Keep the King's Command

 Ecclesiastic 8:1-9

 

Keep the King's Command

Who is like the wise?  And who knows the interpretation of a thing?  A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.   Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.   For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”   Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.  For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.   For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?   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.   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.

Who is like the wise?  That is a great question, and God has given us a clear understanding of Proverbs 1:1-7 on that subject.  “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:  For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings; for receiving wise instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man— a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance—for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.”  Anyone who has no fear of God is not wise, no matter what their status is in this life.

 

A wise person shows respect for authority and has the discernment to know when the time is right to approach the king or leader.  Did you also notice, the wise person has been given a task by God to mentor the young person?  First, the man must teach and instruct his family, and then a man is to pour his life into younger men.

 

A wise man is a listener, and he always is learning from those he encounters.  There is no greater authority than God, and a wise person will learn to wait for His direction and leadership.  He has told us to study to show ourselves a workman that needed not be afraid.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice