Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 - Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.
Message: The Hope of Final Judgment
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
One of the big arguments for there being a Creator is then life has meaning. Without a Creator mindset then life has meaningless. As I speak to a friend that is an atheist, the one thing that I can't seem to see him understand is the meaningless of life. He has values and things that he loves, but if all life is the in-between then there is no in-between, just now then right and wrong are indeed relative to each situation and no one person has in claim on an overall moral compass. But, with a Creator there is purpose. This is why faith is compelling.
He says that man wants there to be hope in the future, hope in tomorrow, hope in an after life. I say, "Yes." This is how we are strung. This is how we are made. This is what aches inside of us.
The focus of Ecclesiastes seems simply -- only God can make sense our of life.
The Present Absurdity - Wickedness is Here
The writer of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, or the Preacher exclaims that life appears to not make sense,
Here in verse 16, where there is justice, there is wickedness, and where there is righteousness, there is wickedness. Wickedness is Present.
God will Judge
But, the evil that is done will be judged. We look at wickedness and many times it doesn't make sense. There is truly dark evil. But, the focus here is that God will judge the wicked and the righteous. Both will be judged. There is a time for every matter and every deed.
Again, as I ponder this passage and my atheist friend, it does seem reasonable that a person should hope for justice or revenge. He himself has said many times that if religion was just out the window, then there would be peace on earth because religion is the reason so many bad things are happening. I can understand that a little. None of the religions want to be judged by the radicals that are in it. I think there is a tendency in any belief to think that what you have should dominant others. With the atheist, I often don't hear answers, but what I hear is God couldn't be the answer. Yet, that is good enough for them. But, what if these tendencies towards hope and judgment are actually planted in us.
It's an interesting thought and idea.
Promise: From Tabletalk - One day, everyone will will receive their due. Believers will receive heaven because they are so closely united to Christ that His perfect obedience and its due reward is reckoned as theirs. Unbelievers will be condemned for their sin, for they are not covered by Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
Further readings:
Ezekiel 34:11-24
John 12:48
Romans 2:12-16
Monday, December 14, 2015
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Proverbs 21:1 - Lord Over the Hearts of Men
Proverbs 21:1 - The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Message: The Lord turns the king's heart wherever He wishes
Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
How much does God control and direct our lives? And not just our lives, as believers, as those following the Lord, but what about those like a king that may or may not be following after God.
Romans 13:1 states, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." The Christian has a responsibility to subject oneself to the government. Why? Because God establishes authority.
This idea or rather the doctrine that there is divine sovereignty, whereby God is directing all things, is a doctrine of comfort, but it is also a doctrine of confusion. When events are favorable to our interpretation, divine sovereignty makes sense, but when events are seen as unfavorable, I must admit being a little confused over the same doctrine.
Conversion
From the idea of conversion, there are two different views: monergism which is the belief that God’s grace alone is able to raise dead, rebellious sinners to spiritual life without their cooperation, and synergism, the concept that God’s grace is incapable of accomplishing salvation without the assistance and cooperation of man. Those ideas are very sharply distinctive. I do believe in monergism, but I also think that God uses man and sometimes the works of man to draw people to Himself. By doing this, man could then think that he has a part in this action. To me, that is what is often challenging for me to comprehend; that man doesn't have a part. Can man affect change? And while this doctrine is necessary to discuss, I don't believe that people must be on a certain side in order to be saved.
Let me clarify, I definitely don't believe that man has anything to say about his own salvation. Man is not trying to work his way to God. He is incapable. He is a sinner and the moment he sins, he is imperfect and incapable of gaining God's acceptance.
But, can a man, living as a disciple and follower of Christ be involved in the conversion of a person, and if so, at what level is that involvement?
Beyond conversion
Beyond conversion, I have also wondered to what extent God, in general, order the events of the day. I do think God creates laws and rules in society and by setting those rules up, man's choices follow a normal path because of those laws.
And then there is this verse, that is really more specific, in that it states that the Lord is guiding or directing or turning a King's heart.
Psalm 78:15-16 - He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. He brought forth streams also from the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers.
He split - He gave - He brought - He caused.
Once again, here is the text - Proverbs 21:1 - The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. I notice here that Solomon is using the picture of channels of water. Per TableTalk, farmers in the anticent world--and even today--had to redirect the natural flow of rivers and streams to supply their gardens with life-giving water. This was a difficult task. God ordered this in the world. The Lord redirects and directs the king's heart so that it turns wherever he wishes.
John Piper says, "God "works all things after the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11)." This "all things" includes the fall of sparrows (Matthew 10:29), the rolling of dice (Proverbs 16:33), the slaughter of his people (Psalm 44:11), the decisions of kings (Proverbs 21:1), the failing of sight (Exodus 4:11), the sickness of children (2 Samuel 12:15), the loss and gain of money (1 Samuel 2:7), the suffering of saints (1 Peter 4:19), the completion of travel plans (James 4:15), the persecution of Christians (Hebrews 12:4-7), the repentance of souls (2 Timothy 2:25), the gift of faith (Philippians 1:29), the pursuit of holiness (Philippians 3:12-13), the growth of believers (Hebrews 6:3), the giving of life and the taking in death (1 Samuel 2:6), and the crucifixion of his Son (Acts 4:27-28).
I think what I conclude is God directs the hearts of kings and their outcomes can be good or evil. God is not tempted by evil, but he is also sovereign over wickedness. His sovereignty is not limited to our defined good outcomes.
Promise: Though God exercises his providential rule, man remains accountable to his actions. His grace does not mean that we do not restrain sin.
Message: The Lord turns the king's heart wherever He wishes
Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
How much does God control and direct our lives? And not just our lives, as believers, as those following the Lord, but what about those like a king that may or may not be following after God.
Romans 13:1 states, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." The Christian has a responsibility to subject oneself to the government. Why? Because God establishes authority.
This idea or rather the doctrine that there is divine sovereignty, whereby God is directing all things, is a doctrine of comfort, but it is also a doctrine of confusion. When events are favorable to our interpretation, divine sovereignty makes sense, but when events are seen as unfavorable, I must admit being a little confused over the same doctrine.
Conversion
From the idea of conversion, there are two different views: monergism which is the belief that God’s grace alone is able to raise dead, rebellious sinners to spiritual life without their cooperation, and synergism, the concept that God’s grace is incapable of accomplishing salvation without the assistance and cooperation of man. Those ideas are very sharply distinctive. I do believe in monergism, but I also think that God uses man and sometimes the works of man to draw people to Himself. By doing this, man could then think that he has a part in this action. To me, that is what is often challenging for me to comprehend; that man doesn't have a part. Can man affect change? And while this doctrine is necessary to discuss, I don't believe that people must be on a certain side in order to be saved.
Let me clarify, I definitely don't believe that man has anything to say about his own salvation. Man is not trying to work his way to God. He is incapable. He is a sinner and the moment he sins, he is imperfect and incapable of gaining God's acceptance.
But, can a man, living as a disciple and follower of Christ be involved in the conversion of a person, and if so, at what level is that involvement?
Beyond conversion
Beyond conversion, I have also wondered to what extent God, in general, order the events of the day. I do think God creates laws and rules in society and by setting those rules up, man's choices follow a normal path because of those laws.
And then there is this verse, that is really more specific, in that it states that the Lord is guiding or directing or turning a King's heart.
Psalm 78:15-16 - He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. He brought forth streams also from the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers.
He split - He gave - He brought - He caused.
Once again, here is the text - Proverbs 21:1 - The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. I notice here that Solomon is using the picture of channels of water. Per TableTalk, farmers in the anticent world--and even today--had to redirect the natural flow of rivers and streams to supply their gardens with life-giving water. This was a difficult task. God ordered this in the world. The Lord redirects and directs the king's heart so that it turns wherever he wishes.
John Piper says, "God "works all things after the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11)." This "all things" includes the fall of sparrows (Matthew 10:29), the rolling of dice (Proverbs 16:33), the slaughter of his people (Psalm 44:11), the decisions of kings (Proverbs 21:1), the failing of sight (Exodus 4:11), the sickness of children (2 Samuel 12:15), the loss and gain of money (1 Samuel 2:7), the suffering of saints (1 Peter 4:19), the completion of travel plans (James 4:15), the persecution of Christians (Hebrews 12:4-7), the repentance of souls (2 Timothy 2:25), the gift of faith (Philippians 1:29), the pursuit of holiness (Philippians 3:12-13), the growth of believers (Hebrews 6:3), the giving of life and the taking in death (1 Samuel 2:6), and the crucifixion of his Son (Acts 4:27-28).
I think what I conclude is God directs the hearts of kings and their outcomes can be good or evil. God is not tempted by evil, but he is also sovereign over wickedness. His sovereignty is not limited to our defined good outcomes.
Promise: Though God exercises his providential rule, man remains accountable to his actions. His grace does not mean that we do not restrain sin.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Proverbs 3:7-8 - Being Truly Wise
Proverbs 3:7-8
What the Lord is Saying:
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Message: True Wisdom comes from Fearing the Lord
Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.
Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
In your own eyes
The immediate danger in this verse is--do not think you know more about you and what God has created, the now and the future, than God. God knows. This is hard, but we need a perspective and a lifestyle that believes that I do not "know it all." Don't be a know it all. Make sure my wisdom is coming from the Lord and is from His perspective.
Turn away from evil
We turn from evil because we fear the Lord. We do not want to take our chances with evil and its ways. Instead, we are to fear the Lord. The contrast from being wise is to fear the Lord. It is me recognizing that the Lord is in control. And then evil, by any time (even being wise in my own eyes) is something I turn away from. I hate evil. It has such a hold on me. There are certain vices which I just keep wandering back to. But, I need to turn.
Result: Healing and Refreshment
Here we have a natural result or promise of God. When we have a proper position before the Lord, we reap benefits from him. Our body is healed and our body is refreshed.We strive for this healing so much in our life and it is present in simple self-change. Healing comes about when we fear the Lord; when we are not wise in our own eyes. This is healing. This is when I am most refreshed, when I see things from His perspective.
Promise: Fear the Lord and be refreshed
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Proverbs 15:29 - The God Who Hears His People
Proverbs 15:29 -
The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Message: Far from the wicked, Hears the righteous
Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
Far from the Wicked
I often wonder why some people are so far from God. And here in this verse it says, "The Lord is far from the wicked." I have been alarmed or illuminated regarding the seriousness of sin and how it causes a complete darkness in people. Why am I so alarmed that the world does not mirror Christ and His commandments? I should not be for the Lord is far from the wicked. I really must remember this.
In this verse, Solomon is speaking of prayer specifically contrasting what the Lord hears from the righteous and unrighteous.
John 9:31 says, "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him." This is a very similar verse as we can see. We know here from this verse that Jesus is saying that God does not hear from sinners who ask for things, but have no inward change.
Hears the Righteous
In contrast, it is the righteous that he hears. He hears my prayer. And yet often I do not speak and yet he will hear my prayer. He pays attention to my prayer, but those offered by the wicked he does not pay attention to.
Obviously, the prayer from a sinner for salvation will be heard because the person is experiencing a life change. And what we are speaking of here is the answered prayer. This is what we are intending to happen when we pray, is that the Lord will answer our prayer. If God draws people to himself, then God in essence initiates prayer from people and the people he will work with are those he has called, his chosen, those that are in right covenant relationship with him. They are not perfect, though being called righteous they are seen by God as perfect because righteousness has been imputed to them.
Promise: The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Message: Far from the wicked, Hears the righteous
Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
Far from the Wicked
I often wonder why some people are so far from God. And here in this verse it says, "The Lord is far from the wicked." I have been alarmed or illuminated regarding the seriousness of sin and how it causes a complete darkness in people. Why am I so alarmed that the world does not mirror Christ and His commandments? I should not be for the Lord is far from the wicked. I really must remember this.
In this verse, Solomon is speaking of prayer specifically contrasting what the Lord hears from the righteous and unrighteous.
John 9:31 says, "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him." This is a very similar verse as we can see. We know here from this verse that Jesus is saying that God does not hear from sinners who ask for things, but have no inward change.
Hears the Righteous
In contrast, it is the righteous that he hears. He hears my prayer. And yet often I do not speak and yet he will hear my prayer. He pays attention to my prayer, but those offered by the wicked he does not pay attention to.
Obviously, the prayer from a sinner for salvation will be heard because the person is experiencing a life change. And what we are speaking of here is the answered prayer. This is what we are intending to happen when we pray, is that the Lord will answer our prayer. If God draws people to himself, then God in essence initiates prayer from people and the people he will work with are those he has called, his chosen, those that are in right covenant relationship with him. They are not perfect, though being called righteous they are seen by God as perfect because righteousness has been imputed to them.
Promise: The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Psalm 119:41-48 - Saved to Testify
Psalm 119:41-48
[I'm struggling today, Lord. I am just letting the events of life get me down; back hurting; a couple employees at work not working on work; so much to do at work; and then the daily grind here of making breakfast, lunches and wondering if any dinners are planned; Christmas and presents and just spending more than we should on family pictures; being behind on emails; just many different things - life stuff, that shouldn't drag me down, but does.]
May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your word; Lord, it is your kindness that leads me to repentance. Your kindness has come to me. It is your love for me that leads me to salvation. Your salvation has come to me. I am saved by Grace according to Your word. I am redeemed because you have sent your sin to bear a burden I cannot pay. It makes sense. My works are filthy rags. I need you God.
So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word. Lord, you are the one, you showed me yesterday, that reproaches me and corrects me. You O Lord tell me when I am wrong. But, others do as well. People often tell me that I am silly for believing what I do and in sod doing they mock my faithfulness to You and the Law. But, I trust in You and that is good enough for you and so that is good enough for any of the situations that I am dealing with in my life. I find strength in your Word.
May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me,
O Lord, Your salvation according to Your word;
So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me,
for I trust in Your word.
And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for I wait for Your ordinances.
So I will keep Your law continually,
forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty,
for I seek Your precepts.
I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings
and shall not be ashamed.
I shall delight in Your commandments,
which I love.
And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love;
and I will meditate on Your statutes.
O Lord, Your salvation according to Your word;
So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me,
for I trust in Your word.
And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for I wait for Your ordinances.
So I will keep Your law continually,
forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty,
for I seek Your precepts.
I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings
and shall not be ashamed.
I shall delight in Your commandments,
which I love.
And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love;
and I will meditate on Your statutes.
Message: I am saved to testify of God's kindness, my salvation, His work in me and I live each day for Him. I am not to be silent before men.
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'm struggling today, Lord. I am just letting the events of life get me down; back hurting; a couple employees at work not working on work; so much to do at work; and then the daily grind here of making breakfast, lunches and wondering if any dinners are planned; Christmas and presents and just spending more than we should on family pictures; being behind on emails; just many different things - life stuff, that shouldn't drag me down, but does.]
May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your word; Lord, it is your kindness that leads me to repentance. Your kindness has come to me. It is your love for me that leads me to salvation. Your salvation has come to me. I am saved by Grace according to Your word. I am redeemed because you have sent your sin to bear a burden I cannot pay. It makes sense. My works are filthy rags. I need you God.
So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word. Lord, you are the one, you showed me yesterday, that reproaches me and corrects me. You O Lord tell me when I am wrong. But, others do as well. People often tell me that I am silly for believing what I do and in sod doing they mock my faithfulness to You and the Law. But, I trust in You and that is good enough for you and so that is good enough for any of the situations that I am dealing with in my life. I find strength in your Word.
And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I wait for Your ordinances. Do not take the word of truth out of my mouth. Lord, help me to remember the words I have remembered from the past. Thank you for the people you placed in my life, to encourage me to memorize your words of truth; to put them into my life, for Phil Floyd and others who helped me in memorization. Use your word each day to remind me of your ordinances, to train me.
So I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever. I will keep your commandments all my days. This is my desire, my lot, my ambition, to follow you all the days of my life. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. There is freedom in you Lord. I can walk each day in this freedom. Why is their freedom? It is because I seek your precepts. And this is not a burden to me, but something i seek after each day. I seek after You. I want You.
I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed. I am not in Christ simply for my own benefit and simply to make myself look better, but I am here to speak of You. It is my allegiance to You that is my heart cry. Before kings I will speak of Your work in my life. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1;16).
I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes. Lord, at the end of the day, all that should matter in my life is the delight of staying true to Your commandments. Loving those commandments leads me down the correct path. I shall lift up my hands in praise to You and meditate on Your statutes.
[At the end of the day, what I see is that my heart's desire is to be with the Lord. I need to be reminded, amidst all the pressures of life that God is there. He has saved me. Despite pain and struggles, I need your strength Lord to carry me. Thank you for your kindness. Forgive me for getting too distracted with what is right in front of me at this moment.]
Promise: There is freedom in Christ.
So I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever. I will keep your commandments all my days. This is my desire, my lot, my ambition, to follow you all the days of my life. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. There is freedom in you Lord. I can walk each day in this freedom. Why is their freedom? It is because I seek your precepts. And this is not a burden to me, but something i seek after each day. I seek after You. I want You.
I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed. I am not in Christ simply for my own benefit and simply to make myself look better, but I am here to speak of You. It is my allegiance to You that is my heart cry. Before kings I will speak of Your work in my life. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1;16).
I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes. Lord, at the end of the day, all that should matter in my life is the delight of staying true to Your commandments. Loving those commandments leads me down the correct path. I shall lift up my hands in praise to You and meditate on Your statutes.
[At the end of the day, what I see is that my heart's desire is to be with the Lord. I need to be reminded, amidst all the pressures of life that God is there. He has saved me. Despite pain and struggles, I need your strength Lord to carry me. Thank you for your kindness. Forgive me for getting too distracted with what is right in front of me at this moment.]
Promise: There is freedom in Christ.
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.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Ecclesisastes 3:9-15 - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Ecclesiastes 3:9-15
What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.
Message: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow OR What do I make of my job and its results, both immediate and long-term?
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:
Chapter 3 is poem about time. "For everything there is a season..." There are many different messages being put forth by Solomon in these words, but overall he is seeing (I have seen in v. 10) and he is knowing (I know in verse 12, 14) through observation that God is over all.
In life there seems to be a clear tension in understanding why life happens and what the events of life mean to us and to people. Without getting too deep, I think Solomon simply wants us to realize that 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. As time moves forward and more advances are made, man seems to have trouble remembering he has limitations.
Profit - Working
What is gained by the worker after his labor is complete?
The worker has a task to perform and performs it, occupying himself. For the most part, the rewards of his labor are brief. God has the complete picture (God has done from the beginning to the end). But ultimately, we must understand and live by the notion that the results of our labor is a gift from God. The worker is not to think they work of their own accord. God is the active agent in it all. God has set this world in motion and he acts as the conductor. Surely, this is what we need to understand. It could be the question that is asked in verse 9 has an answer in the rest of the passage and the passage is then focused on answering that question about work and labor, maybe just through verse 15 since 16, seems to begin a different thought.
Time and Eternity
God creates time and yet sets eternity in our hearts. Right now we know time, but one day time will be not relevant to us.
As time moves forward and more advances are made, man seems to have trouble remembering he has limitations. Solomon saw that man does have limitations.This is why reading the Bible is so important. We need to reminded of God and his work in our life.
I have always enjoyed verse 11 in this chapter. Yet, more and more, it is not a popular message. The idea that man has limitations of understanding is not popular. So many belief systems of this world, in laying the groundwork that they are THE correct way, leading the audience to believe that they have all the answers.
There are really 3 parts to this verse.
Promise: I think Solomon's perspective of life is an important one, but not one we need to rest in at all times. It is a perspective we need, for it directs us toward God who is the author and sustains life. We need to be continually reminded that God is over all and in control. I need this reminder, because life does not remind me this. Life is focused on our selfish providence. There are fruits to our labor and enjoyment to that which we earn, because that is the way God made it.
What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.
Message: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow OR What do I make of my job and its results, both immediate and long-term?
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:
Chapter 3 is poem about time. "For everything there is a season..." There are many different messages being put forth by Solomon in these words, but overall he is seeing (I have seen in v. 10) and he is knowing (I know in verse 12, 14) through observation that God is over all.
In life there seems to be a clear tension in understanding why life happens and what the events of life mean to us and to people. Without getting too deep, I think Solomon simply wants us to realize that 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. As time moves forward and more advances are made, man seems to have trouble remembering he has limitations.
Profit - Working
What is gained by the worker after his labor is complete?
The worker has a task to perform and performs it, occupying himself. For the most part, the rewards of his labor are brief. God has the complete picture (God has done from the beginning to the end). But ultimately, we must understand and live by the notion that the results of our labor is a gift from God. The worker is not to think they work of their own accord. God is the active agent in it all. God has set this world in motion and he acts as the conductor. Surely, this is what we need to understand. It could be the question that is asked in verse 9 has an answer in the rest of the passage and the passage is then focused on answering that question about work and labor, maybe just through verse 15 since 16, seems to begin a different thought.
Time and Eternity
God creates time and yet sets eternity in our hearts. Right now we know time, but one day time will be not relevant to us.
As time moves forward and more advances are made, man seems to have trouble remembering he has limitations. Solomon saw that man does have limitations.This is why reading the Bible is so important. We need to reminded of God and his work in our life.
I have always enjoyed verse 11 in this chapter. Yet, more and more, it is not a popular message. The idea that man has limitations of understanding is not popular. So many belief systems of this world, in laying the groundwork that they are THE correct way, leading the audience to believe that they have all the answers.
There are really 3 parts to this verse.
- He has made everything appropriate in its time. -- There is a purposeful nature from our Creator. Our problem is we are often impatient with God and we therefore try to determine our own outcomes, rather than waiting for the proper outcome of the Lord. We are encouraged here to be patient and thoughtful. As Song of Solomon says, "Do not awaken love until it pleases." We need a constant recognition and reminder that God sees what we do not see and He is in control.
- He has also set eternity in their heart -- We have been created, so we are finite. We are a different substance from God, who is infinite. Eternity has been set in us by our Father in Heaven. Again, he is in control and he ordains our future. And so we must be cautious about placing too much hope in the things of this present life.
- yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. -- We do not know all of God's plans. We have limitations. We are unable to see how everything he has created fits together. He gives us glimpses but we are finite. He is infinite and so see's all.
Promise: I think Solomon's perspective of life is an important one, but not one we need to rest in at all times. It is a perspective we need, for it directs us toward God who is the author and sustains life. We need to be continually reminded that God is over all and in control. I need this reminder, because life does not remind me this. Life is focused on our selfish providence. There are fruits to our labor and enjoyment to that which we earn, because that is the way God made it.
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