Comentarios bíblicos

Ec 8:1-17.

1. Praise of true wisdom continued

(Ec 7:11,

&c.). "Who" is to be accounted "equal to the wise man? . . . Who (like him) knoweth the interpretation" of God's providences (for example,

Ec 7:8, 13, 14),

and God's word (for example, see on

Ec 7:29;

Pr 1:6)?

face to shine--

(Ec 7:14; Ac 6:15).

A sunny countenance, the reflection of a tranquil conscience and serene mind. Communion with God gives it

(Ex 34:29, 30).

boldness--austerity.

changed--into a benign expression by true wisdom (religion)

(Jas 3:17).

MAURER translates, "The shining (brightness) of his face is doubled," arguing that the Hebrew noun for "boldness" is never used in a bad sense

(Pr 4:18).

Or as Margin, "strength"

(Ec 7:19; Isa 40:31; 2Co 3:18).

But the adjective is used in a bad sense

(De 28:50).

2. the king's--Jehovah, peculiarly the king of Israel in the theocracy;

Ec 8:3, 4,

prove it is not the earthly king who is meant.

the oath of God--the covenant which God made with Abraham and renewed with David; Solomon remembered

Ps 89:35,

"I have sworn," &c.

(Ps 89:36),

and the penalties if David's children should forsake it

(Ps 89:30-32);

inflicted on Solomon himself; yet God not "utterly" forsaking him

(Ps 89:33, 34).

3. hasty--rather, "Be not terror-struck so as to go out of His sight." Slavishly "terror-struck" is characteristic of the sinner's feeling toward God; he vainly tries to flee out of His sight

(Ps 139:7);

opposed to the "shining face" of filial confidence

(Ec 8:1; Joh 8:33-36; Ro 8:2; 1Jo 4:18).

stand not--persist not.

for he doeth--God inflicts what punishment He pleases on persisting sinners

(Job 23:13; Ps 115:3).

True of none save God.

4. God's very "word" is "power." So the gospel word

(Ro 1:16; Heb 4:12).

who may say, &c.--

(Job 9:12; 33:13; Isa 45:9; Da 4:35).

Scripture does not ascribe such arbitrary power to earthly kings.

5. feel--experience.

time--the neglect of the right "times" causes much of the sinful folly of the spiritually unwise

(Ec 3:1-11).

judgment--the right manner [HOLDEN]. But as God's future "judgment" is connected with the "time for every purpose" in

Ec 3:17,

so it is here. The punishment of persisting sinners

(Ec 8:3)

suggests it. The wise man realizes the fact, that as there is a fit "time" for every purpose, so for the "judgment." This thought cheers him in adversity

(Ec 7:14; 8:1).

6. therefore the misery, &c.--because the foolish sinner does not think of the right "times" and the "judgment."

7. he--the sinner, by neglecting times (for example, "the accepted time, and the day of salvation,

2Co 6:2),

is taken by surprise by the judgment

(Ec 3:22; 6:12; 9:12).

The godly wise observe the due times of things

(Ec 3:1),

and so, looking for the judgment, are not taken by surprise, though not knowing the precise "when"

(1Th 5:2-4);

they "know the time" to all saving purposes

(Ro 13:11).

8. spirit--"breath of life"

(Ec 3:19),

as the words following require. Not "wind," as WEISS thinks

(Pr 30:4).

This verse naturally follows the subject of "times" and "judgment"

(Ec 8:6, 7).

discharge--alluding to the liability to military service of all above twenty years old

(Nu 1:3),

yet many were exempted

(De 20:5-8).

But in that war (death) there is no exemption.

those . . . given to--literally, the master of it. Wickedness can get money for the sinner, but cannot deliver him from the death, temporal and eternal, which is its penalty

(Isa 28:15, 18).