Day #20: Life is Enigmatic

Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma. When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil. Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people—for they stand in fear before him. But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God. Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said, “This also is an enigma.” (Ec 8:10-14)

Solomon's sense of justice is violated when the wicked get what the righteous deserve and vice versa.  We all feel this dissonance about life in a fallen world.  Since mankind can understand the concept of retribution, it seems that our Creator would run the world this way.  And for the most part He does.  Solomon asserts that generally it will go well with the God-fearing, and not so well with the wicked.  And the long life the wicked have will be like a shadow.  So, generally the law of sowing and reaping still applies.  But SOMETIMES the wicked get what the righteous deserve, and the righteous get what the wicked deserve. 

 

In his role of king and ultimate judge over Israel, Solomon was able to render fair and equitable justice.  The case of the two women arguing over the one child is a famous example (1 Kin 3:16-28).  But Solomon had seen unfair treatment up close. Solomon's mother, Bathsheba, lost her first husband due to a serious injustice. Solomon's father, David, committed adultery with Bathsheba and covered it up by having Uriah the Hittite killed in battle.  Uriah was an honorable soldier, and David ordered him back from the battle to hide David’s sin.  A child had been conceived through the adulterous relationship, and David was hoping if Uriah returned to spend the night with his wife, it could cover it up.  Uriah was too honorable to sleep with Bathsheba while his men were fighting and dying, so he slept out in the courtyard.  As a result, David put Uriah on the front lines, and had the army retreat, which left him exposed.  He died in battle (2 Sam 11:3f, 15-17, 12:9,10).  Solomon would know this story. Uriah did not get what he deserved, and neither did David.

 

We never know for certain what the Lord has in mind for any person at any given time.   He is all wise and all powerful.  We can never fully comprehend His will.

 

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen. (Ro 11:33-36)

 

In Ecclesiastes 8:14, the word often translated "futile " means “enigmatic,” that is, difficult to grasp mentally. This sense is derived from the literal concept of breath, vapor, wind that cannot be seen; thus, the idea of “obscure, dark, difficult to understand, enigmatic”.  Life certainly is an enigma.

 

Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).

 

Questions to consider:

1.       In your life, what have been some of the things that have been hardest to understand?

2.       How have you been able to make sense of them?


Read on to Day #21

 

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