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본문의 중심내용

전도자는 의인이 대접을 못 받고 악인이 처벌을 안 받는 세상을 보면서 탄식합니다. 그래서 그는 오늘 잘 누리는 것이 더 나은 삶이라고 합니다. 

[ 전도서 8:9 - 8:17 ] (찬송429장)

전도자의 기대와 다르게 돌아가는 모순된 현실 

9내가 이 모든 것들을 보고 해 아래에서 행하는 모든 일을 마음에 두고 살핀즉 사람이 사람을 주장하여 해롭게 하는 때가 있도다 10그런 후에 내가 본즉 악인들은 장사지낸 바 되어 거룩한 곳을 떠나 그들이 그렇게 행한 성읍 안에서 잊어버린 바 되었으니 이것도 헛되도다 11악한 일에 관한 징벌이 속히 실행되지 아니하므로 인생들이 악을 행하는 데에 마음이 담대하도다 12죄인은 백 번이나 악을 행하고도 장수하거니와 또한 내가 아노니 하나님을 경외하여 그를 경외하는 자들은 잘 될 것이요 13악인은 잘 되지 못하며 장수하지 못하고 그 날이 그림자와 같으리니 이는 하나님을 경외하지 아니함이니라

 모순된 현실에 대한 전도자의 대답 

 14세상에서 행해지는 헛된 일이 있나니 곧 악인들의 행위에 따라 벌을 받는 의인들도 있고 의인들의 행위에 따라 상을 받는 악인들도 있다는 것이라 내가 이르노니 이것도 헛되도다 15이에 내가 희락을 찬양하노니 이는 사람이 먹고 마시고 즐거워하는 것보다 더 나은 것이 해 아래에는 없음이라 하나님이 사람을 해 아래에서 살게 하신 날 동안 수고하는 일 중에 그러한 일이 그와 함께 있을 것이니라

 피조물인 인간이 지닌 지혜의 한계 

16내가 마음을 다하여 지혜를 알고자 하며 세상에서 행해지는 일을 보았는데 밤낮으로 자지 못하는 자도 있도다 17또 내가 하나님의 모든 행사를 살펴 보니 해 아래에서 행해지는 일을 사람이 능히 알아낼 수 없도다 사람이 아무리 애써 알아보려고 할지라도 능히 알지 못하나니 비록 지혜자가 아노라 할지라도 능히 알아내지 못하리로다

[ Ecclesiastes 8:9 - 8:17 ]

9All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep,17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. 

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

Through his observations of the world, the preacher learned that the world was unfair and unjust. People committed sins without hesitation because their wickedness went unpunished. The wicked succeeding and the righteous being ruined was an everyday occurrence (vv. 9-14). The preacher believed that every person should just enjoy the one life they had been granted by God. He believed that by acknowledging that we have each been granted one life by God, we could truly enjoy life. The preacher urged that we shouldn’t try to understand every aspect of the world, for which there isn’t always an explanation, but to enjoy the lot in life that we have each received from God (vv. 15-17). 

Who is God?

Vv. 12- 13 God looks after the holy and judges the wicked. The preacher argued that the real world did not work this way, but this truth will surely be fulfilled. Faith means looking beyond the visible reality to the promises that will be fulfilled. 

What lesson is God teaching me?

V. 15 Every life is a life that has been granted only once. No one is born by chance. Everyone has been designated a specific lot in life by God. Therefore, everyone has a right to live and enjoy blessings. Let’s reflect on the life we have received from God and enjoy the blessings we have received to the fullest.  

Prayer

Lord, help me to enjoy the blessings of today with thankfulness for this precious life that you have granted me.