It doesn’t take long as one lives from day to day, before men begin to understand that life is difficult and often unjust. How should we react to the contradictions of life, when it appears that success seems to attend the wicked instead of the righteous? Should, for example, we merely stand by, when our leaders act with cruelty, unjustly imposing their wills upon their subjects without regret or mercy? Is there ever a time for just men to rebel? Even the philosophy of evolution so prevalent today, the survival of the fittest, betrays man’s presumed understanding of the life, which is lived from day to day, and such a philosophy seems to recommend taking justice and one’s presumed rights in one’s own hands. However, what is just, and what is right, and who gets to say? Many have even questioned the very existence of God, because of the injustice they see and, perhaps, experience, implying, if there is a God, man has the right to question what he does and why. What can be said of these things?
The Teacher begins this portion of his thesis by asking: “Who is like the wise man, and who knows the interpretation of a matter (H1697; dabar; Ecclesiastes 8:1)? The first question implies that there simply is no one like a wise man. He has no equal among other men. Who is like him? No one is his equal, because only the wise are able to give the interpretation of a matter. Only the wise are able to observe the circumstances of human affairs and relate them to the cycles of life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), which the Lord has sentenced men to involve themselves in (Ecclesiastes 1:13). The Hebrew word for matter or thing is the same used in Ecclesiastes 1:8 where he says: “All things are full of labor…” So the things in question concern the labors of men (cp. Ecclesiastes 1:13; 3:1-8).
At this point we need to consider another word: interpretation. There are scholars who will tell us that Solomon couldn’t be the writer of Ecclesiastes, because a later Chaldean word is used for interpretation (H6592; pesher). The problem with taking this argument as proof of their understanding is that it implies we would have to say Moses, the writer of the first five books of the Bible, must have been really arrogant and self-serving, because Numbers 12:3 says he was the meekest man on earth! It is better to understand that such a statement was made by Moses’ editor, probably Joshua, and likely the later Chaldean words found in Ecclesiastes are probably the work of a later editor, updating what Solomon wrote. It is like using a modern translation of the New Covenant text over the King James version. Some folks simply find it difficult to understand the King James English. Communication is all about understanding what’s said, so editing is important and needs to be considered, when interpreting the identity of an ancient author of a work like Ecclesiastes.
Next, the Teacher tells us: “…a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed” (Ecclesiastes 8:1). From the very beginning, the word of God shows an interest in a man’s face, his countenance. The text describes Cain’s anger with his brother by the change in the appearance of his face, and even the Lord asked him why he was angry by noting his countenance (Genesis 4:5-6). Moreover, Jacob was able to understand that his father-in-law was upset with him by the change in his countenance (Genesis 31:2, 5). Moses’ prayer for Israel was that the Lord would “make his face shine” upon Israel and be gracious unto them, and that he would “lift up his countenance” upon them and give them peace (Numbers 6:25-26). In other words, he prayed the Lord would find joy in them, but, if they rebelled against the Lord, he would judge them and bring “a nation of fierce countenance” upon them to destroy them (Deuteronomy 28:50).
In the context of Ecclesiastes 8:1, what the Teacher is saying that the face of the wise man shines. It is like the Lord who “lifted up his countenance” upon Israel and gave them peace. That is, the face of the Lord didn’t change from sternness to peace, but his face would change the countenance of his children into a peaceful appearance. One might say that the countenance of the wise man in his day is the image of God, in that his face is able to change a stern face into something calm and more peaceful. Most scholars will say that it is the countenance of the wise man that changed, but I believe the countenance of the wise man is what changes others from sternness to peace. As the brilliance of the Lord’s face gives peace to others, so the shine or brilliance of the wise man’s face gives peace or contentment to those around him.
Smoodock's Blog 