Ecclesiastes 8:1 - Meaning and Application

Here is a praise of wisdom in Ecclesiastes 8:1, meaning true godliness, guided by good judgment and careful conduct. The wise person is the good person, the one who knows God and honors him, knows themself and lives well for their own good. This kind of wisdom is a great blessing, because it lifts a person above their neighbors and makes them more excellent than they are. No one without God’s grace, even if learned, noble, or rich, can compare with a person who truly belongs to God and is accepted by him.

This wisdom also makes a person useful to others. The wise person knows how to explain things, that is, understands the times, what is happening, and when things come to a turning point, so they can guide others in what should be done (1 Chronicles 12:32). Wisdom also makes a person pleasant in the eyes of friends. It makes the face shine, like Moses when he came down from the mountain, and it gives honor to a person’s whole life. It makes them respected, noticed, and loved, and can make even a rough or harsh person gentle and agreeable.

Wisdom also gives courage in the face of enemies and criticism. It doubles a person’s boldness, because a wise person not only has a right cause, but also knows how to handle it well and how to answer properly. Then the person is not ashamed, but can speak confidently with an opponent at the gate, the place of public judgment. Wisdom makes a person both more gracious and more steady.

The passage then presses a particular duty on us, submission to authority, and a patient, peaceable loyalty to the government that Providence has placed over us. We should respect the laws in all matters where civil authority has a right to act, whether in making laws or in judging cases. Keep the king’s commandment. Some take the next words as a limit on this duty, meaning that we must obey the king, but still keep the oath we owe to God. Our first and highest duty is to God, so we must never break our conscience or violate what belongs to him (Matthew 22:21).

We should also avoid being quick to complain about public rule, or to leave our place of service under government whenever we are displeased. Do not hurry to go out of his sight when he is angry with you, or when you are angry with him (Ecclesiastes 10:4). Do not fly apart in a fit of passion, or let suspicion drive you to abandon your duty. Solomon’s own subjects later did the opposite of this when Rehoboam gave them a harsh answer, and they quickly broke away from him. Even if there is a real reason to withdraw, do not be hasty. Act with careful thought.

We must also stop when we are shown that we are wrong. Do not stand in an evil thing. If you have offended your ruler, humble yourself and do not defend yourself, because that only makes the offense worse. If you have started some bad plan out of frustration, do not go on with it. If you have acted foolishly by lifting yourself up, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth (Proverbs 30:32). Even if we are drawn into wrong by surprise, we must not remain in it. As soon as we see it is wrong, we should step back.

Wisdom also teaches us to use good timing. A wise person’s heart understands both the right time and the right way to act (Ecclesiastes 8:5). When subjects bring requests to their rulers, it is wise to think carefully about when and how to do it, so they may calm anger, gain favor, or secure relief from a heavy decision. Esther, when dealing with Ahasuerus, the Persian king, took great care to choose the right time and method, and she succeeded. This is also a general rule of wisdom, that everything should be done at the right moment. Our plans are more likely to succeed when we seize the exact opportunity.

The reasons for this duty are much like those Paul gives in Romans 13:1 and following. We must obey for conscience’ sake, because that is the strongest and best reason for submission. We should also obey because of the oath of God, the oath of allegiance we have taken to be faithful to the government. In the old covenant, this is seen in the agreement between king and people (2 Chronicles 23:16). David made a covenant with the elders of Israel, even though he had already been chosen by God (1 Chronicles 11:3). The oath is called God’s oath because he sees it and will punish its breaking.

We must also obey because of wrath, that is, because rulers carry the sword and have power to enforce their commands. The king does whatever he pleases, meaning he has both authority and the means to support it (Ecclesiastes 8:4). Where a king’s word goes out, giving orders to seize someone, there is real power behind it. Many people will carry out his commands, and that makes the ruler’s anger like a lion’s roar and like messengers of death. Who can say to him, What are you doing? Anyone who challenges him does it at great risk. Kings do not like their orders questioned, but expect to be obeyed. It is dangerous to fight against authority, and many have later regretted it. A subject is no match for a prince, for one may command me who has legions at command.

For our own comfort, the person who keeps the commandment and lives a quiet, peaceful life will feel no evil thing. This matches the apostle’s word, “Do you want to have no fear of the ruler? Then do what is good, and you will receive praise from him” (Romans 13:3). A faithful and loyal subject who does no wrong will usually have no reason to fear punishment, and will often receive approval instead.