WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.859 Now as we continue in Ecclesiastes today, I want 00:00:02.859 --> 00:00:04.700 to put something in front of you before we read. 00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:09.019 Last week we came to an abrupt stop because wisdom 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:11.720 literature does that sometimes. And part of that 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:14.519 dynamic is to jolt us, to keep us off balance, 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.440 to keep us from getting stuck in the weeds as 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:20.559 well. It's a grace when wisdom literature seemingly 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:24.000 pulls us from the muck and the mire that it placed 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.000 us in. And today we're going to, Lord willing, 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:29.739 experience more of that. We're going to consider 00:00:29.739 --> 00:00:32.100 the nature of authority and being under authority. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.820 We're going to come back to certain ideas that 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:37.420 he's already explored like our inability to determine 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:41.299 outcomes or to understand all mysteries. And 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:44.200 by God's grace, Solomon is going to show us how 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:47.600 to appreciate daily blessings, how to live wisely 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.979 in a broken world and not get stuck in the mess 00:00:51.979 --> 00:00:55.119 of it. As we continue, you can see the overall 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.939 outline we've been working with. on the screen 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:00.000 here. We're in this section, the third section, 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:03.200 the prescription for living with vanity. Today's 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:06.560 theme, wisdom in a broken world. Go ahead and 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:10.400 open your Bibles to Ecclesiastes chapter 8. Last 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:13.459 week we began with chapter 7 verse 15 where Solomon 00:01:13.459 --> 00:01:16.299 pointed us to consider the exceptions to the 00:01:16.299 --> 00:01:20.799 rule. When righteous people perish and the wicked 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.799 prosper. And today we're going to see in chapter 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:26.849 8 that it's not just an exception, but that the 00:01:26.849 --> 00:01:30.390 world we live in is upside down. So you can listen 00:01:30.390 --> 00:01:32.269 as I read or follow along in your Bible, but 00:01:32.269 --> 00:01:40.650 let's stand for the reading of God's word. Ecclesiastes 00:01:40.650 --> 00:01:44.609 chapter 8. Who is like the wise man, and who 00:01:44.609 --> 00:01:47.469 knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's 00:01:47.469 --> 00:01:50.109 wisdom illumines his face and causes his stern 00:01:50.109 --> 00:01:53.609 face to beam. I say, keep the command of the 00:01:53.609 --> 00:01:56.959 king. Because of the sworn oath before God, do 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:58.819 not be in a hurry to go from his presence. Do 00:01:58.819 --> 00:02:02.040 not stand in an evil matter, for he will do whatever 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:05.180 he pleases. Since the word of the king is powerful, 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:08.460 who will say to him, what are you doing? He who 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:11.500 keeps a royal command experiences no evil thing, 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.280 for a wise heart knows the proper time and custom. 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:18.240 For there is a proper time and custom for every 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:20.379 matter, though a man's trouble is multiplied 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:23.939 upon him. If no one knows what will happen, who 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:27.219 can tell him when it will happen? There is no 00:02:27.219 --> 00:02:30.400 man who has power to restrain the wind with the 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.900 wind. There is none who has power over the day 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:35.800 of death. And there is no discharge in the time 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:38.879 of war. And wickedness will not provide escape 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:42.479 to its masters. All this I have seen and given 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:44.599 my heart to every work that has been done under 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:47.360 the sun, wherein a man has power over another 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:52.240 man to his calamity. So then. I've seen the wicked 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:55.280 buried, those who used to go in and out from 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.020 the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in 00:02:58.020 --> 00:03:01.620 the city where they did thus. This too is vanity, 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:04.580 because the sentence against an evil work is 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:07.599 not executed quickly. Therefore, the hearts of 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.439 the sons of men among them are given fully to 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:13.580 do evil. Although a sinner does evil a hundred 00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:17.800 times and may prolong his life, still I know 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:20.300 that it will be well for those who fear God. 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:33.240 There is a vanity which is done on the earth. 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:36.419 That is, there are righteous men to whom it happens 00:03:36.419 --> 00:03:39.039 according to the works of the wicked. On the 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:41.439 other hand, there are wicked men to whom it happens 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:44.979 according to the works of the righteous. I say 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:48.879 that this too is vanity. So I laud gladness. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.419 For there is nothing good for a man under the 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:54.360 sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry. 00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:57.680 And this will join with him in his labor throughout 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.479 the days of his life, which God has given him 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:04.180 under the sun. When I gave my heart to know wisdom 00:04:04.180 --> 00:04:06.180 and to see the endeavor which has been done on 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:08.539 the earth, even though one never sleeps with 00:04:08.539 --> 00:04:12.219 his eyes day or night, and I saw every work of 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:16.939 God, I concluded that man cannot find out the 00:04:16.939 --> 00:04:19.939 work which has been done under the sun. Even 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:22.939 though man should seek laboriously, he will not 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:25.839 find it out. And though the wise man should say, 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:30.959 I know, he cannot find it out. Please be seated. 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:37.259 Now I know it's a lot. We're taking on a whole 00:04:37.259 --> 00:04:41.379 chapter today. But I do see some theming going 00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:44.000 on that's going to make it easier for us to embrace 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.740 this passage. Now when you turn on or you read 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:50.819 the news today, How often do you find yourself 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:58.160 encouraged? Exactly. I doubt that any in here 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:01.819 will read the news or see something on the national 00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:05.639 stage or the global stage and think, wow, things 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:09.819 sure are getting better. I think a more common 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:14.339 response for us is something more like, how much 00:05:14.339 --> 00:05:18.600 more crazy can this world get? How much more 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:23.920 of this can I take? When you hear of wars and 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:27.459 famines and evil prospering, what can you do? 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:32.120 Solomon gives some hot takes in Ecclesiastes, 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:34.079 and they're like a friend who's just whispering 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:36.600 the answer to you in class when you don't know 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:40.379 the answer. What do you do? And he's like, hey, 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:50.110 fear God. Enjoy life. So simple. So simple, but 00:05:50.110 --> 00:05:54.209 so profound. We were taught last week that wisdom 00:05:54.209 --> 00:05:57.889 cannot solve all our problems, that wisdom cannot 00:05:57.889 --> 00:06:01.970 ultimately save. But he continues to give the 00:06:01.970 --> 00:06:04.850 benefits of wisdom here. And this is a major 00:06:04.850 --> 00:06:06.870 theme that I see in this passage, that wisdom 00:06:06.870 --> 00:06:11.129 illuminates. And verse 1 calls us to consider 00:06:11.129 --> 00:06:14.589 how wisdom can make even the sternest of faces 00:06:14.589 --> 00:06:18.750 to beam. Now think of this in context with where 00:06:18.750 --> 00:06:20.970 we were last week. The previous verses, when 00:06:20.970 --> 00:06:23.829 things don't work out well, when temptations 00:06:23.829 --> 00:06:26.589 are battling within your very heart, when everything 00:06:26.589 --> 00:06:30.889 seems to be broken, wisdom can somehow change 00:06:30.889 --> 00:06:36.910 the sourest of faces and make them shine. And 00:06:36.910 --> 00:06:38.790 when you think of a shining face, you might be 00:06:38.790 --> 00:06:42.569 prone to consider Moses' face. If you remember 00:06:42.569 --> 00:06:44.990 that story when he was beaming because the glory 00:06:44.990 --> 00:06:47.610 of the Lord passed by him while he was hidden 00:06:47.610 --> 00:06:50.209 in the cleft of a rock. But this is not the same. 00:06:50.910 --> 00:06:53.910 This is actually very different. I actually like 00:06:53.910 --> 00:06:56.649 the rendering of the LSB and the NASB. They say 00:06:56.649 --> 00:06:59.069 that wisdom illumines the face, not makes it 00:06:59.069 --> 00:07:02.189 shine. And I think that's the key word for this 00:07:02.189 --> 00:07:06.569 passage. Wisdom illuminates. It's not like Exodus 00:07:06.569 --> 00:07:09.769 34. It's actually the same word as in Genesis 00:07:09.769 --> 00:07:14.220 1. That God shines light into the darkness. It's 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:17.060 the same word for the verb in Genesis 1. It's 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:19.819 the same word for the noun in Genesis 1. God 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:24.300 said, let there be light. And then there was 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:28.000 light. And light breaks through the darkness. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:34.800 And darkness cannot overcome the light. And light 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.759 breaks over the face of the one who is troubled 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:42.680 by the many vanities. of this world. It's God 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:46.639 who gives light. God who illuminates faces. The 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.699 wisdom of God helps to illuminate even our darkest 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:52.639 days so that we can navigate the pathways of 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:56.459 this broken world. So how does God's wisdom illuminate 00:07:56.459 --> 00:07:59.759 our path? In this passage, I see four ways that 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.019 God's wisdom illuminates our path. First, it 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:05.779 illuminates our path in regard to authority. 00:08:06.019 --> 00:08:08.819 And you'll see that in verses two through five. 00:08:09.389 --> 00:08:12.290 Second, it illuminates our path in regard to 00:08:12.290 --> 00:08:14.870 trouble. You'll see that in verses 6 through 00:08:14.870 --> 00:08:18.389 9. It illuminates our path in regard to eternity. 00:08:18.730 --> 00:08:21.709 You'll see that in verses 10 through 13. And 00:08:21.709 --> 00:08:24.230 finally, wisdom illuminates our path in regard 00:08:24.230 --> 00:08:28.529 to here and now. And you'll see that in verses 00:08:28.529 --> 00:08:32.190 14 through 17. So let's begin and let's take 00:08:32.190 --> 00:08:34.870 a look at verses 2 through 5 to consider how 00:08:34.870 --> 00:08:38.539 wisdom illuminates in regard to authority. His 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:41.279 first encouragement is clear. We are to obey 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:45.240 the king, obey our rulers, obey our authorities. 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:50.039 The text is on the screen. You may shudder at 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:54.440 that thought. You may point out that Israel's 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:56.539 government in Solomon's day was quite different 00:08:56.539 --> 00:09:00.080 than ours is today. That no earthly government 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:05.600 today submits to the Lord God. But that's not 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.940 the point that Solomon is talking about. If you 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:10.639 want, that would be another sermon. Romans 13, 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:14.779 1 Peter 2. No, what he is focusing on here is 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:20.960 an oath sworn before God. So whose oath? The 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:24.960 king's oath? Do we follow and obey the king because 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:29.500 of his allegiance to God? I don't think that's 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:32.840 the correct interpretation here. Not all kings 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:34.799 have committed to go God's way. In fact, most 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:40.100 do not. We obey our earthly authorities because 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:45.620 of our oath before God. If we intend to obey 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:49.039 God, we will obey those he has placed in authority 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:54.139 over us. Wisdom obeys the king. Wisdom remains 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:58.600 loyal to him. Wisdom is not rebellion. Wisdom 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:01.850 is not dissent. That's why we shouldn't be quick 00:10:01.850 --> 00:10:04.350 to run from the presence of the king or from 00:10:04.350 --> 00:10:06.490 the presence of authority, the text says. We 00:10:06.490 --> 00:10:09.110 shouldn't be quick to run to the woods or to 00:10:09.110 --> 00:10:14.529 run to Idaho and embrace anarchy and autonomy. 00:10:16.509 --> 00:10:23.389 Yes, I said it out loud. Wisdom tells us not 00:10:23.389 --> 00:10:26.690 to pursue an evil matter because the king's authority 00:10:26.690 --> 00:10:31.360 can end very poorly for you. We'll see wicked 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.419 Haman, when we return to Esther, how that ends. 00:10:34.820 --> 00:10:39.080 We'll see it. The king sits in a unique place. 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:42.220 Solomon doesn't say this is right or wrong, but 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:46.460 that it is. The king, according to verse 4, doesn't 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:48.960 really answer to anyone. Now, we're going to 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.059 see in a few verses that everyone ultimately 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:54.240 does answer to someone, and that someone is God. 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:57.600 But in terms of earthly authority, no one questions 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:01.909 the king. No one asks him what he's doing. I 00:11:01.909 --> 00:11:04.769 know that doesn't sit well with us. With our 00:11:04.769 --> 00:11:07.169 desire for government accountability, for checks 00:11:07.169 --> 00:11:10.330 and balances, our democratic republic system 00:11:10.330 --> 00:11:14.629 of government bristles at this thought. But it's 00:11:14.629 --> 00:11:19.690 still true. Friends, who was able to question 00:11:19.690 --> 00:11:22.049 President Biden when there were concerns over 00:11:22.049 --> 00:11:27.139 his cognitive ability? I'm not preaching politics. 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:31.440 I'm asking a question. Who is able to question 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.179 President Trump when he desires to do something? 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:42.059 Now you understand what Solomon's saying. What 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:45.019 about lower level officials? What about judges 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:47.899 and senators, representatives? They all say they 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:50.779 have a civic duty, do they not? But isn't it 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:52.860 all too common that there are personal agendas, 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:57.590 personal endeavors? Mixed in with that? And who 00:11:57.590 --> 00:12:01.409 can question them? Now maybe we're allowed some 00:12:01.409 --> 00:12:04.090 semblance of accountability in our governmental 00:12:04.090 --> 00:12:07.990 system, but it doesn't solve anything. Corruption 00:12:07.990 --> 00:12:12.850 is on the news all the time, is it not? And verse 00:12:12.850 --> 00:12:17.629 five sheds more light. Solomon says, obeying 00:12:17.629 --> 00:12:20.450 royal commands tends to go well. At bare minimum, 00:12:20.490 --> 00:12:25.580 it reduces the odds of a bad outcome. wisdom 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:29.360 picks battles. Wisdom engages on the right thing 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:34.100 at the right time. In our Esther study, we left 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:37.200 off at precisely this principle. Esther knew 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:40.899 the customs. She knew the times. So when the 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:43.440 great need for her people was presented, she 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:47.679 sought to wisely engage the king. And there are 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:50.139 many other biblical examples. You think of Nehemiah 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:53.080 among others, but the principle is clear. Wisdom 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:56.980 obeys. And wisdom considers the best way forward. 00:12:57.659 --> 00:13:01.379 Wisdom honors the king. Wisdom is not rash and 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:06.320 disobedient. Wisdom does not purpose evil. Wisdom 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:09.399 lives under authority, responding the right way 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:13.940 at the right time. Yet even when seeking to honor 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:16.440 authority and being prudent to address the right 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:19.139 problems at the right time, we still may find 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:22.759 ourselves in times of difficulty. Even there, 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:26.379 wisdom illuminates in regard to trouble. That's 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:29.220 the next section here. The phrasing in verse 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:32.059 six, it harkens back to chapter three, where 00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:34.240 you remember the famous passage, there's a time, 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:38.240 there's a season for everything. And the statement 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.259 in verse six, it's a little difficult to render 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:43.460 in English, but it's focusing on the pathway 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:46.779 forward, even when things are very difficult 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:51.330 or bleak. It's connected with the previous verse 00:13:51.330 --> 00:13:54.009 in five, the words time and custom or way or 00:13:54.009 --> 00:13:57.769 procedure. They're repeated in both. And the 00:13:57.769 --> 00:14:00.490 focus is that in wisdom, there's always a way 00:14:00.490 --> 00:14:03.990 forward. So don't be fooled into thinking that 00:14:03.990 --> 00:14:08.970 bad situations only have bad ways forward. If 00:14:08.970 --> 00:14:11.110 you're a believer, you must know that in Christ, 00:14:11.169 --> 00:14:14.970 there is always a righteous way forward in any 00:14:14.970 --> 00:14:19.509 and every situation. Now that doesn't mean comfort. 00:14:20.070 --> 00:14:24.389 That doesn't mean ease. But that in the wisdom 00:14:24.389 --> 00:14:27.690 of God, there is a way for all kinds of times 00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:30.889 that we find ourselves in. That is the truth. 00:14:31.870 --> 00:14:34.809 So our endeavor as believers should be to honor 00:14:34.809 --> 00:14:38.169 the true king in everything that we do. So we 00:14:38.169 --> 00:14:41.649 exercise wisdom in timing. We exercise wisdom 00:14:41.649 --> 00:14:46.090 in considering the pathway forward. In this, 00:14:46.090 --> 00:14:47.909 we should always be reminded that God's word 00:14:47.909 --> 00:14:51.090 illuminates our path. God's word is the best 00:14:51.090 --> 00:14:56.590 trail guide for every season of life. Now, verse 00:14:56.590 --> 00:14:59.590 7, again, it calls us back to consider that no 00:14:59.590 --> 00:15:04.289 one knows the future. No one can predict or ensure 00:15:04.289 --> 00:15:08.789 certain outcomes. Now, the question is designed 00:15:08.789 --> 00:15:12.750 to knock us off balance again. As much as you 00:15:12.750 --> 00:15:16.100 may want to rely on wisdom, or even experience, 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:21.840 you cannot guarantee what will happen. Go and 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:25.500 pursue wise counsel. Pursue good and holy things, 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:30.779 but hold loosely to the outcomes. Those are for 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:35.509 the Lord. Verse 8, hammers that home with more 00:15:35.509 --> 00:15:38.690 audacity. And again, I like the LSB and the NASB 00:15:38.690 --> 00:15:41.470 wording here. The ESV uses the word spirit, but 00:15:41.470 --> 00:15:43.429 I do think it should be wind because it's the 00:15:43.429 --> 00:15:45.970 common motif throughout this book. Ruha, wind. 00:15:46.090 --> 00:15:48.690 Think about it in context of this book. Striving 00:15:48.690 --> 00:15:55.070 after wind. Yet no one can control it. Trying 00:15:55.070 --> 00:15:59.269 to grasp it, but never laying hold of it. And 00:15:59.269 --> 00:16:02.090 specifically, Solomon mentions this. with the 00:16:02.090 --> 00:16:05.649 day of death in view. You don't know your final 00:16:05.649 --> 00:16:11.870 day. You can't predict or plan it. Yet it will 00:16:11.870 --> 00:16:14.649 come, and God will be sovereign over that day, 00:16:14.710 --> 00:16:19.289 but it's not for you or I to know. Think about 00:16:19.289 --> 00:16:21.409 it. Even the mighty king that's mentioned earlier, 00:16:21.629 --> 00:16:24.289 or the rulers and authorities of our day, they 00:16:24.289 --> 00:16:27.470 have no ultimate authority when it comes to the 00:16:27.470 --> 00:16:31.980 day of one's death. That is for God. Now, the 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:34.179 second half of verse 8 is a little more difficult 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:37.039 to comprehend, but I think the context can be 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.019 attained through the text. Look at the very end 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:41.720 of verse 8. Before we talk about war, look at 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.279 the very end of verse 8. Now, remember, in the 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:46.559 previous chapter where we were, we were told 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:49.879 that we shouldn't be excessively wicked, right? 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:53.600 We noted that sometimes in our hearts, we rebel 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:56.200 against goodness because we don't get what we 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.559 want. That's what we talked about last time. 00:16:59.400 --> 00:17:03.179 Sometimes we forsake that righteous path, even 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:06.480 when we see the good way, because we're upset 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:11.079 about not getting what we want. Yet wickedness 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:14.599 does not provide an escape for the toils of life. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:19.559 That's what the end of verse 8 tells us. In light 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:22.539 of that, now let's consider that there's no discharge 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:27.160 in the time of war. Now for anyone who's served 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:30.180 in the military, or who's read about battles 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:33.079 or wars or seen a movie or two involving war, 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:36.960 you know that the soldier cannot take a true 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:41.299 reprieve on the battlefield. Now, in light of 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.440 the previous statements on authority, we have 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:46.079 to consider that king, that king who decides 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.440 to go to war. He is not going to discharge the 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.359 soldiers, the troops, in the middle of the battle. 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:58.140 The battle must be fought to the end. Think about 00:17:58.140 --> 00:18:01.579 it in light of today. There is no legitimate 00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:05.759 escape from the war that is being waged right 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:10.299 now. Now, though you may not see the spears, 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:13.579 you may not see the shields, if you've been exposed 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:17.319 to Ephesians chapter 6, Matthew chapter 16, 2 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:20.259 Corinthians chapter 10, you know that there is 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:24.900 indeed a war being waged right now. Right now 00:18:24.900 --> 00:18:29.569 as you sit here. It is bigger, it is more catastrophic, 00:18:29.670 --> 00:18:33.410 more deadly, more monumental than any war in 00:18:33.410 --> 00:18:35.950 the history of mankind. In fact, it is the war 00:18:35.950 --> 00:18:43.269 for the salvation of mankind. There are spiritual 00:18:43.269 --> 00:18:48.490 forces of wickedness seeking to bite and devour 00:18:48.490 --> 00:18:57.289 right now. Right now. Thankfully. Like we sang 00:18:57.289 --> 00:19:00.029 earlier, it can look grim, but we know that Christ 00:19:00.029 --> 00:19:06.910 will one day be victorious. But for now, you 00:19:06.910 --> 00:19:10.569 and I cannot be discharged from this war under 00:19:10.569 --> 00:19:15.410 the sun. There may be moments of peace, but do 00:19:15.410 --> 00:19:17.710 not be fooled into thinking that there is no 00:19:17.710 --> 00:19:22.410 war raging right now. When trouble is at your 00:19:22.410 --> 00:19:26.359 doorstep, wisdom calls you to remember God. to 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:30.299 remember your position, to walk in a manner pleasing 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:35.180 to him. And verse nine serves as a capstone for 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:37.980 this section. Solomon reminds us that he's paying 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:41.799 special attention to how things work. These are 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:45.059 verified observations. He's not just musing. 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:49.779 And what he notes is that certain men have authority 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:53.640 over others, even toward calamity. The king can 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:56.099 indeed send the troops to war and you may lose 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:59.599 your life. There's no wisdom shield that can 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:02.519 protect you when someone's authority is abused 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:06.819 or when injustice prevails. But that shouldn't 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:10.160 drive you to despair. That should drive you to 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:14.200 consider reality and to not be surprised when 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:18.819 such things occur. In such times when even those 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:23.130 in authority use their power, In an improper 00:20:23.130 --> 00:20:27.509 way, you need to look beyond present circumstances. 00:20:28.789 --> 00:20:33.490 And that's why wisdom illuminates in regard to 00:20:33.490 --> 00:20:40.730 eternity. The next section here. Solomon is considering 00:20:40.730 --> 00:20:44.569 another broken aspect of this world. Think about 00:20:44.569 --> 00:20:51.269 this. Funerals for fools. and legacies full of 00:20:51.269 --> 00:20:58.630 lies. I'll say it again. Funerals for fools and 00:20:58.630 --> 00:21:03.970 legacies full of lies. As you look at verse 10, 00:21:04.109 --> 00:21:07.930 notice he says, it is the wicked who he has seen 00:21:07.930 --> 00:21:12.589 be buried. Yet these wicked used to go in and 00:21:12.589 --> 00:21:18.079 out from the holy place. Now, if you're using 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:20.420 the ESV, you'll notice the word praise instead 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:25.799 of forgotten in verse 10. Now, most Hebrew manuscripts 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:29.119 use the word forgotten, and I think that's most 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.880 helpful in understanding the meaning, but let 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:34.299 me explain because the ESV can still arrive at 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:37.140 the same intent, though in a slightly different 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:41.460 manner. When supposed holy men are in fact wicked, 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:46.480 and it's known, then it is folly for people to 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:49.099 forget their wickedness simply because they've 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:59.000 died. Should I say that again? Friends, just 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.920 because somebody dies doesn't mean that we forget 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:06.200 the life that they lived. And if they profess 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:09.740 to be holy and yet we're living a false life 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:19.559 knowingly, Don't lie to yourself. Now the ESV 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:22.960 follows that less common Hebrew text variant. 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:26.940 And it says, even these holy men, though they 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:29.579 were wicked, when they were buried, received 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:34.619 honorable burials. They were praised. And this 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:39.549 too is vanity. Why should we celebrate the life 00:22:39.549 --> 00:22:42.250 of someone who was known to be wicked and especially 00:22:42.250 --> 00:22:47.529 hypocritical on matters of faith? Now, whether 00:22:47.529 --> 00:22:50.430 their deeds were forgotten, the wicked things 00:22:50.430 --> 00:22:53.009 brushed away simply because they died, or in 00:22:53.009 --> 00:22:55.710 fact, people found a way to praise their life 00:22:55.710 --> 00:23:02.630 in spite of their folly, it is vanity. What incentive 00:23:02.630 --> 00:23:05.549 is there if you do righteousness and are yet 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:09.680 while the wicked blasphemer gets all the pomp 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:13.920 and circumstance in their death. You see the 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:18.480 vanity? Now in verse 11, Solomon tells us why 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:22.359 this is so. He says it's because evil is not 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:25.759 punished quick enough. When there is not a swift 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:29.279 sentence to deter evil, the wicked will see the 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:31.680 lack of consequence and they will perpetuate 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:36.079 even more wickedness. Being soft on crime is 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:41.279 not a political issue. It's a biblical one. Measuring 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:44.359 consequences to bad behavior is not a social 00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:48.059 justice issue. It is a wisdom principle to restrain 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:53.019 greater evil. And again, he's pointing us back 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:56.240 to chapter 7, verse 20. And he's reminding us 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:59.000 that there is no one inherently righteous. And 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.700 he draws us back to the garden, speaking of the 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:05.680 sons of Adam. Evil spreads when it is not dealt 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:11.619 with. But this is folly. Only the fool thinks 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:14.220 he can get away with wickedness without punishment. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.880 Only the fool thinks about things here and now 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:24.480 without respect to eternity. Verse 12 tells us 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:27.880 the sinner may pursue evil a hundred times. That's 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:31.559 a high number for dramatic effect. And it may 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:34.700 even be seen to be gaining something in this 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:37.019 life by being evil. And that's the conundrum 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:40.079 that he gave us in chapter 7, 15, a wicked man 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:43.480 who prolongs his life. But, and this is important, 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:46.319 you need to listen to Solomon here. He says he 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:52.920 knows, he knows it will be well for those who 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:59.849 fear God and fear him openly. The fool may have 00:24:59.849 --> 00:25:04.609 his best life now, but it will be repaid. And 00:25:04.609 --> 00:25:07.250 the only one to whom there will be better days 00:25:07.250 --> 00:25:11.069 for is the one who fears God and worships him 00:25:11.069 --> 00:25:15.569 without shame. The foolish person lives based 00:25:15.569 --> 00:25:18.970 on what they see. They live for here and now. 00:25:19.950 --> 00:25:22.630 They focus on blessings and they do not consider 00:25:22.630 --> 00:25:25.470 eternity. They don't think about what's going 00:25:25.470 --> 00:25:28.700 to happen on the day of their death. They see 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:31.279 the wicked prosper and they think, why not? I 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:33.539 might as well pursue wickedness to try to gain 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:42.759 something. Fools walk by sight. The wise, they 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:48.000 walk by faith. The wise person who fears the 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:51.380 Lord knows that the war will be over one day, 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:55.119 that everlasting rest is coming for those who 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:57.809 don't deserve it. but receive it on the merit 00:25:57.809 --> 00:26:00.710 of Christ, but it's not going to go well for 00:26:00.710 --> 00:26:05.549 the wicked man, verse 13 says. You may remember 00:26:05.549 --> 00:26:08.490 the sermon on chapter 7, 11 through 14, we discussed 00:26:08.490 --> 00:26:12.309 a shadow that often references protection. That 00:26:12.309 --> 00:26:15.890 could be in view here. The wicked has no shadow 00:26:15.890 --> 00:26:18.869 of protection against their evil deeds. You might 00:26:18.869 --> 00:26:21.269 also think about the nature of wisdom illuminating 00:26:21.269 --> 00:26:24.829 or casting light, and light casts a shadow, does 00:26:24.829 --> 00:26:28.700 it not? And a common ancient Near East understanding 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:32.079 of life and age was that men wanted to grow old 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:38.380 and grow tall and cast a large shadow. A building 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:41.339 casts a shadow, does it not? And the taller the 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:46.200 building, the bigger the shadow, right? The wicked 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:50.180 man will not have prolonged days. He will not 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:53.039 ultimately have the legacy that he is trying 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:57.089 to obtain because his days are short. in light 00:26:57.089 --> 00:27:01.450 of the eternal light of Christ. No one, no one, 00:27:01.470 --> 00:27:04.630 friends, will measure up to Christ. No one will 00:27:04.630 --> 00:27:08.509 be able to compare with him. The shadow of the 00:27:08.509 --> 00:27:12.049 wicked man will be insignificant when Christ, 00:27:12.269 --> 00:27:16.250 the wisdom of God, shines finally and fully. 00:27:18.130 --> 00:27:21.430 Solomon repeats the phrasing that the issue is 00:27:21.430 --> 00:27:26.089 fearing God openly. Literally, Fearing before 00:27:26.089 --> 00:27:30.549 him. And it's the idea, we've covered this many 00:27:30.549 --> 00:27:33.789 times, man is created to worship. Last time we 00:27:33.789 --> 00:27:36.950 finished in verse 29 of chapter 7, man was created 00:27:36.950 --> 00:27:42.529 upright. Yet man often forgets his creator and 00:27:42.529 --> 00:27:47.789 worships creation. And people often say, where 00:27:47.789 --> 00:27:51.130 has God gone? Where has he run to for things 00:27:51.130 --> 00:27:55.579 to go wrong? In this upside down world, God is 00:27:55.579 --> 00:28:02.839 not absent. Our right worship is. The brokenness 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.299 that we bear witness to, it's not some result 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:08.440 of divine exasperation as if the Almighty were 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:13.019 able to tire due to all our wicked deeds. No, 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:17.680 friends. His exceeding patience, his long suffering 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:23.680 has resulted in the saving of many. But those 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:26.720 who are saved, Solomon says, they worship before 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:30.160 him. They fear him openly. They're not ashamed 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:34.380 to be counted among the Yahweh fearers. They 00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:41.240 don't mind being mocked for worshiping God. You 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:45.259 know this. We're not to be ashamed of the gospel 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:52.740 of Christ. We live for him. We die for him. because 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:57.039 he died for us. Don't miss Solomon's warning 00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:00.200 here though. These days may seem to go to the 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:02.859 wicked, but there is a coming day of terror, 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:07.039 a day of absolute horrendous terror for those 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:09.619 who do not fear God, for those who do not worship 00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:12.200 him. And if it weren't for that grace upon grace, 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:15.920 we would all be counted among the same. So we 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:18.160 give thanks to Christ who gives us not what we 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:21.059 deserve. We deserve that day of terror. but he 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:25.819 lavishes forgiveness, forgiveness and grace so 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:31.480 that we be redeemed and follow after him. Faith 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:34.680 and obedience, honoring him as the true king. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:38.839 I'm moving to the final section here. We're gonna 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:41.940 see that wisdom illuminates in regard to life 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:49.640 here and now, not just eternity. And in this 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:53.680 close, Solomon, he's again asking us to think 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:57.079 about the upside down brokenness of this world. 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:00.839 He's reminding us that there is a vanity when 00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:03.279 righteous men are struck with the consequences 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:06.940 of the wicked and vice versa. And there's no 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:09.519 explanation for this world other than to state 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:15.319 it clearly. It is broken. It is broken. Righteous 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:18.390 people suffer like the wicked. Wicked people 00:30:18.390 --> 00:30:22.250 are rewarded as if they were righteous. This 00:30:22.250 --> 00:30:25.950 is a mystery, and yet it is an observable fact. 00:30:27.150 --> 00:30:29.990 The scales of justice do not tip as they ought 00:30:29.990 --> 00:30:33.309 to, and it hurts, and we're bothered by this. 00:30:34.069 --> 00:30:39.069 But it's not eternal. This is a breath, a vapor, 00:30:39.269 --> 00:30:44.130 a temporary pain that will one day be dealt with. 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:49.079 So how do you deal with this habel, this vain 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:53.660 life? When up is down and wrong is rewarded as 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:58.299 right and everything seems so absurd, verse 15 00:30:58.299 --> 00:31:09.480 holds the key. Be glad. Be glad. Solomon's saying, 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:11.980 you might want to lament the brokenness of this 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:15.069 world. When you've had all that you can stand, 00:31:15.150 --> 00:31:17.329 what did Popeye say? He's had all that he can 00:31:17.329 --> 00:31:20.009 stand. He can't stands it no more. Some of you 00:31:20.009 --> 00:31:22.589 don't know that one. You should look it up. It's 00:31:22.589 --> 00:31:26.630 probably on YouTube. When you feel like everything 00:31:26.630 --> 00:31:31.849 is going to break, that's just so brittle that 00:31:31.849 --> 00:31:33.950 nothing else can be added because it's just going 00:31:33.950 --> 00:31:39.369 to shatter. Solomon says, be glad. Be glad. Eat, 00:31:39.630 --> 00:31:44.099 drink, and be glad. If you want to know what 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:48.019 is good, literally the good, tov, then eat, drink, 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:50.779 and be glad. Eating and drinking are the most 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:54.819 normal parts of life. They can be mundane. You 00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:57.859 do it every day. They can be special like celebrations, 00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:01.339 but they should always be undertaken with an 00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:04.240 aspect of thanksgiving from the God who provides. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:08.799 You will labor throughout this life under the 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:11.759 sun. That has been given to you and I as sons 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:17.309 of Adam. And God has numbered our days. So, eat, 00:32:17.549 --> 00:32:22.569 drink, enjoy the daily blessings that can be 00:32:22.569 --> 00:32:26.890 searched out. Did you draw your breath as the 00:32:26.890 --> 00:32:32.210 dawn awoke? Does your heart still beat? Then 00:32:32.210 --> 00:32:38.750 it is well. Does Jesus take on our burdens? Are 00:32:38.750 --> 00:32:42.970 you able to sing of his mercies? then it is well. 00:32:44.410 --> 00:32:48.289 We'll all be made right one day. Will Christ 00:32:48.289 --> 00:32:52.150 return with glory and win the battle? Will creation 00:32:52.150 --> 00:32:57.289 be restored? Will death be destroyed? Friends, 00:32:57.289 --> 00:33:01.329 we sing it, we've sung it, we'll sing it today. 00:33:01.529 --> 00:33:08.109 It is well. I mentioned last week, pastor and 00:33:08.109 --> 00:33:10.740 author Brian Borgman, I appreciated an analogy 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:13.079 that he brought to consider this principle in 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:15.660 chapter 8. I'll put it on the screen as I read. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:19.759 He said this, We have a wonderful woman in our 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:22.859 church who wages war against my battle with the 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:25.900 Beltline. She makes cinnamon rolls to die for. 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:29.940 My wife and I love them. Well, we better eat 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:31.640 the rest of them so that they're no longer around, 00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:35.950 is the logic. Now anyone who is a cinnamon roll 00:33:35.950 --> 00:33:38.630 connoisseur knows it is the center of the cinnamon 00:33:38.630 --> 00:33:42.069 roll that is the best part. With the center being 00:33:42.069 --> 00:33:45.569 the sweet spot, we revisit a well -known theme 00:33:45.569 --> 00:33:48.390 in Ecclesiastes that we can rightly call the 00:33:48.390 --> 00:33:52.769 cinnamon roll center. The Hebel of life introduces 00:33:52.769 --> 00:33:56.470 all kinds of mysteries. One of them is that the 00:33:56.470 --> 00:33:58.509 way things ought to be is not the way things 00:33:58.509 --> 00:34:02.750 are. Shalom is vandalized. The scales of justice 00:34:02.750 --> 00:34:06.369 are knocked over. This is Psalm 73. It is painful, 00:34:06.509 --> 00:34:10.670 but it's still a vapor. The vandalism of shalom 00:34:10.670 --> 00:34:15.170 does not last forever. It is a mere breath. What 00:34:15.170 --> 00:34:19.550 shall we do in such a world, Koheleth says? I 00:34:19.550 --> 00:34:23.690 commend joy. In an upside down, mad, mad world, 00:34:23.929 --> 00:34:27.969 Koheleth says, go for the center of the cinnamon 00:34:27.969 --> 00:34:32.449 roll. Some of you know I have a very sad allergy 00:34:32.449 --> 00:34:38.329 to cinnamon. There are some forms of it that 00:34:38.329 --> 00:34:41.630 can severely hamper my tongue, my throat, my 00:34:41.630 --> 00:34:44.690 windpipe. But I grew up in an area of Pismo Beach, 00:34:44.889 --> 00:34:47.269 and there's a delightful shop there called Old 00:34:47.269 --> 00:34:49.809 West, and it's been selling fresh -baked cinnamon 00:34:49.809 --> 00:34:53.369 rolls since I was a kid. And I can tell you that 00:34:53.369 --> 00:34:56.050 no matter the consequence, I endeavor to enjoy 00:34:56.050 --> 00:34:59.369 one even to my detriment every time I visit. 00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:03.199 My wife's not a fan of it, but she's a fan of 00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:08.199 cinnamon rolls, not a fan of me taking one. But 00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:11.219 wouldn't you agree, the center of cinnamon rolls 00:35:11.219 --> 00:35:14.639 are so, so good. If I could only have one bite, 00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:19.179 that would be it. So amidst the topsy -turvy 00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:23.340 nature of life under the sun, enjoy the cinnamon 00:35:23.340 --> 00:35:29.039 roll center of life. Again. Wisdom literature 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:33.099 gives us a jolt here. It upends our introspection. 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:35.559 It's been so heavy, but it's halting us from 00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:42.059 thinking too deeply. Enjoy. The secret to dealing 00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:45.460 with the complexities of life is not in knowing 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:48.199 the outcomes. It's not in pursuing knowledge. 00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:52.820 It's not in comprehending God's work. The secret 00:35:52.820 --> 00:36:00.320 is enjoyment in Him. If you're a believer here 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:03.659 this morning, you are powerfully able to be glad 00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:08.820 in any and every circumstance. Not as though 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:11.320 you're an ostrich pretending that in this life 00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:13.300 there are no great difficulties or trials around 00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:16.159 you, but you're able to know the one who holds 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:19.699 the keys to eternal life and holds you in his 00:36:19.699 --> 00:36:26.360 capable hands. If you are his, he will not abandon 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:31.480 nor forsake you. Listen to these other passages 00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:34.139 in God's word. Explain the same. Deuteronomy 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:36.980 31, six through eight, be strong and courageous. 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:40.440 Do not be afraid or be in dread of them for Yahweh 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:42.739 your God is the one who goes with you. He will 00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:45.579 not fail you or forsake you. Then Moses called 00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:47.900 to Joshua and said to him, in the sight of all 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:51.079 Israel, be strong and courageous for you shall 00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:53.780 go with this people into the land which Yahweh 00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:56.000 has sworn to their fathers to give them and you 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:58.920 shall give to them as an inheritance and Yahweh 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:02.000 is the one who goes ahead of you. He will be 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:05.360 with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:08.519 Do not fear or be dismayed. And in case you thought 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:11.480 that was only for Israel, listen to Hebrews chapter 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:14.699 13, verses five through six. Make sure that your 00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:17.420 way of life is free from the love of money, being 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:19.960 content with what you have, for he himself has 00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:22.920 said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever 00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:25.659 forsake you, so that we confidently say, the 00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:28.719 Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:33.920 will man do to me? Do you hear God giving us 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:37.300 wisdom over and over again through his word? 00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:43.179 Solomon is providing no secret knowledge, no 00:37:43.179 --> 00:37:45.960 hidden knowledge. He's not some savant who just 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:51.579 figured out the secret to life. He tells us so. 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:55.059 Verses 16 through 17, he closes the chapter and 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:57.940 he says, even when the wisest man sets out to 00:37:57.940 --> 00:38:01.329 know wisdom, He cannot find out the work of God. 00:38:02.530 --> 00:38:05.570 He said this earlier in chapter 3, verse 11, 00:38:05.610 --> 00:38:08.010 in relation to God putting eternity in the heart 00:38:08.010 --> 00:38:10.809 of man. No matter how studious you are, no matter 00:38:10.809 --> 00:38:13.469 the wisdom you've been gifted, even if you stayed 00:38:13.469 --> 00:38:16.949 up and you never slept, just so you could observe 00:38:16.949 --> 00:38:20.429 God's ways, you could see it all, and yet still 00:38:20.429 --> 00:38:23.969 the conclusion would be the same as Solomon's. 00:38:25.190 --> 00:38:28.320 Man cannot find out the work. which has been 00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:32.280 done under the sun. Even if you strive to know 00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:36.980 it, you will not find it. Even the wisest man 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:41.780 may profess to know it, but he can't find it. 00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:46.360 The world is broken. It's upside down. And you 00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:48.739 don't know everything that God is doing. Surely 00:38:48.739 --> 00:38:53.320 you can't. But you don't need all the answers 00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:58.719 to be glad. You don't need to comprehend the 00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:03.000 incomprehensible to enjoy the days that God has 00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:06.260 given you. Friends, I'd encourage you to go back 00:39:06.260 --> 00:39:08.800 and read the call to worship that Ken read. Psalm 00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:16.960 46, cease striving and know the I am. Know God. 00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:21.159 Know that he is with us. Know that he is our 00:39:21.159 --> 00:39:24.139 refuge. He is our strength. He is our help in 00:39:24.139 --> 00:39:28.449 times of trouble. So fear God. Fear him openly. 00:39:28.869 --> 00:39:35.110 Worship him with reckless abandon. We often use 00:39:35.110 --> 00:39:40.610 Deuteronomy for our baby dedications, do we not? 00:39:41.110 --> 00:39:45.210 We think about God, we rise, we walk about. Friends, 00:39:45.210 --> 00:39:48.750 we have seen now the light of Christ and so let 00:39:48.750 --> 00:39:53.730 me encourage you to refine that meditation. Let 00:39:53.730 --> 00:39:58.329 Jesus be on your mind when you rise up, when 00:39:58.329 --> 00:40:01.250 you walk about, and especially when you sit down 00:40:01.250 --> 00:40:06.750 to eat and to drink. And so we find ourselves 00:40:06.750 --> 00:40:09.909 at the end of another jarring roller coaster. 00:40:12.030 --> 00:40:16.269 But that's Ecclesiastes. Practice eating the 00:40:16.269 --> 00:40:19.969 center of the cinnamon roll. It's okay to laugh. 00:40:20.750 --> 00:40:24.570 That's part of it. When everything seems so heavy, 00:40:25.130 --> 00:40:28.070 You think of the secret of contentment that Paul 00:40:28.070 --> 00:40:30.190 shared, which is not so secret if he shared it, 00:40:30.250 --> 00:40:34.570 in Philippians chapter 4. You think of the casting 00:40:34.570 --> 00:40:37.670 of your cares that Peter encourages in 1 Peter 00:40:37.670 --> 00:40:42.230 5. You think of that confidence that Moses described 00:40:42.230 --> 00:40:45.670 in Deuteronomy 31 when he said that God will 00:40:45.670 --> 00:40:49.590 not fail or forsake his people. And it's the 00:40:49.590 --> 00:40:52.070 same wisdom that Solomon illuminates for us here 00:40:52.070 --> 00:40:57.230 in Ecclesiastes chapter 8. When this life of 00:40:57.230 --> 00:41:00.869 trials tests your faith, set your hope on Jesus. 00:41:02.710 --> 00:41:05.030 Speak confidently to your soul that it is well. 00:41:06.150 --> 00:41:08.789 Give praise to the Lamb of God who died for you. 00:41:10.090 --> 00:41:13.429 Your death is not going to be final. If you're 00:41:13.429 --> 00:41:17.969 in him, your glory will be everlasting. So make 00:41:17.969 --> 00:41:20.150 sure that your confidence is not in rulers or 00:41:20.150 --> 00:41:24.210 authorities or your ability to follow them. Make 00:41:24.210 --> 00:41:26.460 sure you don't pursue wickedness. when you're 00:41:26.460 --> 00:41:28.500 disillusioned with the brokenness of this world, 00:41:28.619 --> 00:41:33.300 remember that there's going to be a day when 00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:35.800 the wicked will perish and they will receive 00:41:35.800 --> 00:41:40.500 God's full justice. And don't be lulled into 00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:44.920 thinking that we're not engaged in warfare. But 00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:46.960 also remember, our weapons are not of the flesh, 00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:50.940 but spiritual weapons. So engage in the spiritual 00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:55.769 battle. Seek to rescue as many as you can. out 00:41:55.769 --> 00:41:58.289 of the eternal fire until your work here is done. 00:41:59.909 --> 00:42:01.969 And while you're in the midst of this great war 00:42:01.969 --> 00:42:06.489 between light and dark, aim for the center of 00:42:06.489 --> 00:42:10.309 the cinnamon roll. Christ didn't die for you 00:42:10.309 --> 00:42:13.550 to be a miserable wretch intent on scrutinizing 00:42:13.550 --> 00:42:18.469 every blessing under the sun. That's not this 00:42:18.469 --> 00:42:22.250 life. He also didn't die for us to be ignorant 00:42:22.250 --> 00:42:27.860 of the battle. Avoid the extremes. So while the 00:42:27.860 --> 00:42:31.460 battle rages on, in those moments of reprieve, 00:42:31.480 --> 00:42:38.340 when you're eating and drinking, be glad. Be 00:42:38.340 --> 00:42:41.460 thankful for the little graces in Christ. Remind 00:42:41.460 --> 00:42:43.440 yourself of where the believer will call home 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:47.639 one day. Your sojourner. This is temporary. It's 00:42:47.639 --> 00:42:51.500 a vapor. When you think of what wisdom illuminates, 00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:53.840 be most thankful that the light of the world, 00:42:54.219 --> 00:42:56.880 has shown into the darkness. That in following 00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:59.460 Christ, we never have to walk in darkness because 00:42:59.460 --> 00:43:02.239 we have the light of life illuminating our path. 00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:06.139 And if none of that makes sense to you, would 00:43:06.139 --> 00:43:07.760 you come and talk to a member of this church? 00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:11.739 Come talk to one of our elders? Our desire as 00:43:11.739 --> 00:43:13.619 believers here is to help people walk in the 00:43:13.619 --> 00:43:17.820 light of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can confidently 00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:20.340 say, any of the genuine believers here will be 00:43:20.340 --> 00:43:24.900 glad to discuss such a wonderful thing. Let's 00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:29.900 pray. God, as we see this theme in the beginning 00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:34.179 of chapter eight, verse one, of wisdom illuminating, 00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:40.460 we ask you to help illuminate our thinking. When 00:43:40.460 --> 00:43:42.360 we consider authority, we ask you to help us 00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:45.500 to think rightly about authority and about our 00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:51.159 responses to authority. Help us be wise through 00:43:51.159 --> 00:43:53.590 the troubles. that plague our day. We're not 00:43:53.590 --> 00:43:56.989 guaranteed to be free from them, but we know 00:43:56.989 --> 00:43:59.070 that wisdom can help us in and through them. 00:44:01.909 --> 00:44:04.170 God, when we look at our troubles, help us to 00:44:04.170 --> 00:44:07.389 also remember eternity and to remember eternity 00:44:07.389 --> 00:44:11.130 both for ourselves and for others. Not that we 00:44:11.130 --> 00:44:13.170 look at those who are unsaved and are thankful 00:44:13.170 --> 00:44:15.329 that we are saved and they are not, but that 00:44:15.329 --> 00:44:17.650 we will look at the unsaved and see there's an 00:44:17.650 --> 00:44:21.300 opportunity we may have to bring light. to the 00:44:21.300 --> 00:44:25.320 darkened mind. So help us be compassionate as 00:44:25.320 --> 00:44:29.360 you have been compassionate upon us. And God, 00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:34.380 help us be glad here and now. Help us to see 00:44:34.380 --> 00:44:38.880 goodness in the midst of daily life, not to be 00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:41.460 cast down and struck down by all the burdens 00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:44.559 of this world. We cannot understand these things. 00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:51.250 But we don't need to understand. the things to 00:44:51.250 --> 00:44:55.429 be glad and to be thankful. So we ask you to 00:44:55.429 --> 00:44:59.670 help us. Help us to look to Christ as our light 00:44:59.670 --> 00:45:03.250 and as our guide. Give us a longing for eternal 00:45:03.250 --> 00:45:05.889 glory when the brokenness of this world will 00:45:05.889 --> 00:45:10.710 be undone, when all will be made right. Help 00:45:10.710 --> 00:45:13.090 us to praise the name of Christ. When we sing 00:45:13.090 --> 00:45:18.039 today, let us not just recite words, But let 00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:21.059 us proclaim from the depths of our hearts that 00:45:21.059 --> 00:45:23.820 Christ is the one who rescues from the toil of 00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:26.820 this life. Christ is the one who gives water 00:45:26.820 --> 00:45:30.400 to the thirsty and who gives food without price. 00:45:32.199 --> 00:45:36.940 So help us to lift high the name of Jesus as 00:45:36.940 --> 00:45:40.980 we consider wisdom in a broken world. We pray 00:45:40.980 --> 00:45:44.460 this for your glory and for our good. Amen.