Ecclesiastes 1

WEEK 8                                           Ecclesiastes 1

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

I must admit that I am not a fan of Ecclesiastes. It is one of the most depressing books in the Bible. The reason for this is found in the phrase “under the sun,” which shows the perspective from which this book is written. The perspective is from a man without God, and it is pitiable.

 

So, what does this depressing book do for us?

 

I believe it gives us insight into the lie: “if I only had more, did more, if I was smarter, if I had no unfulfilled dreams, then I would be happy and content.” The Preacher/Teacher of Ecclesiastes lived in Solomon’s time. Solomon had everything a person could want, and this is his writing. Solomon had it all, and yet in this first chapter, the preacher sums it up in the term, vanity/fleeting/meaningless (depending on the translation).

 

So why is this book even in the Bible? 

 

One thing we find in the Bible is honesty. It is honest about its heroes and the people who are supposed to be serving God. It was honest in Proverbs about the way creation was intended to run, and here it is honest about how life actually looks. Without God and God’s heavenly perspective, life is temporary and fleeting. which can feel meaningless.

 

I wish I could be encouraging about what you are going to read, but I doubt you will be. However, it will give you the truth of what the world looks like without God. It may even give you insight into why people who seem to have it all kill themselves or do wicked things.

 

I can't leave you on a downer. Life isn't just what we see. There is a God and a heavenly perspective. There is hope, for life is more than what we see.

Ecc 1:1-18
(1)  The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
(2)  Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
(3)  What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
(4)  One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
(5)  The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
(6)  The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
(7)  All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
(8)  All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
(9)  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
(10)  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
(11)  There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
(12)  I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
(13)  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
(14)  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(15)  That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
(16)  I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
(17)  And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
(18)  For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

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1 Kings 5

WEEK  8                                     1 Kings 5

TUESDAY  Reflections

In Kings 5, we see the preparations for the building of the temple. It is amazing to see the manpower and the work going into this project. However, I noticed something in the first verse which caught my attention and I am going to focus on it.

 

When Hiram, king of Tyre, heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. (1 Kings 5:1 NIV, emphasis added)

 

Solomon’s first ally was not based on anything he had done. His first ally was there because of whom Solomon’s father had been. We see because David had friendly relations with Hiram, Solomon was given the benefit of friendly relations back. Solomon responded wisely, and a relationship was built between Solomon and Hiram but the groundwork was already laid by David.

 

I have heard it said, be careful and don’t burn bridges behind you. The idea is you may have to cross them later, but here I see that a bridge David built was one which Solomon was able to cross. This is a reminder our actions don’t just affect our lives but the lives of those who come after us.

 

Look around, we see the effect of actions done by those who came before us still affecting us today. The effects of slavery and Jim Crow still impacts American society today. Before we go pointing at Western Culture, we need to remember that every society has a past which affects them and there is plenty of blame to hand out. However, our job isn’t to point blame but to allow God to transform us. This scripture reminds us that the good we do also has an impact on the lives of those that come after us.

 

We may need to deal with the past we have been left, but we need to be thankful for the blessing we have received also. We also need to remember that our actions today can have a positive influence on those who come after us.

1Ki 5:1-18
(1)  And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
(2)  And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
(3)  Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
(4)  But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
(5)  And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
(6)  Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
(7)  And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
(8)  And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
(9)  My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
(10)  So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
(11)  And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
(12)  And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
(13)  And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
(14)  And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.
(15)  And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
(16)  Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
(17)  And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

(18)  And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

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1 Kings 4

WEEK  8                                        1 Kings 4

MONDAY  Reflections

The opulence* of Solomon is astounding. However, in the middle of all of this, I see problems. Do you see them?

First, there were many in Judah and Israel, and they were eating, drinking, and making merry. Sounds like the nation was doing a lot of pleasure-seeking. If you're only seeking pleasure, you're not seeking God.

 

Second, Solomon gathered large numbers of chariots and horses. God commanded the kings of Israel not to do this, and now Solomon has done it (Deuteronomy 17:16).

 

What we see later is Solomon disobeying God by gathering large amounts of treasure for himself and his family (Deuteronomy 17:17). Solomon had previously done well when he asked God for wisdom and when he built the temple for God, but he is now living in disobedience to God.

 

 

*great wealth or luxuriousness

1Ki 4:1-34
(1)  So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
(2)  And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,
(3)  Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
(4)  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
(5)  And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:
(6)  And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
(7)  And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.
(8)  And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:
(9)  The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:
(10)  The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:
(11)  The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
(12)  Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
(13)  The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:
(14)  Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:
(15)  Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
(16)  Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
(17)  Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:
(18)  Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
(19)  Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.
(20)  Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
(21)  And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
(22)  And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,
(23)  Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.
(24)  For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
(25)  And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
(26)  And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
(27)  And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.
(28)  Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.
(29)  And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
(30)  And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
(31)  For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
(32)  And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
(33)  And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
(34)  And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

Jeremiah 44

WEEK  7                                            Jeremiah 44

SATURDAY  Reflections

The argument was that when they offered sacrifices to a female deity, everything was fine; it's only when they stopped (implying God needed the help) did bad things happen. This looks back to when kings obedient to God came along and forbade other sacrifices. Yes, they claim they tried to live right, but that is when everything went wrong. They concluded that they should keep their vows to the god of heaven because things were better when they did. 

The truth was that the women were secretly still offering worship to other gods. The men knew their wives were doing this, but turned a blind eye, thinking that by allowing this, they were helping God. Yes, they tried to appear as if they were living as God commanded, but in reality, they weren't worshiping the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. They used the same name, but the god they worshipped needed help from other gods. They may have called this god God, but they weren't worshipping the Almighty God. Therefore God gave them over to be conquered because of their disobedience, despite their outward obedience, because in truth they weren't worshipping Him.

 

Jer 44:1-30
(1)  The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
(2)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,
(3)  Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers.
(4)  Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
(5)  But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.
(6)  Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.
(7)  Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;
(8)  In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
(9)  Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?
(10)  They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.
(11)  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.
(12)  And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
(13)  For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:
(14)  So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.
(15)  Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,
(16)  As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.
(17)  But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
(18)  But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
(19)  And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
(20)  Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,
(21)  The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?
(22)  So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
(23)  Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.
(24)  Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:
(25)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.
(26)  Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.
(27)  Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.
(28)  Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.
(29)  And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:
(30)  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

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Song of Solomon 8

WEEK   7                                  Song of Solomon 8

FRIDAY  Reflections

How powerful is love? According to verse 7 "Water cannot put it out; no flood can drown it. But if any tried to buy love with their wealth, contempt is all they would get" (Good News Translation). If this is the power of human love, and it is, how much more is the love of God? 

Son 8:1-14
(1)  O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
(2)  I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
(3)  His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
(4)  I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
(5)  Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
(6)  Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
(7)  Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
(8)  We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
(9)  If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
(10)  I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
(11)  Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
(12)  My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
(13)  Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
(14)  Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

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