illuminating it to me, I find myself really spending time in one particular chapter and on two particular verses. Today in the blog I thought I would share my thoughts with you on Ecclesiastes 8:12, 17. Now if you are like me when reading and studying God’s Word, we want to know everything that we can about everything that we see. I would say that is a noble endeavor, but an impossibility at this point. Will things be different in eternity when we are in the presence of God? Before I share my thoughts on our two verses let me first share a short story.
Some years ago, I had a conversation with a young man, whom I had known for years, and at the time was studying at a Christian university. He observed my journal and how I did my personal Bible study, which I still do to this day. He wondered how I could study the Bible with just my Bible, a journal to write in, a pen, and a highlighter. I also noted to him that I never started out my personal study time without calling on the presence of the Holy Spirit to illuminate to me what I was about to read, so that I understood the application that He desired for me in my life. He was concerned that I did not have study tools, multiple translations of the Bible, Hebrew and/or Greek study aids, a concordance, and perhaps a number of other things that certainly aid the study of God’s Word. I was impressed with his concern for a proper expositional knowledge of what I was studying. I also told him I did have and did use all of those items plus more at my disposal when preparing sermons and other teachings of God’s Word. I was blessed to have been able to study under many tremendous seminary professors who taught me how to build a toolbox of information needed for proper expositional teaching (see my previous blog on the toolbox). What is my point of this short story made long? Don’t always pursue facts, history, and knowledge at the expense of truly knowing God.
As we read verse 12 in light of the context of all of Solomon’s writing it seems as though he has come to a conclusion or at least a spot for himself. Is it a good spot for us to come to like Solomon when we can say, “It is well Lord, I fear You.” I also think that maybe the expression is better voiced as, “It is well Lord, because I fear You.” Solomon also makes the point that he fears God “openly.” He is taking his fear (which we know when applied to God is a reverential fear) and letting those around him know. I see this as being a witness for God, and openly sharing our relationship with Him. Solomon seems to say that it may well be a greater witness for us to show our fear of God rather than focusing in on the sins of others. Solomon never lessens the effects of sin nor does he lessen the wickedness of sin. As we know from Psalm 37:8, the Lord clearly knows the days of the upright. Therefore, He also knows the days of the sinner. How can I better witness to those living in sin with my life Lord?
Moving into verse 17, are you struggling with the fact that maybe it is easier to just point out people’s sins to them rather then to witness to them with your own life. Are we not condoning their sin? I mean really, if we see somebody living in sin, even a believer, we should just point out their sin and move along. Let the cards fall where they may. Solomon is trusting God to deal with the sin of others. Can we trust God to do that? We trusted Him to deal with our sin, and we trust Him daily to deal with our sin. When we witness to others by showing them the love and grace that God showed us in dealing with our sin, does that not go so much further then saying, “You are sinner and you better get right with God.” We are not excusing sin, but we are dealing with others in love. Is that God’s way? Solomon struggles with that but readily admits, “I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 8:17 NASB). I guess we cannot fully fathom the depths of God’s love and forgiveness. That is a fact that I never wish to forget.