Often we struggle with superiors or government officials and the decisions or choices they make that negatively impact us. Here, Solomon offers wise counsel for responding to leaders and governing officials, even when they make unwise decisions. This discussion naturally leads to the fairness we witness in life. Often the wicked don't get what it seems they deserve, judgment or at least the consequences of their actions. This can be a great frustration for those who fear God and strive to live for him. Solomon offers us the encouragement that failures and shortcomings of human wisdom are not the final verdict, our God will justly judge all.
As Solomon writes Ecclesiastes, as the teacher (Qohelet), he expresses various aspects that everyone experiences in life. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon rehearses the frustration, futility, irony and fleeting nature of life. The difficulties that exist are described throughout Ecclesiastes as hevel or vanity (futility). This theme consistently appears throughout this wisdom literature. Together, all of these frustrations can be rightly engaged, only as we rightly engage God through his revealed word. God offers the perspective and strength that we need to endure the hardships, trials and frustrations that life presents. This is why Solomon calls everyone to fear God and to keep his commands – to follow his instructions. This will not take away the frustrations of life, but it does offer a proper framework by which view them.
