Ecclesiastes 8:1

OBEDIENCE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF WISDOM[1]

Ecclesiastes 8:1-5

"Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. I counsel thee, Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. For the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerneth time and judgment."

A comparison of translations will reveal some uncertainties about what is actually said here. Cook's opinion that obedience to the king is the subject appears to be correct; and we know that this would be exactly what a king like Solomon would advise. As a matter of fact, respect for all legitimate authority is the foundation of all law, civilization and social order. It begins with respect for the authority of parents and teachers and continues as mandatory for all authority, as Paul himself pointed out in Romans 13. Waddey agreed that, "The first five verses here admonish us to be submissive to governmental authority."[2]

"A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine" (Ecclesiastes 8:1). "The claim here is that wisdom gives insight and charm."[3] "A man's wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to shine,"[4] It is not exactly clear why this has anything to do with the paragraph. Cox's comment was that, "Culture lends an air of refinement to the face, and that it improves the carriage, demeanor and personality of the possessor."[5] Delitzsch said, "This verse announces and verifies the incomparable superiority of the wise man."[6]

"Keep the king's command ... in regard to the oath of God." (Ecclesiastes 8:2). "This is a religious duty, corresponding to Romans 13:5."[7]

"Be not hasty to go out of his presence" (Ecclesiastes 8:3). This might mean a number of things: "(1) do not desert the king in time of danger; (2) do not resign your office in haste when things go wrong; (3) don't storm out of his presence in anger when you are not pleased; or, (4) don't seek to flee the country as a defector."[8] The student may take his choice!

"For he doeth whatever pleaseth him" (Ecclesiastes 8:3). Delitzsch translated this: "The king executes anyone he pleases to execute."[9]

"Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing" (Ecclesiastes 8:5). This should be understood in the light of many other Old Testament passages which place definite boundaries upon the obedience that any servant of God should give to the evil commandments of earthly rulers. The three Hebrew children refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, and Daniel continued to pray to Almighty God, in spite of the specific orders of the mightiest king of antiquity that forbade their actions. The strong suggestion in these verses to the effect that a `wise man' might, through expediency, conform his views to that of some evil ruler cannot negate the truth. "If a man is really wise, he will know that the king's action or commandment is liable to correction, if it is wrong, in God's time and by God's judgment."[10]