Posted on 08/13/2015 5:28:20 AM PDT by Gamecock
“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. 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.”
- Ecclesiastes 8:12–13
Waiting for justice to be done is one of the hardest aspects of life in our fallen world. So often, we see the righteous trodden underfoot and the enemies of our Lord ascendant, and this might tempt us to wonder if things will ever be set right. Our innate sense that justice will win in the end, however, keeps us from succumbing to nihilism, and it gives us hope for an afterlife where evil is judged and good triumphs. But this hope is not mere wishful thinking, for it is confirmed in Scripture. As Paul tells us, those who do not “obey the truth” will one day reap what they have sown in the form of divine judgment (Rom. 2:6–11).
Paul is not the only biblical author to speak of the final judgment, for he actually draws from a tradition in the Hebrew Bible that looks forward to the last-day judgment of sin and vindication of God’s children. This tradition, however, is often given implicitly and not presented explicitly in the Old Testament. Today’s passage is one such example of the implicit hope of final resurrection and judgment in the old covenant revelation.
The Preacher has already said that wicked men and women are often honored despite their evil, and this might make us think that evil people will never get their due. In fact, the apparent delay of divine justice seems to make wicked people even worse (Eccl. 8:10–11). Yet in Ecclesiastes 8:12–13, we learn that the success of wicked people is but a temporary thing. The Preacher teaches this by means of a paradox, telling us that the sinner prolongs his life and that he does not prolong his days. What could the Preacher mean? The answer lies in the fact that the Preacher is looking at the world from two different perspectives. From the earthly, limited view of human beings, it does seem that many wicked people live longer than would be due if their evil were taken fully into account. They prolong their lives, not seeming to be set back by their misdeeds. Yet from a heavenly perspective, from the foundation of the fear of God, they do not lengthen their lives at all. Their days are actually “like a shadow.” They come and go quickly (Ps. 102:11). Although the wicked may seem to meet with great success, from the vantage point of eternity, it is only fleeting.
On the other hand, it will go well for those who fear God (Eccl. 8:12). By linking the lack of fearing the Lord with the failure to prolong one’s days (v. 13), the Preacher is pointing us to the fact that the fear of God will lengthen our lives. Thus, we have an implicit reference to heaven, where the redeemed will enjoy life in the Lord’s presence forever.
Coram Deo
The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7); it is also the prerequisite for eternal life. It is not that such fear is a meritorious work that God rewards with eternal life; rather, such fear is born of saving faith that unites us to Christ, whose merit alone will save us. Though fearing the Lord may not bring with it much earthly success, it will bring us to eternal life, where we will see justice win and evil vanquished. Let us fear the Lord as we look for that day.
Passages for Further Study
Deuteronomy 25:17 Remember what Amalek did to you son the way as you came out of Egypt, 18 how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.
2 Kings 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. 25 And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the Lord. Therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26 So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him2 go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” 28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Revelation 14:7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Amen.
Come Lord Jesus.
I think that God has a fire that we know nothing about. It is a shame that millions and millions will suffer that awful fire for all eternity. No one has to go there, but sadly, most people will.
I needed this today, thanks for posting.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Wasn’t that one of the Great themes of Jonathan Edwards’ evengelizing preaching?
I think the delay in God’s justice is one of the hardest things people grapple with.
The enemy gets so much mileage out of it in using it to slander God to us.
It’s sometimes difficult for us as believers to deal with, but for unbelievers, I can see where it’s a real stumbling block.
I think there’s be a real lack of solid teaching on the subject. I know I haven’t heard as much about it as I could use.
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