MAKING SENSE OF AUTHORITY
ECCLESIASTES 8:2-9
On April 19, 1995, a yellow Ryder truck pulled into Oklahoma City and parked outside the Alfred P. Murrow Building. This truck was carrying a 2-ton ammonium nitrate bomb. This bomb went off blowing off the front half of the building killing 168 people including 19 children.
Our country was rocked by the news. At this time it was the worst ever act of terrorism on American soil. Our country just looked on wondering, “Who would commit such a horrible act of violence and why would they do it?” Shortly after the bombing, we had answers. In a short period of time the man responsible was in custody. His name was Timothy McVey a decorated war veteran.
He later explained that this act of violence was in response to his distrust and hatred toward the federal government. He shared that he began to feel this way after serving in the first Gulf War and was pushed over the edge after the raid in Waco.
Now many of you when hearing this story again and being reminded of these events in Oklahoma City you are probably just getting angry all over again thinking to yourself, “What a wicked man. How could a person be so messed up—this is madness, just pure evil.” But let’s be honest, though I know none of us would ever even think about taking actions into our own hands and doing what McVey did, we all have a certain amount of distrust toward those who are in positions of authority don't we? We all at times have shown a lack of confidence in and even a distaste for those in positions of authority, especially those in Washington.
All of us at times question our leaders. Many of us have often asked ourselves, “Do they really have my best interest in mind?” “Do they even care?” “Are they concerned with doing what’s right or are they just concerned with being reelected?” I mean we all have asked these types of questions at one time or another.
If you have your Bibles turn to Ecclesiastes 8. This morning we are going to be looking at vv. 2-9. As we have talked about already, in the first 7 chapters of this book Solomon discusses a wide range of topics from work, money, materialism and success to religious beliefs and practices. In our passage for today Solomon is going to continue with his thorough examination of life under the sun by helping us make sense of earthly authorities.
Let’s begin by looking at v. 9. Though we don’t normally jump around in the text like this, verse 9 is a summary statement of the passage. Solomon says,
9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
What Solomon is writing about in this passage is what he has observed first hand. And we know that he knew all about earthly authorities because he was one—he was king. So Solomon is speaking from experience here and is once again going to display his wisdom by explaining to us what the proper god-honoring response is to be from us toward those who are over us.
This text speaks so clearly to us and our culture today because we all have strong opinions about authority in our country and the opinions we have are often negative. When thinking about authority, some of the first words that come to many of our minds are words like abuse, oppression and corruption.
Solomon, however, gives us a biblical perspective of authority from Ecclesiastes 8 and tells us how we are to think about and respond to earthly authorities.
Here’s the first principle…
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANTACE OF EARTHLY AUTHORITIES
Solomon says,
2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.
Because we don’t have a monarchial form of government, we have to stop for a second when we read this verse of Scripture and step out of our context and into Solomon’s to better understand his point in v.2.
In the Old Testament, there were monarchies in place and the King during these days required total obedience from His followers. Those in the kingdom were required to swear an oath of obedience to that king, which could be good or bad depending upon who was in power. The people who took this oath were required to commit and remain faithful to these rulers regardless.
Now what many tend to do when reading this verse and others like is to think “Oh, Solomon is talking specifically about a monarchy so this must not apply to me.” That’s not the case here. Whether it is a king, an elected official, boss or parent, we all have authorities over us that we are to submit to and at times God’s word speaks of these other authorities. So the greater application to be made here is that we are to submit to and keep the commands of earthly authorities.
Now here’s the problem. The problem is we don’t like authority do we? I mean we are taught from a young age to challenge authority and as a result of this sort of influence, our kids and many of us have little respect for those in positions of power.
Like I said earlier, we view words like, “Submission and authority” as bad words in our society. Solomon says we need to learn to submit and be committed to our authorities because being under authority is not just a good thing—it’s a God thing. Did you know that God demonstrates this for us with the way He relates to Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? We see within the very relationship of the trinity both authority and submission.
You have the Father who sends the Son to earth and the Son comes to earth and is led by the Spirit and comes to fulfill the will of the Father. Then you have the Spirit who follows who comes to do the will of Christ and points to Christ and then you have the Father who gives the Son the name that is above all names. You see authority and submission within God Himself—within the Trinity.
So to be under authority goes beyond just being a good thing—it’s a God thing. Whether it be in politics, in education, in the workplace or in the home, the authorities that are over us are God-ordained. This is the way God has structured our world and these authorities should be followed. God’s word is clear that we should humbly submit ourselves to and obey earthly authorities because that is what is pleasing to Him.
DON’T REBEL AGAINST EARTHLY AUTHORITIES
3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.
This verse speaks so clearly to us today because often times when someone in charge doesn’t do something we like—when we don’t get our way our solution is simple; “I quit.” This is often our attitude when it comes to authority. I have known people to walk out on a job because they didn’t get the day off they requested, walk out of a marriage over petty differences, or leave a church over carpet color. I mean we see this all the time in our world don’t we? It’s so easy for us to just check out when things don’t go our way; that’s easy. True greatness, however, is staying, being committed and seeing it through.
Solomon goes on to say, “Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.” Once again what Solomon is saying here is so true to life. Often times, when People have an issue with authority and cut out, rarely do they go quietly.
Instead, they take a stand in their evil cause—they stir things up and make matters worse. If our leaders are appointed by God and God’s word is clear that we are to submit to their authority, how much worse is it for us to not just oppose their authority, but to also stir up others to rise in opposition?
Solomon says, “If you want to honor God, don’t be opposed to authority—don’t be quick to cut out on or rise up against someone who is over you because of petty differences. Instead, humbly submit to earthly authorities.”
HAVE THE PROPER RESPECT FOR EARTHLY AUTHORITIES
4 For the word of the king is supreme and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”
Another reason we have difficulty with authority is because many of us trust and think higher of ourselves than anyone else. We have our own ways of doing things and we think that our way is the right way. In v. 4, Solomon is warning us about questioning and refusing to go along with those who are in positions of leadership and authority because we think our way is the best. He wants us to realize that people in positions of leadership are there for a reason, which is why he says, “The word of the king is supreme.”
Now some of you may be thinking, “OK, I admit I have issues with earthly authorities. I have trust issues, I am always questioning authority. I don’t easily submit to and at times have even rebelled against earthly authority. But that’s earthly authority—that’s man. Man is fallen and sinful and that’s why it’s hard for me to trust in man. But when it comes to God, that’s different—I trust in and submit to God’s authority.”
Understand this because this is so important. The way we deal with earthly authorities is almost always the way we are going to deal with God. If you can’t go along with and obey earthly authorities—if you cannot humbly submit to those who are over you—to those earthly authorities who are visible and tangible, how in the world are you going to obey an invisible authority whom you have never seen? How are you then going to submit to Him?
We think on the one hand we can treat all earthly authorities terribly and on the other be humbled in the presence of God and submit to His authority, but it just doesn’t work that way. We need to take a close look at the way we view earthly authorities because chances are if we have issues with earthly authorities we are going to have issues with divine authority.
OBEY THE COMMANDS OF EARTHLY AUTHORITIES
5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing,
Now does Solomon mean here that if we obey earthly authorities we will never experience trouble? No. Once again Solomon is being poetic using hyperbole. He is not making a guarantee that if you always obey you will never have difficulty. He is simply making the point that obedience to authority brings about better results in life. Think this through with me. If you obey the laws of the land and follow procedure at work etc.—if you haven’t cut corners then you got nothing to worry about. You can live your life with a clear conscience instead of being concerned about all the consequences that will come upon you if you are caught cutting corners.
KNOW THE PROPER TIME TO OPPOSE EARTHLY AUTHORITIES (5b-6)
After hearing the above points, many of you are probably thinking to yourselves, “I know we are to obey earthly authorities, we are to humbly submit to them, and are not to rise up in opposition against them, but are there exceptions? Look at the second half of v. 5 through v. 6. Solomon says,
And the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.
In the first part of v. 5 Solomon calls for us to obey the commands of earthly authorities. Here, however, in the second part of that verse he explains the fact that a wise person will know the proper time and the right way to go against authority.
In fact, the Bible is filled with stories showing these exceptions. One is found in in Daniel 3. In this chapter you have the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who are followers of the one true God who get themselves into some trouble when they deliberately disobey a direct order from the king.
In the story, we are told that King Nebuchadnezzar makes an image of gold and commands all the people when they hear the music to fall down and worship the golden image and if they don’t, they are told they will be thrown into the fiery furnace. Well the music sounds and three men remain standing—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Why do they disobey the king? Haven’t we been talking about the fact that we are to obey earthly authorities? Were these three being disobedient toward God by going against the king?
The answer of course is no and the reason why is because they rightly realized that there is a chain of command and God is at the top of that chain of command and God’s command is clear. He says, “You are to have no other God’s before me.” So, when man’s authority goes against God’s authority, Scripture says we are to go with God’s authority. That’s the exception.
So there are exceptions. Do we oppose authorities when they tell us to not speak for Christ and share His gospel? Absolutely. Do we reject authority when it says to worship another God? Absolutely. If authority calls for us to compromise ourselves morally and biblically by all means reject that kind of authority, but for the most part we are to obey earthly authorities.
UNDERSTAND THE LIMITS OF EARTHLY AUTHORITIES (7-8)
Though there are some who we have talked about already who care very little for earthly authorities, there are also many others who put too much stock into earthly authorities. For those in this boat, Solomon has a word for you in vv. 7-8. He says,
7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.
Many think that the future of our world is in our hands. They think, “If that guy gets elected the world is coming to an end and if someone else gets elected it’s the answer to all our problems.” Many also believe that the future of our world is contingent upon what happens in a ballet box. Now don’t get me wrong, voting is our duty and as Americans committed to the democratic process we should vote. But we should not put so much stock into our civic duty that we lose our eternal perspective.
Solomon tells us here in these two verses that though earthly authorities are significant—though they are God-ordained—though the decisions they make can affect us, personally, nationally and globally; Earthly authorities have their shortcomings.
Solomon says that not even the most powerful of earthly authorities knows what is going to happen in the days ahead. No earthly authority ultimately has the power over our death. Not one of them can completely restrain evil, and all of them without exception will be subject to a greater judgment by the one true heavenly authority—the Lord God.
Though we should have a respect for, humbly submit to, and not rise in opposition against earthly authorities, more importantly we should be subservient to our heavenly authority. Solomon reminds us in these verses that it is God who is all powerful—God who is sovereign. He is the one we should ultimately follow because he is the one in control of the world around us.
