Politics and Power
Ecclesiastes 8:2–9
2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a person may be weighed down by misery.
7 Since no one knows the future,
who can tell someone else what is to come?
8 As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
so no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
9 All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt.
2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a person may be weighed down by misery.
7 Since no one knows the future,
who can tell someone else what is to come?
8 As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
so no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
9 All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt.
The Teacher has several references about rulers in his book. In today’s passage, and later in 9:13–10:20, he gives extended thought about those who rule over us. If there is an area where we need much greater wisdom, it is in the areas of politics, governance, leadership, and citizenship. Right now, as you listen to what many followers of Jesus say on these matters, there is a good deal of misconception, distorted thinking, and what the Teacher describes as foolishness. It is a crucial time, and we need a strong infusion of wisdom.
In this passage, the Teacher is primarily speaking to those who are in places and positions around the king. In the majority of places and through most of history, power has been concentrated in a monarch. That power has usually been absolute power. Democracy is rare and recent and, by the way, in a great deal of trouble.
But the context of these verses is for those advisors and officials who are near to the absolute monarch and how they need a good deal of common sense in responding to one in absolute power. Notice the reality that power can corrupt, and absolute power can corrupt absolutely and do a great deal of evil. Through history we refer to bad rulers as dictators and tyrants. Recent and current history has them as well.
One of the most important existential (great and vital) questions is about power. What is power? What is the purpose of power? What are the dangers of power? What are the guards against the misuse and abuse of power? How does the Bible describe “true power”? How do leaders use power and authority in the right way? Above all, how does Jesus redeem power and authority? Then, how do followers of Jesus exercise power in the way of Jesus?
Here is an Old Testament passage (Deuteronomy 17:14-20) and a New Testament passage (Matthew 20:20-28) to help you answer those questions and begin to find wisdom. The Teacher gets us started and these passages will take you much further into greater wisdom.
In this passage, the Teacher is primarily speaking to those who are in places and positions around the king. In the majority of places and through most of history, power has been concentrated in a monarch. That power has usually been absolute power. Democracy is rare and recent and, by the way, in a great deal of trouble.
But the context of these verses is for those advisors and officials who are near to the absolute monarch and how they need a good deal of common sense in responding to one in absolute power. Notice the reality that power can corrupt, and absolute power can corrupt absolutely and do a great deal of evil. Through history we refer to bad rulers as dictators and tyrants. Recent and current history has them as well.
One of the most important existential (great and vital) questions is about power. What is power? What is the purpose of power? What are the dangers of power? What are the guards against the misuse and abuse of power? How does the Bible describe “true power”? How do leaders use power and authority in the right way? Above all, how does Jesus redeem power and authority? Then, how do followers of Jesus exercise power in the way of Jesus?
Here is an Old Testament passage (Deuteronomy 17:14-20) and a New Testament passage (Matthew 20:20-28) to help you answer those questions and begin to find wisdom. The Teacher gets us started and these passages will take you much further into greater wisdom.