Ecclesiastes Chapter Eight

The Limits Of Wisdom

Virtual Pastor

In our study of Ecclesiastes chapter eight, we will look at the fact that man cannot comprehend all of the ways of God. We will see how Solomon, the wisest man the world has ever known, came to this conclusion.

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Ecclesiastes 8:1


Who can be compared with a wise person? Who else knows what a thing means? Wisdom lights up the face and softens a grim appearance.


In chapter 7, Solomon compared following the ways of the world to the wisdom of following the ways of God. Now, he reminds us that true wisdom can only come from being in the presence of God. The brightening of the face reminds us of what happened to Moses as he was on the mountain with God. When he came down, his face shined because of the glory of God. We may not go up a mountain to meet God like Moses did but He has still made a way for us to enter His presence through the study of His word, through prayer, and through the living presence of the Holy Spirit in us. We should ask ourselves whether that presence changes our "hard appearance" because, if it has not, then, we have probably not really been in the presence of God.

Ecclesiastes 8:2 & 3


Keep the king's command because of the oath before God. Don't be quick to leave his presence, and don't persist in doing what is wrong, for he does whatever he pleases.


Although Solomon may have been speaking of an earthly king, he is probably speaking of using the wisdom that God has given us. He urges us to want to stay in the king's presence speaking of the desire to have God guide every aspect of our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. He speaks to the fact that we must take to heart the fact that God is right and just in all of His ways even when we do not understand them. As the Creator/Owner of all things, God has the authority to do whatever He wants and does not need our counsel.

Ecclesiastes 8:4-6


After all, his word is final; who can challenge him, "Why are you doing that?" Whoever obeys his command will never come to harm, and the wise person will know the right time and judgment. For to everything there is a right time and a judgment, since people are greatly troubled


Just as the people in an earthly kingdom must obey their king or face the consequences, so it is with God. He gave us free will and will let us make choices as to whether we listen to the Spirit or not. If we listen, He will protect us; if we do not, we can get ourselves into situations that can cause us harm. The "proper time and procedure" refers to the fact that we can take everything to God in prayer but, when He gives us an answer, we must obey for our own good whether it is the answer we wanted or not.

Ecclesiastes 8:7


by uncertainty over the future; even when the event takes place, who will tell them about it?


Although there are people with lots of education and knowledge, there are limits to their knowledge such as the fact that they do not know the future. "What would you do today if you knew it was your last day?" is a question that is often asked. We must keep in mind that, for all we know, every day could be our last and so we should live like it. This is what James was talking about when he spoke of our boasting about our future plans (see James 4).

Ecclesiastes 8:8


Just as no one has the power to keep the wind from blowing, so no one has power over the day of death. If one is drafted to fight a war, one can't send a substitute; likewise the wicked won't escape death by their wickedness.


When we die, our spirit either returns to the Father or awaits judgment. When our time is up, we cannot stop the journey of the spirit. Just like a soldier is retained during wartime, those who battle sin on their own will never be free from it.

Ecclesiastes 8:9 & 10


All this I have seen, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun when one person tyrannizes another. Thus I saw the wicked buried; they had even come from the Holy Place. But those who had acted uprightly were forgotten in the city. This too is a futile thing;


Here, Solomon speaks of corrupt religious leaders as they saw the poor being oppressed and did nothing. Instead, those who were doing it were praised because they brought offerings to the temple.

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13


because the punishment decreed for an evil act is not promptly carried out; therefore people who plan to do evil are strengthened in their intentions. For a sinner can do evil a hundred times and still live a long life; although I know that in the end things will go well with those who fear God, because they fear him. But things will not go well with the wicked; and, like a shadow, he will not prolong his days; because he doesn't fear God.


Solomon looked at delayed punishment and could not understand why those who do evil things can live a long time. Yet, he knew that, in the end, the punishment would come.

Ecclesiastes 8:14


There is something frustrating that occurs on earth, namely, that there are righteous people to whom things happen as if they were doing wicked deeds; and, again, there are wicked people to whom things happen as if they were doing righteous deeds. I say that this too is pointless.


Solomon came to realize that life on this earth is not fair. It would seem that God's people should be the richest people on the earth and yet, even today, those who lie and cheat seem to get ahead of those who don't. In the end, the earthly riches will not matter and so chasing them is worthless.

Ecclesiastes 8:15


So I recommend enjoyment - a person can do nothing better under the sun than eat, drink and enjoy himself; this is what should accompany him as he does his work for as long as God gives him to live under the sun.


Solomon advises us to enjoy what the Lord has given each of us and to not worry about what someone else has. This is contentment and it seems like it is the opposite of the way the world works today as everyone is trying to climb the ladder of success. Most do so without any joy and they seem to be the most miserable of people.

Ecclesiastes 8:16 & 17


When I applied myself to gain wisdom and to observe how people occupy themselves on earth, that people's eyes don't see sleep either by day or by night, then, on looking over all of God's work, I realized that it is impossible to grasp all the activity taking place under the sun; because even if a person works hard at searching it out, he won't grasp it; and even if a wise person thinks he knows it, he still won't be able to grasp it.


God had granted this man greater wisdom than anyone else will ever have and yet he realized that his wisdom had limits. He still could not understand everything that God had done. It is the same with us as we continue to grow in our faith and understanding of what God has done for us.

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