Image: Scene from North Garden, Virginia
Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Ecclesiastes 5:8.
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of
judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is
higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they (Ecclesiastes 5:8).
If you look at Ecclesiastes 5:8 in the King James Version,
you will notice that this verse is set off by a distinct paragraph mark (a
pilcrow). The learned translators set v.
8 apart as a distinct thought. BTW,
these pilcrow notations (paragraph markers) appear throughout the text of the
KJV, beginning in Genesis, but then they inexplicably end at Acts 20:36!
So, Ecclesiastes 5:8 is meant to be taken as a distinct
thought. With it we find three thoughts:
First: The Preacher declares that the ordinary
conditions of a sin-sick world should not take anyone by surprise:
If thou seest the oppression
of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province,
marvel not at the matter:
Christians are realists
regarding the state of the fallen world. Men are sinners and if left to their
sinful ways they will commit sin. Why are we surprised when sin happens? Why
are we surprised at the sin in our own hearts and lives? “Marvel not at the matter.”
Second: The Preacher notes that God has graciously
provided authorities to restrain evil:
for he that is higher than the highest
regardeth
When you
first read this you might think Solomon is speaking about God. No. He
is speaking about the rulers. He writes
this as a king, as one who had to make difficult decisions in ruling and
administration. The king is he is who is
highest among the highest of men. He has
been set in his position to regard injustice and to restrain evil (cf. Romans
13:1-7).
Third:
Solomon prophesies that here is a God who is higher than the highest
human authorities and he will one day execute justice and save his people:
and
there be higher than they.
Solomon
acknowledges that there is one who is higher than he. Consider what David the greatest king of
Israel wrote:
Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is
overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Paul told earthly masters to remember that they had a Master
in heaven (Ephesians 6:9). Here Solomon
says, “Kings, remember you have a King.”
The implication
is that this King in the heavens regards this sin-sick world. In some ways, we might see this verse as a
prophetic prediction of the highest King’s plan to intervene and redeem this fallen
world. How would he do that?
I call
three witnesses before the court to declare how the Highest has regarded this
fallen world: Paul, Luke, and John.
From
Paul:
Galatians 4:4 But when the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made
under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive
the adoption of sons.
From
Luke:
Luke 2:10 And the angel said
unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
From
John:
John 3:16 For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
If the
highest among mere men, mere human kings, will regard the condition of their
people and intervene and act on their behalf, to save them from death and
destruction, will not the King of Kings look upon the state of man in sin and
act to save them?
The
good news is that he has done this in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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