Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God

Who's Paying Attention

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2005-04-03

Synopsis: John Weaver expounds Ecclesiastes 5:1-8, emphasizing that while God demands our careful attention to our words and vows, we often blame Him for not paying attention to our desires. He explains that when we see oppression and perversion of justice, we should not be amazed, because the sovereign God is higher than the highest and is paying attention, and He will judge the wicked in His time. The sermon calls believers to focus on their own obedience and trust God's sovereign control.

[John Weaver] Today we're dealing with Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verses 1 through 8, and the title of the message is, Who's Paying Attention? Who's Paying Attention? Ecclesiastes chapter 5, right after the Song of Solomon, you have The Book of Ecclesiastes, right before the Book of Isaiah, or actually the Song of Solomon is after Ecclesiastes, then the Book of Isaiah. So it's Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah. Okay, Ecclesiastes chapter 5, beginning there with verse 1.

[John Weaver] Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it. For he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. Better it is that thou shouldst not vow, than thou shouldst vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands? For in the multitude of dreams, in many words there are also diverse vanities, but fear thou God.

[John Weaver] If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they." How many times have we said to our children, to our spouses, and to our friends, you're not paying attention. You know, occasionally Alice will say, You're not paying attention or something like that.

[John Weaver] You'll catch that in a minute, okay? No, we laugh because if I'm studying, if I've got something on my mind, she can come into the room and she'll be sitting there talking to me and all of a sudden she'll say, you haven't heard a word that I've said, have you? And I'll look, I'll say, pardon? What was that? Well, the truth is, We always say to each other, you're not paying attention. And you don't know how many times as pastor, I wanted to single individuals out and say, you're not paying attention. Because the truth of the matter is you usually can look at people and tell whether or not they're listening and whether or not they're paying attention.

[John Weaver] But you see, even on some occasions, we demand that others pay attention to us. And if they do not give us the attention that we think that we deserve, then our, quote, feelings are hurt, end quote. And of course, even though we demand that others pay attention to us, we do not necessarily think that we need to reciprocate and pay attention to what they have to say as well.

[John Weaver] And the problem is this. that many times we carry this not paying attention concept into the spiritual realm and often blame God for things that happen to us because if He really cared, He would have been paying more attention and not have allowed those things to happen in our lives. And when we do that then, when we begin to question His love, concern, and goodness, We then begin to ask the question, why, Lord?

[John Weaver] Why is this happening to me? Why am I going through this? Why must I suffer?

[John Weaver] Now, let me just tell you that there is indeed a difference between asking the Lord why, in order to bring our lives more in conformity to His word, in order to understand His purpose and will for our lives, in order that we may be more holy and more godly than in questioning God in a blame-shifting manner. So, there is a difference then between asking, why Lord, so that we may be obedient, and why Lord, rather than asking in a blame-shifting condemnation and complaint.

[John Weaver] Now, and we can do this very subtly. I want you to hold Ecclesiastes 5, but look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 11. Everyone knows a story about our Lord and his friendship with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Now, of course, you remember how Lazarus was sick. Our Lord knew that he was sick and he stayed away purposefully and deliberately until Lazarus had died. And he did that that he might raise him from the dead, the scripture tells us. But I want you to note what was said by Martha in John 11 and verse 21. I want you to see this kind of blame shifting condemnation that is placed upon our Lord by Martha. Look in John 11 and verse 21, if you would please. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Now look at that. Lord, if I had been here, my brother had not died. It was a subtle way of blaming Christ for the death of Lazarus.

[John Weaver] In other words, what she was saying basically was this. Lord, you were our friend. You are our friend. You have an obligation to us. And Lord, you fail that obligation. Had you been here, like a good friend should have, then my brother would not have died. Isn't it absolutely amazing that we hardly ever blame anything on sin, Satan, disobedience, rebellion, or the lack of our own personal responsibility. We normally bring and blame everything upon God. It's God's fault.

[John Weaver] Because He should have been paying more attention. And then we begin to reason, well, after all, God is the one that allowed sin into the world. And therefore everything is his fault.

[John Weaver] Now that is certainly how unbelievers think and unhappily that is even how some professing Christians think. You see we want God to pay attention to our plans. our needs, our wants, and our desires, and yet the truth of the matter is we willingly ignore His word, His plan, His will, and His desires. In other words, we want God to give us the attention that we think we deserve, but we're not willing to give Him the attention that He deserves.

[John Weaver] Can you say spoiled, selfish, rebellious? Now, while most people blame God for everything, you might as well go ahead and blame Him for everything under the sun. I have heard people argue, I have heard people ask, well, why does God allow Christians to suffer? Why does God allow babies to die? Why does God allow old folks to suffer? Why do wars occur? Why do tragedies strike? Why does death happen? Why do catastrophes happen? I mean, if you're going to blame God, go ahead and blame Him for everything.

[John Weaver] Now, you understand I'm speaking facetiously. But here's what we're thinking. We're really thinking the problem is God's just not really paying attention. What we're really thinking is this. If we only had a God, who would cooperate with us and do what we wanted done, well, things would work out, wouldn't they? Because the truth of the matter is this, we think that our wisdom, our compassion, our concern, and our knowledge is what needs to be applied. And if God would just listen to us and do things the way we want them done, well, things would just simply work out differently. The problem that we think that we have with God is He's just not paying attention.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm going to show you Ecclesiastes chapter 5 lays out some very important truths. And these truths are truths that we need to consider, especially in light. of today's events. Now, I'm going to deal just primarily with verse 8. That is the verse. Verse 8. Look in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 8. Now, I'm going to go back and pick up the context in just a moment. But look in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 8.

[John Weaver] Now, first of all, I want you to note the proposition. The proposition is very simple. If thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, let me tell you something. In our day and time, we do not need to read that if thou seest the oppression of the poor. We just need to read it when thou seest the oppression of the poor. And when you see the perverting of justice and judgment.

[John Weaver] Because all you have to do is open your eyes. It is literally everywhere. We have a banking and usury system that is designed to steal from everyone, including the poor. We have a judicial system that believes it's answerable to no one, including God himself. We have a bureaucratic, despotic, and tyrannical government that has exceeded its constitutional authority thousands of times and constantly and continually tramples innocent citizens under its feet. It's not if you see it, it's when you see it, because it is literally everywhere.

[John Weaver] We think of individuals that we know personally that have been trampled upon by bureaucracy and tyranny. We think of poor that we know that have been trampled upon. I want you to understand, here are two principles that are enunciated very clearly in the Bible. Now I want you to hold Ecclesiastes 5. But I want you to follow me because when God talks about the oppression of the poor, When God talks about the perverting of justice and judgment, He's talking about two principles that are given to us very plainly in the Bible, and those principles are not to be violated.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, first of all, to Deuteronomy chapter 15. Let's go there first. I'm going to just simply deal with the oppression of the poor, and then we're going to take the perverting of judgment and justice. Look in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 15. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 7. Notice what God says to the people. Deuteronomy, chapter 15, beginning there with verse 7. Deuteronomy 15, verse 7. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates of the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, now watch, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth." Now look what God says,"...beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release is at hand, and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught, and he cryeth unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee."

[John Weaver] Now look what God says in verse 7. If there's a poor man in the land, that's your brother now. We're not talking about strangers. We're not talking about people that we do not know. We're talking about our brothers. He said, and notice in verse 7, thou shalt not harden thy heart toward him. In other words, if he's got a need, we take care of it.

[John Weaver] Now in the context, let me tell you what it was. In the Bible, under the Old Testament, every seven years, debts were to be forgiven. So let's say that Tom is a poor brother. Let's say I'm a rich brother. I'm not. But let's say that just for argument. And Tom comes to me and it happens to be the sixth year, the 10th month. Just two more months to the year of release. And he comes to me and says, now, Pastor, My wife's hungry. My kid's hungry.

[John Weaver] I don't have any money to pay my rent. And I need to borrow a thousand dollars. And I look at him and I said, I guess you do. I'd like to borrow a couple thousand like that myself, because in two months I won't have to pay it back.

[John Weaver] Now, boy, you're not getting a penny from me. Now, look what God says. God said, you shall not harden your heart toward your poor brother. You give him what he needs. God says, no, you can't do that. In other words, he forbids the oppression of the poor. Look in Psalm 41, beginning there with verse one. Psalm 41, and let's read verses one through three. Psalm 41, beginning there with verse one. Look what God says. Blessed is he that considereth the poor.

[John Weaver] The Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble. I hope you see that. If you're merciful and deliver someone else in the time of trouble, God said I'll be merciful and deliver you in the time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth And thou wilt not deliver him into the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing. Thou wilt make all of his bed in his sickness." Isn't that amazing? God said, if you're merciful to the poor, I'll be merciful to you. I'll preserve you. I'll bless you.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 31. I'm just showing you how the Bible forbids over and over the oppression of the poor. Notice in Proverbs chapter 14 verse 31. Look what the Bible says. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his maker, but he that honoreth him hath mercy upon the poor. Now God says when you oppress the poor, you're reproaching the poor's maker. That is, you're reproaching God. But God said if you have mercy upon the poor, then you're honoring God. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Proverbs 17 and verse 5. Proverbs 17, verse 5. Here it is again. Whoso mocketh the poor reproaches his maker, and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

[John Weaver] So you cannot take a proud, arrogant, haughty attitude toward the poor. Look in Proverbs 19 and verse 17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which is given will he pay him again. So the Bible said he that hath pity upon the poor does what? He lends unto the Lord, and that which he gives the Lord will pay him back again.

[John Weaver] In other words, you're not going to out give God. Look in Proverbs 21 and verse 13. Proverbs 21 verse 13, Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. God says you don't hear the cry of the poor. When you cry, I don't hear you. Look in Proverbs 22 and verse 16. He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches and he that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want. So God is forbidding the oppression of the poor. One last one. Look in Proverbs 30 and verse 14. Proverbs 30 verse 14. God talks about the wickedness of man. He says there is a generation whose teeth are his swords and their jaunty knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from among men. I could multiply these scriptures, but I've given you enough to know that over and over, God condemns the oppression of the poor. He condemns the ridiculing of the poor. He condemns the hardening of your heart for the poor.

[John Weaver] God condemns the reproaching of the poor. Now look in your Bibles very quickly to Deuteronomy chapter one, because I want you to see also that God also condemns the perversion of justice and judgment. Go back and we'll only look at four passages, but Deuteronomy chapter one, and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Deuteronomy one, verse 16, and I'll show you very quickly from the Bible why God established judges to begin with Deuteronomy chapter one, verse 16. God says, and I charge your judges at that time saying here the causes between your brethren. I'll look carefully.

[John Weaver] and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him, you shall not respect persons in judgment, but you shall hear the small as the great, you shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's, and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it to me, and I will hear it." Now Moses is instructing those judges under God, but he said in verse 17, for the judgment is God's.

[John Weaver] Now what is the supreme responsibility of a person who is judged? To judge for God. How can you judge for God unless you judge according to God's law? How can you judge for God unless you judge righteously? So he's saying, here is why I've instituted the judges.

[John Weaver] Now look in your Bibles to Proverbs 17 and verse 15. I want you to see what God condemns. Proverbs 17, verse 15. Proverbs 17, verse 15. Look what God says. Proverbs 17, verse 15. He that justified the wicked and he that condemned the just, even they both are an abomination to the Lord. Now, remember, an abomination is a stench in the nostrils. God says the judge that will justify the wicked. And the judge that will condemn the just is a stench in the nostrils of God. God condemns the perverting of justice. Look in Proverbs 24 and verse 14. Proverbs 24 verse 14.

[John Weaver] Proverbs 24, that's not really the verse I wanted, but it does apply. So shall the knowledge and wisdom be in my soul when thou hast found it, then there shall be reward and my expectation shall not be cut off. Let me look at it. There was a verse there that dealt with judgment. That's exactly the verse I put down, but I don't see it right now. But turn right on over to Proverbs 31 and look at verse 9. I won't go there. This one is sufficient. Look what God says.

[John Weaver] Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and the needy. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and the needy. I do not have to tell you that the oppression of the poor and the perverting of justice and judgment is wicked, wrong, ungodly, and rebellious. Yet you look around today in our society and you will find politicians, you'll find officers, you'll find judges who thumb their nose at God and say, I don't care what you say.

[John Weaver] All you have to do is think of the Terry Shiloh case. And by the way, if you haven't figured it out, it was legalized murder. Anytime you withhold food and water like that, the woman was not on life support. She was not in a vegetative state. But you look around today and here are judges constantly and consistently thumbing their noses at God. Their rebellion is in plain sight.

[John Weaver] We see it every day. And if you don't see it, you're not listening. And you're not looking. How in the world Can men be so perverted, so lustful, so selfish, so rebellious? How can they so willfully and so easily take advantage of the poor and the needy?

[John Weaver] Now, what does God say? Here's the proposition. When you go into a province, if you see the oppression of the poor, If you see the perversion of justice and judgment, and you're going to see it. That's the proposition. I want you to look, secondly, at the prohibition. This is what throws you. Look in Ecclesiastes chapter 5, verse 8. Look what he says. Ecclesiastes 5, verse 8. He says, If thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. Marvel not at the matter. Here's the prohibition, marvel not.

[John Weaver] Now, the Hebrew word for marvel is the word tamah, which means to be astounded, to be stunned, to be amazed, be dumbfounded. He says when you see it, Don't stand there dumbfounded. Don't stand there amazed. In light of the wicked oppression of the poor, in light of the violent perversion of judgment and justice, God is saying that we should not stand there dumbfounded, stunned, amazed, marbling.

[John Weaver] Now, the question has got to be in everybody's mind, how in the world can we help but be shocked at such blatant rebellion? By the way, I hope you understand that that is why the majority of the people in this country are not shocked at the blatant rebellion because they don't even know what truth is. And they don't know what God requires. Well, once you know what God requires, you can see the blatant rebellion and God is saying. Don't buy. Don't be dumbfounded, don't be astounded. It's almost like you'd better expect to see it.

[John Weaver] Now, anyone who believes in the doctrine of total depravity will quickly and readily understand how men could be so wicked and so vile and so rebellious. I want to tell you something. As bad as it is, and it is bad, If God removed his restraining hand, it would be a million times worse. The only reason it is not worse is because of God's restraining hand. Now, I want you to look at the context with me. And I want to begin to try to put this together for you and show you the argument that Solomon is making. If you look closely at Ecclesiastes chapter 5, you're going to see that the primary emphasis in this first part of the chapter is upon words. Our words. And especially words that relate to our vows. So look at verse 1.

[John Weaver] He says, Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God. And be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they consider not that they do evil. You know, of course, that's good counsel for all of us. To be more ready to hear than to speak. So literally, it's what he's saying. Paraphrase good South Georgia lingo. Watch your mouth. OK, watch verse two now. Be not rash with thy mouth. Now look. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven and thou upon earth, therefore, let thy words speak to you. So what is God admonishing us to do? We're to think carefully before we speak, especially in reference to vows.

[John Weaver] Do you not remember the New Testament, our Lord said that we will give an account for every idle word. OK, so he says, don't be rash with your mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, thou upon the earth, therefore let thy words be to you." In other words, recognize that you're the creature, he's the creator. Recognize that you're the servant, he's the master. Recognize that he's the king, you're the subject.

[John Weaver] Now, skip down to verse four.

[John Weaver] Pay that which thou hast vowed. Now, God said, if you make a vow to me. You pay. And a vow does not necessarily involve money. I mean, it may or may not. You could vow to give the Lord a certain amount. And God said, if you do that, then you keep your vow. You could vow that you're going to do something else or not do something else. God said, if you make that vow to me, you keep your vow. Defer not to pay it.

[John Weaver] Now, look what he says in verse five. Better it is that thou shouldest not vow than thou shouldest vow and not pay.

[John Weaver] Now, God is saying no one is making you vow. No one is making you give a word to God, but when you give your word to God. He said you better pay it. It's better that you not vow than to vow and not pay. Look what he said in verse six. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin. Words don't make vows, don't say things that you don't intend to keep and that you don't intend to do. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of thy hands? God said you start lying and backpedaling, then I'll judge you.

[John Weaver] Now, in verse 8, he says, If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in the province, marvel not at the matter. Now, I want you to note what is happening. God is saying and emphasizing in the first part of this chapter that we are to keep our Word. We are to be men and women of integrity. And whatever we say, that's what we're going to do now. I want you to hold it. Please ask these five.

[John Weaver] I'm coming right back there. But turn back to Psalm 15. Let me just show you in this psalm once again, how God demands. That our word be our bond, whatever we say we do now, watch this. Psalm 15, beginning there with verse 1. We'll read all five verses. Very short psalm. I'm only going to emphasize one of them. But in Psalm 15, God is giving us a description of the godly man. He's giving us a description of the man who will abide with him. Watch. Psalm 15, verse 1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? So that's the question. Here's the answer.

[John Weaver] He that walketh up rightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart, he that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor, and whose eyes a vile person is contend, but he honoured them that fear the Lord, here it is, he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent, for he that doeth these things shall never be moved. Note in verse four, he that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not. What's he saying?

[John Weaver] Here's the man who's going to keep his word, even if he suffers for keeping his word. So if I make a deal with Henry. And then I find out. I could have gotten a better price. I still have to keep my word toward him. Do you remember how God made the Israelites keep the covenant that they had made with the Gibeonites in Joshua chapter 9? Do you remember that? They were to destroy all those people in the land, and yet the Gibeonites put on all rotten clothes and took moldy bread and wine bottles and came to the Israelites And the Israelites said, who are you?

[John Weaver] Oh, we'd be from a far country. We're way off. And we heard about your God and we want to enter into a covenant with you. We want to be one with you. Well, how do we know that you're not from here in the land? Well, they said, look at our clothes. They were new when we came. Look at our bread. It was fresh out of the oven. And of course, they deceived the Israelites and the Israelites made a covenant with them. No one checked with God. Then after they made the covenant, they found out that the Gibeonites were part of the Amorites that they were to destroy. And you know what God said? You can't touch him.

[John Weaver] You gave him your word. You can't kill him. They did make them drawers of water and hewers of wood, but they were not allowed to kill him. God said, you've given your word. Now you keep your word.

[John Weaver] Now, when you look in Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 and I want you to go back there when you look there in the first seven verses. Basically, the whole thrust is we are to keep our words. We're to keep our vows, we're to be men and women of our. Our word. When you get to verse eight. He says, if or when thou seest the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice and a promise marvel not at the matter. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

[John Weaver] Do you see the disparity? Now, think about this. Think about this. God is demanding that we keep our attitude God is demanding that we keep our words and our actions, so the question automatically arises, if God is so fastidious concerning our attitudes, our actions, if he is so fastidious in making sure that we keep our word and do that which is right and holy, how then can God allow the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice, which is so prevalent and so open and so blasphemous. How could God allow that to happen? Do you see the disparity? I mean, he's so fastidious when it comes to us. He expects us to keep our tongues. He expects us to keep our words under control.

[John Weaver] And when you and I then look at the smallness of our sins as compared to the greatness of the sins of the wicked? The question has to come, how can God allow that? How can that go on? Now, I want you to look in Psalms 73. I want you to see that Asaph had the same The same problem that Asaph experienced is the same problem that we're experiencing today. Now watch this closely.

[John Weaver] I wish I had time to preach on this passage. He says, truly, God is good to Israel, even as such as of a clean heart. So he gives you the conclusion right on the first verse. But then he goes on and says in verse two, watch carefully now, but it's for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps as well as I slipped. Paraphrase, I nearly lost it. I nearly lost it. Why did he nearly lose it? Here's why.

[John Weaver] For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Now stop and think. When I saw the prosperity of the wicked, Look at the one worlders. Look at the Bilderbergers. Look at the Rockefellers. Look at all those wicked men in the Illuminati. Just name it. Look at the multitudes of millions that they have. And then he said in verse four, for there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm.

[John Weaver] Looks like they're solidly in control. They're not in trouble as other men. Neither they plague like other men. Seemingly, they don't have the problems that we have. What's the result? Look in verse six. Therefore, pride can pass at them about as a chain. Violence covered them as a garment.

[John Weaver] Now, he says in verse seven, their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than the heart could wish. Here's a description of them. They are corrupt. and speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens and their tongue walketh through the earth. They're not afraid to curse man nor God. Therefore, as people return, hither and water is a full cup wrung out of them. And they say, here's the wicked. How does God know?

[John Weaver] And is their knowledge in the most high? Look what he says. Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world. They increase in riches. Now. Note. The disparity that he's recognizing, he says in verse 13, barely, I've cleansed my heart in vain. I've washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long I've been plagued and chastened every morning. He said, man, I look around at the wicked. They're prospering. They're successful. It looks like they're getting away with it and me.

[John Weaver] All I do is suffer. All I do is do without. Lord, I don't understand this. That's why he said in verse 16, when I thought to know this, is too painful for me. Lord, here I am trying to do what's right, and I'm suffering and doing without, and I look over here, Lord, at this wicked, ungodly reprobate. His eyes stand out in fatness. He has more than his heart can wish. He hates you. He despises you. He reproaches the poor. He perverts judgment.

[John Weaver] It doesn't matter to him. And look at me. I love you, I want to honor you, I want to serve you, and I'm suffering in doing that. When I thought to know this, he said it was too painful for me. Now, I want to go ahead and give you this. He said in verse 17, until I went in the sanctuary of God, then understood I therein. He said, when I found out, What was going to happen to the wicked? I'd much rather be poor and suffering.

[John Weaver] Because, he says, surely thou didst set them in slippery places, thou castest them down in destruction, how they are brought into desolations, as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors, as a dream when one awakeneth so, Lord, when thou awakenest thou shalt despise their image. God, you will destroy them.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back. to Ecclesiastes chapter 5. Watch this carefully. Asap was in the same position in Psalm 73 that we're in today. You have a proposition. We have a prohibition. God says don't marvel. Don't stand dumbfounded when you see this. Look in verse 8, because here's the third thing. the preeminent one. He says in verse 8, if thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. Why? Why should we not be dumbfounded, amazed and astounded? Here's why.

[John Weaver] For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and they be higher than they. God says, I am the sovereign. I am the preeminent one. I'm higher than they are, and I am paying attention. I regard everything that they're doing.

[John Weaver] Now listen to me carefully, folks. Have you understood that nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of God? He is omniscient. The Bible says in Proverbs 15 and verse 3, the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good. It's not just good that God sees. He sees the evil as well. That's why the Bible tells us in Hebrews 4 and verse 13, neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight. But all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. God sees clearly and accurately and truly. He knows the motives. He knows the intents as well as the actions. Nothing escapes His notice. Nothing can be hidden from Him. Nothing is forgotten by Him. In Daniel 2 and verse 22, the Bible says, He knoweth what is in darkness. And the Bible in Ezekiel 11 verse 5 says, when God said, For I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them. God even knows what we think and what we don't think.

[John Weaver] Absolutely nothing can be hidden from God. Do you realize? No human eye. The hell cane murdered his brother. But his maker witnessed the crime, and called Cain into account. Sarah may laugh derisively in her tent, and say, Verily, I laugh not. But God heard her, and He said, Verily, you did laugh. Yes, Achan stole a wedge of gold, and carefully hid it under his tent. But God saw it, and brought it to light. David went to great pains to cover his sins, and yet God uncovered them and brought him into account. That's why the Bible says in Numbers 32 and verse 23, be sure your sins will find you out. Now listen, there's absolutely no one higher than God.

[John Weaver] The highest of the high regarded. In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles, Holy Ecclesiastes, but turn right over just a few passages to Isaiah 43. Let me just show you that God is God alone. Isaiah 43. Isaiah 43. Notice verse 11. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior. And then if you look at Isaiah 44 and verse 8, look what God says. I like this. Isaiah 44, verse 8, God says, Fear you not, neither be afraid. Have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it, you are even my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Yea, there is no God. I know not any. There's no other God but the one true and living God. And I like the way Ecclesiastes 5 in verse 8 says this, for he that is higher than the highest regardeth it.

[John Weaver] One of my favorite stories is about O Lester Roloff, bless his heart. He was a dear, dear brother. But when the government was trying to make him take a license for his homes. It was the Family and Children Services. He went down to see them and he said, no, I can't do that. And the lady says, now, Brother Olaf, you know the Bible says that you're to submit to the higher authorities. He looked at her, he said, ma'am, I have no trouble submitting to the higher authorities. It's you lower authorities that's giving me this. And that's a fact. But there is one higher than the highest. So no matter how high you are in authority in this life, in this earth, there's always someone higher than you. And that someone is a sovereign of the universe. And the Bible says he regarded it. He's the sovereign, he is the absolute, he is the ultimate.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look at this word regarded in verse eight. I like this for he that is higher than the highest regard. That is, God only sees what he considers. And it's even more than that. Because the Hebrew word for the word regardeth is the word shamar, which in many instances is translated as keep, guard, or protect. So here the application is very simple. God himself is the divine picket. God himself is on sensory duty. God will see, God will observe, God will keep and gather the truth and use it against the wicked. when he judges them. Look in your Bibles to Psalm 50. Let me show you what God tells the wicked. Look in Psalm 50 verses 20 and 21. He corrects them. He tells them.

[John Weaver] They may not believe it. They may not listen, but he tells them very plainly. Look in Psalm 50 verse 21. These things hast thou done. He's talking to the wicked now. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence. Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such, and one is thyself. Lord, you thought I was like you. You thought I was forgetful. But I will reprove thee and set them, that is, your sins in order, before thine eyes. Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver In Psalm 90 and verse 8, he said it very plainly, Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins, in light of Thy countenance. Now let me tell you why God said marvel not. God said marvel not because the wicked shall not escape. The wicked shall not go unpunished. You know what he said in Mayhem chapter 1 in verse 3?

[John Weaver] Let me just quote it. Listen to this verse. Mayhem 1 verse 3. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power. And will not at all acquit the wicked. He is slow to anger. He is great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked. And then. In light of that, let me ask that you just look in Deuteronomy 7, verses 8 and 9. I want you to see this. I've quoted it in time past, but in light of what I have been teaching and preaching, look in Deuteronomy 7 and let's read verses 8 and 9, just to show you that God is not embarrassed to judge the wicked. Deuteronomy 7, verse 8, Let's begin verse 9. 9 and 10 is what I want. Deuteronomy 7 verse 9.

[John Weaver] Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him, and keepeth his commandments to a thousand generations. Watch, and repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him that hated them. He will repay him to his face. God is not embarrassed. to judge the wicked, I can assure you.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make some applications this morning. The first application is the one that you and I need to pay attention to. What in the world is God telling us in Ecclesiastes 5 verses 1-8? Are you listening? I'm going to summarize for you. He is telling us. That we need to pay attention to our business. And let him pay attention to his business. You say, what are you saying, Brother Weaver? It's his business to punish the wicked. And he will.

[John Weaver] Vengeance is mine, said the Lord, I will repay. What is God telling me? I've got my hands full just taking care of my own business.

[John Weaver] Now that's not saying don't be concerned. But what I am trying to tell you is this. I have my responsibilities. You know what the Bible says in James 4 verse 17? Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, him is sin. I've got to make sure that I do what is right. And God is telling me I do not need to pine, nor worry, nor be concerned that somehow the wicked will escape or get by with their evil deeds. God said they won't.

[John Weaver] I will take care of that. You know, the Bible says in Deuteronomy 29, 29, listen carefully. The sacred things belong to the Lord our God. But the things that he has revealed, that's his word, belong to us and our children when they do. God's telling me I don't have to be concerned about the secret things. Those things belong to him. What I need to be concerned about is the things that he's revealed that I may be obedient. So he's telling us, first of all, we need to pay attention to our business. Secondly, listen carefully. Having said that, you cannot escape the reality that we still wonder how God allows such wicked, open, blatant rebellion. Listen, folks, I'm going to be absolutely honest with you.

[John Weaver] I've said it before and I'll say it again. If I was God, I would have killed me and a whole lot more other people a long time ago. You see what I'm saying? But I'm thankful I'm not God. We wonder how God permits wickedness to continue.

[John Weaver] Now I'm going to give you two biblical answers. If you're not satisfied with these two answers, all I can say is, number one, you need to search the scriptures for yourself to come up with additional answers. Or next, you may take it up with God himself. But here are the only two quick answers I can give you as to why God allows this wickedness to continue. Before I give you the first one, I want you to turn in your Bible to Psalm 76. I'm going to show it to you. Psalm 76 and verse 10. Here's the first. answer, we see the wicked, blatant, open rebellion, and why God basically puts up with it, even temporarily. Here's the first answer to that. Psalm 76 and verse 10, here's the answer.

[John Weaver] Somehow, some way, the wickedness that happens will redound to God's honor and glory. It's just that simple. Look what he said in Psalm 76 in verse 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. Now let me tell you what that verse is saying. You know how much wickedness there's going to be in this world? Just enough that will ultimately redound to God's honor and God's glory. That which will not redound to his honor nor it will restrain, it will not happen.

[John Weaver] Now stop and think about this, folks. God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line. God can use envy and hatred and jealousy to send a Joseph into Egypt to save his people. God can use immorality and harlotry to hide his spies. and save his people. God can use the wicked, if he so chooses, to chastise his own people as he did in Isaiah 10.

[John Weaver] The only wickedness that is going to happen in this world is that which will ultimately rebound to God's honor and God's glory. If there was no wickedness, folks, we would know nothing of God's patience, nothing of God's mercy, nothing of God's long suffering, and nothing of God's justice. So the first answer, why does God put up with it? Why does God allow it? I can't give you all the explanation, but somehow, some way, somewhere, it will ultimately redound to His honor and His glory, and what will not He will not allow it to transpire.

[John Weaver] And let me tell you, while I'm on it, you remember in Genesis chapter 20, when Abimelech, the king, took Sarah, he was going to take her as his wife or as his concubine. She was Abraham's wife. And you know what God said to Abimelech? He came to Abimelech in a dream by night. He said, if you touch her, you're dead man. I'll kill you. Because she's another man's wife. And Abimelech said, Lord, I have not come near her.

[John Weaver] In the innocency of my heart, have I done this? Said he not to me, she is my sister. Said she not, he is my brother. And guess what the Lord said? Yea, I know it. Therefore, I restrain thee from touching her. Now, I don't know what God did. Maybe He gave him a case of the 24-hour virus. I don't know what He did. But He didn't come near Sarah. It would not have brought honor on the Lord for Sarah to be defiled since she was going to be part of the lineage of Christ. And God restrained it. God can restrain whatever he chooses. And he will restrain what will not bring him honor.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in Acts chapter 9 very quickly, Acts chapter 9, you say, but Brother Weaver, you don't understand. Some of this wickedness that God allows That means Christians have to suffer. Yes, it does. Yes, it does. But I want you to look at what God said concerning Saul of Tarsus. Look at Acts chapter 9, very quickly, verse 15. After Ananias kind of protested, he didn't want to have anything to do with Saul. God says to him in verse 15, but the Lord said unto him, that is to Ananias, go thy way. That is, you do what I tell you, Adonai, for he, that is Saul, is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel, for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

[John Weaver] So suffering is part and parcel of our privilege. The Bible says in Philippians 1 in verse 29, It is given to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. So the very fact that God's people have to suffer does not mean that even that suffering will not redound to God's honor and God's glory. It shall. And here's the second reason. If you look in Romans chapter nine very quickly, verses 21 and 22. Here's the second reason God allows them to continue temporarily. Look at it. Romans 9 verse 21. I wish I had time to go over this entire passage, but here's Paul's argument. Romans 9 verse 21, hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel in the honor and another in the dishonor? What if God willing to show His wrath?

[John Weaver] Do you see this now? What if God willing to show His wrath and to make His power known endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction? God says, let me tell you something. Those vessels fitted for destruction, they will be the recipients of my wrath and my power. And I will endure their blasphemy and sacrilege temporarily so I can show the greatness of my wrath and my power. Why does God let them go? Because they are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, very quickly, Proud, haughty, arrogant rulers, judges, and monarchs of this world will soon discover the same truth that Nebuchadnezzar discovered in Daniel 4 verse 37. You know what he confessed? Listen to what he said. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth and His ways judgment. And those that walk in pride, He's able to evict. What did Nebuchadnezzar have to confess?

[John Weaver] He knows how to cut men down to size. And I got news for you. All of these wicked judges, rulers, politicians, will be cut down to size. Here's the last application. Another important truth that you and I must remember in light of this is that God is on the throne of this universe working everything out after the counsel of his own will. God is on the throne working everything out after the counsel of his own will. If everything is going wrong, then it is going wrong just right. Because God is working it out. He is in control. He is the judge. Now that does not mean that we must not fulfill our responsibilities.

[John Weaver] We have a duty to cry out against sin and wickedness. We have a duty and responsibility to do everything our Lord commands us. We cannot shirk any of our responsibilities. We must occupy till he comes. We must lift up our voices and clap like a trumpet. We must do everything that God tells us to do. But at the same time, we must realize that he is in control.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you what our problem really is. And I will confess this part of my problem as well as your problem. Our problem really is this. We cannot be content to do our duty. We want to run the world as well. Arthur W. Pink said one reason we don't like the Pope is because we won't be the Pope ourselves. Let me show you what I mean.

[John Weaver] And I'll close with this. Once during the Reformation, when things were not going well, Philip Melanchthon, who was the successor to Martin Luther, was pacing back and forth wringing his hands in Luther's presence. And Philip Melanchthon said, O Luther, O Luther, O Luther, what shall we do? It appears that all is lost. Luther looked up from his desk at Melanchthon and said, Let Philip Melanchthon cease to rule the world and all shall be well.

[John Weaver] We must learn to do our duty and be content to let God work everything out. Let's pray. Father, speak to our heart. Help us, Lord. Teach us thy word, teach us thy truth, and give us grace that we may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Who's Paying Attention

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	4805125659
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2005-04-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 134: Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification - Volume 1 — Chapter 4
Source Timed Segments	93

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Problem of Not Paying Attention

We often accuse others of not paying attention, and we carry this into our relationship with God, blaming Him for not paying attention to our plans and desires.

Today we're dealing with Ecclesiastes chapter 5, verses 1 through 8, and the title of the message is, "Who's Paying Attention?" Who's Paying Attention? Ecclesiastes chapter 5, right after the Song of Solomon, you have the book of Ecclesiastes, right before the book of Isaiah, or actually the Song of Solomon is after Ecclesiastes, then the book of Isaiah. So it's Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah. Okay, Ecclesiastes chapter 5, beginning there with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:1-8

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it. For he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. Better it is that thou shouldst not vow, than thou shouldst vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands? For in the multitude of dreams, in many words there are also diverse vanities, but fear thou God."

"If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they." How many times have we said to our children, to our spouses, and to our friends, "You're not paying attention." You know, occasionally Alice will say, "You're not paying attention," or something like that. You'll catch that in a minute, okay? No, we laugh because if I'm studying, if I've got something on my mind, she can come into the room and she'll be sitting there talking to me and all of a sudden she'll say, "You haven't heard a word that I've said, have you?" And I'll look, I'll say, "Pardon? What was that?" Well, the truth is, we always say to each other, "You're not paying attention." And you don't know how many times as pastor, I wanted to single individuals out and say, "You're not paying attention." Because the truth of the matter is you usually can look at people and tell whether or not they're listening and whether or not they're paying attention.

But you see, even on some occasions, we demand that others pay attention to us. And if they do not give us the attention that we think that we deserve, then our, quote, "feelings are hurt," end quote. And of course, even though we demand that others pay attention to us, we do not necessarily think that we need to reciprocate and pay attention to what they have to say as well. And the problem is this: that many times we carry this "not paying attention" concept into the spiritual realm and often blame God for things that happen to us because if He really cared, He would have been paying more attention and not have allowed those things to happen in our lives. And when we do that then, when we begin to question His love, concern, and goodness, we then begin to ask the question, "Why, Lord?"

The Blame-Shifting Condemnation of God

Using Martha's words in John 11:21, Weaver illustrates how we subtly blame God for our troubles, rather than taking personal responsibility.

Now, and we can do this very subtly. I want you to hold Ecclesiastes 5, but look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 11. Everyone knows a story about our Lord and his friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Now, of course, you remember how Lazarus was sick. Our Lord knew that he was sick and he stayed away purposefully and deliberately until Lazarus had died. And he did that that he might raise him from the dead, the scripture tells us. But I want you to note what was said by Martha in John 11 and verse 21. I want you to see this kind of blame-shifting condemnation that is placed upon our Lord by Martha. Look in John 11 and verse 21, if you would please. "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Now look at that. "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." It was a subtle way of blaming Christ for the death of Lazarus.

In other words, what she was saying basically was this: "Lord, you were our friend. You are our friend. You have an obligation to us. And Lord, you failed that obligation. Had you been here, like a good friend should have, then my brother would not have died." Isn't it absolutely amazing that we hardly ever blame anything on sin, Satan, disobedience, rebellion, or the lack of our own personal responsibility? We normally bring and blame everything upon God. It's God's fault.

Because He should have been paying more attention. And then we begin to reason, "Well, after all, God is the one that allowed sin into the world. And therefore everything is his fault." Now that is certainly how unbelievers think and unhappily that is even how some professing Christians think. You see, we want God to pay attention to our plans, our needs, our wants, and our desires, and yet the truth of the matter is we willingly ignore His word, His plan, His will, and His desires. In other words, we want God to give us the attention that we think we deserve, but we're not willing to give Him the attention that He deserves.

The Proposition: When You See Oppression and Perversion of Justice

Ecclesiastes 5:8 describes the reality of oppression and perverted justice, which is evident everywhere in our society.

Now, I'm going to show you Ecclesiastes chapter 5 lays out some very important truths. And these truths are truths that we need to consider, especially in light of today's events. Now, I'm going to deal just primarily with verse 8. That is the verse. Verse 8. Look in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 8. Now, I'm going to go back and pick up the context in just a moment. But look in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 8.

"If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they." Now, first of all, I want you to note the proposition. The proposition is very simple. "If thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province," let me tell you something. In our day and time, we do not need to read that "if thou seest the oppression of the poor." We just need to read it "when thou seest the oppression of the poor." And when you see the perverting of justice and judgment. Because all you have to do is open your eyes. It is literally everywhere. We have a banking and usury system that is designed to steal from everyone, including the poor. We have a judicial system that believes it's answerable to no one, including God himself. We have a bureaucratic, despotic, and tyrannical government that has exceeded its constitutional authority thousands of times and constantly and continually tramples innocent citizens under its feet. It's not "if" you see it, it's "when" you see it, because it is literally everywhere.

We think of individuals that we know personally that have been trampled upon by bureaucracy and tyranny. We think of poor that we know that have been trampled upon. I want you to understand, here are two principles that are enunciated very clearly in the Bible. Now I want you to hold Ecclesiastes 5. But I want you to follow me because when God talks about the oppression of the poor, when God talks about the perverting of justice and judgment, He's talking about two principles that are given to us very plainly in the Bible, and those principles are not to be violated.

Biblical Condemnation of Oppressing the Poor and Perverting Justice

Scripture repeatedly forbids the oppression of the poor and the perversion of justice, showing God's heart for righteousness.

Look in your Bibles, first of all, to Deuteronomy chapter 15. Let's go there first. I'm going to just simply deal with the oppression of the poor, and then we're going to take the perverting of judgment and justice. Look in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 15. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 7. Notice what God says to the people. Deuteronomy, chapter 15, beginning there with verse 7. Deuteronomy 15, verse 7.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 15:7-9

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates of the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, now watch, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth."

Now look what God says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 15:7-9

"...beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release is at hand, and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught, and he cryeth unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee."

Now look what God says in verse 7. If there's a poor man in the land, that's your brother now. We're not talking about strangers. We're not talking about people that we do not know. We're talking about our brothers. He said, and notice in verse 7, "thou shalt not harden thy heart toward him." In other words, if he's got a need, we take care of it.

Now in the context, let me tell you what it was. In the Bible, under the Old Testament, every seven years, debts were to be forgiven. So let's say that Tom is a poor brother. Let's say I'm a rich brother. I'm not. But let's say that just for argument. And Tom comes to me and it happens to be the sixth year, the tenth month. Just two more months to the year of release. And he comes to me and says, "Now, Pastor, my wife's hungry. My kid's hungry.

I don't have any money to pay my rent. And I need to borrow a thousand dollars." And I look at him and I said, "I guess you do. I'd like to borrow a couple thousand like that myself, because in two months I won't have to pay it back." Now, boy, you're not getting a penny from me. Now, look what God says. God said, "You shall not harden your heart toward your poor brother. You give him what he needs." God says, "No, you can't do that." In other words, He forbids the oppression of the poor. Look in Psalm 41, beginning there with verse one. Psalm 41, and let's read verses one through three. Psalm 41, beginning there with verse one. Look what God says. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor.

The Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble." I hope you see that. If you're merciful and deliver someone else in the time of trouble, God said I'll be merciful and deliver you in the time of trouble. "The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth and thou wilt not deliver him into the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing. Thou wilt make all of his bed in his sickness." Isn't that amazing? God said, if you're merciful to the poor, I'll be merciful to you. I'll preserve you. I'll bless you.

Look in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 31. I'm just showing you how the Bible forbids over and over the oppression of the poor. Notice in Proverbs chapter 14 verse 31. Look what the Bible says.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 14:31

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his maker, but he that honoreth him hath mercy upon the poor."

Now God says when you oppress the poor, you're reproaching the poor's maker. That is, you're reproaching God. But God said if you have mercy upon the poor, then you're honoring God. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Proverbs 17 and verse 5. Proverbs 17, verse 5. Here it is again. "Whoso mocketh the poor reproaches his maker, and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished."

So you cannot take a proud, arrogant, haughty attitude toward the poor. Look in Proverbs 19 and verse 17. "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which is given will he pay him again." So the Bible said he that hath pity upon the poor does what? He lends unto the Lord, and that which he gives the Lord will pay him back again. In other words, you're not going to out-give God. Look in Proverbs 21 and verse 13. Proverbs 21 verse 13,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 21:13

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

God says you don't hear the cry of the poor. When you cry, I don't hear you. Look in Proverbs 22 and verse 16. "He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches and he that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want." So God is forbidding the oppression of the poor. One last one. Look in Proverbs 30 and verse 14. Proverbs 30 verse 14. God talks about the wickedness of man. He says, "There is a generation whose teeth are his swords and their jaw teeth knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from among men." I could multiply these scriptures, but I've given you enough to know that over and over, God condemns the oppression of the poor. He condemns the ridiculing of the poor. He condemns the hardening of your heart for the poor.

God condemns the reproaching of the poor. Now look in your Bibles very quickly to Deuteronomy chapter one, because I want you to see also that God also condemns the perversion of justice and judgment. Go back and we'll only look at four passages, but Deuteronomy chapter one, and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Deuteronomy one, verse 16, and I'll show you very quickly from the Bible why God established judges to begin with. Deuteronomy chapter one, verse 16. God says, "And I charge your judges at that time saying, hear the causes between your brethren." I'll look carefully.

The Prohibition: Marvel Not

God commands us not to be astounded or dumbfounded when we see such wickedness, because it is to be expected in a fallen world.

Now, the Hebrew word for "marvel" is the word tamah, which means to be astounded, to be stunned, to be amazed, be dumbfounded. He says when you see it, don't stand there dumbfounded. Don't stand there amazed. In light of the wicked oppression of the poor, in light of the violent perversion of judgment and justice, God is saying that we should not stand there dumbfounded, stunned, amazed, marveling.

Now, the question has got to be in everybody's mind, how in the world can we help but be shocked at such blatant rebellion? By the way, I hope you understand that that is why the majority of the people in this country are not shocked at the blatant rebellion because they don't even know what truth is. And they don't know what God requires. Well, once you know what God requires, you can see the blatant rebellion and God is saying, don't be dumbfounded, don't be astounded. It's almost like you'd better expect to see it.

Now, anyone who believes in the doctrine of total depravity will quickly and readily understand how men could be so wicked and so vile and so rebellious. I want to tell you something. As bad as it is, and it is bad, if God removed his restraining hand, it would be a million times worse. The only reason it is not worse is because of God's restraining hand. Now, I want you to look at the context with me. And I want to begin to try to put this together for you and show you the argument that Solomon is making. If you look closely at Ecclesiastes chapter 5, you're going to see that the primary emphasis in this first part of the chapter is upon words. Our words. And especially words that relate to our vows. So look at verse 1.

He says, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God. And be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they consider not that they do evil." You know, of course, that's good counsel for all of us. To be more ready to hear than to speak. So literally, it's what he's saying. Paraphrase good South Georgia lingo: "Watch your mouth." Okay, watch verse two now. "Be not rash with thy mouth." Now look. "Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven and thou upon earth, therefore, let thy words be few." So what is God admonishing us to do? We're to think carefully before we speak, especially in reference to vows.

The Context: Keeping Our Words and Vows

The first part of Ecclesiastes 5 emphasizes the importance of keeping our words and vows, highlighting the disparity between God's demands on us and the apparent success of the wicked.

Do you not remember the New Testament, our Lord said that we will give an account for every idle word. Okay, so he says, "Don't be rash with your mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, thou upon the earth, therefore let thy words be few." In other words, recognize that you're the creature, he's the creator. Recognize that you're the servant, he's the master. Recognize that he's the king, you're the subject.

Now, skip down to verse four.

"Pay that which thou hast vowed." Now, God said, if you make a vow to me, you pay. And a vow does not necessarily involve money. I mean, it may or may not. You could vow to give the Lord a certain amount. And God said, if you do that, then you keep your vow. You could vow that you're going to do something else or not do something else. God said, if you make that vow to me, you keep your vow. "Defer not to pay it."

Now, look what he says in verse five. "Better it is that thou shouldest not vow than thou shouldest vow and not pay." Now, God is saying no one is making you vow. No one is making you give a word to God, but when you give your word to God, He said you better pay it. It's better that you not vow than to vow and not pay. Look what he said in verse six. "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin." Words, don't make vows, don't say things that you don't intend to keep and that you don't intend to do. "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of thy hands?" God said you start lying and backpedaling, then I'll judge you.

Now, in verse 8, he says, "If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in the province, marvel not at the matter." Now, I want you to note what is happening. God is saying and emphasizing in the first part of this chapter that we are to keep our word. We are to be men and women of integrity. And whatever we say, that's what we're going to do. Now, I want you to hold it. Please ask these five. I'm coming right back there. But turn back to Psalm 15. Let me just show you in this psalm once again, how God demands that our word be our bond, whatever we say we do. Now watch this. Psalm 15, beginning there with verse 1. We'll read all five verses. Very short psalm. I'm only going to emphasize one of them. But in Psalm 15, God is giving us a description of the godly man. He's giving us a description of the man who will abide with him. Watch. Psalm 15, verse 1. "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" So that's the question. Here's the answer.

"He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart, he that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor, and whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord, here it is, he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent, for he that doeth these things shall never be moved." Note in verse four, "he that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not." What's he saying? Here's the man who's going to keep his word, even if he suffers for keeping his word. So if I make a deal with Henry, and then I find out I could have gotten a better price, I still have to keep my word toward him. Do you remember how God made the Israelites keep the covenant that they had made with the Gibeonites in Joshua chapter 9? Do you remember that? They were to destroy all those people in the land, and yet the Gibeonites put on all rotten clothes and took moldy bread and wine bottles and came to the Israelites. And the Israelites said, "Who are you?"

"Oh, we be from a far country. We're way off. And we heard about your God and we want to enter into a covenant with you. We want to be one with you." "Well, how do we know that you're not from here in the land?" "Well," they said, "look at our clothes. They were new when we came. Look at our bread. It was fresh out of the oven." And of course, they deceived the Israelites and the Israelites made a covenant with them. No one checked with God. Then after they made the covenant, they found out that the Gibeonites were part of the Amorites that they were to destroy. And you know what God said? "You can't touch him.

You gave him your word. You can't kill him." They did make them drawers of water and hewers of wood, but they were not allowed to kill him. God said, "You've given your word. Now you keep your word."

Now, when you look in Ecclesiastes chapter 5, and I want you to go back there, when you look there in the first seven verses, basically the whole thrust is we are to keep our words. We're to keep our vows, we're to be men and women of our word. When you get to verse eight, he says, "If or when thou seest the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter." Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Do you see the disparity? Now, think about this. Think about this. God is demanding that we keep our attitudes, God is demanding that we keep our words and our actions, so the question automatically arises, if God is so fastidious concerning our attitudes, our actions, if he is so fastidious in making sure that we keep our word and do that which is right and holy, how then can God allow the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice, which is so prevalent and so open and so blasphemous? How could God allow that to happen? Do you see the disparity? I mean, he's so fastidious when it comes to us. He expects us to keep our tongues. He expects us to keep our words under control.

The Preeminent One: God is Higher and Regards

The reason we should not marvel is that God, who is higher than the highest, sees and regards everything; He is the sovereign judge who will repay.

"For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they." God says, I am the sovereign. I am the preeminent one. I'm higher than they are, and I am paying attention. I regard everything that they're doing.

Now listen to me carefully, folks. Have you understood that nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of God? He is omniscient. The Bible says in Proverbs 15 and verse 3, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good." It's not just good that God sees. He sees the evil as well. That's why the Bible tells us in Hebrews 4 and verse 13, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight. But all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." God sees clearly and accurately and truly. He knows the motives. He knows the intents as well as the actions. Nothing escapes His notice. Nothing can be hidden from Him. Nothing is forgotten by Him. In Daniel 2 and verse 22, the Bible says, "He knoweth what is in darkness." And the Bible in Ezekiel 11 verse 5 says, when God said, "For I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." God even knows what we think and what we don't think.

Absolutely nothing can be hidden from God. Do you realize? No human eye. The hellhound murdered his brother. But his maker witnessed the crime, and called Cain into account. Sarah may laugh derisively in her tent, and say, "Verily, I laugh not." But God heard her, and He said, "Verily, you did laugh." Yes, Achan stole a wedge of gold, and carefully hid it under his tent. But God saw it, and brought it to light. David went to great pains to cover his sins, and yet God uncovered them and brought him into account. That's why the Bible says in Numbers 32 and verse 23, "Be sure your sins will find you out." Now listen, there's absolutely no one higher than God.

The highest of the high regardeth. In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles, hold Ecclesiastes, but turn right over just a few passages to Isaiah 43. Let me just show you that God is God alone. Isaiah 43. Isaiah 43. Notice verse 11.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 43:11; 44:8

"I, even I, am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior."

And then if you look at Isaiah 44 and verse 8, look what God says. I like this. Isaiah 44, verse 8, God says, "Fear you not, neither be afraid. Have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it, you are even my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Yea, there is no God. I know not any." There's no other God but the one true and living God. And I like the way Ecclesiastes 5 in verse 8 says this, "For he that is higher than the highest regardeth it."

One of my favorite stories is about Lester Roloff, bless his heart. He was a dear, dear brother. But when the government was trying to make him take a license for his homes, it was the Family and Children Services. He went down to see them and he said, "No, I can't do that." And the lady says, "Now, Brother Roloff, you know the Bible says that you're to submit to the higher authorities." He looked at her, he said, "Ma'am, I have no trouble submitting to the higher authorities. It's you lower authorities that's giving me this." And that's a fact. But there is one higher than the highest. So no matter how high you are in authority in this life, in this earth, there's always someone higher than you. And that someone is the sovereign of the universe. And the Bible says he regardeth it. He's the sovereign, he is the absolute, he is the ultimate.

Now, I want you to look at this word "regardeth" in verse eight. I like this: "for he that is higher than the highest regardeth." That is, God not only sees what he considers. And it's even more than that. Because the Hebrew word for the word "regardeth" is the word shamar, which in many instances is translated as keep, guard, or protect. So here the application is very simple. God himself is the divine picket. God himself is on sentry duty. God will see, God will observe, God will keep and gather the truth and use it against the wicked when he judges them. Look in your Bibles to Psalm 50. Let me show you what God tells the wicked. Look in Psalm 50 verses 20 and 21. He corrects them. He tells them.

Applications: Pay Attention to Your Own Business and Trust God's Sovereignty

We are to focus on our own obedience and responsibilities, trusting that God will handle the wicked in His time and for His glory.

Now, let me make some applications this morning. The first application is the one that you and I need to pay attention to. What in the world is God telling us in Ecclesiastes 5 verses 1-8? Are you listening? I'm going to summarize for you. He is telling us that we need to pay attention to our business. And let him pay attention to his business. You say, "What are you saying, Brother Weaver?" It's his business to punish the wicked. And he will.

"Vengeance is mine," said the Lord, "I will repay." What is God telling me? I've got my hands full just taking care of my own business. Now that's not saying don't be concerned. But what I am trying to tell you is this. I have my responsibilities. You know what the Bible says in James 4 verse 17? "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." I've got to make sure that I do what is right. And God is telling me I do not need to pine, nor worry, nor be concerned that somehow the wicked will escape or get by with their evil deeds. God said they won't.

I will take care of that. You know, the Bible says in Deuteronomy 29:29, listen carefully. "The secret things belong to the Lord our God. But the things that he has revealed," that's his word, "belong to us and our children forever." God's telling me I don't have to be concerned about the secret things. Those things belong to him. What I need to be concerned about is the things that he's revealed that I may be obedient. So he's telling us, first of all, we need to pay attention to our business. Secondly, listen carefully. Having said that, you cannot escape the reality that we still wonder how God allows such wicked, open, blatant rebellion. Listen, folks, I'm going to be absolutely honest with you.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If I was God, I would have killed me and a whole lot more other people a long time ago. You see what I'm saying? But I'm thankful I'm not God. We wonder how God permits wickedness to continue.

Now I'm going to give you two biblical answers. If you're not satisfied with these two answers, all I can say is, number one, you need to search the scriptures for yourself to come up with additional answers. Or next, you may take it up with God himself. But here are the only two quick answers I can give you as to why God allows this wickedness to continue. Before I give you the first one, I want you to turn in your Bible to Psalm 76. I'm going to show it to you. Psalm 76 and verse 10. Here's the first answer. We see the wicked, blatant, open rebellion, and why God basically puts up with it, even temporarily. Here's the first answer to that. Psalm 76 and verse 10, here's the answer.

Somehow, some way, the wickedness that happens will redound to God's honor and glory. It's just that simple. Look what he said in Psalm 76 in verse 10. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." Now let me tell you what that verse is saying. You know how much wickedness there's going to be in this world? Just enough that will ultimately redound to God's honor and God's glory. That which will not redound to his honor nor it will restrain, it will not happen.

Now stop and think about this, folks. God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line. God can use envy and hatred and jealousy to send a Joseph into Egypt to save his people. God can use immorality and harlotry to hide his spies and save his people. God can use the wicked, if he so chooses, to chastise his own people as he did in Isaiah 10. The only wickedness that is going to happen in this world is that which will ultimately redound to God's honor and God's glory. If there was no wickedness, folks, we would know nothing of God's patience, nothing of God's mercy, nothing of God's longsuffering, and nothing of God's justice. So the first answer, why does God put up with it? Why does God allow it? I can't give you all the explanation, but somehow, some way, somewhere, it will ultimately redound to His honor and His glory, and what will not He will not allow it to transpire.

And let me tell you, while I'm on it, you remember in Genesis chapter 20, when Abimelech, the king, took Sarah, he was going to take her as his wife or as his concubine. She was Abraham's wife. And you know what God said to Abimelech? He came to Abimelech in a dream by night. He said, "If you touch her, you're a dead man. I'll kill you. Because she's another man's wife." And Abimelech said, "Lord, I have not come near her.

In the innocency of my heart, have I done this? Said he not to me, she is my sister. Said she not, he is my brother." And guess what the Lord said? "Yea, I know it. Therefore, I restrained thee from touching her." Now, I don't know what God did. Maybe He gave him a case of the 24-hour virus. I don't know what He did. But he didn't come near Sarah. It would not have brought honor on the Lord for Sarah to be defiled since she was going to be part of the lineage of Christ. And God restrained it. God can restrain whatever he chooses. And he will restrain what will not bring him honor.

Now, if you look in Acts chapter 9 very quickly, Acts chapter 9, you say, "But Brother Weaver, you don't understand. Some of this wickedness that God allows, that means Christians have to suffer." Yes, it does. Yes, it does. But I want you to look at what God said concerning Saul of Tarsus. Look at Acts chapter 9, very quickly, verse 15. After Ananias kind of protested, he didn't want to have anything to do with Saul. God says to him in verse 15, "But the Lord said unto him," that is to Ananias, "Go thy way." That is, you do what I tell you, Ananias, "for he," that is Saul, "is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel, for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

So suffering is part and parcel of our privilege. The Bible says in Philippians 1 in verse 29, "It is given to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." So the very fact that God's people have to suffer does not mean that even that suffering will not redound to God's honor and God's glory. It shall. And here's the second reason. If you look in Romans chapter nine very quickly, verses 21 and 22. Here's the second reason God allows them to continue temporarily. Look at it. Romans 9 verse 21. I wish I had time to go over this entire passage, but here's Paul's argument. Romans 9 verse 21, "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? What if God willing to show His wrath?"

Do you see this now? "What if God willing to show His wrath and to make His power known endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?" God says, let me tell you something. Those vessels fitted for destruction, they will be the recipients of my wrath and my power. And I will endure their blasphemy and sacrilege temporarily so I can show the greatness of my wrath and my power. Why does God let them go? Because they are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. Thirdly, very quickly, proud, haughty, arrogant rulers, judges, and monarchs of this world will soon discover the same truth that Nebuchadnezzar discovered in Daniel 4 verse 37. You know what he confessed? Listen to what he said. "Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth and His ways judgment. And those that walk in pride, He's able to abase." What did Nebuchadnezzar have to confess?

He knows how to cut men down to size. And I got news for you. All of these wicked judges, rulers, politicians, will be cut down to size. Here's the last application. Another important truth that you and I must remember in light of this is that God is on the throne of this universe working everything out after the counsel of his own will. God is on the throne working everything out after the counsel of his own will. If everything is going wrong, then it is going wrong just right. Because God is working it out. He is in control. He is the judge. Now that does not mean that we must not fulfill our responsibilities.

We have a duty to cry out against sin and wickedness. We have a duty and responsibility to do everything our Lord commands us. We cannot shirk any of our responsibilities. We must occupy till he comes. We must lift up our voices and cry aloud like a trumpet. We must do everything that God tells us to do. But at the same time, we must realize that he is in control.

Let me tell you what our problem really is. And I will confess this part of my problem as well as your problem. Our problem really is this. We cannot be content to do our duty. We want to run the world as well. Arthur W. Pink said one reason we don't like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves. Let me show you what I mean.

And I'll close with this. Once during the Reformation, when things were not going well, Philip Melanchthon, who was the successor to Martin Luther, was pacing back and forth wringing his hands in Luther's presence. And Philip Melanchthon said, "O Luther, O Luther, O Luther, what shall we do? It appears that all is lost." Luther looked up from his desk at Melanchthon and said, "Let Philip Melanchthon cease to rule the world and all shall be well." We must learn to do our duty and be content to let God work everything out. Let's pray. Father, speak to our heart. Help us, Lord. Teach us thy word, teach us thy truth, and give us grace that we may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Sovereignty of God

Summary: God is the preeminent one, higher than all earthly authorities, and He is actively paying attention to all that happens, ensuring justice in His time.

Evidence: Ecclesiastes 5:8: 'For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they.'

Human Responsibility and Integrity

Summary: Believers are called to be careful with their words, keep their vows, and focus on their own obedience rather than being consumed with the apparent success of the wicked.

Evidence: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 emphasizes watching our words and paying our vows; Psalm 15:4 describes the godly man who 'sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.'

The Problem of Evil and the Prosperity of the Wicked

Summary: The sermon addresses the common struggle of seeing the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, and explains that God allows this temporarily for His purposes.

Evidence: Psalm 73 describes Asaph's envy of the wicked and his realization of their end; Romans 9:21-22 speaks of God enduring vessels of wrath to show His power.

God's Justice and Judgment

Summary: God will not acquit the wicked; He sees all sin and will repay. The apparent delay in judgment is not indifference but part of His sovereign plan.

Evidence: Nahum 1:3: 'The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.' Psalm 50:21 warns the wicked of God's reproof.

Trusting God's Control Amidst Injustice

Summary: Believers are exhorted to trust that God is working all things for His glory, even when injustice seems to prevail, and to be content with doing their duty.

Evidence: Psalm 76:10: 'Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.'

Key Arguments

We blame God for not paying attention, but we ignore His word.

Summary: People often accuse God of not caring or paying attention when things go wrong, yet they themselves fail to give God the attention He deserves by obeying His word.

Evidence: We want God to pay attention to our plans, needs, our wants, and our desires, and yet the truth of the matter is we willingly ignore His word, His plan, His will, and His desires.

God commands us not to marvel at oppression and injustice.

Summary: Ecclesiastes 5:8 instructs believers not to be astounded when they see oppression and perverted justice, because such wickedness is to be expected in a fallen world.

Evidence: If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter.

The disparity between God's demands on us and the success of the wicked is resolved by God's sovereignty.

Summary: While God demands our integrity and obedience, the apparent prosperity of the wicked raises the question of God's justice; the answer is that God is higher and will judge.

Evidence: Do you see the disparity? ... How can God allow that? ... For he that is higher than the highest regardeth.

God sees all and will repay the wicked.

Summary: Nothing escapes God's notice; He is omniscient and will bring every deed into judgment. The wicked may seem to get away with evil, but they will not escape.

Evidence: Proverbs 15:3: 'The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.' Nahum 1:3: 'will not at all acquit the wicked.'

God allows wickedness to continue for His glory and to display His wrath.

Summary: Two biblical reasons for God's temporary allowance of evil: it will ultimately redound to His praise, and He endures vessels of wrath to show His power and justice.

Evidence: Psalm 76:10: 'Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee.' Romans 9:22: 'What if God, willing to shew his wrath... endured... the vessels of wrath.'

Believers must focus on their own duty and trust God's control.

Summary: Instead of trying to 'rule the world,' Christians should be content to do their God-given duties and trust that God is working everything out according to His will.

Evidence: We cannot be content to do our duty. We want to run the world as well. ... Let Philip Melanchthon cease to rule the world and all shall be well.

Scripture References

Ecclesiastes 5:1-8

Context: The primary text of the sermon, emphasizing careful speech, keeping vows, and not marveling at oppression because God is sovereign.

John 11:21

Context: Martha's subtle blame of Jesus for Lazarus's death, illustrating how we blame God for not paying attention.

Deuteronomy 15:7-9

Context: God's command not to harden the heart against the poor brother, forbidding oppression of the poor.

Psalm 41:1-3

Context: Blessing on those who consider the poor; God delivers them in trouble.

Proverbs 14:31

Context: Oppressing the poor reproaches God; having mercy on the poor honors Him.

Proverbs 17:5

Context: Mocking the poor reproaches one's Maker.

Proverbs 19:17

Context: Pity on the poor is lending to the Lord, who will repay.

Proverbs 21:13

Context: Stopping ears at the cry of the poor results in one's own cry not being heard.

Proverbs 22:16

Context: Oppressing the poor to increase riches leads to want.

Proverbs 30:14

Context: A generation whose teeth are swords to devour the poor.

Deuteronomy 1:16-17

Context: Judges are to judge righteously, not respecting persons, for judgment is God's.

Proverbs 17:15

Context: Justifying the wicked and condemning the just are both an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 31:9

Context: Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Psalm 15:1-5

Context: Description of the godly man who keeps his word even to his own hurt.

Psalm 73:1-20

Context: Asaph's struggle with the prosperity of the wicked and his realization of their end.

Isaiah 43:11; 44:8

Context: God alone is God; there is no other.

Psalm 50:20-21

Context: God reproves the wicked, setting their sins in order before them.

Nahum 1:3

Context: The Lord is slow to anger and will not acquit the wicked.

Deuteronomy 7:9-10

Context: God repays those who hate Him to their face.

Romans 9:21-22

Context: God endures vessels of wrath to show His wrath and make His power known.

Historical References

Terri Schiavo case

Context: Mentioned as an example of legalized murder and judges thumbing their noses at God.

Lester Roloff

Context: Story of Brother Roloff's response to government authorities about submitting to higher powers.

Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther

Context: Anecdote during the Reformation where Luther told Melanchthon to cease trying to rule the world.

Important Quotes

We want God to pay attention to our plans, our needs, our wants, and our desires, and yet the truth of the matter is we willingly ignore His word, His plan, His will, and His desires.

Significance: Summarizes the human tendency to demand God's attention while neglecting our duty to Him.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they.

Significance: The key verse of the sermon, providing the command and the reason for not being amazed at injustice.

He that is higher than the highest regardeth.

Significance: Emphasizes God's sovereign oversight over all earthly powers.

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Significance: Explains that God allows only enough wickedness to ultimately bring Him glory.

Let Philip Melanchthon cease to rule the world and all shall be well.

Significance: Illustrates the need for believers to stop trying to control everything and trust God's sovereignty.

Discussion Questions

In what ways do we subtly blame God for not paying attention to our lives, similar to Martha in John 11:21?

Context: The sermon discusses how we often blame God for our troubles instead of taking personal responsibility.

Why does God command us not to marvel or be astounded when we see oppression and injustice?

Context: Ecclesiastes 5:8 gives the prohibition and the reason: God is higher and regards.

How does the emphasis on keeping our words and vows in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 relate to the issue of injustice in verse 8?

Context: The sermon points out the disparity between God's demands on us and the apparent success of the wicked.

What does it mean that God 'regardeth' (shamar) the oppression and perversion of justice?

Context: The Hebrew word implies keeping, guarding, or protecting; God is on sentry duty and will use the truth in judgment.

How can the truth that 'the wrath of man shall praise thee' help us when we are troubled by the prosperity of the wicked?

Context: Psalm 76:10 is given as the first reason God allows wickedness to continue.

What is the balance between fulfilling our responsibilities to cry out against sin and trusting God's sovereign control?

Context: The sermon concludes with the application to do our duty and be content to let God work everything out.

Applications

Focus on your own obedience rather than trying to run the world.

Summary: Believers should pay attention to their own business—keeping their words, vows, and duties—and trust God to handle the judgment of the wicked.

Evidence: He is telling us that we need to pay attention to our business. And let him pay attention to his business. ... We cannot be content to do our duty. We want to run the world as well.

Trust God's sovereignty when you see injustice.

Summary: When we observe oppression and perverted justice, we should not be consumed with worry or anger, but remember that God is higher and will repay.

Evidence: God is on the throne of this universe working everything out after the counsel of his own will. ... We must realize that he is in control.

Be careful with your words and vows before God.

Summary: The context of Ecclesiastes 5 calls for reverence in speech, especially in making vows, recognizing God's majesty and our position as creatures.

Evidence: Be not rash with thy mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth.

Do not envy the prosperity of the wicked.

Summary: Like Asaph in Psalm 73, we must remember the end of the wicked and trust that God's justice will prevail, even if it seems delayed.

Evidence: When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me: Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:19:14Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:53:41Z

Clean Transcript

Who's Paying Attention

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Today we're dealing with Ecclesiastes chapter 5, verses 1 through 8, and the title of the message is, "Who's Paying Attention?" Who's Paying Attention? Ecclesiastes chapter 5, right after the Song of Solomon, you have the book of Ecclesiastes, right before the book of Isaiah, or actually the Song of Solomon is after Ecclesiastes, then the book of Isaiah. So it's Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah. Okay, Ecclesiastes chapter 5, beginning there with verse 1.
#1 | 0:00 to 0:44 | cleaned
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it. For he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. Better it is that thou shouldst not vow, than thou shouldst vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands? For in the multitude of dreams, in many words there are also diverse vanities, but fear thou God."
#2 | 0:44 to 1:44 | cleaned
"If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they." How many times have we said to our children, to our spouses, and to our friends, "You're not paying attention." You know, occasionally Alice will say, "You're not paying attention," or something like that.
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You'll catch that in a minute, okay? No, we laugh because if I'm studying, if I've got something on my mind, she can come into the room and she'll be sitting there talking to me and all of a sudden she'll say, "You haven't heard a word that I've said, have you?" And I'll look, I'll say, "Pardon? What was that?" Well, the truth is, we always say to each other, "You're not paying attention." And you don't know how many times as pastor, I wanted to single individuals out and say, "You're not paying attention." Because the truth of the matter is you usually can look at people and tell whether or not they're listening and whether or not they're paying attention.
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But you see, even on some occasions, we demand that others pay attention to us. And if they do not give us the attention that we think that we deserve, then our, quote, "feelings are hurt," end quote. And of course, even though we demand that others pay attention to us, we do not necessarily think that we need to reciprocate and pay attention to what they have to say as well.
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And the problem is this: that many times we carry this "not paying attention" concept into the spiritual realm and often blame God for things that happen to us because if He really cared, He would have been paying more attention and not have allowed those things to happen in our lives. And when we do that then, when we begin to question His love, concern, and goodness, we then begin to ask the question, "Why, Lord?"
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"Why is this happening to me? Why am I going through this? Why must I suffer?"
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Now, let me just tell you that there is indeed a difference between asking the Lord "why" in order to bring our lives more in conformity to His word, in order to understand His purpose and will for our lives, in order that we may be more holy and more godly, than in questioning God in a blame-shifting manner. So, there is a difference then between asking, "Why, Lord?" so that we may be obedient, and "Why, Lord?" rather than asking in a blame-shifting condemnation and complaint.
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Now, and we can do this very subtly. I want you to hold Ecclesiastes 5, but look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 11. Everyone knows a story about our Lord and his friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Now, of course, you remember how Lazarus was sick. Our Lord knew that he was sick and he stayed away purposefully and deliberately until Lazarus had died. And he did that that he might raise him from the dead, the scripture tells us. But I want you to note what was said by Martha in John 11 and verse 21. I want you to see this kind of blame-shifting condemnation that is placed upon our Lord by Martha. Look in John 11 and verse 21, if you would please. "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Now look at that. "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." It was a subtle way of blaming Christ for the death of Lazarus.
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In other words, what she was saying basically was this: "Lord, you were our friend. You are our friend. You have an obligation to us. And Lord, you failed that obligation. Had you been here, like a good friend should have, then my brother would not have died." Isn't it absolutely amazing that we hardly ever blame anything on sin, Satan, disobedience, rebellion, or the lack of our own personal responsibility? We normally bring and blame everything upon God. It's God's fault.
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Because He should have been paying more attention. And then we begin to reason, "Well, after all, God is the one that allowed sin into the world. And therefore everything is his fault."
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Now that is certainly how unbelievers think and unhappily that is even how some professing Christians think. You see, we want God to pay attention to our plans, our needs, our wants, and our desires, and yet the truth of the matter is we willingly ignore His word, His plan, His will, and His desires. In other words, we want God to give us the attention that we think we deserve, but we're not willing to give Him the attention that He deserves.
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Can you say spoiled, selfish, rebellious? Now, while most people blame God for everything, you might as well go ahead and blame Him for everything under the sun. I have heard people argue, I have heard people ask, "Well, why does God allow Christians to suffer? Why does God allow babies to die? Why does God allow old folks to suffer? Why do wars occur? Why do tragedies strike? Why does death happen? Why do catastrophes happen?" I mean, if you're going to blame God, go ahead and blame Him for everything.
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Now, you understand I'm speaking facetiously. But here's what we're thinking. We're really thinking the problem is God's just not really paying attention. What we're really thinking is this: If we only had a God who would cooperate with us and do what we wanted done, well, things would work out, wouldn't they? Because the truth of the matter is this, we think that our wisdom, our compassion, our concern, and our knowledge is what needs to be applied. And if God would just listen to us and do things the way we want them done, well, things would just simply work out differently. The problem that we think that we have with God is He's just not paying attention.
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Now, I'm going to show you Ecclesiastes chapter 5 lays out some very important truths. And these truths are truths that we need to consider, especially in light of today's events. Now, I'm going to deal just primarily with verse 8. That is the verse. Verse 8. Look in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 8. Now, I'm going to go back and pick up the context in just a moment. But look in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 8.
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"If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they."
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Now, first of all, I want you to note the proposition. The proposition is very simple. "If thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province," let me tell you something. In our day and time, we do not need to read that "if thou seest the oppression of the poor." We just need to read it "when thou seest the oppression of the poor." And when you see the perverting of justice and judgment.
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Because all you have to do is open your eyes. It is literally everywhere. We have a banking and usury system that is designed to steal from everyone, including the poor. We have a judicial system that believes it's answerable to no one, including God himself. We have a bureaucratic, despotic, and tyrannical government that has exceeded its constitutional authority thousands of times and constantly and continually tramples innocent citizens under its feet. It's not "if" you see it, it's "when" you see it, because it is literally everywhere.
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We think of individuals that we know personally that have been trampled upon by bureaucracy and tyranny. We think of poor that we know that have been trampled upon. I want you to understand, here are two principles that are enunciated very clearly in the Bible. Now I want you to hold Ecclesiastes 5. But I want you to follow me because when God talks about the oppression of the poor, when God talks about the perverting of justice and judgment, He's talking about two principles that are given to us very plainly in the Bible, and those principles are not to be violated.
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Look in your Bibles, first of all, to Deuteronomy chapter 15. Let's go there first. I'm going to just simply deal with the oppression of the poor, and then we're going to take the perverting of judgment and justice. Look in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 15. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 7. Notice what God says to the people. Deuteronomy, chapter 15, beginning there with verse 7. Deuteronomy 15, verse 7. "If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates of the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, now watch, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth." Now look what God says, "...beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release is at hand, and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught, and he cryeth unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee."
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Now look what God says in verse 7. If there's a poor man in the land, that's your brother now. We're not talking about strangers. We're not talking about people that we do not know. We're talking about our brothers. He said, and notice in verse 7, "thou shalt not harden thy heart toward him." In other words, if he's got a need, we take care of it.
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Now in the context, let me tell you what it was. In the Bible, under the Old Testament, every seven years, debts were to be forgiven. So let's say that Tom is a poor brother. Let's say I'm a rich brother. I'm not. But let's say that just for argument. And Tom comes to me and it happens to be the sixth year, the tenth month. Just two more months to the year of release. And he comes to me and says, "Now, Pastor, my wife's hungry. My kid's hungry.
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I don't have any money to pay my rent. And I need to borrow a thousand dollars." And I look at him and I said, "I guess you do. I'd like to borrow a couple thousand like that myself, because in two months I won't have to pay it back."
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Now, boy, you're not getting a penny from me. Now, look what God says. God said, "You shall not harden your heart toward your poor brother. You give him what he needs." God says, "No, you can't do that." In other words, He forbids the oppression of the poor. Look in Psalm 41, beginning there with verse one. Psalm 41, and let's read verses one through three. Psalm 41, beginning there with verse one. Look what God says. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor.
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The Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble." I hope you see that. If you're merciful and deliver someone else in the time of trouble, God said I'll be merciful and deliver you in the time of trouble. "The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth and thou wilt not deliver him into the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing. Thou wilt make all of his bed in his sickness." Isn't that amazing? God said, if you're merciful to the poor, I'll be merciful to you. I'll preserve you. I'll bless you.
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Look in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 31. I'm just showing you how the Bible forbids over and over the oppression of the poor. Notice in Proverbs chapter 14 verse 31. Look what the Bible says. "He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his maker, but he that honoreth him hath mercy upon the poor." Now God says when you oppress the poor, you're reproaching the poor's maker. That is, you're reproaching God. But God said if you have mercy upon the poor, then you're honoring God. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Proverbs 17 and verse 5. Proverbs 17, verse 5. Here it is again. "Whoso mocketh the poor reproaches his maker, and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished."
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So you cannot take a proud, arrogant, haughty attitude toward the poor. Look in Proverbs 19 and verse 17. "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which is given will he pay him again." So the Bible said he that hath pity upon the poor does what? He lends unto the Lord, and that which he gives the Lord will pay him back again.
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In other words, you're not going to out-give God. Look in Proverbs 21 and verse 13. Proverbs 21 verse 13, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." God says you don't hear the cry of the poor. When you cry, I don't hear you. Look in Proverbs 22 and verse 16. "He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches and he that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want." So God is forbidding the oppression of the poor. One last one. Look in Proverbs 30 and verse 14. Proverbs 30 verse 14. God talks about the wickedness of man. He says, "There is a generation whose teeth are his swords and their jaw teeth knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from among men." I could multiply these scriptures, but I've given you enough to know that over and over, God condemns the oppression of the poor. He condemns the ridiculing of the poor. He condemns the hardening of your heart for the poor.
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God condemns the reproaching of the poor. Now look in your Bibles very quickly to Deuteronomy chapter one, because I want you to see also that God also condemns the perversion of justice and judgment. Go back and we'll only look at four passages, but Deuteronomy chapter one, and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Deuteronomy one, verse 16, and I'll show you very quickly from the Bible why God established judges to begin with. Deuteronomy chapter one, verse 16. God says, "And I charge your judges at that time saying, hear the causes between your brethren." I'll look carefully.
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"and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him, you shall not respect persons in judgment, but you shall hear the small as the great, you shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's, and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it to me, and I will hear it." Now Moses is instructing those judges under God, but he said in verse 17, "for the judgment is God's."
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Now what is the supreme responsibility of a person who is judge? To judge for God. How can you judge for God unless you judge according to God's law? How can you judge for God unless you judge righteously? So he's saying, here is why I've instituted the judges.
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Now look in your Bibles to Proverbs 17 and verse 15. I want you to see what God condemns. Proverbs 17, verse 15. Proverbs 17, verse 15. Look what God says. Proverbs 17, verse 15. "He that justified the wicked and he that condemned the just, even they both are an abomination to the Lord." Now, remember, an abomination is a stench in the nostrils. God says the judge that will justify the wicked and the judge that will condemn the just is a stench in the nostrils of God. God condemns the perverting of justice. Look in Proverbs 24 and verse 14. Proverbs 24 verse 14.
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Proverbs 24, that's not really the verse I wanted, but it does apply. "So shall the knowledge and wisdom be in my soul when thou hast found it, then there shall be reward and my expectation shall not be cut off." Let me look at it. There was a verse there that dealt with judgment. That's exactly the verse I put down, but I don't see it right now. But turn right on over to Proverbs 31 and look at verse 9. I won't go there. This one is sufficient. Look what God says.
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"Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and the needy. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and the needy." I do not have to tell you that the oppression of the poor and the perverting of justice and judgment is wicked, wrong, ungodly, and rebellious. Yet you look around today in our society and you will find politicians, you'll find officers, you'll find judges who thumb their nose at God and say, "I don't care what you say."
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All you have to do is think of the Terri Schiavo case. And by the way, if you haven't figured it out, it was legalized murder. Anytime you withhold food and water like that, the woman was not on life support. She was not in a vegetative state. But you look around today and here are judges constantly and consistently thumbing their noses at God. Their rebellion is in plain sight.
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We see it every day. And if you don't see it, you're not listening. And you're not looking. How in the world can men be so perverted, so lustful, so selfish, so rebellious? How can they so willfully and so easily take advantage of the poor and the needy?
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Now, what does God say? Here's the proposition. When you go into a province, if you see the oppression of the poor, if you see the perversion of justice and judgment, and you're going to see it. That's the proposition. I want you to look, secondly, at the prohibition. This is what throws you. Look in Ecclesiastes chapter 5, verse 8. Look what he says. Ecclesiastes 5, verse 8. He says, "If thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. Marvel not at the matter." Here's the prohibition, "marvel not."
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Now, the Hebrew word for "marvel" is the word tamah, which means to be astounded, to be stunned, to be amazed, be dumbfounded. He says when you see it, don't stand there dumbfounded. Don't stand there amazed. In light of the wicked oppression of the poor, in light of the violent perversion of judgment and justice, God is saying that we should not stand there dumbfounded, stunned, amazed, marveling.
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Now, the question has got to be in everybody's mind, how in the world can we help but be shocked at such blatant rebellion? By the way, I hope you understand that that is why the majority of the people in this country are not shocked at the blatant rebellion because they don't even know what truth is. And they don't know what God requires. Well, once you know what God requires, you can see the blatant rebellion and God is saying, don't be dumbfounded, don't be astounded. It's almost like you'd better expect to see it.
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Now, anyone who believes in the doctrine of total depravity will quickly and readily understand how men could be so wicked and so vile and so rebellious. I want to tell you something. As bad as it is, and it is bad, if God removed his restraining hand, it would be a million times worse. The only reason it is not worse is because of God's restraining hand. Now, I want you to look at the context with me. And I want to begin to try to put this together for you and show you the argument that Solomon is making. If you look closely at Ecclesiastes chapter 5, you're going to see that the primary emphasis in this first part of the chapter is upon words. Our words. And especially words that relate to our vows. So look at verse 1.
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He says, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God. And be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they consider not that they do evil." You know, of course, that's good counsel for all of us. To be more ready to hear than to speak. So literally, it's what he's saying. Paraphrase good South Georgia lingo: "Watch your mouth." Okay, watch verse two now. "Be not rash with thy mouth." Now look. "Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven and thou upon earth, therefore, let thy words be few." So what is God admonishing us to do? We're to think carefully before we speak, especially in reference to vows.
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Do you not remember the New Testament, our Lord said that we will give an account for every idle word. Okay, so he says, "Don't be rash with your mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, thou upon the earth, therefore let thy words be few." In other words, recognize that you're the creature, he's the creator. Recognize that you're the servant, he's the master. Recognize that he's the king, you're the subject.
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Now, skip down to verse four.
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"Pay that which thou hast vowed." Now, God said, if you make a vow to me, you pay. And a vow does not necessarily involve money. I mean, it may or may not. You could vow to give the Lord a certain amount. And God said, if you do that, then you keep your vow. You could vow that you're going to do something else or not do something else. God said, if you make that vow to me, you keep your vow. "Defer not to pay it."
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Now, look what he says in verse five. "Better it is that thou shouldest not vow than thou shouldest vow and not pay."
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Now, God is saying no one is making you vow. No one is making you give a word to God, but when you give your word to God, He said you better pay it. It's better that you not vow than to vow and not pay. Look what he said in verse six. "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin." Words, don't make vows, don't say things that you don't intend to keep and that you don't intend to do. "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of thy hands?" God said you start lying and backpedaling, then I'll judge you.
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Now, in verse 8, he says, "If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in the province, marvel not at the matter." Now, I want you to note what is happening. God is saying and emphasizing in the first part of this chapter that we are to keep our word. We are to be men and women of integrity. And whatever we say, that's what we're going to do. Now, I want you to hold it. Please ask these five.
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I'm coming right back there. But turn back to Psalm 15. Let me just show you in this psalm once again, how God demands that our word be our bond, whatever we say we do. Now watch this. Psalm 15, beginning there with verse 1. We'll read all five verses. Very short psalm. I'm only going to emphasize one of them. But in Psalm 15, God is giving us a description of the godly man. He's giving us a description of the man who will abide with him. Watch. Psalm 15, verse 1. "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" So that's the question. Here's the answer.
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"He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart, he that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor, and whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord, here it is, he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent, for he that doeth these things shall never be moved." Note in verse four, "he that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not." What's he saying?
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Here's the man who's going to keep his word, even if he suffers for keeping his word. So if I make a deal with Henry, and then I find out I could have gotten a better price, I still have to keep my word toward him. Do you remember how God made the Israelites keep the covenant that they had made with the Gibeonites in Joshua chapter 9? Do you remember that? They were to destroy all those people in the land, and yet the Gibeonites put on all rotten clothes and took moldy bread and wine bottles and came to the Israelites. And the Israelites said, "Who are you?"
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"Oh, we be from a far country. We're way off. And we heard about your God and we want to enter into a covenant with you. We want to be one with you." "Well, how do we know that you're not from here in the land?" "Well," they said, "look at our clothes. They were new when we came. Look at our bread. It was fresh out of the oven." And of course, they deceived the Israelites and the Israelites made a covenant with them. No one checked with God. Then after they made the covenant, they found out that the Gibeonites were part of the Amorites that they were to destroy. And you know what God said? "You can't touch him.
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You gave him your word. You can't kill him." They did make them drawers of water and hewers of wood, but they were not allowed to kill him. God said, "You've given your word. Now you keep your word."
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Now, when you look in Ecclesiastes chapter 5, and I want you to go back there, when you look there in the first seven verses, basically the whole thrust is we are to keep our words. We're to keep our vows, we're to be men and women of our word. When you get to verse eight, he says, "If or when thou seest the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter." Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
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Do you see the disparity? Now, think about this. Think about this. God is demanding that we keep our attitudes, God is demanding that we keep our words and our actions, so the question automatically arises, if God is so fastidious concerning our attitudes, our actions, if he is so fastidious in making sure that we keep our word and do that which is right and holy, how then can God allow the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice, which is so prevalent and so open and so blasphemous? How could God allow that to happen? Do you see the disparity? I mean, he's so fastidious when it comes to us. He expects us to keep our tongues. He expects us to keep our words under control.
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And when you and I then look at the smallness of our sins as compared to the greatness of the sins of the wicked, the question has to come, how can God allow that? How can that go on? Now, I want you to look in Psalms 73. I want you to see that Asaph had the same problem. The same problem that Asaph experienced is the same problem that we're experiencing today. Now watch this closely.
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I wish I had time to preach on this passage. He says, "Truly, God is good to Israel, even as such as of a clean heart." So he gives you the conclusion right on the first verse. But then he goes on and says in verse two, watch carefully now, "But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped." Paraphrase, I nearly lost it. I nearly lost it. Why did he nearly lose it? Here's why.
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"For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Now stop and think. When I saw the prosperity of the wicked, look at the one-worlders. Look at the Bilderbergers. Look at the Rockefellers. Look at all those wicked men in the Illuminati. Just name it. Look at the multitudes of millions that they have. And then he said in verse four, "For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm."
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Looks like they're solidly in control. "They are not in trouble as other men. Neither are they plagued like other men." Seemingly, they don't have the problems that we have. What's the result? Look in verse six. "Therefore, pride compasseth them about as a chain. Violence covereth them as a garment."
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Now, he says in verse seven, "Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than the heart could wish." Here's a description of them. "They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens and their tongue walketh through the earth." They're not afraid to curse man nor God. "Therefore, as people return hither, and waters of a full cup are wrung out of them. And they say, here's the wicked. How does God know?"
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"And is there knowledge in the most high?" Look what he says. "Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world. They increase in riches." Now, note the disparity that he's recognizing, he says in verse 13, "Verily, I've cleansed my heart in vain. I've washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long I've been plagued and chastened every morning." He said, man, I look around at the wicked. They're prospering. They're successful. It looks like they're getting away with it and me.
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All I do is suffer. All I do is do without. Lord, I don't understand this. That's why he said in verse 16, "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me." Lord, here I am trying to do what's right, and I'm suffering and doing without, and I look over here, Lord, at this wicked, ungodly reprobate. His eyes stand out in fatness. He has more than his heart can wish. He hates you. He despises you. He reproaches the poor. He perverts judgment.
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It doesn't matter to him. And look at me. I love you, I want to honor you, I want to serve you, and I'm suffering in doing that. "When I thought to know this," he said, "it was too painful for me." Now, I want to go ahead and give you this. He said in verse 17, "Until I went in the sanctuary of God, then understood I their end." He said, when I found out what was going to happen to the wicked, I'd much rather be poor and suffering.
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Because, he says, "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places, thou castest them down in destruction, how they are brought into desolations, as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors, as a dream when one awakeneth so, Lord, when thou awakenest thou shalt despise their image." God, you will destroy them.
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Now, I want you to go back to Ecclesiastes chapter 5. Watch this carefully. Asaph was in the same position in Psalm 73 that we're in today. You have a proposition. We have a prohibition. God says don't marvel. Don't stand dumbfounded when you see this. Look in verse 8, because here's the third thing: the preeminent one. He says in verse 8, "If thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter." Why? Why should we not be dumbfounded, amazed and astounded? Here's why.
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"For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they." God says, I am the sovereign. I am the preeminent one. I'm higher than they are, and I am paying attention. I regard everything that they're doing.
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Now listen to me carefully, folks. Have you understood that nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of God? He is omniscient. The Bible says in Proverbs 15 and verse 3, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good." It's not just good that God sees. He sees the evil as well. That's why the Bible tells us in Hebrews 4 and verse 13, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight. But all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." God sees clearly and accurately and truly. He knows the motives. He knows the intents as well as the actions. Nothing escapes His notice. Nothing can be hidden from Him. Nothing is forgotten by Him. In Daniel 2 and verse 22, the Bible says, "He knoweth what is in darkness." And the Bible in Ezekiel 11 verse 5 says, when God said, "For I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." God even knows what we think and what we don't think.
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Absolutely nothing can be hidden from God. Do you realize? No human eye. The hellhound murdered his brother. But his maker witnessed the crime, and called Cain into account. Sarah may laugh derisively in her tent, and say, "Verily, I laugh not." But God heard her, and He said, "Verily, you did laugh." Yes, Achan stole a wedge of gold, and carefully hid it under his tent. But God saw it, and brought it to light. David went to great pains to cover his sins, and yet God uncovered them and brought him into account. That's why the Bible says in Numbers 32 and verse 23, "Be sure your sins will find you out." Now listen, there's absolutely no one higher than God.
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The highest of the high regardeth. In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles, hold Ecclesiastes, but turn right over just a few passages to Isaiah 43. Let me just show you that God is God alone. Isaiah 43. Isaiah 43. Notice verse 11. "I, even I, am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior." And then if you look at Isaiah 44 and verse 8, look what God says. I like this. Isaiah 44, verse 8, God says, "Fear you not, neither be afraid. Have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it, you are even my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Yea, there is no God. I know not any." There's no other God but the one true and living God. And I like the way Ecclesiastes 5 in verse 8 says this, "For he that is higher than the highest regardeth it."
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One of my favorite stories is about Lester Roloff, bless his heart. He was a dear, dear brother. But when the government was trying to make him take a license for his homes, it was the Family and Children Services. He went down to see them and he said, "No, I can't do that." And the lady says, "Now, Brother Roloff, you know the Bible says that you're to submit to the higher authorities." He looked at her, he said, "Ma'am, I have no trouble submitting to the higher authorities. It's you lower authorities that's giving me this." And that's a fact. But there is one higher than the highest. So no matter how high you are in authority in this life, in this earth, there's always someone higher than you. And that someone is the sovereign of the universe. And the Bible says he regardeth it. He's the sovereign, he is the absolute, he is the ultimate.
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Now, I want you to look at this word "regardeth" in verse eight. I like this: "for he that is higher than the highest regardeth." That is, God not only sees what he considers. And it's even more than that. Because the Hebrew word for the word "regardeth" is the word shamar, which in many instances is translated as keep, guard, or protect. So here the application is very simple. God himself is the divine picket. God himself is on sentry duty. God will see, God will observe, God will keep and gather the truth and use it against the wicked when he judges them. Look in your Bibles to Psalm 50. Let me show you what God tells the wicked. Look in Psalm 50 verses 20 and 21. He corrects them. He tells them.
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They may not believe it. They may not listen, but he tells them very plainly. Look in Psalm 50 verse 21. "These things hast thou done." He's talking to the wicked now. "These things hast thou done, and I kept silence. Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself." Lord, you thought I was like you. You thought I was forgetful. "But I will reprove thee and set them," that is, your sins, "in order, before thine eyes. Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." In Psalm 90 and verse 8, he said it very plainly, "Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins, in light of Thy countenance." Now let me tell you why God said marvel not. God said marvel not because the wicked shall not escape. The wicked shall not go unpunished. You know what he said in Nahum chapter 1 in verse 3?
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Let me just quote it. Listen to this verse. Nahum 1 verse 3. "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power. And will not at all acquit the wicked." He is slow to anger. He is great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked. And then, in light of that, let me ask that you just look in Deuteronomy 7, verses 8 and 9. I want you to see this. I've quoted it in time past, but in light of what I have been teaching and preaching, look in Deuteronomy 7 and let's read verses 8 and 9, just to show you that God is not embarrassed to judge the wicked. Deuteronomy 7, verse 8, let's begin verse 9. 9 and 10 is what I want. Deuteronomy 7 verse 9.
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"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him, and keepeth his commandments to a thousand generations. Watch, and repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him that hateth him. He will repay him to his face." God is not embarrassed to judge the wicked, I can assure you.
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Now, let me make some applications this morning. The first application is the one that you and I need to pay attention to. What in the world is God telling us in Ecclesiastes 5 verses 1-8? Are you listening? I'm going to summarize for you. He is telling us that we need to pay attention to our business. And let him pay attention to his business. You say, "What are you saying, Brother Weaver?" It's his business to punish the wicked. And he will.
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"Vengeance is mine," said the Lord, "I will repay." What is God telling me? I've got my hands full just taking care of my own business.
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Now that's not saying don't be concerned. But what I am trying to tell you is this. I have my responsibilities. You know what the Bible says in James 4 verse 17? "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." I've got to make sure that I do what is right. And God is telling me I do not need to pine, nor worry, nor be concerned that somehow the wicked will escape or get by with their evil deeds. God said they won't.
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I will take care of that. You know, the Bible says in Deuteronomy 29:29, listen carefully. "The secret things belong to the Lord our God. But the things that he has revealed," that's his word, "belong to us and our children forever." God's telling me I don't have to be concerned about the secret things. Those things belong to him. What I need to be concerned about is the things that he's revealed that I may be obedient. So he's telling us, first of all, we need to pay attention to our business. Secondly, listen carefully. Having said that, you cannot escape the reality that we still wonder how God allows such wicked, open, blatant rebellion. Listen, folks, I'm going to be absolutely honest with you.
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I've said it before and I'll say it again. If I was God, I would have killed me and a whole lot more other people a long time ago. You see what I'm saying? But I'm thankful I'm not God. We wonder how God permits wickedness to continue.
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Now I'm going to give you two biblical answers. If you're not satisfied with these two answers, all I can say is, number one, you need to search the scriptures for yourself to come up with additional answers. Or next, you may take it up with God himself. But here are the only two quick answers I can give you as to why God allows this wickedness to continue. Before I give you the first one, I want you to turn in your Bible to Psalm 76. I'm going to show it to you. Psalm 76 and verse 10. Here's the first answer. We see the wicked, blatant, open rebellion, and why God basically puts up with it, even temporarily. Here's the first answer to that. Psalm 76 and verse 10, here's the answer.
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Somehow, some way, the wickedness that happens will redound to God's honor and glory. It's just that simple. Look what he said in Psalm 76 in verse 10. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." Now let me tell you what that verse is saying. You know how much wickedness there's going to be in this world? Just enough that will ultimately redound to God's honor and God's glory. That which will not redound to his honor nor it will restrain, it will not happen.
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Now stop and think about this, folks. God can use a crooked stick to draw a straight line. God can use envy and hatred and jealousy to send a Joseph into Egypt to save his people. God can use immorality and harlotry to hide his spies and save his people. God can use the wicked, if he so chooses, to chastise his own people as he did in Isaiah 10.
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The only wickedness that is going to happen in this world is that which will ultimately redound to God's honor and God's glory. If there was no wickedness, folks, we would know nothing of God's patience, nothing of God's mercy, nothing of God's longsuffering, and nothing of God's justice. So the first answer, why does God put up with it? Why does God allow it? I can't give you all the explanation, but somehow, some way, somewhere, it will ultimately redound to His honor and His glory, and what will not He will not allow it to transpire.
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And let me tell you, while I'm on it, you remember in Genesis chapter 20, when Abimelech, the king, took Sarah, he was going to take her as his wife or as his concubine. She was Abraham's wife. And you know what God said to Abimelech? He came to Abimelech in a dream by night. He said, "If you touch her, you're a dead man. I'll kill you. Because she's another man's wife." And Abimelech said, "Lord, I have not come near her.
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In the innocency of my heart, have I done this? Said he not to me, she is my sister. Said she not, he is my brother." And guess what the Lord said? "Yea, I know it. Therefore, I restrained thee from touching her." Now, I don't know what God did. Maybe He gave him a case of the 24-hour virus. I don't know what He did. But he didn't come near Sarah. It would not have brought honor on the Lord for Sarah to be defiled since she was going to be part of the lineage of Christ. And God restrained it. God can restrain whatever he chooses. And he will restrain what will not bring him honor.
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Now, if you look in Acts chapter 9 very quickly, Acts chapter 9, you say, "But Brother Weaver, you don't understand. Some of this wickedness that God allows, that means Christians have to suffer." Yes, it does. Yes, it does. But I want you to look at what God said concerning Saul of Tarsus. Look at Acts chapter 9, very quickly, verse 15. After Ananias kind of protested, he didn't want to have anything to do with Saul. God says to him in verse 15, "But the Lord said unto him," that is to Ananias, "Go thy way." That is, you do what I tell you, Ananias, "for he," that is Saul, "is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel, for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."
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So suffering is part and parcel of our privilege. The Bible says in Philippians 1 in verse 29, "It is given to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." So the very fact that God's people have to suffer does not mean that even that suffering will not redound to God's honor and God's glory. It shall. And here's the second reason. If you look in Romans chapter nine very quickly, verses 21 and 22. Here's the second reason God allows them to continue temporarily. Look at it. Romans 9 verse 21. I wish I had time to go over this entire passage, but here's Paul's argument. Romans 9 verse 21, "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? What if God willing to show His wrath?"
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Do you see this now? "What if God willing to show His wrath and to make His power known endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?" God says, let me tell you something. Those vessels fitted for destruction, they will be the recipients of my wrath and my power. And I will endure their blasphemy and sacrilege temporarily so I can show the greatness of my wrath and my power. Why does God let them go? Because they are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath.
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Thirdly, very quickly, proud, haughty, arrogant rulers, judges, and monarchs of this world will soon discover the same truth that Nebuchadnezzar discovered in Daniel 4 verse 37. You know what he confessed? Listen to what he said. "Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth and His ways judgment. And those that walk in pride, He's able to abase." What did Nebuchadnezzar have to confess?
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He knows how to cut men down to size. And I got news for you. All of these wicked judges, rulers, politicians, will be cut down to size. Here's the last application. Another important truth that you and I must remember in light of this is that God is on the throne of this universe working everything out after the counsel of his own will. God is on the throne working everything out after the counsel of his own will. If everything is going wrong, then it is going wrong just right. Because God is working it out. He is in control. He is the judge. Now that does not mean that we must not fulfill our responsibilities.
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We have a duty to cry out against sin and wickedness. We have a duty and responsibility to do everything our Lord commands us. We cannot shirk any of our responsibilities. We must occupy till he comes. We must lift up our voices and cry aloud like a trumpet. We must do everything that God tells us to do. But at the same time, we must realize that he is in control.
#90 | 1:04:29 to 1:04:57 | cleaned
Let me tell you what our problem really is. And I will confess this part of my problem as well as your problem. Our problem really is this. We cannot be content to do our duty. We want to run the world as well. Arthur W. Pink said one reason we don't like the Pope is because we want to be the Pope ourselves. Let me show you what I mean.
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And I'll close with this. Once during the Reformation, when things were not going well, Philip Melanchthon, who was the successor to Martin Luther, was pacing back and forth wringing his hands in Luther's presence. And Philip Melanchthon said, "O Luther, O Luther, O Luther, what shall we do? It appears that all is lost." Luther looked up from his desk at Melanchthon and said, "Let Philip Melanchthon cease to rule the world and all shall be well."
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We must learn to do our duty and be content to let God work everything out. Let's pray. Father, speak to our heart. Help us, Lord. Teach us thy word, teach us thy truth, and give us grace that we may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:19:14Z

Who's Paying Attention

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver expounds Ecclesiastes 5:1-8, emphasizing that while God demands our careful attention to our words and vows, we often blame Him for not paying attention to our desires. He explains that when we see oppression and perversion of justice, we should not be amazed, because the sovereign God is higher than the highest and is paying attention, and He will judge the wicked in His time. The sermon calls believers to focus on their own obedience and trust God's sovereign control.

Introduction: The Problem of Not Paying Attention

We often accuse others of not paying attention, and we carry this into our relationship with God, blaming Him for not paying attention to our plans and desires.

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:1-8

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it. For he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. Better it is that thou shouldst not vow, than thou shouldst vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands? For in the multitude of dreams, in many words there are also diverse vanities, but fear thou God."

The Blame-Shifting Condemnation of God

Using Martha's words in John 11:21, Weaver illustrates how we subtly blame God for our troubles, rather than taking personal responsibility.

The Proposition: When You See Oppression and Perversion of Justice

Ecclesiastes 5:8 describes the reality of oppression and perverted justice, which is evident everywhere in our society.

"If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they." Now, first of all, I want you to note the proposition. The proposition is very simple. "If thou seest the oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province," let me tell you something. In our day and time, we do not need to read that "if thou seest the oppression of the poor." We just need to read it "when thou seest the oppression of the poor." And when you see the perverting of justice and judgment. Because all you have to do is open your eyes. It is literally everywhere. We have a banking and usury system that is designed to steal from everyone, including the poor. We have a judicial system that believes it's answerable to no one, including God himself. We have a bureaucratic, despotic, and tyrannical government that has exceeded its constitutional authority thousands of times and constantly and continually tramples innocent citizens under its feet. It's not "if" you see it, it's "when" you see it, because it is literally everywhere.

Biblical Condemnation of Oppressing the Poor and Perverting Justice

Scripture repeatedly forbids the oppression of the poor and the perversion of justice, showing God's heart for righteousness.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 15:7-9

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates of the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, now watch, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth."

Now look what God says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 15:7-9

"...beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release is at hand, and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught, and he cryeth unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 14:31

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his maker, but he that honoreth him hath mercy upon the poor."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 21:13

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

The Prohibition: Marvel Not

God commands us not to be astounded or dumbfounded when we see such wickedness, because it is to be expected in a fallen world.

The Context: Keeping Our Words and Vows

The first part of Ecclesiastes 5 emphasizes the importance of keeping our words and vows, highlighting the disparity between God's demands on us and the apparent success of the wicked.

Now, skip down to verse four.

You gave him your word. You can't kill him." They did make them drawers of water and hewers of wood, but they were not allowed to kill him. God said, "You've given your word. Now you keep your word."

The Preeminent One: God is Higher and Regards

The reason we should not marvel is that God, who is higher than the highest, sees and regards everything; He is the sovereign judge who will repay.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 43:11; 44:8

"I, even I, am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior."

Applications: Pay Attention to Your Own Business and Trust God's Sovereignty

We are to focus on our own obedience and responsibilities, trusting that God will handle the wicked in His time and for His glory.

Who's Paying Attention

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	4805125659
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2005-04-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 134: Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification - Volume 1 — Chapter 4
Source Timed Segments	93

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Problem of Not Paying Attention: We often accuse others of not paying attention, and we carry this into our relationship with God, blaming Him for not paying attention to our plans and desires.
The Blame-Shifting Condemnation of God: Using Martha's words in John 11:21, Weaver illustrates how we subtly blame God for our troubles, rather than taking personal responsibility.
The Proposition: When You See Oppression and Perversion of Justice: Ecclesiastes 5:8 describes the reality of oppression and perverted justice, which is evident everywhere in our society.
Biblical Condemnation of Oppressing the Poor and Perverting Justice: Scripture repeatedly forbids the oppression of the poor and the perversion of justice, showing God's heart for righteousness.
The Prohibition: Marvel Not: God commands us not to be astounded or dumbfounded when we see such wickedness, because it is to be expected in a fallen world.
The Context: Keeping Our Words and Vows: The first part of Ecclesiastes 5 emphasizes the importance of keeping our words and vows, highlighting the disparity between God's demands on us and the apparent success of the wicked.
The Preeminent One: God is Higher and Regards: The reason we should not marvel is that God, who is higher than the highest, sees and regards everything; He is the sovereign judge who will repay.
Applications: Pay Attention to Your Own Business and Trust God's Sovereignty: We are to focus on our own obedience and responsibilities, trusting that God will handle the wicked in His time and for His glory.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

We blame God for not paying attention, but we ignore His word.

People often accuse God of not caring or paying attention when things go wrong, yet they themselves fail to give God the attention He deserves by obeying His word.

We want God to pay attention to our plans, needs, our wants, and our desires, and yet the truth of the matter is we willingly ignore His word, His plan, His will, and His desires.

God commands us not to marvel at oppression and injustice.

Ecclesiastes 5:8 instructs believers not to be astounded when they see oppression and perverted justice, because such wickedness is to be expected in a fallen world.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter.

The disparity between God's demands on us and the success of the wicked is resolved by God's sovereignty.

While God demands our integrity and obedience, the apparent prosperity of the wicked raises the question of God's justice; the answer is that God is higher and will judge.

Do you see the disparity? ... How can God allow that? ... For he that is higher than the highest regardeth.

God sees all and will repay the wicked.

Nothing escapes God's notice; He is omniscient and will bring every deed into judgment. The wicked may seem to get away with evil, but they will not escape.

Proverbs 15:3: 'The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.' Nahum 1:3: 'will not at all acquit the wicked.'

God allows wickedness to continue for His glory and to display His wrath.

Two biblical reasons for God's temporary allowance of evil: it will ultimately redound to His praise, and He endures vessels of wrath to show His power and justice.

Psalm 76:10: 'Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee.' Romans 9:22: 'What if God, willing to shew his wrath... endured... the vessels of wrath.'

Believers must focus on their own duty and trust God's control.

Instead of trying to 'rule the world,' Christians should be content to do their God-given duties and trust that God is working everything out according to His will.

We cannot be content to do our duty. We want to run the world as well. ... Let Philip Melanchthon cease to rule the world and all shall be well.

Scripture References

Ecclesiastes 5:1-8: The primary text of the sermon, emphasizing careful speech, keeping vows, and not marveling at oppression because God is sovereign.
John 11:21: Martha's subtle blame of Jesus for Lazarus's death, illustrating how we blame God for not paying attention.
Deuteronomy 15:7-9: God's command not to harden the heart against the poor brother, forbidding oppression of the poor.
Psalm 41:1-3: Blessing on those who consider the poor; God delivers them in trouble.
Proverbs 14:31: Oppressing the poor reproaches God; having mercy on the poor honors Him.
Proverbs 17:5: Mocking the poor reproaches one's Maker.
Proverbs 19:17: Pity on the poor is lending to the Lord, who will repay.
Proverbs 21:13: Stopping ears at the cry of the poor results in one's own cry not being heard.
Proverbs 22:16: Oppressing the poor to increase riches leads to want.
Proverbs 30:14: A generation whose teeth are swords to devour the poor.
Deuteronomy 1:16-17: Judges are to judge righteously, not respecting persons, for judgment is God's.
Proverbs 17:15: Justifying the wicked and condemning the just are both an abomination to the Lord.
Proverbs 31:9: Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Psalm 15:1-5: Description of the godly man who keeps his word even to his own hurt.
Psalm 73:1-20: Asaph's struggle with the prosperity of the wicked and his realization of their end.
Isaiah 43:11; 44:8: God alone is God; there is no other.
Psalm 50:20-21: God reproves the wicked, setting their sins in order before them.
Nahum 1:3: The Lord is slow to anger and will not acquit the wicked.
Deuteronomy 7:9-10: God repays those who hate Him to their face.
Romans 9:21-22: God endures vessels of wrath to show His wrath and make His power known.

Historical References

Terri Schiavo case: Mentioned as an example of legalized murder and judges thumbing their noses at God.
Lester Roloff: Story of Brother Roloff's response to government authorities about submitting to higher powers.
Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther: Anecdote during the Reformation where Luther told Melanchthon to cease trying to rule the world.

Important Quotes

We want God to pay attention to our plans, our needs, our wants, and our desires, and yet the truth of the matter is we willingly ignore His word, His plan, His will, and His desires.

Summarizes the human tendency to demand God's attention while neglecting our duty to Him.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter. For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they.

The key verse of the sermon, providing the command and the reason for not being amazed at injustice.

He that is higher than the highest regardeth.

Emphasizes God's sovereign oversight over all earthly powers.

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Explains that God allows only enough wickedness to ultimately bring Him glory.

Let Philip Melanchthon cease to rule the world and all shall be well.

Illustrates the need for believers to stop trying to control everything and trust God's sovereignty.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways do we subtly blame God for not paying attention to our lives, similar to Martha in John 11:21?

[Context]

The sermon discusses how we often blame God for our troubles instead of taking personal responsibility.

[Question]

Why does God command us not to marvel or be astounded when we see oppression and injustice?

[Context]

Ecclesiastes 5:8 gives the prohibition and the reason: God is higher and regards.

[Question]

How does the emphasis on keeping our words and vows in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 relate to the issue of injustice in verse 8?

[Context]

The sermon points out the disparity between God's demands on us and the apparent success of the wicked.

[Question]

What does it mean that God 'regardeth' (shamar) the oppression and perversion of justice?

[Context]

The Hebrew word implies keeping, guarding, or protecting; God is on sentry duty and will use the truth in judgment.

[Question]

How can the truth that 'the wrath of man shall praise thee' help us when we are troubled by the prosperity of the wicked?

[Context]

Psalm 76:10 is given as the first reason God allows wickedness to continue.

[Question]

What is the balance between fulfilling our responsibilities to cry out against sin and trusting God's sovereign control?

[Context]

The sermon concludes with the application to do our duty and be content to let God work everything out.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:53:41Z