Feast: Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty-Two): Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
#FT24-01PM
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Given 17-Oct-24; 83 minutes
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The Megillah Ecclesiastes was designed to be read during the Feast of Tabernacles, emphasizing a state of temporariness, as ancient Israel and the Israel of God were commanded to live in booths or temporary quarters, giving instructions as to how one is to live under the sun, but learning lessons as to how one should also live in permanent dwellings as resurrected saints over the sun. We are to keep busy with continuous joy, taking pleasure in our labor, family, food, and drink. Ecclesiastes certainly is a book that needs to be explained, especially to the degree we are to submit to authority, including leaders who are fools and abusers of their clientele, something the children of Jacob have had to endure right up to this day. Even though living by wisdom does not always have rewards, deference to authority has always been the best policy to avoid conflict. If, however, the government authority commands us to disobey God, we are not to obey such a law. If such a leader commands us to do something we know to be stupid, but not necessarily against God's law, we should submit. We are to defer unless it crosses the line. The best way not to be crushed is to defer, patiently waiting until God overturns the evil governments which currently rule this earth, when we as God's resurrected saints will have absolute power. But in the meantime, we have no control over what other people will think or do, we have no control over our pending death, we cannot stop nations going to war with each other, and we cannot evade the wages of sin. While living under the sun, deference and submission appear the wisest courses of action we can take until the return of Christ.