Ecclesiastes 8

“Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful.” (Ecclesiastes 8:4–5a, NKJV)

As the king of Israel, Solomon understood the power of words. He had absolute authority over men. He gave the word and people were either executed or pardoned. In Solomon’s monarchy, no one could challenge him. Therefore, Solomon understood the wisdom of keeping the king’s command. The king would honor such a person. But a rebel would incur the king’s wrath.

Now we do not live under a monarchy, but we can certainly apply this to our relationship with Christ. He is a benevolent and loving King, but He also has all authority. His commandments are not burdensome, and there is great wisdom in keeping them.

Yesterday, as I reflected over the past year, I was struck with the thought of how many blessings have come to me through God’s Word. It is because I have read it from the time that I was a teenager that I have found guidance in countless decisions of life. It is because I started teaching it in my twenties that I discovered my life’s purpose. It was because I prayed that God would send me someplace where people were hungry for the Word that Cindy and I moved to Boise 30 years ago.

There is great power in the words of our King! We cannot take them away or add to them. If we ignore them, then we do so to our own harm. If we add to them, then we are only adding our own anemic opinions. It does us no good to question our King’s commands or disagree with them. His thoughts are far above our thoughts. But it does us tremendous good to do what He says. In fact, it is the purest expression of our love for Him.

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21, NKJV)

As Solomon said, there is no harm in keeping the King’s commands. On the contrary, obedience to the Word is the only way to true and eternal prosperity.