Daily Devotions
Ecclesiastes
"When your king is a child"
Text: Ecclesiastes 10:16
LEADERSHIP IN A COUNTRY
Solomon was the king of Israel, succeeding King David. He knew how important it was to have good leadership in the country. His observations went beyond the nation of Israel. In Solomon’s reign, many countries sought diplomatic and economic relationships with Israel.
“Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
And your princes feast in the morning!”
Ecclesiastes 10:16
1. “Woe to you, O land”
a) Weal or Woe
i) Either could happen to any country.
ii) No country would automatically do well.
b) Woes can come to any land:
i) Natural disasters
ii) War
iii) Severe economic downturns
2. “When your king is a child”
a) Literal reference of the word “child”.
i) A child-king may ascend the throne.
ii) Whoever is the Regent could lead the country well.
iii) Or create great problems in the country.
b) Symbolic reference to the word “child”.
i) If the king is as naive as a child.
ii) If the king is unwise like a child.
iii) The child-king would be unable to lead the nation well!
iv) Hence, woes can befall the country.
3. “And your princes”
a) Princes came from the royal family.
b) They were given the following:
i) Titles
ii) Leadership over certain regions
iii) Authority
iv) Wealth
4. “Feast in the morning”
a) It was not wrong to have “feasts”.
b) Mornings
i) They are meant to be devoted to work.
ii) Princes must do their part in serving the king and country.
c) “Feasting in the morning”
i) These princes were failing to do their duties.
ii) The child-king is unable to reign them in.
iii) The time and money spent in “feasting in the morning”
would weaken the country badly in the long run.
Inevitable, woes would befall the nation before too long!