Psalm 144:1-8
1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
3 O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?
4 Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your arrows and confuse them.
7 Stretch forth Your hand from on high;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
Out of the hand of aliens
8 Whose mouths speak deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Message: God's Greatness and Man's Smallness
Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.
What the Lord is Saying:
David's Source of Vitality: A Soldier
This Psalm begins with a praise to the Lord, recognizing that God is the reason for David's greatness. David acknowledges that the reason for his gifts is the Lord has provided. He does not attribute his greatness to himself but he thanks God and God is the one that is great, a rock - Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
David's Source of Vitality: A Sovereign
As David attributes his greatness as a fighter, here he also attributes his greatness as a ruler to the Lord. My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. Everything about David points back to the Lord, "My rock." God is the strong one and however people want to view him or label him, it all points to the Lord.
The Vanity of Man's Person: How Insignificant is our existence
In verse 3 are two words for man -- adam and enosh. O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Adam denotes mankind in general. Enosh as son of man is a world that stands for man's frailty and weakness. It comes from the word that mean "to be sick" or "to be wretched or weak." Here is the question, given the greatness of God and his great power, how is it that he considers man. What a difference this statement is from society who thinks that God must not simply be thinking of man, but only wanting the best for him at all times. God is often set aside because man has not been made great. But, it is the greatness of God that we need to be about.
The Vanity of Man's Person: How Inconsequential is our experience
The question of why God would consider man is further foreshadowed in these words - Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow. David survey's his life and looks at his temporary time on earth. If we are honest with ourselves and our existence, sure there are good moments when we think we are on top of the world and have done good things, but there are other times that we see our sin and see the evil of our ways. As I survey life, and the shortness of life, how is it that God takes account of me. This is a far cry from our world today where all the focus is on the greatness of man and the greatness of his existence and experience. We are all about enjoying life to the max, not praising our God on high. But, David sees it. He sees the insignificance of man and sees that man is nothing without God.
The Vanity of Man's Plans: Apprehending the Power of God
In verses 5 and 6 is the following: Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; Touch the mountains, that they may smoke. Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Send out Your arrows and confuse them. David does not ask for his greatness to be manifested, but he asks for the Lord's greatness to be manifested. Lord, show your power throughout this world. He wanted to people to see the greatness of God and he asks God to work in this way.
The Vanity of Mans Plan: Appropriating the Power of God
Stretch forth Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens whose mouths speak deceit, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. It is the power of God that will rescue David and will rescue man. Man cannot rescue himself and God recognizes this. All the saving that goes on in this world is attributed to God. It is just some people give him praise for it and some do not. David's confidence was in God.
Promise: David praised God and understand that his position in this world was due to the great God. God is so great, it makes us wonder why he would have anything to do with us at all. But, he does. So, our response is to call on him and ask him to intervene in our lives. His power needs to be manifested on this earth.
Prayer: O Lord, you are the Rock. You are the great One. You are all power. The roles I find myself in and who I am is because of you being so great. I don't comprehend why you see value in me. I don't comprehend why you chose me and saved me. But, you have and I am so thankful. Forgive me for not always showing this thanks. I need you God. I need your help. So send down your power O God and make it known in my world by rescuing me. You are great.
Showing posts with label Vanity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vanity. Show all posts
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 - Remembering God While We are Young
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
What the Lord is Saying: The outcry here is summed up nicely in verse 1. We are to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. It reminds me of Proverbs 5:18 which says, "Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth." It's as if Solomon is saying that as we get old, life gets harder in some ways, and we need to stay focused on the days of our youth and not lose that sweetness and adventure.
I saw this quote by Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910), born in Glasgow, died in Manchester spent 65 years as a minister. His quiet routine of ministry was 2 sermons on Sunday, a Monday prayer meeting and a Thursday service and lecture. He was an expositor of scripture and said this:
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Message: Remembering God While We are Young
Time: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. The conventional belief is that the author is Solomon. The book was likely written towards the end of Solomon's reign, approximately 935 B.C. It is a book of perspective whereby the speaker reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning. He accepts that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God and advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.
What the Lord is Saying: The outcry here is summed up nicely in verse 1. We are to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. It reminds me of Proverbs 5:18 which says, "Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth." It's as if Solomon is saying that as we get old, life gets harder in some ways, and we need to stay focused on the days of our youth and not lose that sweetness and adventure.
I saw this quote by Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910), born in Glasgow, died in Manchester spent 65 years as a minister. His quiet routine of ministry was 2 sermons on Sunday, a Monday prayer meeting and a Thursday service and lecture. He was an expositor of scripture and said this:
The temptation of the young is to live in the present. Reflection belongs to older heads; spontaneous action is more characteristic of youth. Therefore, they specially need to make efforts to bring clearly to their thoughts both the unseen future and Him who is invisible. The advice is specially suitable for them; for what is begun early is likely to last and be strong.It is hard for older men, stiffened into habits, and with less power and love of taking to new courses, to turn to God, if they have forgotten Him in early days. Conversion is possible at any age, but it is less likely as life goes on. The most of men who are Christians have become so in the formative period between boyhood and thirty. After that age, the probabilities of radical change diminish rapidly. So, ‘Remember . . . in the days of thy youth,’ or the likelihood is that you will never remember.
The rest of these verses in this chapter seem to speak of the same sentiment of verse 1, the evil days come. The language is sort of peculiar and to me it is just Solomon's perspective of old age at that time. In verse 3 the keepers of the house tremble are our limbs and our body that begins to deteriorate; and the strong men are bent, even the powerful men become hunched over and their liveliness to rule is diminished; and the grinders cease because they are few speaks of our molars or our teeth and they are not as strong as they once were, and those who look through the windows are dimmed is our eye sight.
And verse 8 concludes with the same sentiment that was expressed in chapter 1, verse 2, vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity to express that by the end of the book the message has been clear. He asserted this message at the beginning and now he has proven. It is like an opening and closing statement in a court case.
And verse 8 concludes with the same sentiment that was expressed in chapter 1, verse 2, vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity to express that by the end of the book the message has been clear. He asserted this message at the beginning and now he has proven. It is like an opening and closing statement in a court case.
Promise: Life is vanity. Make the most of each day. Be content with what you have done. But, have no regrets. In order to get the rewards you want in life, you will have to do what is difficult now. It may be against the grain, but for the youth, these are the formative years and if you form yourself for only having fun and having no responsibilities, adjustment later in life will be very difficult.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for my children, that you would help them each day to make decisions that honor you. Lord, challenge them in their lives. We live in a world of entertainment, where it is seen as the highest good. Lord, challenge me, them, to think of tomorrow. Help them to honor you in all they do.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Jesus Calling: December 14
Rest in Me, My child, forgetting about the worries of the world. Focus on Me--Emmanuel--and let My living Presence envelop you in Peace. Tune in to My eternal security, for I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. If you live on the surface of life by focusing on ever-changing phenomena, you will find yourself echoing the words of Solomon: "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!"Hebrews 13:8
Living in collaboration with Me is the way to instill meaning into your days. Begin each day alone with Me, so that you can experience the reality of My Presence. As you spend time with Me, the way before you opens up step by step. Arise from the stillness of our communion, and gradually begin your journey through the day. Hold My hand in deliberate dependence on Me, and I will smooth out the path before you.
English Standard Version
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2
English Standard Version
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Proverbs 3:6
English Standard Version
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
My Prayer
Lord, I want to rest in you. Take the cares of this world from me.
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Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.
Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 - The Common End of Man and Beast
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22
I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.” For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?
Message: The Common End of Man and Beast
Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
Background
This is the final message of Ecclesiastes 3. Thus fare I have studied this chapter in 3 parts.
Introduction
As I turn myself to these last 5 verses, in my first reading, I am left with a familiar conclusion: God is in control. God has ordered and set up this world. There is a designer. Events of life are not random. The nature of man is not improving. The future, our after life, is in the hands of God. Do not get too focused on the after life events, but do equip people for those days.
The Bible is not simply a story to be read about God, but it is also a story giving us the picture of human beings and what they are really like.
Man is a beast
The pot does not ask the potter, why have you made me this way? Isaiah 64:8 - But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Romans 9:21 - Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? I am not to question God's ways. To this end, I am very much similar to the beast, the animals of the land. God has given them limitations. Their lives are simple. Yet they are ordered. Man may be more complex in thought but they are but beast.
Created
Man is a created being, like the beast. Man was given the task of naming the beasts, but that was ordained by God. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.
Man and beast have different ultimate destinations
While man and beast both come from dust and return to dust, the spirit of man and beast have different destinations. The Septuagint renders this verse as: And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth? And as scripture goes to say further on, heaven and hell give us a better understanding of afterlife.
Enjoy life
Chapter 3 concludes with an idea that has been present throughout this chapter: enjoy life. Enjoy the life that God has given us. Yes, we have responsibilities, but we also are to have enjoyment. God teaches us and he gives us failing and successes for us to praise him and to teach us that we are in His grip. Life is to be enjoyed. God wants us to enjoy life. It is unfortunate when people cannot enjoy life.
Promise: Man is a Beast, but still has enjoyment in this life. God will take care of our outcome.
I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.” For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?
Message: The Common End of Man and Beast
Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
Background
This is the final message of Ecclesiastes 3. Thus fare I have studied this chapter in 3 parts.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - A time for everything - There is a time for everything because God has ordered and set up this world. Things happen because of his plan. We all experience life in different ways and yet those experiences occur in similar ways or categories. This is by design.
- Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 - Here today, gone tomorrow - God is in control. Yes, there is enjoyment in life, but do not get too focused on any one thing; in so doing we forget God and forget we are His instruments; we must continually be reminded of our position in His creation. I must continually remind myself I have limitations.
- Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 - The hope of final judgment - God will judge. Wickedness will get its due even though it appears now people are getting away with being evil. There is hope.
Introduction
As I turn myself to these last 5 verses, in my first reading, I am left with a familiar conclusion: God is in control. God has ordered and set up this world. There is a designer. Events of life are not random. The nature of man is not improving. The future, our after life, is in the hands of God. Do not get too focused on the after life events, but do equip people for those days.
The Bible is not simply a story to be read about God, but it is also a story giving us the picture of human beings and what they are really like.
Man is a beast
The pot does not ask the potter, why have you made me this way? Isaiah 64:8 - But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Romans 9:21 - Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? I am not to question God's ways. To this end, I am very much similar to the beast, the animals of the land. God has given them limitations. Their lives are simple. Yet they are ordered. Man may be more complex in thought but they are but beast.
Created
Man is a created being, like the beast. Man was given the task of naming the beasts, but that was ordained by God. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.
Man and beast have different ultimate destinations
While man and beast both come from dust and return to dust, the spirit of man and beast have different destinations. The Septuagint renders this verse as: And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth? And as scripture goes to say further on, heaven and hell give us a better understanding of afterlife.
Enjoy life
Chapter 3 concludes with an idea that has been present throughout this chapter: enjoy life. Enjoy the life that God has given us. Yes, we have responsibilities, but we also are to have enjoyment. God teaches us and he gives us failing and successes for us to praise him and to teach us that we are in His grip. Life is to be enjoyed. God wants us to enjoy life. It is unfortunate when people cannot enjoy life.
Promise: Man is a Beast, but still has enjoyment in this life. God will take care of our outcome.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Psalm 119:33-40 - A Heart Inclined to God's Law
Psalm 119:33-40
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. Lord, there are so many things that are fleeting and going away in this life. Make it so that I value You and Your ways. Make it so my eyes are centered on You. Lord, train me in things that last.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
and I shall observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
and keep it with all my heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies
and not to dishonest gain.
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
and revive me in Your ways.
Establish Your word to Your servant,
as that which produces reverence for You.
Turn away my reproach which I dread,
for Your ordinances are good.
Behold, I long for Your precepts;
revive me through Your righteousness.
and I shall observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
and keep it with all my heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies
and not to dishonest gain.
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
and revive me in Your ways.
Establish Your word to Your servant,
as that which produces reverence for You.
Turn away my reproach which I dread,
for Your ordinances are good.
Behold, I long for Your precepts;
revive me through Your righteousness.
Message: A Heart Inclined to God's Law
Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a
thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been
compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor
shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
I think of David, putting together these words, crafting them with a Bible at that time that was very small. And so his relationship with God was more of a relationship that what mine is often today. I am thankful for God's word and need to know it. But, I wonder if I would maybe talk to Him more if I didn't have this big book of lessons.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes. Teach Me, O Lord. Guide my steps. My desire is not momentary and temporal, but it is life long. I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your Law and keep it with all my heart. Write your word on my heart. Help me God to understand what Your words mean and how they apply to every part of my life. Your Law is meant to be observed and adhered to in my life. It is to kept. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments. Make it so I don't have a choice. Make your commandments so clear and apparent in my life so that they are written on me. For I delight in it. For they are my joy. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain. Lord, where does my heart reside? What does my heart strive after? It is sometimes to do a good job or be a good father or be a good husband; it is to take care of my house; it is often to please my family in a way that results in not surrendering my wealth to You and Your house (church). Incline my heart to your testimonies and words; make not dishonesty a part of my life in any way.
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. Lord, there are so many things that are fleeting and going away in this life. Make it so that I value You and Your ways. Make it so my eyes are centered on You. Lord, train me in things that last.
Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You. Again Lord, make Your Words my priority.
Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your ordinances are good. [It is interesting that here in this stanza the words reproach and obedience are contrasted; Barnes says that reproach is also the word shame or dishonor. Naturally, we hate to be corrected; we hate discipline; reproach is to express disappointment or disapproval. NIV translates this as disgrace; NLT translates this as shameful.] God, there is shame and dishonor in wandering from you, in seeking out my own way. As I do this, I turn myself from you. I look often at your commands and somehow they are meant for my harm and yet by turning from you I receive unhappiness and an unsettled life. Keep me God centered on your ordinances. Keep me focused on that which is good. Keep me resting in Your Word each day.
Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me through Your righteousness. I want to long for your precepts. It is the righteousness of God which has saved me. I pray my greatest desire is sanctification. May I long for the knowledge of Your every word. Again, Revive me. Resuscitate me. Awaken me from the dead. Lift me up for righteousness represents life and unrighteousness represents a life that is being led away from God. Lord, revive me.
Promise: Revive Me Lord, in your ways, in your righteousness. Make me walk in the path of your commandments. This is where I want to reside.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 - Joy in the Present
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 - 24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
Message: God is the giver of providence, wisdom, knowledge, and joy
Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
Man enjoys eating and drinking and being satisfied and a feeling of accomplishment from his labor. But Solomon reminds me in verse 24 that this is possible because of the hand of God. He provided the food and our enjoyment and so it must be with Him. Man does not necessarily see the fruit of his labor. But he does enjoy eating and drinking.
There is enjoyment in life. We are to enjoy life and we can enjoy the things of life. We can experience God's creation in various ways. We are allowed to enjoy life though we must remain in the confines of what is right and wrong.
TableTalk mentions that much of true Christian spirituality in history, up to the Protestant Reformation was about living life so as to be absent from worldly pleasures. Even when I was growing up in the church, there was an idea that certain things inherently corrupted man. It may be dancing, playing cards, certain types of music, drinking alcohol, watching movies, watching TV, sports, and doing anything that wasn't directly spiritual. This is how I think I was trained to a large degree in my life: to avoid certain things. I must say, it is hard to not be like this.
He provides wisdom and knowledge and joy giving us good sight. Again, this is His hand of provide. I need to be reminded of his providence. It was in that water I drank and the cookies and apples I ate. I enjoyed it because he provided it.
In verse 26, Solomon remarks that God has given the sinner the task of working (gathering, collecting) so as to provide to the Christian. This (??) is vanity and striving after wind. These things are not permanent to our lives. Only God's love is permanent. Everything else is vanity and striving after the wind. This phrase "vanity and striving after the wind" I think is something I will define and learn as I move through this book. To me, it may mean that I am not to get too caught up in any one thing thinking that thing is the end all. I can be grateful and enjoy life and what it offer, but always remember it is God's provision and I am ultimately to enjoy Him first and foremost.
Promise: Enjoy life. God has provided all of it. I can enjoy it, but remember that God is the provider. Don't get distracted by it to the point that it takes my eyes off of God.
Message: God is the giver of providence, wisdom, knowledge, and joy
Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
Man enjoys eating and drinking and being satisfied and a feeling of accomplishment from his labor. But Solomon reminds me in verse 24 that this is possible because of the hand of God. He provided the food and our enjoyment and so it must be with Him. Man does not necessarily see the fruit of his labor. But he does enjoy eating and drinking.
There is enjoyment in life. We are to enjoy life and we can enjoy the things of life. We can experience God's creation in various ways. We are allowed to enjoy life though we must remain in the confines of what is right and wrong.
TableTalk mentions that much of true Christian spirituality in history, up to the Protestant Reformation was about living life so as to be absent from worldly pleasures. Even when I was growing up in the church, there was an idea that certain things inherently corrupted man. It may be dancing, playing cards, certain types of music, drinking alcohol, watching movies, watching TV, sports, and doing anything that wasn't directly spiritual. This is how I think I was trained to a large degree in my life: to avoid certain things. I must say, it is hard to not be like this.
He provides wisdom and knowledge and joy giving us good sight. Again, this is His hand of provide. I need to be reminded of his providence. It was in that water I drank and the cookies and apples I ate. I enjoyed it because he provided it.
In verse 26, Solomon remarks that God has given the sinner the task of working (gathering, collecting) so as to provide to the Christian. This (??) is vanity and striving after wind. These things are not permanent to our lives. Only God's love is permanent. Everything else is vanity and striving after the wind. This phrase "vanity and striving after the wind" I think is something I will define and learn as I move through this book. To me, it may mean that I am not to get too caught up in any one thing thinking that thing is the end all. I can be grateful and enjoy life and what it offer, but always remember it is God's provision and I am ultimately to enjoy Him first and foremost.
Promise: Enjoy life. God has provided all of it. I can enjoy it, but remember that God is the provider. Don't get distracted by it to the point that it takes my eyes off of God.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 - The Sorrow That Attends Knowledge
Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 - 16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Message: The Sorrow That Attends Knowledge
Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around
930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of
his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
[Note: Many of these words are taken from Albert Barnes commentary though Barnes only did a commentary on the New Testament and Ecclesiastes was written by F.C. Cook.]
As it began in verse 1, when the book started, these are the words of the Preacher or Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew word for Preacher is Koheleth and Preacher isn't even an adequate translation. It is a person in the act of calling together an assembly of people as if with the intention of addressing them. It is the action of Wisdom personified. Vanity is a key word in Ecclesiastes as it occurs 37 times. It has these meanings:
Leading up to verses 16-18 is the preacher seeking and searching out by wisdom all that are done under heaven (v. 12).
The Preacher says in his heart that he has acquired great wisdom, more than those before him and his heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. He is making the statement that his wisdom is greater than others. He then says he has directed or applied his heart to know what is wise, but also to know what is madness and folly. Folly is a lack of good sense. It is foolish behavior or unwise conduct. Madness is irrational conduct.
To adequately understand wisdom, the Preacher believed he must also know what is irrational conduct and unwise conduct. He was able to clearly see the difference between these two extremes. As he did this, he uncovered that this is also striving after wind. Yes, I want to be wise, but my quest is not only wisdom.
I think the key to Ecclesiastes is recognizing the balance that must occur in life. There must be margin. For in much wisdom comes much trouble and increasing knowledge increases sorrow.
I think the key here is we must understand our limitations. As humans, we don't possess all knowledge and there is a danger thinking that we do or can hope to attain.
[Note: Many of these words are taken from Albert Barnes commentary though Barnes only did a commentary on the New Testament and Ecclesiastes was written by F.C. Cook.]
As it began in verse 1, when the book started, these are the words of the Preacher or Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew word for Preacher is Koheleth and Preacher isn't even an adequate translation. It is a person in the act of calling together an assembly of people as if with the intention of addressing them. It is the action of Wisdom personified. Vanity is a key word in Ecclesiastes as it occurs 37 times. It has these meanings:
- that which passes away more or less quickly and completely
- that which leaves either no result or no adequate result behind, and therefore
- fails to satisfy the mind of man, which naturally craves for something permanent and progressive
- it also is applied to idols, as contrasted with the Living, Eternal, and Almighty God, and thus in the Hebrew it is connected with sin.
Leading up to verses 16-18 is the preacher seeking and searching out by wisdom all that are done under heaven (v. 12).
The Preacher says in his heart that he has acquired great wisdom, more than those before him and his heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. He is making the statement that his wisdom is greater than others. He then says he has directed or applied his heart to know what is wise, but also to know what is madness and folly. Folly is a lack of good sense. It is foolish behavior or unwise conduct. Madness is irrational conduct.
To adequately understand wisdom, the Preacher believed he must also know what is irrational conduct and unwise conduct. He was able to clearly see the difference between these two extremes. As he did this, he uncovered that this is also striving after wind. Yes, I want to be wise, but my quest is not only wisdom.
I think the key to Ecclesiastes is recognizing the balance that must occur in life. There must be margin. For in much wisdom comes much trouble and increasing knowledge increases sorrow.
I think the key here is we must understand our limitations. As humans, we don't possess all knowledge and there is a danger thinking that we do or can hope to attain.
Promise: It is important to realize there are limits to my understanding.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 - Vanity of Vanities
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.
Message: Vanity of vanities; the perspective of life
Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around
930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of
his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
The focus here with this book is not that all things are meaningless and there is nothing in life that is of value, but "vanity" means that we need to put our lives in perspective. There should be lessons we learn in this life that do not make sense, just for this life. Our perspective should be eternal. We should see that this life is temporal, as this chapter mentions often:
The focus here with this book is not that all things are meaningless and there is nothing in life that is of value, but "vanity" means that we need to put our lives in perspective. There should be lessons we learn in this life that do not make sense, just for this life. Our perspective should be eternal. We should see that this life is temporal, as this chapter mentions often:
- What does man gain by all the toil (v.3) - man works hard, but his hard work has often few results; yes, it may add to a standard of living, but that is temporary often; man needs to be focused on the quality of his life verses just gaining his toil.
- A generation goes, and a generation comes (v. 4) - if we just look at our lives, we see history; one people are present, then another
- We can watch the earth and its movements (v. 5-7) and see that it just goes through cycles; again, this should remind us that life is temporary and repetitious.
- Eye/ear not satisfied (v. 8) - the eyes and ears always want more out of life. One TV show will never do it; i need a series to see and listen.
- Under the sun (v. 3,9) - there is nothing new under the sun; this should point us to a different sun; another time and place; I should be reminded that nothing is really new (v. 10); it all repeats, just in different ways.
This is most interesting. Our perspective needs to be eternal. This doesn't mean that there is no happiness we can take from the world, our job, our money, our families, but we are to keep them in the right perspective and focus on them in the right way. What Solomon will often do is weigh them and find, to their fullest extent, they are missing something. Isn't it amazing how many movie stars, musicians, with fame and fortune, still overdose on drugs and die? They have everything they had hoped and yet they don't have peace and are still looking for comfort in something else.
Promise: Ultimately, we can only find meaning in the Creator who creates all and invests life into all.
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