Ecclesiastes 4-6
Job and
Solomon were both rich men who worked hard in life. It would be easier to hear
Job say what Solomon is about to say, since Job lost everything. As Solomon
writes this he is still amazingly rich. It seems that everything Solomon says
lacks any redemptive perspective in life and comes from the attitude that a
man, himself, makes his life. Just like in Job, there is an abundance of truth
here, but it is truth about life when you have lost the closeness to the Lord.
Solomon's focus is on accomplishment on earth and lasting value. We know this
earth must pass away, and only what is done for the Lord in the redemption and
rescue of people will last or have meaning.
By now you
know what to do to keep your interest sharp. Look for recurring words and
phrases, and highlight or underline them.
Ecclesiastes
4
This
chapter seems to focus on the foolishness of being alone.
Vs. 1-3
This definitely sounds like Job. As Solomon looked outside of Israel (I hope it
was outside of Israel), he saw oppression that could not be remedied. In his
mind, it was better for the oppressed never to have been born. He didn't know
about the church in communist China. If the rule of Solomon had been about the
glory of God and not the glory of Solomon, he might have brought the testimony
of God’s truth and holiness to others and the leaders of other nations.
Vs. 4-6
Verse 6 appears to be the godly goal, but what is said in v. 4 seems to be said
from a bitter heart. Maybe some of what Solomon built came from wanting to be
envied by other nations.
Vs. 7-8
Solomon appears to have had this work ethic, but without working for the Lord,
one wonders for whom the work is done. That ought to be a message to us as
believers. A disciple in the harvest lives knowing the answer to this.
Vs. 9-12 I
wonder if Solomon said this from regret. I think that ultimately, Solomon was a
lonely man without real friends. He apparently didn’t have anyone with the guts
to tell him he was wrong. Also, I think he was love starved. God designed that
a man should have one wife to complete him. Solomon, the man who had 1000
wives, was really alone on earth and desperately incomplete.
Vs. 13-16
This story seems to describe the new king as alone, not accepted and not
regarded for his achievements. This wasn't completely autobiographical, but the
feelings might have been the same.
Ecclesiastes
5
Vs. 1-7
This seems to say that if you make God mad at you by not fulfilling the
promises you have made to Him, He will make your accomplishments meaningless
and your life pointless. I wonder if Solomon felt guilty for having fallen so
far from those early days. It is hard to imagine that the guy who prayed that
prayer at the dedication of the temple later wrote these words.
Vs. 8-9
Rulers will take the fruit of your toil.
Vs. 10-17 Ruin
through the love of money and greed. Much of this sounds like Job, particularly
v. 15; and much of it seems like it could be autobiographical, Solomon
reflecting on his own life.
Vs. 18-20
This is the only point in life as Solomon saw it. Ironically, from everything
Solomon says, I don't think he enjoyed this simple life. I think he was
miserable. I wonder if he wished he could have had something like what he
described here.
Since
Solomon had wandered from God and was experiencing a lot of darkness of heart,
these words have no eternal perspective. In a sense, this is Solomon saying,
"let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die." I have read a commentator
who said the statement in verses 18-20 is actually a true statement coming from
God, but I would say this is only, kind of, true in the sense that a simpler
life is better and probably reflects what God intended life to be had there
been no fall.
But
knowing the rescue that God is making on earth, (and Solomon should have known
God's plan of redemption), there is so much more to life. In a sense, this
could be seen in what Paul says about godliness with contentment; but as a
disciple, Paul’s life was filled with meaning and activity because of the
harvest and following Christ. IF this statement can be connected to living to
follow Christ in the harvest, I’m all for it.
Ecclesiastes
6
Vs. 1-6
This seems to be autobiographical. Solomon might have already seen that his son
Rehoboam would be a fool. We already know from chapter 1 that Solomon gave
himself to pleasure and didn’t enjoy it. Not only that, with all the wives
Solomon had, you’d think he would have had more children than Rehoboam; but we
never hear of them. We do know that Solomon later sacrificed/offered children
(babies) to Molech. They would have been his own children, for that
"offering" to have been meaningful.
Vs. 7-9
Without someone to pass things on to, Solomon says that our work is only for
our own personal appetites. This is a good reason to invest our lives in
reaching the lost and strengthening one another to make disciples, who make
disciples. Our appetites need to conform to God’s purposes and Word.
Vs. 10-12
This is why the existential philosophers love Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes.
This is a great description of life on earth without God.
In reading
this, we need to remember that what happened to Solomon could happen to any of
us. Solomon was "destroyed" spiritually by living in the flesh and
drifting from God. Here is what Paul said regarding former disciples. For many, of whom I have often told you and
now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their
end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame,
with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it
we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who
will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that
enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Phil. 3:18-21)
The best
defense is a good offense. Love Christ for His salvation and forgiveness;
follow Him in the harvest. Stay in the Word, growing in the Lord; and make
disciples, who make disciples. And did I mention staying in the Word every day?
Many of us start well, but living on this planet has an eroding effect on our
vision. Only love for Jesus can keep us alive. And that love for Jesus is kept
alive by being in the Word daily and following in the harvest.
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7
2
Corinthians 6:14-18
So who is
Paul referring to here? Is he talking about marriage? I think Paul is talking
about the Jewish super-apostles and other frauds the Corinthians had in their
group. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul told them, For
some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. This is a good
general principle, but here I think Paul is telling the Corinthians to distance
themselves from those who said they were believers, but were not believers, or
those who were believers, but were a problem to unity.
These factitious people were also setting the
people against Paul. Here is what Paul says in Romans 16:17, I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles
contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
Why Paul needed to appeal to the church in Rome and why he needed to say this
to the Corinthians is that we resist doing this to those who are in the church,
who keep the church from its mission by criticism and stubbornness. Our
misguided thoughts of tolerance and love for one another need to be in
conformity with the Word and to following Christ in the harvest.
These
verses (vs. 16-18) are from Isaiah and Ezekiel and they have a point. We cannot
be close to God and have Him reveal Himself to us if we are intimately mixed
with those who have no love for Christ in conformity to the Word. Following the
Lord has to be our first passion, and everyone opposed to Him and His Word
cannot be in the innermost place in our hearts.
2
Corinthians 7:1-7
V. 1 Which
promises are those? The ones Paul has just quoted from the Old Testament.
Seeking the promises here will only make sense to the person who loves Christ.
To all others it will sound too extreme or theoretical. This verse also sounds
like Romans 12:1-2, offering themselves back to Christ.
Vs. 2-4
Paul is coming full circle to chapter 1. In this long explanation of his
distress that began in 2:14, Paul is now making his final appeal to the
Corinthians to accept him and his coworkers because of their sincerity and
love. All of this is written because of his love and heart for the Corinthians.
Notice that v. 2 is full of defense of his ministry among them, and everything
else is a testimony of his love for them. Paul had the heart of a shepherd and
maker of disciples.
Vs. 5-7
This continues the narrative from 2:13. Paul was waiting for Titus. He was
anxious about the impact of the letter he sent with Titus. When Titus found
Paul, he told him that the majority of the people saw what was happening and
had tender hearts toward Paul. Notice all the mentions of afflictions and
comfort. This all goes back to the first chapter of this letter.
One of the
toils in the harvest is seeking to move believers back into the arena of
following Christ in the harvest. This is discipleship too. It’s not easy to do
this when people have redefined Christianity as what they like to do and is
comfortable for them. The goal suggests the strategy. They need to be in the
Word every day; they need to fall back in love with Christ who saved them, and
they need to give themselves to Him, following Him in the harvest. These are
the basics of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ.
Psalm 47
I think
this was written in the afterglow of God saving Jerusalem from the Assyrians.
Vs. 1-4
When God destroyed the Assyrian army, they had already ransacked many countries
and cities. The entire world sat up and took notice of Jerusalem and Yahweh. It
says that nations sent gifts to Hezekiah, because they were so thankful that
God had humbled the Assyrians. (2 Chron. 32:23)
Vs. 5-7
This is a call for the nations, not just to rejoice, but to praise the God who
did it, the King of all nations.
Vs. 8-9
Notice that in v. 9 the people of all nations gather as if they belonged to the
promise of Abraham. Actually the promise of Abraham is a promise of redemption
to all mankind. Through Abraham’s seed, Jesus, all nations would be blessed.
This seems
like a simple song of praise in worship. I wonder if the sons of Korah
understood that God was working in the world and in Israel to bring salvation
and redemption to all of lost humanity. If you miss this part, what really is
the difference between Solomon dedicating the temple and Solomon writing
Ecclesiastes? I'm so thankful that we are defined by Jesus and not by church or
worship from any culture, or by perceived blessing. We follow Jesus as His
disciples in the harvest.
Proverbs 22:16
Either on
earth or after, Amen.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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 complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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