Welcome to Day 2383 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Ecclesiastes 8:9-17 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2383 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2383 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. Today, we continue our expedition through the book of Ecclesiastes. We’ll be delving into Ecclesiastes 8:9-17 from the New Living Translation. These verses provide deep insights into the perplexities of life, the problem of injustice, and the ultimate pursuit of understanding. Let’s embark on this trek together and uncover the timeless truths that Solomon shares with us. Ecclesiastes 8:9-17 (NLT): 9 I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. 10 I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. 11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. 12 But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. 13 The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows. 14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless! 15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun. 16 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim. The Perplexity of Injustice: Solomon starts this passage by reflecting on the injustice and the power dynamics that people face “under the sun.” In verse 9, he states, “I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other.” This acknowledges a harsh reality of human existence—the ability and propensity for people to harm one another. It’s a sobering reminder of the fallen nature of humanity and the complexities we navigate in our relationships and society. In verse 10, Solomon observes a troubling phenomenon: “I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless.” Here, he grapples with...
