Ecclesiastes 8:4 Cross References

Ecclesiastes 8:4

4: The king's command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it.

If he sends death to snatch someone away, who can stop him? Who dares to ask him, `What are you doing?'

All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, `What do you mean by doing these things?'

Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God.
So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.
For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well.
The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong.

For he says to kings and nobles, `You are wicked and unjust.'
He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he doesn't pay any more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.

No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to criticize God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "Why have you made me like this?"

Then, at the king's command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him. So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon's grip.

"In this you are not right, and I will show you why. As you yourself have said, `God is greater than any person.'
So why are you bringing a charge against him? You say, `He does not respond to people's complaints.'

When news of this reached King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him.
Benaiah went into the sacred tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king orders you to come out!" But Joab answered, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said.
"Do as he said," the king replied. "Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of his senseless murders from me and from my father's family.
Then the LORD will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father was no party to the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
May Joab and his descendants be forever guilty of these murders, and may the LORD grant peace to David and his descendants and to his throne forever."

"Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill the body; they cannot do any more to you.
But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill people and then throw them into hell.

So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death.

I will give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?"

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