A Travesty Of Fate: Life Under The Sun!
Ecclesiastes 8:14
NIV
There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.
Great observations, great comments indeed! Life Under the Sun is complex and full of situations that do not make sense; one such situation is what the writer described—a mismatch.
What should go to the righteous rather goes to the wicked, and vice versa! Just pause and reflect; you’ll remember having seen or perhaps experienced this before. At least I have!
A scholarship instead of being awarded to a brilliant person rather went to a dull, not brilliant person because of “ connections”!
A position of trust that requires the holder to be wise went to an unwise, comedic character because he/she can play to the gallery!
A punishment that the wicked disloyal, lawless etc deserved was rather visited on the loyal, law-abiding because he had no one to speak on his behalf in a case that he/she brought a group for judgment.
As I was told by a friend “In a case of maltreatment brought by the cockroach to a court where the fowl is the judge ; he is guilty even if he is right !” Why? You can guess the answer and you are right.
On a lighter note, some have food but do not have the stomach to eat it; while others have the stomach but do not have food to eat!
Some have money, but do not know what to do with it, whereas others know what to do only lacking money!
Again, some have ideas but lack the opportunity, whereas others have the opportunity but lack ideas.
These are real-life situations; the writer of Ecclesiastes knew these firsthand hence his conclusion, meaningless, vanity and vexation!
The same we see around us every day. Some go hungry; others throw food away. Some find themselves in prison for a crime they never committed while the real culprits walk free.
Was the righteous Jesus not swapped for the wicked murderer Barabbas? It was done to Jesus; it will be done to you! This is the way of life under the Sun; nothing is perfect.
Beloved, life is not what you think it should be as the writer pointed out, there is travesty of justice, so develop a strong spirit so you can stand firm should these ever happen to you.
You’ll walk through the valley of rejection; you’ll be maligned, evil spoken of instead of being appreciated; expect these because that is what life under the Sun is about! It’s not easy, but let the following words be of comfort and assurance to you.
Ecclesiastes 8:12
NIV
Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
A thought to share!