Ecclesiastes 1-3
After reading Job you probably didn't think things could get worse. But they can and they did, and we hear it from the mouth of the person God said was the wisest man who ever lived.
While Job has a great positive lesson, Ecclesiastes is a great negative warning. In this book we see what can become of a person who loves God and decides to ignore Him. How low can a person sink? What is notable here is that Solomon doesn't mention his idolatry. In my mind, that means that it hadn't occurred yet. I doubt that Solomon wrote anything after he became a server of pagan gods. What we see in Ecclesiastes is not how low one could go, but we see how a believer can destroy his life.
Just like in Job, we know the background of what is happening here. Having read Kings, we know that Solomon ignored the warnings in the Word, became like the seed planted among thorns and drifted away from God. To hear that Solomon learned that life on earth is senseless should make sense to us. Just to put this in perspective and understand that this is still possible for any believer or disciple, look at what Paul wrote to the Romans. Since Paul is warning believers, you realize the issue is not loss of salvation, but damage of your mind and heart on earth. We can ruin it all if we try.
Romans 8:12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- 13 for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.
Solomon "died," and God will show us how it happened, so that we can "live."
Ecc. 1
V. 2 This is Solomon's message in the book. At this point you could stop reading, but it is worth going on to see how Solomon fell into the trap and to see his regret.
Vs. 3-11 It is actually amazing that Solomon grasped this. Many people never see that a life without God, just lived on this earth, is meaningless.
I'm going to suggest a progress in Solomon's decline to despair. Notice that he relies on his wisdom and position. He does not seek God to understand life and circumstances. Because Solomon was so smart, he sought to understand life without God. The poorest person in the world might not be that foolish. The simplest believer in Christ, in the most poverty stricken place on earth, would be richer and wiser than Solomon; because he would begin with Christ to understand life on earth and be dependent on the Word and the Spirit.
What we're looking for in this section is Solomon's description of what he did, and his own conclusion about what he did. This section shows a progression of looking into one thing and then looking into another until Solomon finally hit bottom. The "bottom" will be total despair, hopelessness. After writing this book, Solomon broke through the bottom and fell into horrible idolatry.
Vs. 12-15 Trying to understand human life and activity by wisdom.
Notice in verse 13 what Solomon did and what he learned.
V. 14 is his conclusion regarding this study. Here, Solomon's conclusion is marked by the word "vanity" (vapor or breath) and a descriptive phrase, "striving after wind." Now look for the next.
Vs. 16-18 Can you see what he applied his heart to here? Can you understand how this is different than the thing he tried to find out in 12-15?
Notice at the end of verse 17 that Solomon says that this endeavor was as meaningful as chasing after wind.
Ecc. 2
Vs. 1-11 This was a big one and involved a lot of Solomon's life. How would you title this?
V. 1 Notice what Solomon applied his heart to and how he says this endeavor was vanity (meaningless, a vapor). It is important to note that here he says that giving himself to pleasure was vanity. Later in these verses he will say that what he found out was vanity too.
Vs. 12-19 This seems to be the same thing Solomon sought as in 1:16-18. It seems like a way of stopping after you've done something and trying to make sense of life. When he tried to make sense of life in 1:16-18, it led him to seek a meaning in life in pleasure and accomplishment. Here, it leads him into a deeper evaluation of the value of life and wisdom and the result is that Solomon hated his life.
Vs. 20-23 Solomon gave into despair. This means giving up the hope that there is a purpose to life.
V. 21 Notice Solomon's comment here. Giving into despair was not only vanity, but a great evil. I think this was the end of the road for Solomon. If there is no lasting contribution in life, if there is no hope and no purpose and you have given yourself up to despair, then you are ready for anything worse that comes along. At this point, Solomon is not wise, but incredibly bitter in his perception of life. Solomon had eyes only for himself and his incredible wisdom, not for God or God's redemptive purpose in the world. And look at what that did to him. I see this same thing in Christians who are not in the harvest.
Vs. 24-26 This is totally cynical, but interestingly, at the end of this tirade he says this observation on life is pretty meaningless too. Multiplying everything by zero (hopelessness) always gives you the same result.
Ecc. 3
Vs. 1-8 The view of life from "hopeless heights." Simon and Garfunkel made a song out of this, and I didn't like it either.
Vs. 9-13 Based on the previous verses, this is what Solomon will say, over and over, is the point of life and as much as we should expect. For many people, this is enough.
V. 11 Solomon's observation that God has put eternity in our hearts was great, but because he didn't seek God, it was just a frustration to him. This is true of believers too. To know the truth and know there is something beckoning to us, and to not pursue it, makes for a frustrating life. This is why we are to follow Christ in the harvest, not just stand here in life or sit in church.
Vs. 14-22 This is worse than Job, simply because of the hopelessness. Job never gave up hope.
So what lessons do you get out of this? What does the Spirit say to you? I definitely appreciate God's mercy and love in giving us understanding of what is happening on this earth, and in the world of the spiritual. I'm thankful that our lives are defined by Christ and his love for us and I'm grateful that we have a mission in life. We know what will last and it is for the glory of God and not for us. Now, of course, we could deny all of this like Solomon did. Solomon could have lived for the redemptive purpose of God. God spoke to Solomon twice and probably would have spoken more, if asked. The lasting value of our lives on earth is in the harvest, working with our Lord and His church to bear much fruit, glorifying the Father and so proving we are His disciples.
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
V. 1 Working together with God as His ambassadors.
How do you receive the grace of God in vain? I think it is receiving salvation and not living as if you are free of sin (and the law) and not declaring your praise to God to the lost. Romans 7:4 Likewise, my brethren, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.
Vs. 3-10 This was Paul's commendation showing he was a servant of Christ. This is like a visual or an example of what Jesus told his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. Paul lived what a disciple is called to live in the harvest.
Vs. 11-13 The conflict in Corinth is never out of view. Paul was their spiritual father (led them to Christ) pleading to them as his children.
Psalm 46
Just like what came against Job, the psalmist thinks of natural enemies in verses 2-3 and human enemies in verse 6.
In all of this we are to seek His shelter and to not fear as we wait for Him.
This is an original song on youtube. I've tried to resist using videos of kids playing guitars in their bedrooms. This is not in a bedroom and it's no kid, but it is a great rendition of Psalm 46. Long live old-timers! He does a fantastic job with this original song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS0Llte0m4A
Proverbs 22:15
Amen, but remember, you'll get arrested in Sweden if you do this. And, throwing your kid off a boat is going too far (although you will get on national TV).
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
No comments:
Post a Comment