Wednesday (No, this really is Thursday)

Symbol of Power

I am going to talk about last night, not this morning’s readings. Pastor covered Ecclesiastes chapter 5. My biggest problem is, there are several topics that are more than worth time spent with them. One, though, ended up with the note: “For tomorrow’s blog.”

If thou seest the oppression of the poor,
and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province,
marvel not at the matter:
for he that is higher than the highest regardeth;
and there be higher than they. (Ecclesiastes 5:8 KJV)

Matthew Henry describes:  “A melancholy sight on earth, and such as cannot but trouble every good man that has a sense of justice and a concern for mankind, to see the oppression of the poor because they are poor and cannot defend themselves, and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, oppression under colour of law and backed with power. “

It happens today. We see it in headlines from around the world as well as our own country. Oppressive injustice slaps us in the face with the death of innocents. We are helpless, but we’re told not to marvel at the matter. What are we to do?

We are to remember that there is no one higher than God. We are told here that He, higher than the highest, knows all about what is happening. More than that, He is higher than they. I would not want to be the one who answered to Him, without the salvation He provides.

Think of the example that means the worst to you – I could give a selection list that boggles our minds, but you have your own – and imagine being the defense attorney. Is there any defense? That would stand up before our Creator? The One who laid out commandments that are summed up:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

Stand before Him and say, “It was a mistake.”  For that, let’s go back a few verses:

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? (Ecclesiastes 5:6 KJV)

The subject of this verse is keeping vows. Men in authority – those in a position to oppress or for injustice – make vows. From police officers to presidents, inn keepers to kings, authorities make promises. [I]t was an error.

Was it? Enough for an explanation to God?  Careful, we all have some authority. We’ve all made vows, some openly stated before God.  Where do we stand in our own lives?