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전도자는 절대 권력자 왕의 다스림 아래서 어떻게 처신해야 지혜로운 것인지를 말하며, 그 권력에 비해 인간의 능력이 얼마나 보잘것없는지도 밝힙니다. 

[ 전도서 8:1 - 8:8 ] (찬송390장)

지혜자의 빛나는 얼굴 

1누가 지혜자와 같으며 누가 사물의 이치를 아는 자이냐 사람의 지혜는 그의 얼굴에 광채가 나게 하나니 그의 얼굴의 사나운 것이 변하느니라

 절대 권력 아래서의 지혜 

 2내가 권하노라 왕의 명령을 지키라 이미 하나님을 가리켜 맹세하였음이니라 3왕 앞에서 물러가기를 급하게 하지 말며 악한 것을 일삼지 말라 왕은 자기가 하고자 하는 것을 다 행함이니라 4왕의 말은 권능이 있나니 누가 그에게 이르기를 왕께서 무엇을 하시나이까 할 수 있으랴

 때와 방법을 아는 지혜

 5명령을 지키는 자는 불행을 알지 못하리라 지혜자의 마음은 때와 판단을 분변하나니 6무슨 일에든지 때와 판단이 있으므로 사람에게 임하는 화가 심함이니라

 지혜의 한계 

 7사람이 장래 일을 알지 못하나니 장래 일을 가르칠 자가 누구이랴 8바람을 주장하여 바람을 움직이게 할 사람도 없고 죽는 날을 주장할 사람도 없으며 전쟁할 때를 모면할 사람도 없으니 악이 그의 주민들을 건져낼 수는 없느니라

[ Ecclesiastes 8:1 - 8:8 ]

1Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

The preacher encouraged submission to the king’s commands. Kings had absolute authority. Therefore, to persist in the works that the king despised or object to and argue against the king’s commands was to bring death upon oneself. The preacher argued that the wise did not contend with the king but waited for the appropriate time. He argued that the future was unknowable and nobody could predict what would happen. Therefore, those who were wise did not act rashly but waited for the right opportunity. The preacher said that it was best to stay silent over things that could not be known and to wait with trust in the providence of God, who governs the world (vv. 1-8). 

What lesson is God teaching me?

Vv. 1-9 Wisdom is not the realisation of some profound truth or predicting the future. Wisdom is in our ordinary daily lives. Wisdom is learning how to live in a human way in this human world. 

Vv. 2-5 Refusing to concede is foolishness. This is especially true for a person with no decision-making power. Not only will their opinions be ignored but they will bring misfortune upon themselves. The wise respect the decisions of those who outrank them and wait for the proper time to speak up. 

Prayer

Lord, help me to seek wisdom by keeping my eyes on you, who determines the limits of unavoidable, hopeless situations.