Wise Living, Wicked Leaders

The story of Joseph is one of the most remarkable in all of Scripture. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned—Joseph suffered repeatedly under corrupt and unjust leaders. And yet he remained faithful. His secret? Joseph was a man of wisdom.

Wisdom didn’t keep Joseph from suffering. It didn’t solve every problem. But it did help him endure faithfully under unjust authority. That’s the lesson the Preacher of Ecclesiastes teaches in chapter 8: Wisdom helps us respond rightly to unjust authority, but it cannot fix everything.

So how should we live wisely when we find ourselves under flawed, corrupt, or even wicked leaders? Ecclesiastes 8 gives us six principles.

1. Remember God Establishes Authority

“Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him” (Ecclesiastes 8:2).

Human rulers may abuse their power, but they have no authority apart from God. Daniel declared that God “removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21). Even Jesus reminded Pilate that his authority came from above (John 19:11).

That means we don’t submit to leaders because they’re good, but because they’re God’s. Submission to earthly authority is ultimately submission to the God who ordained it.

2. Respect Your Authorities No Matter What

Submission and respect aren’t the same thing. Submission is about action—whether we obey. Respect is about our attitude—how we speak about and treat those over us.

The Preacher warns: “Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause” (Ecclesiastes 8:3). In other words, don’t dishonor your leaders, even when they fail you.

Peter commanded first-century Christians to “honor the emperor”—and that emperor was Nero, one of the most brutal rulers in history (1 Peter 2:17). If early believers could honor Nero, surely we can learn to respect those God has placed over us.

3. Resist with Great Care

Does respecting leaders mean we always obey them? Not necessarily. There are times when obedience to God requires disobedience to men. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced this when commanded to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. They resisted—but carefully, honorably, and without slander.

Ecclesiastes 8:5–6 reminds us that “the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.” Resistance should be rare, cautious, and measured—never reckless. Christians are called to pick their battles carefully, disobey only when absolutely necessary, and continue to show honor even while resisting.

4. Recognize the Limits of Human Power

Unjust rulers can cause real harm. They can tax, imprison, send to war, and even kill. Yet their power is not unlimited. “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death” (Ecclesiastes 8:8).

A king can touch your body, but not your soul. He can shorten your days, but only if God permits. John Paton, missionary to the South Pacific, once said, “I realized that I was immortal till my Master’s work with me was done.”

Christians can live with courage and peace because no ruler, no matter how corrupt, can thwart God’s purposes for His people.

5. Realize the Shortcomings of Earthly Justice

The Preacher saw wicked men entering the temple and being praised in the city (Ecclesiastes 8:10). He lamented that delayed justice emboldens evil (v. 11). And isn’t that true today? Corruption often goes unpunished, and injustice frequently flourishes.

But Ecclesiastes reminds us not to place ultimate hope in human justice systems. They are necessary, but always imperfect. True justice belongs to God alone. “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God” (v. 12).

For the wicked, apparent success is only temporary. For the righteous, apparent suffering is only temporary. God’s justice will prevail in the end.

6. Rejoice While You Toil Under the Sun

After all this talk of unjust rulers and broken systems, the Preacher concludes with a surprising command: “I commend joy” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).

How can we rejoice in the face of injustice and wicked leaders? By remembering the God who turns evil into good. Joseph could tell his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). And Christians can look to the cross, where the greatest evil ever committed—the crucifixion of Jesus—became the greatest good, securing salvation for the world.

If God can redeem that injustice, He can redeem the injustices you face today. That’s why we can eat, drink, and be joyful. Not because life is easy, but because God is sovereign.

Living Wisely in an Unjust World

Wisdom is a gift. It helps us respond rightly to unjust authority. But wisdom is not magic—it cannot erase injustice or answer every question. What it can do is help us walk faithfully until the day when Christ returns to set all things right.

So remember: God establishes authority. Respect those in leadership. Resist carefully when obedience to God demands it. Recognize the limits of human power. Realize the shortcomings of earthly justice. And rejoice in the God who rules over it all.

Wisdom won’t fix everything, but it will keep you steady until the One who can returns.