Daily Devotions
Ecclesiastes
"There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt."
Text: Ecclesiastes 8:9
TWO OLD SAYINGS
There is an old saying, “might is right”. This is often cited by those who use might to exert authority over others.
There is another saying that is the opposite, “right is might”. This is the belief of those who practise righteousness.
“All this I have seen, and applied my heart
to every work that is done under the sun:
There is a time in which one man
rules over another to his own hurt.”
Ecclesiastes 8:9
1. “All this I have seen”
a) The immediate context is the discussion of “the rule of the king”.
b) Solomon must have observed.
i) The neighbouring countries
ii) How they were ruled by their kings.
iii) He would have observed his own kingdom, Israel.
2. “And applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun”
a) Solomon sought to apply the lessons he had learned.
b) He put his heart to every work under the sun.
i) In particular, the matter of ruling his kingdom.
ii) In his heart, he desired to be a good and wise king.
3. “There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt”
a) His observations of the neighbouring kingdoms were carefully noted.
b) In these despotic kingdoms, it was a common practice to oppress others.
c) Kings were quite despotic in their rule.
i) They sought to conquer weaker nations.
ii) Sometimes, they succeed, at least temporarily.
d) But as time goes by, the despot realizes that he is only hurting himself.
i) The problem of rebellion will always be there.
ii) There was the added problem of people planning revenge.
iii) The despotic king could end up being assassinated by the people
he ruled by oppression.