God's Judgment over Righeous and Wicked (Ecc 3: 16-17)

GOD’s JUDGEMENT OVER RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED (Ecc 3: 16-17):

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes looks at the infidelity of human beings after looking at the unchanging nature and works of God. The author makes a strong point that moreover, he sees under the sun that there is wickedness in the place of justice and also there is wickedness in the place of righteousness. Even today we could see the existence of wickedness in the place where justice is, and that’s the primary reason that there exist two parties trying to justify their deeds without accepting the mistakes, most of the time even by framing false witnesses. That wickedness makes distortion of Justice and sometimes overcome it. Also as the author perceives there is wickedness present even in the place of righteousness to collapse and forbid it. The wickedness makes a person to utilize the tangible and intangible resources around in an unrighteous manner. Though the righteousness helps to have a balance of things, deal things uprightly, without favoritism, appreciates goodness, depreciates evilness, etc. The wickedness seeks selfishness and tries to distort righteousness both internally as well as externally.

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes being a king over Jerusalem would have had an important place for justice and righteousness. Still, he writes that he said in his heart that God will judge the righteous and the wicked because he believes that there is a time for every matter and for every work. Though the existence of wickedness amongst justice and righteousness could not be avoidable to a certain extent, every upright and believing person should realize that God will judge every deed, word, and thought in His own time. God will judge the righteous according to every work, and reward or recognize it. And at the same time, God will judge the wicked according to the evilness and subject them to the negative consequences or punishments. God makes differentiation in the way he judges according to every matter and every work done by every people.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What does the author see under the sun?

2.    How there is wickedness in place of justice?

3.    How there is wickedness in place of righteousness?

4.    What does the author say in his heart?

5.    Why God will judge the righteous and wicked?

6.    What do you mean by ‘there is a time for every matter and for every work’?

7.    How God will judge the righteous and wicked?

8.    How the wickedness could be taken from Justice and righteousness?

9.    How we need to prepare ourselves for God’s Judgment?

10.    How we can be righteous in every matter and every work?