ECCLESIASTES 5.8-9

8.If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter [think it not strange]; for he that is higher than the highest regards, and there are higher than they [one official is eyes by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still].

9. Moreover the profit of the earth is for all; the king himself is served by the field.

As we re-focus of lives to become more God-centred, we will inevitably experience a growing concern for the well-being of other people and an increased sympathy for the sad plight of the majority of mankind – and a realization that we bear a responsibility to help them .

However, it will soon becomes apparent, despite the positive assurances of politicians and optimistic promises of progress, that the world-ruling system is intrinsically evil, depraved and hypocritical -- and the guidance Solomon seems to be giving us here is that although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, he is actually allowing that evil to exist, at least for the time being, for a reason and a season – so do not be surprised by what you observe and experience, especially if you are one of the poor, those who are so easily exploited and oppressed by their rulers and the rich.

The fact that Jesus tells us to pray: “Thy kingdom come -- [in order that] Thy will be done” seems to affirm the accuracy of Solomon’s assessment of the state of the world. The evil will continue until Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God that will rule over all nations (Revelation 2:27). The primary work of the Christian Church is not to try to convert the world (1 Corinthians 1:17), but to proclaim the good news, the “gospel”, of that coming Kingdom to the world, right up until the end (Matthew 24:14)

Perhaps it is the perverting of judgment and justice, over the centuries, backed up by violence, that has resulted in the poverty of the poor in so many parts and provinces of the world – in particular the theft of the fields which produce the food on which even kings must rely in order to stay alive – and also the natural resources that lie below the ground, the profit of the earth, riches that were intended for all to share. The concentration of land ownership in the hands of the wealthy few has been a major cause of the poverty of the poor – and the reduction of the masses to the status of insecure and dependent wage slaves a major tool of oppression. Do we actually see these things?

Perhaps James has these verses in mind when he issues a stern warning to the unrighteous rich who have violently oppressed and exploited the poor who worked in their fields, or factories, in order to hoard, Acquire and Accumulate wealth -- perverting justice, condemning and even murdering the laborers who opposed their evil actions in so doing (James 5:1-6). He then counsels Christians to be patient, pointing to the suffering of Job and the blessings that followed as an illustration of how the evil God allows can and will end in good (verses7-11) for the righteous. Notice, however, that James adds a sober warning to the wicked, Quote: “The Judge is standing at the door!” (verse 9) -- poised to intervene.

Such oppression was institutionalized in the ruling system of the Gentile world, as Jesus explains, when he says, in words reminiscent of Solomon, Quote: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them (Matthew 20:25-26).

That iron-clad system of oppression seems to be even more clearly described in the alternative translation of this section which reads: “One official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still” (verse 8).

Solomon may also be referring here to the organized angelic echelons, the spiritual powers of evil described in the last chapter of Ephesians, as we saw earlier, the invisible armies of opposition to the work of God – and perhaps Peter is offering an inspired spiritual interpretation of these verses when he tells Christians to think it not strange (1 Peter 4:12) when they find themselves fighting the same fiery battle of faith that Paul describes in Ephesians.

Jesus makes clear, however, that the oppressive rulers of this present world system, both human and angelic, will, at his return, be deposed and replaced by the saints, saying, Quote: “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

Describing the essential qualities required of those who will occupy positions of authority in that new world order, some over one city, some over five or ten, Jesus says, Quote: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the who serves” (Luke 22:25-26), adding that: “I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (verse 29).

Rebuking Christians at Corinth for their foolishness, Paul reminds them of this amazing calling and destiny, saying, Quote: “Do you not know that the saints (Christians) will judge the world . . . Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). Those who respond to this calling will, in the resurrection, rule on earth as kings and priests, thereby combining rather than separating Church and State (Revelation 5:10). As a matter of interest, when did you last hear these promises preached and proclaimed?