The document discusses the theme of submission to authority and the importance of wisdom as outlined in Ecclesiastes 8. It emphasizes obeying human authorities due to the advantages it brings and reflects on the puzzling nature of justice in society, where often the wrong individuals are punished. Ultimately, it encourages enjoying life while humbly submitting to both God and earthly authorities, acknowledging human limitations in understanding God's reasons.

1. Dr. Rick Griffith, Crossroads International Church
www.biblestudydownloads.com
Ecclesiastes 8
Submission & Joy

2. Pulpit Freedom Sunday

3. Pulpit Freedom Sunday

4. Pulpit Freedom Sunday

5. Pulpit Freedom Sunday

6. Pulpit Freedom Sunday

7. To what extent should we obey
the government?

8. How should we respond to
authority
—to both God and man?

9. Main Idea of 7:15-29
Wisdom is
balanced,
strong,
and
insightful.

10. "Wise" and "wisdom" occur over
30 times in Ecclesiastes 7–12

11. I. Obey authorities due to the
many advantages (8:1-9).

12. "How wonderful
to be wise, to
analyze and
interpret things.
Wisdom lights
up a person's
face, softening
its harshness"
(7:1 NLT).

13. Varied Expressions

14. Wisdom
normally
informs
your face.
Pastor Alan Wright

15. Show me what a wisdom countenance
looks like!

16. The wise see advantages to submit to
human authorities (8:2-9).

17. "Obey the king since you vowed to God
that you would" (8:2 NLT).

18. "Don't try to avoid doing your duty, and
don't stand with those who plot evil, for
the king can do whatever he wants. 4His
command is backed by great power. No
one can resist or question it" (8:3-4
NLT).

19. Submit to authorities because
disobedience has consequences (8:5-9).

20. "Those who obey him will not be
punished. Those who are wise will find a
time and a way to do what is right"
(8:5 NLT).

21. "for there is a time and a way for
everything, even when a person is in
trouble. 7Indeed, how can people avoid
what they don't know is going to
happen?" (8:6-7 NLT).

22. "None of us can hold back our spirit
from departing. None of us has the
power to prevent the day of our death.
There is no escaping that obligation,
that dark battle. And in the face of death,
wickedness will certainly not rescue the
wicked" (8:8 NLT).

23. "I have thought deeply about all that
goes on here under the sun, where
people have the power to hurt each
other" (8:9 NLT).

24. I. Obey authorities due to the
many advantages (8:1-9).

25. II. We punish the wrong people
—so it puzzles us (8:10-14).

26. Who do we punish?
We don't
punish bad
people
(8:10-13).

27. "I have seen wicked people buried with
honor. Yet they were the very ones who
frequented the Temple and are now
praised in the same city where they
committed their crimes! This, too, is
meaningless" (8:10 NLT).

28. "When a crime is not punished quickly,
people feel it is safe to do wrong"
(8:11 NLT).

29. "But even though a
person sins a hundred
times and still lives a
long time, I know that
those who fear God will
be better off. 13The
wicked will not prosper,
for they do not fear God.
Their days will never
grow long like the
evening shadows"
(8:12-13 NLT).

30. Who do we punish?
We don't
punish bad
people
(8:10-13).
We punish
good people
instead
(8:14).

31. "And this is not all that is meaningless
in our world. In this life, good people are
often treated as though they were
wicked, and wicked people are often
treated as though they were good. This
is so meaningless!" (8:14 NLT).

32. I. Obey authorities due to the
many advantages (8:1-9).

33. II. We punish the wrong people
—so it puzzles us (8:10-14).

34. III. Enjoy life and submit to God
even though He won't tell us His
reasons (8:15-17).

35. Should life all be hard work?

36. "So I recommend having fun, because
there is nothing better for people in this
world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life."
"That way they
will experience
some happiness
along with all the
hard work God
gives them
under the sun"
(8:14 NLT).

37. Was Solomon an Epicurean?
"Eat, drink, and be merry"
"…for tomorrow we die" —Epicurus

38. life, and forsake your
vain and presumptuous
desire for a second one"
(Richard Dawkins).

39. Kids teach
us much
about
enjoying life.

40. Great Advice
LIVE
WELL
LAUGH
OFTEN
LOVE
MUCH

41. Joy Johnson, 86
She wanted to die running. She did—
just after crossing the finish line.

42. Submit to God even though you
don't know His ways (8:16-17).

43. "In my search for
wisdom and in my
observation of
people's burdens
here on earth, I
discovered that
there is ceaseless
activity, day and
night" (8:16 NLT).
THE INTERNET
Just one more click before you go to sleep

44. Scientists =
“Happy Workaholics”?

45. "I realized that no
one can discover
everything God is
doing under the
sun. Not even the
wisest people
discover
everything, no
matter what they
claim" (8:17 NLT).

46. How should we respond to
authority
—to both God and man?

47. Humbly submit to man and
God—and you'll get joy!
Main Idea

48. Where do you need to…
• Submit to authority?
• Recognize your limited
understanding?

50. OT Sermons link at biblestudydownloads.com
Get this presentation for free!