Scholars are divided over the identity of the king mentioned in the text of Ecclesiastes 8:2. Is he a human king, or is he the Lord, the God of the Bible? Some say one, while others say the other, but clouded as his identity may be, I believe, if we consider how the chapter develops, the context demands a human king. Moreover, the Teacher seems to anticipate a wicked king. He contrasts the power of the king with that of the wise man, showing similarities but, more importantly, how one should act. Just as the wise are seen to be the image of God, as that pertains to the power of the wise man’s understanding, so the king is the image of God in his almighty power, taken only in its political context. In other words, the king’s sovereign authority is felt over an entire nation (Ecclesiastes 8:2-4). The Teacher tells us that the wise man is able to change the face of others, vis-à-vis the king, from sternness to contentment or peace (cp. Ecclesiastes 8:1), so the power of either affects the other.
The counsel of the Teacher is threefold: first, obey the king’s command, secondly, don’t leave the presence of the king in haste and, finally, don’t engage in an evil matter as that pertains to the king. So, all three point to one’s response to the king’s power (Ecclesiastes 8:2-3). As I mentioned above, the Teacher anticipates life under the rule of an oppressive king, so obedience to him is especially for the sake of one’s oath to the Lord (cp. 2Samuel 5:1-3; 2Kings 11:17; 1Chronicles 29:24). We, who serve God, have ceased our rebellion against him and have submitted our lives to his care. Paul tells us that, in reality, there is no authority but that of God, and he has appointed men to exercise authority over others for the sake of justice (cp. Genesis 9:5-6). Therefore, to resist the king and those who assist him would be to resist God’, in that even the authority of an evil king represents the authority of God. So those who refuse to submit will be judged (Romans 13:1-2).
While obedience to a good king shouldn’t be burdensome, what if the king or ruler is a tyrant, a wicked and cruel man? Consider this! When Paul wrote his letter to the Roman church, Nero was the emperor of Rome, and only a few years later he became the first Emperor to persecute the disciples of Christ to the death, burning some on stakes to light his garden and the streets of Rome at night. The point is, if we have submitted to God, it is not up to us to choose to obey or not. We have given up that right in our oath to the Lord to obey him. The Teacher’s advice is simply to continue to obey the king, as one would the Lord. Both Peter and Paul advised believers similarly:
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right… be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly (1 Peter 2:13-14, 18-19; cp Ephesians 6:6-7; Colossians 3:22-25).
The Lord has set the king over the people as their judge. The people were never placed in authority over the king to be his judge. Therefore, we need to respect the intent of the Lord, and not hastily leave the king’s service. Serving the king is our duty. Neither should we take part in a rebellion against him, because he will do according to his will. Our duty to submit to the Lord’s supreme authority stands, even when that means suffering at the king’s hand. It is incumbent upon the servant of God to obey him rather than the king, if the king commands an evil and sinful thing (Ecclesiastes 2:3; cp. Psalm 1:1).
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