Ecclesiastes 8:1 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Ecclesiastes 8:1

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‘Who is as the wise man?’ He opens with this question, a very simple question, and with it he begins to urge us to seek wisdom. Here first, is the wise man with all his advantages. By the wise man he means not only one who has knowledge, but who has understanding of what he knows, who can apply that knowledge. The wise man has insight into life that gives great happiness; he has strength and firm views; he understands the meaning of life, human nature, and how to know God. He can control himself and can give help to others. Is wisdom just being smart, and knowing how to get by; is it simply being shrewd? No, it is knowing life, understanding human ways and how things will turn out because we have insight into life given us by the Lord. Solomon starts with someone profound, and then turns to us. ‘What about you?’ he says, ‘Are you not profound?’ Wisdom transforms even the appearance of a man, for what is in the heart must to some extent show in the face (Proverbs 16:15; Acts 6:15). In his heart he looks upon wonders and glories that others cannot see, but they catch a reflection of that glory in the face of the man. In the case of Moses this happened literally, but for Christians wisdom shows in cheerfulness, in joy, in gentleness, in sympathy, in contentment. What wisdom does to the face is wonderful for it has a beauty of its own that is greater even than natural beauty. The boldness of a man’s face or countenance is altered. This shows itself by an appropriate response to so many situations which arise or things that are said. If others suffer, there is compassion in the face; if evil shows itself, there is disapproval, if there is weakness, the face shows a protective and kindly disposition. Certain things are absent from the face: impatience, scorn, haughtiness, arrogance, all of which it is easy to read in the features of the one who lacks wisdom. His wisdom is consulted in every thought that he thinks and his every action.

Application

Are we fools or are we wise? Of course, there are experts, leaders in their narrow area, teachers, acknowledged by all, but they are wise only in their limited field. Some maybe have wisdom in the market. Can any say that as far as life in general is concerned, they are wise? Can they live skilfully? Who knows about life; how we came to be here? Such a one is a deep person – understands human nature, its weaknesses. Can any say, we understand life, its purpose; we know where we are going and why we are here? It is humbling to think about this, for by nature there is no such thing as the sage. If we close the Bible, we stumble and our best plans go wrong. We don’t know human nature. Who can control themselves? Who sees through all the phony aspects of life, all the nonsense that the world around us is feeding us? In the 1960s many campaigned for the permissive society, and some have to admit now that they had no idea what they were letting themselves in for. Who can help others, and give a word of encouragement when others are facing the deep issues of life? Not just something condescending or trite, but something solid which others can trust in. Few have anything to offer to those facing death. They would rather change the subject or engage in make-believe, and yet if only we were students of this book as we would have furnished our souls with deep counsel for ourselves and others. As soon as you get hold of this teaching from the Bible, you know where you stand. But tragedy is we don’t want that, in fact we run a mile from it. That possibility actually alarms us.

Do you have wisdom? Have you made it your highest priority to get it, or is it far down your list? Do you understand that wisdom brings life, now and in eternity? No, you say, I value what I can see has value right now. I value a university education; I value business skill to go and make money; I value knowing about good food, choice wines; I value knowing what is in the fashions this year; I value good looks and physical strength, but wisdom is not something I am interested in.

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Ecclesiastes 8:1 Commentary and Bible Study