1^st – Obey the King… 1-11

• 1^st – Joy of Wisdom… vs. 1
  • Wise man….
    • Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
    • A mans wisdom makes his face shine – and the sternness of his face is changed!
    • As Solomon continues his QUEST to find MEANING in life…
    • He asked a question – WHO [מִי] is like [כְּ] the [הֶ] WISE man [חָכָם]
    • This is talking about a SPECIFIC person – THE [הֶ] wise man…
    • Someone who has the ABILITY [יָדַע] to interpret the WORD [דָּבָר]
    • The WISDOM of that man will make [hiphil] him SHINE…
    • AND [וְ] – continually [imperfect] give to him [pual] great STRENGTH [עֹז]!
  • From the Lord…
    • It seems likely that Solomon is talking about himself…
    • He was the WISE man who had the ability to INTERPRET the Word!
    • I Kings 4:29 – “God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding – and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.” [NLT]
    • The ability to INTERPRET the WORD is not based on intelligence or ability…
    • It is a REVELATION that comes from the Lord…
    • It is a work of the Holy Spirit who reveals the TRUTH to us…
    • And when He does – it LIGHTS up our life – and give us STRENGTH…
    • Because we get to hear God speaking to our hearts – and directing our lives!
    • I Corinthians 2:10 – “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things – yes the deep things of God.”
• 2^nd – Power of the King… vs. 2-4
  • The Promise… vs. 2
    • I say: Keep the kings commandment for the sake of your oath to God!
    • KEEP [imperative] the command [singular] of the KING [מֶלֶךְ]
    • Because Solomon [אֲנִי] had this WISDOM – and knew how to interpret the Word of God…
    • AND [וְ] – also because the people had made a PROMISE to God [אֱלֹהִים]!
    • When Israel demanded Samuel give them a KING to reign over them…
    • In effect rejecting God as their KING [so they could be like other nations]
    • The Lord made the people PROMISE to keep the command of their KING – I Samuel 8:9
  • The Authority… vs. 3-4
    • Do not be hasty to go from his presence. 
    • Do not take your stand for an evil thing for he does whatever pleases him.
    • Where the word of a king is there is power – and who may say to him: What are you doing?
    • Choosing a KING meant the people were SUBJECT to their KING…
    • Therefore – they should be careful to NOT [jussive] leave him to quickly…
    • And NOT [jussive] stand before him and say [דָּבָר] something WRONG [רַע]
    • Because the King can do [עָשָׂה] WHATEVER [כָּל] he wants…
    • There is POWER [שָׁלַט] in what the KING [מֶלֶךְ] says…
    • WHO [מִי] can question him no matter WHAT he does [עָשָׂה]!
    • Romans 6:16 – “You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?” [NLT]
    • The problem with LOOKING to this world for answers…
    • Is we end up getting STUCK [slave] – with the solutions that they offer to us…
    • No matter how FOOLISH their suggestions might be – we CHOSE to listen to them…
    • How much better to instead CHOSE to put Jesus as our KING [theocracy]
    • Because we KNOW the answers He gives are ALWAYS right!
• 3^rd – Protection… vs. 5-7
  • No harm… vs. 5
    • He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful!
    • Those who KEEP the COMMAND of the KING – will NOT [לֹא] hear a BAD [רַע] word [דָּבָר]
    • Because the KING had the power to take the life of those who displeased him!
    • In the book – Alice in Wonderland – the main villain was the Queen of Hearts…
    • She famously said to anyone who questioned her – off with their heads!
  • Good Timing… vs. 5-6
    • A wise mans heart discerns both time and judgment.
    • For every matter there is a time and judgment – though the misery of man increases greatly!
    • BUT [וְ] – those with a WISE [חָכָם] heart [לֵב] – KNOW [יָדַע] the importance of TIMING…
    • BECAUSE [כִּי] – everything [כָּל] has a right TIME [judge for yourself]
    • EVEN when [כִּי] – someone [אָדָם] does something REALLY [רַב] bad [רַע]!
    • If I am having a BAD day – Hallel knows NOT to tell me about a TEST she failed…
    • Better to WAIT until I am in a better mood – then give me the BAD news…
    • Timing is everything – we need to know when to say the right thing!
    • The good news is that the LORD never has any BAD days…
    • We never have to WONDER – is NOW is a good time to give him BAD news…
    • We can come to Him ANYTIME – ANYWHERE – and ask for help!
    • Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength always ready to help in times of trouble.” [NLT]
  • Unknown… vs. 7
    • For he does not know what will happen – So who can tell him when it will occur?
    • BUT [כִּי] – even the King can NEVER [אִין] can SEE [יָדַע] the FUTURE [what will be]
    • BECAUSE [כִּי] – WHO [מִי] can tell [hiphil] him what will happen!
    • The problem with putting our TRUST in men – is we NEVER know what will happen…
    • Maybe things will work out – or perhaps they will become MUCH worse…
    • No one KNOWS – because none of us can see the FUTURE…
    • But there is one who can – which is why we put our trust in the LORD – Isaiah 46:10
• 4^th – Day of Death… vs. 8
  • No power…
    • No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit. No one has power in the day of death!
    • This verse can be interpreted in TWO ways…
    • FRIST – no man [אִין] has POWER [שָׁלַט] over the WIND – to hold back the WIND [רוּחַ]
    • SECOND – no man [אִין] has POWER [שָׁלַט] over his SPIRIT – to keep the [הָ] SPIRIT [רוּחַ]
    • Either way the conclusion is the same – we do NOT have POWER in life…
    • AND [וְ] – no man [אִין] has POWER [שָׁלַט] in the day of his [הָ] DEATH [מָוֶת]!
    • We like to FOOL ourselves into thinking we are in CONTROL…
    • We eat HEALTHY – we EXERCISE daily – we avoid getting too much SUN…
    • All because we think we have POWER over when we will DIE!
    • We do NOT have the POWER to choose WHEN we come to the END…
    • Our DAYS are numbered by the Lord – we will DIE right on time!
    • Job 14:5 – “You have decided the length of our lives.”
  • No escape…
    • There is no release from that war – and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it!
    • Just as men are NEVER [אִין] sent home when a nation is at WAR…
    • If a country is at WAR – that is NOT the time to be sending men away from the battle…
    • Neither [וְלֹא] – will those who are a SLAVE [בַּעַל] to WICKEDNESS [רֶשַׁע] be saved!
    • The greatest fear of men – is what happens after DEATH…
    • They do NOT fear because they do NOT know – but because they DO know…
    • It is written on our hearts that we will have to ANSWER for our lives – Hebrews 9:27
    • We cannot know WHEN our end will come – but we can CHOSE how we live our lives NOW…
    • If we CHOSE to be RULED by SIN – then we will live in FEAR of JUDGMENT…
    • But if we CHOSE to LIVE for Jesus – then we will be excited for the day we get to go HOME!
• 5^th – Bad Example… vs. 9-11
  • Bad rulers… vs. 9
    • All this I have seen and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: 
    • There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt!
    • Solomon thought a lot about the AUTHORITY given to the KING…
    • ALL [כָּל] of that he had seen – and took it to HEART [לֵב]
    • And when he considered ALL [כָּל] the work men do in life [under the sun]
    • He saw that there were times when those who RULE – were NOT helpful!
  • Forgotten… vs. 10
    • Then I saw the wicked buried who had come and gone from the place of holiness.
    • They were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity!
    • Solomon saw WICKED [רָשָׁע men who were buried next to the RIGHTEOUS [קָדוֹשׁ]
    • AND [וְ] – this caused [hithpael] the people to FORGET what the WICKED had done…
    • This also [גַּם] Solomon recognized was WRONG [vanity]!
    • I often see people wearing a shirt with the LOGO of Che Guevara…
    • They see it as a popular symbol of a freedom fighter [NPA]
    • What they do NOT know – is he is also infamous for torture and murder!
    • People have a tendency to white wash history – and make it more palatable…
    • When what is needed is the TRUTH – so we do not make LOGOS out of EVIL men!
  • Slow justice… vs. 11
    • Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily.
    • Therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil!
    • When leaders NEVER [אִין] quickly punish those who do the [הָ] EVIL [רַע]
    • It makes the hearts [לֵב] of the MEN [הָאָדָם] dedicated to doing EVIL!
    • There is no death penalty in the Philippines – but this is CONTRARY to the Bible…
    • Those who take life – forfeit their own life [and quickly]
    • The reason is because God wants the PENALTY to act as a deterrence to EVIL!
    • Genesis 9:6 – “If anyone takes a life – [their] life will also be taken.” [NLT]
    • Our problem with SIN is NOT our head – it is our HEART…
    • We SIN because we WANT to – even though we KNOW it is wrong…
    • Therefore – the consequences [death] have to outweigh the benefits…
    • That is the motivation we need to help us walk the narrow path!

• 2^nd – Still searching … 12-17
  • 1^st – Fear God… vs. 12-13
    • Long days… vs. 12
      • Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his days are prolonged.
      • Yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God – who fear before Him!
      • Having looked at the ROLE of a KING over the people…
      • Someone who is to be OBEYED – but who should PUNISH evil…
      • Solomon saw NOT all who SIN [חָטָא] and do EVIL [רַע] are punished – some live LONG lives…
      • But he also [גַּם] KNEW [יָדַע] that it will be [imperfect] GOOD [טֽוֹב]
      • For those who FEAR [יָרֵא] God – when they come and stand before Him!
      • It really does NOT matter how long we live here on earth…
      • The question is what happens when we come to the END…
      • Those who FEAR the LORD now – will have NOTHING to FEAR later!
    • Like a shadow… vs. 12
      • It will not be well with the wicked – nor will he prolong his days which are as a shadow.
      • Because he does not fear before God!
      • It will NOT [לֹא] be GOOD [טֽוֹב] for the WICKED [רָשָׁע]
      • His days will come to an END like a passing SHADOW [not very long] – James 4:13
      • And because he NEVER [אִין] feared God on earth…
      • He will be VERY afraid when he has to stand before Him!
      • Because we do NOT get to choose whether or not to BOW before God…
      • We only Get to choose WHEN – either now in salvation – or later in condemnation!
      • Romans 14:11 – “As I live says the LORD – every knee shall bow to Me.”
  • 2^nd – No Guarantees… vs. 14-15
    • Backwards… vs. 14
      • There is a vanity which occurs on earth.
      • That there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked.
      • Again there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. 
      • I said that this also is vanity!
      • Because Solomon was stuck looking UNDER the Sun – he had a problem…
      • He saw a WRONG [vanity] that took place on the EARTH…
      • The RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] are punished like the [הָ] WICKED [רָשָׁע]
      • And the WICKED [רָשָׁע] are rewarded like the [הָ] RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק]!
      • This is an understandable FRUSTRATION – if we just look at what we can SEE…
      • WICKED people PROSPER – and they RIGHTEOUS are made to suffer…
      • It makes one question if there is really JUSTICE in life…
      • Until we look at the END – what happens AFTER this life – Psalm 74:17
    • Be Happy… vs. 15
      • So I commended enjoyment.
      • Because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat – drink – and be merry.
      • This will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives under the sun!
      • Therefore Solomon [אֲנִי] had a [piel] recommendation – have FUN…
      • Since there is NOTHING [אִין] good [טֽוֹב] under the sun…
      • We mind as well EAT – DRINK – and experience whatever HAPPINESS while we can…
      • In this HARD life that God has given to us UNDER the Sun!
      • I Corinthians 15:32 – “If the dead do not rise: Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die!”
      • The WISDOM of this world is that we ONLY have this life…
      • We are taught we are a LUCKY accident – and once we DIE – we cease to exist!
      • If that is TRUE – there is NO life after death – if there is NO heaven and NO hell…
      • If there is NO God – and NO judgement – NO accountability…
      • Then the BEST we can do is ENJOY the moment while we can…
      • But – if it is NOT true [and it is not] – then living for the moment is FOOLISH…
      • The VERY next statement Paul makes is a WARNING – who are we influenced by!
      • I Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” [ESV]
  • 3^rd – No Answers… vs. 16-17
    • Searching… vs. 16
      • When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth.
      • Even though one sees no sleep day or night!
      • This made Solomon search all the more for the ANSWER…
      • BECAUSE [כִּי] He wanted to SEE the WORK that was done here on EARTH [הָאָרֶץ]
      • He GAVE his HEART [לֵב] so he could KNOW [יָדַע] the [חָ] wisdom of God [חָכַם]
      • And NEVER [אִין] let his eyes close – NO sleep – as he searched DAY and NIGHT!
    • Unknowable… vs. 17
      • Then I saw all the work of God – a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun.
      • For though a man labors to discover it – yet he will not find it.
      • Moreover – though a wise man attempts to know it – he will not be able to find it!
      • AND [וְ] – as he looked at ALL [כָּל] of the work of the [חָ] God [אֱלֹהִים]
      • He realized there was NO [לֹא] way for him [הָאָדָם] to understand it all…
      • As hard as he tried to look for the answer – he could NOT [לֹא] find it…
      • AND [וְ] – if he said he was [חָ] WISE [חָכַם] – and KNEW [יָדַע] – he was WRONG!
      • The problem is the ANSWER cannot be found by looking in [heart]
      • And it CANNOT be found by looking at the world around us…
      • There is only ONE direction we can look to find HOPE – look up!
      • Luke 21:28 – “Look up and lift up your heads – because your redemption draws near.”