The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ecclesiastes 7:15,
"In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness."
Here is a theme that is seen from time to time in the Scriptures. On the one hand we read what Solomon had to say in Proverbs 15:24, "The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave." Yet, in Ecclesiastes he speaks of the righteous man perishing in his righteousness and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. Asaph made similar observations, "I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills." Psalm 73:3-5.
Asaph goes on to say that when he observed this in life, it was "oppressive" to him. It perplexed and vexed him. But when he drew near to God in worship he understood something he had no way of seeing otherwise. He says, "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies."
What isn't observed "under the sun", that which Solomon made note of, is resolved in the next life. The wicked face the day of judgment while the righteous are rewarded. God's justice will be satisfied, completely and fully. Observing this, Solomon's father, David, says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace." Psalm 37:7-11.
God is just and the righteous will be blessed. The wicked will suffer. Maybe not in "life under the sun", but judgment day is coming. This could not have been demonstrated more forcefully than the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. The only way there will be any "righteous" that will escape God's justice in the resurrection is through faith in Jesus Christ. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. For any of us to be found righteous in the resurrection, payment had to be made for sins committed. Our loving Lord did just that!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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