Like in Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon dishes out some more wisdom for us as he shares observations on life in a fallen world.
If you're not following along on Instagram or Facebook, be sure to do so. We've been working through Proverbs 3 lately, which contains six sets of instructions. Each section includes a call to act in wisdom. It's an appeal for living in the Light, fearing the Lord in all respects, and it ties closely to both Ecclesiastes 7 and 8.
1 Who is like the wise?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
and the hardness of his face is changed.
2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?" 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
Verse 1 talks about a man's wisdom making his face shine. When we have a gentle spirit, it shows in our character and appearance. I thought about Exodus 34 when Moses makes two new stone tables for God to write on. Exodus 34:29 is what stands out to me about our faces shining as believers:
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
May our face shine each morning as we sit with the Lord and allow His Spirit to dwell in us more and more richly (Colossians 3:16).
Verse 2 talks about keeping the king's command because of God's oath to him. If we read Romans 13, it talks about the responsibility of Christians to governing authorities. Let's remember this, friends. There are passages about God approving of Christians disobeying government when obedience to the government would mean disobeying God (see Exodus 1:17, 21; 1 Kings 18:4-16, Esther 4:16, Daniel 3:12-18, Matthew 2:12, Acts 5:29, Hebrews 11:23). There are even times when God raised up leaders to revolt against the government to deliver the people from evil rulers. This doesn't mean rebelling merely to make a statement (see Exodus 1-14; Judges 2:15; Hebrews 11:32-34). If the situation or circumstance doesn't fit those Biblically-based situations, then submitting is obedience.
Lastly, this section of verses reminds us to be strong and courageous and to speak truth to the powerful people we encounter (v. 4-6). Just remember to prayerfully approach those moments and to humbly seek when the time is right.
"If he be a King, then it is a solemn hazard to your soul if you come short of the least of his commandments. Remember that one treason makes a traitor; one leak sinks a ship; one fly spoils the whole box of ointment. He that bought us with his blood deserves to be obeyed in all things with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength." —C.H. Spurgeon
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
The bad have it good, and the good have it bad. We wrestled with this hard fact in last week's study of, "Why Do The Righteous Suffer?". I like what Solomon says at the end of verse 12: "...yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him."
Like Job, let us declare, "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
Solomon provides wise advice here: don't get so caught up in what's good and bad that you miss the joy. There are wicked people, righteous people, and a sovereign God above it all. Therefore, eat, drink, and be joyful.
Verse 16 invokes action. We must apply our hearts to know wisdom and that takes work! We must study God's Word, so we have the knowledge and then ask God for wisdom to righteously apply that knowledge (James 1:5).
As the Preacher saw business and busyness, waking and sleeping, work and rest, his conclusion was to be content in not understanding everything. Let grace fill in the gaps.
TIME AND REFLECTION
Are there times when you've gotten distracted by the "bad news feed"? Spend a few moments enjoying the joy in your life. Grab a piece of paper and jot down 20 things you're grateful for in this season.