Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8
This chapter begins with praise of the wise, but what is that wisdom worth that can give no peace to the guilty conscience; that cannot soothe the sorrowing heart? It is the part of wisdom, nevertheless, to obey the authorities, to persist not in an evil thing (verses 2-4).
Yet, (verse 6) the misery of man is great upon him, slave of his own habits and of Satan. Unwilling to yield to God, be clings to his own thoughts and ways. He knows that life is uncertain; he cannot avert death when it comes, for there is no discharge in that war (verse 8). "It is appointed unto men once to die," as says Hebrews 9:27,27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27) and after this, judgment.
Verses 11 to 13 are rays of divine light amid the general gloom of Ecclesiastes. The heart of man is corrupt before God; he persists in evil ways, comforting himself with the thought that because God has not yet begun to punish the guilty, he may escape punishment altogether. But though God may allow a sinner to do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet "I know (says the Preacher) that it shall be well with them that fear God .... but it shall not be well with the wicked." (Read Revelation 21:6-86And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:6‑8).)
Verse 14 speaks of a thing that has troubled many. The world, as it has been said, is out of joint, for the righteous often suffer and the guilty often escape punishment here. Man's reaction to this is (verse 15) "eat, drink and be merry," but the believer refuses such a course; he knows that God will in due time set things in order in the world, and he is content to await His time.
Wisdom of the sort that leaves God out, as the Preacher found when he applied his heart to know it (verses 16-17), reveals nothing regarding the mystery of life and death.