Chapter 8

1 Kings are greatly to be respected. 6 The divine providence is to be observed. 12 It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity. 16 The work of God is unsearchable.

1. Who is as the wise man? Several ancient versions read, “Who then is wise?”

The wise man. Wisdom, Solomon affirms, is superior to all other possessions.

Who knoweth? The truly wise man will know how to interpret the experiences of life. Daniel was a noble example of this (Dan. 5:10–29). The apostles Paul (1 Cor. 2:15) and John (1 John 2:27) stress the same truth. The Aramaic form of the word translated “interpretation” is found 31 times in the book of Daniel.

Face to shine. Inward serenity and wisdom are reflected in the face of one who is truly wise (see Job 29:24; cf. Num. 6:25; Ps. 4:6).

Boldness. Heb. Фoz, commonly translated “strength.” Here the word probably means “hardness,” in description of a face that lacks gentleness, culture, and the finer virtues.

Changed. The grace of God transforming the heart will be reflected in the face by an expression of serene joy.

2. Counsel thee. Thee words are supplied by the translators. Most ancient versions translate “to keep the king’s commandment” as an imperative, “Keep the king’s command,” which seems more in harmony with the context as well as with the structure of the sentence.

Commandment. Literally, “mouth,” and thus, figuratively, of spoken and written commands. This usage is common in the OT (Ex. 17:1; 38:21; Num. 3:39; 10:13; etc.).

Oath of God. The king was regarded as the Lord’s anointed, appointed by Him to rule. The “oath” refers to one of obedience to the king, uttered in the name of God (see 2 Chron. 36:13; Eze. 17:13–19). Compare the teaching of Paul with respect to the conscience (Rom. 13:5).

3. Hasty to go out. Literally, “Be not hasty from his presence going forth.” The king was all-powerful; therefore one should not withdraw allegiance from him hastily, nor forsake his service. The monarch’s absolute power often caused him to be dictatorial and unreasonable, and his servants must therefore remain calm and self-possessed.

Whatsoever pleaseth him. The king’s servant may be in the right, but the king’s power is supreme. It is therefore the part of wisdom not to oppose him unnecessarily.

4. What doest thou? The same expression is used in regard to God in Job 9:12; Isa. 45:9; cf. Job 34:18; Dan. 4:32.

5. Commandment. See on v. 2. The term here is the one usually used of God’s commandments, whereas in v. 2 it is from the Hebrew word for “mouth” (see on v. 2).

Feel no evil thing. Literally, “not shall know [that is, experience any] evil thing.” Intelligent submission to the law of the land, and the law of God, is requisite to peace and security, both here and hereafter (see GC 584, 585).

Time and judgment. The wise man’s “heart,” that is, his mind, discerns the right time to speak and the right time to remain silent. The wise man knows and follows right methods and correct procedures. He recognizes opportunities and seizes upon them as they arise.

6. Purpose. The verb root of the Hebrew word thus translated means “to delight in,” and is so used more than 60 times. The noun means “delight,” “desire,” “pleasure,” and appears thus in over 40 instances. The meaning here is that there is a right time and procedure for everything that is desirable.

Misery. Preferably “evil” or “trouble.” Each undertaking calls for thoughtful planning and appropriate methods, lest it miscarry and accordingly bring trouble rather than blessing.

7. When. It is one of man’s weaknesses, and the cause of no small part of his anxiety, that he cannot foretell what may befall him and when it may happen (see Isa. 47:13).

8. Retain the spirit. Life may be cut off at any moment (Job 21:17, 18; 34:14, 15).

Discharge. Or, “exemption.” As mercenaries could not secure a discharge from their duties during time of combat, neither can man avoid death when it comes.

9. This have I seen. Solomon had a variety of experiences in life, and learned much by observation.

Hurt. Some men “hurt” others, some bring injury to themselves. In the final analysis the one who hurts his neighbor destroys himself.

10. I saw. See Job 21:30–32. Some wicked men are buried with great honors (2 Chron. 16:13, 14; cf. Jer. 22:18, 19).

Place of the holy. Rather, “the holy place,” that is, of the sanctuary (see Lev. 7:6). Some men, unconverted and evil, attend church, conform to the outward requirements of church membership, and at death are accorded expensive church funerals. This has been true of royalty in many instances.

Forgotten. Many ancient Hebrew MSS, together with numerous ancient versions, read “praised,” which accords better with the context.

The city. Probably Jerusalem.

Had so done. That is, had ruled over others to their own hurt (v. 9), had lived ungodly lives, and had enjoyed the “praise” of their subordinates. After death, their names passed into oblivion.

11. Sentence. Heb. pithgam, “edict,” “decree,” from an old Persian root. It is translated in Esther 1:20 as “decree”; and appears in the Aramaic of Ezra and Daniel, variously translated as “answer,” “letter,” “word,” and “matter.” The thought here is of divine judgment.

Speedily. The same mistaken idea held by wicked men, that they will not have to account for their deeds, appears in Ps. 10:6; 50:21 (see Isa. 26:10; 2 Peter 3:4).

Fully set. Compare Ps. 73:8–11 and the words of Christ regarding the heart of man (Matt. 15:17–20).

12. An hundred times. The sinner often does wrong and seems to escape paying any penalty for his misdeeds (see Prov. 17:10).

Prolonged. “Days” is a supplied word. Some feel resentful because of a seeming delay in the judgment of the wicked (Mal. 2:17). Nevertheless, in God’s own time judgment will be meted out (see Isa. 3:11; Matt. 16:27; Rev. 20:11–15).

It shall be well. All will finally be well with those who fear God (Ps. 37:11; Isa. 3:10; Mal. 3:16).

13. Not be well. Compare Job 20:4–9; 22:15, 16.

Shadow. See the teaching of psalmist (Ps. 102:11; 109:23; 144:4).

14. Vanity. Despite Solomon’s conviction stated in vs. 12 and 13, he nonetheless feels distressed because of certain perplexing paradoxes.

Just men. The Hebrew term thus rendered suggests men who practice righteousness. Job faced the same problem (Job 9:22; cf. Eccl. 9:2, 3; Eze. 21:3, 4).

Wicked men. Compare Job 21:7; Ps. 73:3; Jer. 12:1. The inequalities of the present life should not be allowed to weaken one’s faith in God’s ways of dealing. In the eternal world all wrongs will be made right.

15. Mirth. That is, living for pleasure. This suggests the eclipse of Solomon’s faith by a materialistic point of view.

Eat. The activities here listed are not wrong in themselves. God gave man the capacity to eat, drink, and enjoy the good things life has to offer. Solomon’s meaning here, however, is that inasmuch as self-control and denial of appetite had apparently brought no reward, he had, at one time, concluded that it is better to live to satisfy the senses, to extract everything possible from the material things of life.

Merry. Heb. sЊamach, “to be glad,” “to rejoice.”

Shall abide. Solomon continues his description of the feelings that once overwhelmed him.

16.Heart. That is, “mind.”

Business. The same Hebrew word is translated “travail” in chs. 1:13; 2:23, 26; 3:10; 4:8; 5:14, and again as “business” in ch. 5:3. Solomon refers to man’s incessant round of arduous toil.

Sleep. Men often work long hours, but labor was designed as a blessing (see on Gen. 3:19). Too often man in his fallen state fails to use leisure time wisely. Man’s daily toil is disciplinary and builds character. But after a day of toil, rest is sweet (Prov. 3:21–24; cf. Jer. 31:23–26).

17. The work of God. That is, God’s eternal purpose and His dealings with men (see Rom. 11:33–36; cf. Job 11:7, 8).

A wise man. Man is privileged to study God’s created works, and His revealed Word; but he must beware of being “wise in his own conceit” (Prov. 26:5) and of thinking himself able to comprehend the depths of divinity (see Job 11:7). Man’s correct attitude toward God is disclosed in the apostle John’s picture of the redeemed (Rev. 15:3, 4).

Ellen G. White comments

11  CH 109; CS 314; GC 286; PP 124; Te 45; 3T 72; 5T 208, 523

11–13PK 78; 2T 448

12, 13  GC 286, 540