OT Promises 396: Feel no Evil Thing

Ecclesiastes 8:5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.

This is quite an awesome and incredible conditional promise. Can it be true? If you keep the commandment, then you shall feel no evil thing. We know by experience this cannot be true, for we live in a sinful flesh in an evil world. Yet the Lord promises that you will feel no evil. So it must be true.

The first truth is: the Law is perfect, pure, holy, and 100% good for you. It will prevent you from feeling evil if you could keep it perfectly. The Law is good; I am evil, and by breaking the Law of God I experience evil in the world, in my life, in my body, in my soul, in my family, and in my relationships.

The second, and overriding, truth is: the Gospel makes perfect by the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He kept the Law for us and freely gives the righteousness of God which Christ earned and gives by grace. The Gospel “delivers us from evil.” Although we are tempted to feel the evil daily through earthly strife, the final and eternal effects are not felt. We overcome through faith in the Blood. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Faith in God’ truth and love defeats feelings, which can deceive. The wise heart of a believer discerns truth and fact (time and judgment) over against ephemeral feelings of evil.