Ecclesiastes 10 (2)

Pray Psalm 38.15.
For in You, O LORD, I hope;
You will hear, O LORD my God.

Read Ecclesiastes 10.4-7.

Prepare.
1. Why does Solomon mention rulers in these verses? In what sense are we all rulers?

2. Are rulers immune from folly?

Meditate.
I think the point of this bit of wisdom is fairly simple: being a ruler doesn’t protect one from being a fool – whether you rule a nation or just your own sphere of influence.

Witness Solomon.

The ruler who blows up and plots revenge against those who oppose him, or the one who plays the fool from his throne – both are “evils” that ought not be. However, “under the sun”, they are all too common. As ridiculous as it is to consider a king walking while his servant rides the horse, it is just as ridiculous to believe that a fool on the throne is anything other than a fool. If Rehoboam is thinking that being king will protect him from being “found out” for his folly, he should think again.

In a secular age, when faith in God seems to be on the decline, folly and fools are cropping up everywhere (cf. Ps. 12), even in places of high authority. But since folly, like a spiritual virus, is infecting more and more people, it’s becoming difficult to discern the idiocy and evil that everywhere are on the rise. Insipidity, violence, and licentiousness pervade pop culture; corruption and self-aggrandizement stalk the halls of legislatures and sit in the seats of corporate executives; babies are slain – and their body parts sold, we now know – by the millions in the name of “pro-choice” anti-ethics. And many churches are ruled by those who lack passionate intensity for the Law of God.

Rehoboam was blinded by his folly and to his folly; the same can be said of many in our own generation. We must not add to the folly of our day by ruling like fools in our own sphere. And, as Solomon persevered with his son, so must we with the lost and blind people of our day, including those who rule over us, insisting that people seek the goodness of the Lord, and turn away from folly.

Reflect.
1. How is it evident that our rulers are following an agenda which is more “under the sun” than “under heaven” in its orientation?  

2. Can nothing be done about this? Should Christians seek to help governments and churches fulfill their callings as servant of God for good (Rom. 13.1-4; Matt. 5.13-16)? Explain.

3. Christians are called to be light, salt, and leaven of the Kingdom of God – righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14.17, 18). What can we expect if we do not bring our influence to bear on the work of civil government?

Things are simply not always what we think they ought to be (9:11); but God is still in control, and He works His good purposes through events we do not understand. Earl Radmacher (1937-2014), NKJV Study Notes on Ecclesiastes 10.6

Lord, You have appointed me as a ruler in my own Personal Mission Field. Help me to seek Your Kingdom for good, so that…

Pray Psalm 38.1-4.
Just as a nation is weakened and threatened by corruption among its leaders, so are we, when we allow sin to take root in our lives. Use these verses to let the Lord search you for any hidden sins. Confess and repent.

Sing Psalm 38.1-4.
Psalm 38.1-4 (Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
O Lord, rebuke me not, nor chasten me in wrath!
Your arrows pierce my sinful heart and fill my path.
Your heavy hand weighs down;
my flesh and bones grow weak.
My sins oppress, confuse, confound – I cannot speak!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).