Ecc 10:19 | KingComments | STEP | When God gives a lad to a land as king, it is because in that way He wants to chastise an ungrateful and wicked people ( ; ). ‘Lad’ does not necessarily refer to the age, but to slackness and much more to inability and inexperience (cf. ). A child does not have any awareness of its own incompetence, but on the contrary thinks to be able to do anything. Such a leader of the nation is surrounded by “princes” who “feast in the morning” (cf. ) instead of obeying God’s command: “Administer justice every morning” ( ). The Preacher pronounces the “woe” over a land with such rulers. A land with a king who is worthy to be king and to eat food at an appropriate time with princes to be able to function properly and not for the satisfaction of their needs, is a “blessed” land ( ). With them there is self-control with a view to a good leadership. A blessed land is certainly also the heavenly land, where the believer is allowed to be, for it is ruled by a perfect King. When officials do not do their work properly, the government system will collapse ( ). There is no interrelationship. They do not stick together. If there is no maintenance on a house, there will be holes in that house, so that the world can enter in. It starts with little cracks, which, however, get bigger and bigger if nothing is done about it. The big indolence and slackness of hands that cause the people to fragment are the result of a life in enjoyment ( ). The feast in the morning is intended for their own pleasure. The wine flows richly. They withdraw the money for paying these binges from the taxes that the people pay or by the bribes they gladly accept, to turn a blind eye to unfair practices. Also by falsely submitted declarations they make some money to cover the costs of their excessive lifestyle. exhorts us to calm down and not become angry when the government does something that does not please us. The connection with the previous verse may be that we criticize the wastefulness of the rulers. The wise man should not fall into foolish comments of displeasure. Despite all misbehaviors we must honor the government as an institution of God ( ). Other people’s sin does not give anyone the right to sin as well. On the contrary, we are called to pray for the government ( ). The rulers are hypersensitive to murmur and rumors. They have their spies everywhere who tell them what is said about them among the people. Even for this reason it is wise not to express our displeasure loudly about the rulers of the land. We will not run that risk if even in our thoughts we do not criticize them. God also knows our thoughts about the governments that have been appointed by Him. Let us watch out that we remain to consider them in agreement with what He says to us about that in His Word.

‏ Ecclesiastes 10:19

Rulers Are a Blessing or a Curse

When God gives a lad to a land as king, it is because in that way He wants to chastise an ungrateful and wicked people (Ecc 10:16; Isa 3:4 ; 12). ‘Lad’ does not necessarily refer to the age, but to slackness and much more to inability and inexperience (cf. 1Kgs 3:7). A child does not have any awareness of its own incompetence, but on the contrary thinks to be able to do anything. Such a leader of the nation is surrounded by “princes” who “feast in the morning” (cf. Isa 5:11) instead of obeying God’s command: “Administer justice every morning” (Jer 21:12). The Preacher pronounces the “woe” over a land with such rulers.

A land with a king who is worthy to be king and to eat food at an appropriate time with princes to be able to function properly and not for the satisfaction of their needs, is a “blessed” land (Ecc 10:17). With them there is self-control with a view to a good leadership. A blessed land is certainly also the heavenly land, where the believer is allowed to be, for it is ruled by a perfect King.

When officials do not do their work properly, the government system will collapse (Ecc 10:18). There is no interrelationship. They do not stick together. If there is no maintenance on a house, there will be holes in that house, so that the world can enter in. It starts with little cracks, which, however, get bigger and bigger if nothing is done about it.

The big indolence and slackness of hands that cause the people to fragment are the result of a life in enjoyment (Ecc 10:19). The feast in the morning is intended for their own pleasure. The wine flows richly. They withdraw the money for paying these binges from the taxes that the people pay or by the bribes they gladly accept, to turn a blind eye to unfair practices. Also by falsely submitted declarations they make some money to cover the costs of their excessive lifestyle.

Ecc 10:20 exhorts us to calm down and not become angry when the government does something that does not please us. The connection with the previous verse may be that we criticize the wastefulness of the rulers. The wise man should not fall into foolish comments of displeasure. Despite all misbehaviors we must honor the government as an institution of God (Rom 13:1-7). Other people’s sin does not give anyone the right to sin as well. On the contrary, we are called to pray for the government (1Tim 2:1-4).

The rulers are hypersensitive to murmur and rumors. They have their spies everywhere who tell them what is said about them among the people. Even for this reason it is wise not to express our displeasure loudly about the rulers of the land. We will not run that risk if even in our thoughts we do not criticize them. God also knows our thoughts about the governments that have been appointed by Him. Let us watch out that we remain to consider them in agreement with what He says to us about that in His Word.