~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22 ~ 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Psalm 46:1-11 ~ Proverbs 22:15
Old Testament - Today we begin the book of Ecclesiastes! We will be reading about the vanity of life apart from God in this book. I think some people may find this to be a depressing book. I find it hopeful! Yes, indeed life can be depressing apart from God. But life with God is an unending beautiful adventure. I pray the book of Ecclesiastes draws you into thanksgiving for the amazing life we can indeed have in relationship with Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit! Below is an image of King Solomon writing the words of the book of Ecclesiastes.
~ Ecclesiastes ~
Author: Probably Solomon, the son of David
Date: Probably tenth century B.C.
Content: This difficult book displays the dark philosophy of one who sought to find peace apart from God, but in the end realized that only futility is to be found there. The only possible solution to life’s puzzle concludes this book: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Leading up to that positive statement is a series of pictures, each one portraying the futility of life without God. Wealth, wisdom, popularity, and pleasure are all put down as so much vanity. Only when a man turns from this world to God will he find true happiness.
Theme: There is a negative lesson to be learned from this book. It is a series of things not to do. It shows the emptiness of trying to live for oneself and to please oneself alone without considering the needs of others or considering God our Maker. There is a positive side, however. If one can see how not to live, perhaps then he will see what he ought to do and be spared the heartaches of living a wasted life. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 10)
More commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes is at these 4 links –
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1633
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=906
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1632
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=963
New Testament - I love Paul's opening words in Second Corinthians chapter 6 verses 1 and 2 today, as he quotes from the prophet Isaiah - "As God's partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God's great kindness. For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation." How does this verse speak to you? What does it mean to you? Do you believe that God is ready to help you right now? Do you believe that today is the day of salvation?
Psalms - Today we read Psalm 46, which is an incredible Psalm! This Psalm represents a song of hope celebrating the certain triumph of God’s kingdom – even in the midst of times of severe trouble. This Psalm served as the inspiration for Martin Luther’s famous Hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Just after 9/11 I saw emails on the internet floating around with the entirety of Psalm 46. I would encourage you to keep this Psalm in your “back-pocket” as a Psalm to meditate upon whenever you personally might be going through times of severe trouble – or whenever our world might be going through times of severe trouble. Near the end of this Psalm in verse 10 we will read a tiny little verse that I think is the key to this Psalm – “Be still, and know that I am God.” If you are going through a time of trouble in your life right now, will you take some time to meditate upon Psalm 46 and in particular verse 10? What does it mean to you to “Be still, and know that I am God?” Do you believe that being still during times of trouble can draw you closer to God? Will you be still today before God? In this stillness will you seek to know that He is indeed God? Even in the midst of whatever might be troubling you, will you seek to know that I AM is your God?
Proverbs - Today's Proverb is a great reminder that loving and godly discipline is of great benefit to a youngster whose heart is filled with foolishness. Do you suppose that discipline is of great benefit to even us oldsters :) who might have hearts filled with foolishness at times? Do you appreciate loving and godly discipline in your life today? Do you practice discipline in your life today? Are you disciplined? Are you a Disciple?
What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings? Please post up in the Comments section below!
Grace,
Mike
Ecclesiastes 1
14
Everything under the sun is meaningless, like chasing the wind. (EMPTY of glory)
17
So I worked hard to distinguish wisdom from foolishness. But now I realize that even this was like chasing the wind.
(EMPTY of glory, like a bubble floating in the sky –ready to pop)
Ecclesiastes 3
11
He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.
14
And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God's purpose in this is that people should fear him.
2 Corinthians 6
6
We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
7
We have faithfully preached the truth. God's power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.
8
We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us.
10
Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
Paul exemplified A LIFE OF RICHES THROUGH GOD’S GLORY. Not based on anything or anyone on earth, but “His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Notice, God’s riches of glory are IN CHRIST JESUS… Who is in us.
2 Corinthians 4 – GLORY of Jesus in US
10
Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [[a]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies.
11
For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, that the [[b]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.
Psalm 46
8
Come, see the GLORIOUS works of the LORD: (FULL GLORY of God)
See how he brings destruction upon the world
10
"Be silent, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world."
11
The LORD Almighty is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
May we wait on the Lord, and let Him – AND His glory – be our refuge and our riches.
It reminds me again of the meditation on how the eternal is reflected in every day in the meditation of the Jewish Torah —and how waiting on the Lord allows us to enter into His glory:"
a) a ger (HEBREW WORD) is one who is just passing through, like a visitor or tourist
b) whereas a toshav (HEBREW WORD) is one who is a resident, like a settler or citizen.
How can someone be both a visitor and a resident of a place, or a stranger and a citizen at the same time? How can one “pass through” a place he is said to dwell?
Being ger v’toshav means understanding that the changes of life are the medium for that which is eternal and abiding.
We neither detach from life nor cling to it,
but live in the mediation of time and eternity.
Every moment of life is therefore made sacred, since it is the occasion to transform the temporal into the eternal.
Vance
Posted by: Vance Brown | September 02, 2005 at 05:24 AM
Ecclesiastes 1-3:22
The thing that has been--it is what will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been, in the vast ages of time [recorded or unrecorded] which were before us. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 AMP)
Everything under the sun maybe meaningless and vanity; but everything under the Son is gloriously new!
Today I had to struggle with my perspective. I could either fall victim to thinking under the sun or be delivered by realizing I was under the Son. The stories and images of the devastation wrought by Katrina were difficult for me to handle and I found myself sliding into despair thinking that everything was hopeless but that is a product of being under the sun. Yet I know that despite what things look like God is on the Throne and He is still in control. The Son has risen indeed.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | September 02, 2005 at 07:00 PM