Man's Inability to find Work of God (Ecc 8: 14-17)

MAN’S INABILITY TO FIND WORK OF GOD (Ecc 8: 14-17):

After reflecting and writing that the wicked will fail and those who fear God will do well, the author looks at another side of the things which is vanity, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous and the author again emphasizes that as vanity. The righteous people does what is just and what is right still there are times they undergo suffering because of their good deeds as it is not accepted, recognized and at times it is even condemned because of the unrighteousness which is endorsed by man. Also all the sufferings in the physique, and mentality happens alike to the righteous, sometimes more than the unrighteous. The wicked people prosper at times in their wealth and health though their deeds and thoughts are not valuable and worthy. The author perceives the experiences of certain righteous and wicked as something that is not supposed to be, so he says that it is also vanity.   

The author tried to commend something that is cheerful for all human beings and says that there is nothing better for a man under the sun to eat, drink and be joyful because it would be the benefit for all the toils of man and it will go with everyone through the days of life that God has given under the sun. The author consolidates himself that there are ups and downs in everyone’s life whether they may be righteous or wicked. Though some of them are faithless, God is always faithful to everyone and he had given everyone everything that they need on the earth. In spite of whoever it is, the author says that it is good for everyone to enjoy their life by eating and drinking with whatever they have and be content with their life on the earth in a few days, they live.

When the author applied his heart to know wisdom and to see all that is done on earth, he perceived that there are few who do not see day and night but toil very hard. The author also looks at the work of God and found that man cannot find out the work of God that is done under the sun, howsoever man may toil in seeking it. The author writes that even though a wise man claims to know the work of God, he cannot find it out. God is in control over everything even the sufferings of a righteous person and the well-being of wicked in the earth. Sometimes it is not possible to understand the sovereign and incomprehensible nature of God in the circumstances of life of people, but the overall life of people would be weighted righteously by God for sure and it could be perceived when we rely on God. When it is looked back, everything that had happened in the life of everyone will be for a purpose and reason that shows God’s impartial work and judgment. Man is finite and God is infinite, Man is short focused but God knows the overall picture, so even the wise couldn’t understand the work of God at times.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What is the vanity that the author sees on earth?

2.    How the righteous experience the deeds of wicked as the author perceives?

3.    How the wicked experience the deeds of righteous as the author perceives?

4.    What does the author commend for joy?

5.    Why it is better for a man to eat, drink, and be joyful?

6.    What did the author see when he applied his heart to know wisdom?

7.    What does the author say about the Work of God?

8.    Why the wise man couldn’t even find the work of God?

9.    How we can be joyful in the earth?

10.    How we can endorse the Work of God under the sun?