July 11 Read Ecclesiastes 7-12 (Ecclesiastes 7) (7:1) The Jewish commentators offer a clear interpretation of this verse. It was the Hebrews greatest ambition to leave a good name - a reputation which is an honorable memory to his posterity. The thought in the second clause is closely connected with the first, as the conjunction and indicates. If a mans life is such that he leaves behind him a good name and reputation, then the day of his death is simply the victorious accounting of his life and thus better than the day of his birth, which, as the beginning of life, is a time of uncertainty. For the Christian, the day of death is certainly a time of betterment (2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 1:21-23). (7:3-4) Sorrow tends to produce a saddening reflection, while laughter may indicate a frivolous frame of mind. In a serious mood, one is more ready to think reflectively about life. From this comes the motivation for a purification of the heart. (7:14) God has balanced prosperity with adversity according to His providence so that man may be totally dependent upon Him. This trust in divine providence is the only sufficient protection against the evil which inevitably comes. (7:20) – This again speaks about the universality of Sin as we find it in Romans and other places (7:28) He is not too upbeat about women - he says that he has not found a single wise one yet. He seems to have looked hard since he married almost a thousand of them. (Ecclesiastes 8) (8:12-13) The Preacher is not deceived by the obvious and visible. A sinner may enjoy for a time the pleasures of earthly life despite his continual sinning, yet God will vindicate Himself with the righteous. The sinner may do well despite his sin, but the righteous will do well, enjoying the comfort of a conscience at peace with God in this life and in the life to come. The simile of the shadow, which vanishes with the sun and leaves no trace, emphasizes the fleeting and transitory nature of the life of the wicked. (8:15) Enjoyment is godly cheerfulness of the heart which directly flows from gratitude for all that God provides. (Ecclesiastes 9) (9:4) The dog in Palestine was the most despised of animals and thus symbolic of that which is low or contemptible (1 Sam. 17:43; Prov. 26:11). The lion, on the other hand, was the mightiest and noblest of beasts (Prov. 30:30). The lesson then is that the vilest and meanest creature who lives is better than the highest and mightiest which is dead. Though the author elsewhere expresses preference for death over life (4:2; 7:1), in those cases he views life pessimistically because of its unhappy and tragic experiences. Here, however, he views life in terms of its potential joys and hopes. (9:8) White garments in the East were symbols of joy and purity, a custom adopted in the West and reflected in the wedding ceremony. The use of oil is a symbol of joy (cf. Ps. 45:8; Isa. 61:3). (9:10) The Preacher recognizes the greater potential for happiness in a home in which one man is joined to one woman for a lifetime (Gen. 2:24). (9:11) Though a man is well equipped and though he labors diligently, he may fail. Chance is not a power apart from and in competition with God, but rather is that which happens to man without his cooperation or planning. The winning of a race, a battle, bread, riches, or favor does not lie within the resources of any man. The obtaining of victory, wealth, and influence lies beyond the control of man but within divine providence (Deut. 18:18). (9:18) The evil of one sinner can undercut and even destroy the good of a wise man. Adams sin infected the entire race (1 Cor. 15:22); Achans covetousness brought death and defeat to Israels army (Josh. 7:11, 12); Rehoboams folly divided his kingdom (1 Kin. 12:16). Good in this verse is not a reference to moral good or righteousness but rather to possession or prosperity. (Ecclesiastes 10) (10:10) If the man wielding the ax has not sharpened the blade, his work becomes more difficult and demands more strength and power from the worker to accomplish its task. Wisdom would have the workman prepare his tool properly in order to accomplish his task more efficiently. (10:19) This verse may be variously applied, though it is obvious that from the worlds perspective, money is the key to success and happiness. It requires money to provide rich food and costly wines and to enable men to indulge their appetites. A man who has money may allow himself any liberty. (Ecclesiastes 11) (11:1-6) In these verses Solomon emphasizes mans ignorance about the future. The phrase you do not know occurs no less than four times (vv. 2, 5, 6). (11:7-10) Solomon encourages his readers to live a full and active life, recognizing that (1) death is inevitable (v. 8), and (2) the prospect of Gods judgment (both in this life and the next) should influence all activity (v. 9). Ecclesiastes 12) (12:1-7) These verses describe the process of growing old, comprise poetry of supreme beauty and universal appeal. The keepers of the house may be likened to the hands; the strong men, the legs; the grinders, the teeth; those that look out of the windows, the eyes; the doors, the ears or maybe the mouth This would picture the lips as closed and drawn in because the teeth are gone, leaving the sound of grinding as the munching and sucking of toothless gums. The voice of the aged man becomes high pitched as a bird; yet the organs of speech (the daughters of music) fail, or perhaps his hearing is so impaired that the man cannot hear the music; the sound of the grinding, the hum of conversation in the household. Several vivid phrases follow: rising up at the voice of the bird may refer either to the early rising or to the thin, high voice of the aged; being afraid of that which is high may be said to picture the tottering caution of the very old. Other figures complete the description: the almond tree, with its white blossoms, may be the white hair of old age; the grasshopper dragging himself along possibly portrays extreme weakness; desire suggests the waning of vital force; the long home, the grave. Some see in the silver cord, the golden bowl, the pitcher, and the wheel metaphors for the spinal cord, skull, and the circulatory system; but it is better to take them simply as picturing the dissolution of soul and body. (12:5) The aged mans white hair is pictured as a full-bloomed almond tree. Though almond blossoms are pink, they turn white as they fall from the tree. Probably the allusion to the grasshopper is a reference to the aged man himself, who in his aged gait, bent with the years, may exhibit some resemblance to the animal mentioned. This man finds pleasure in nothing, and all of his desires fail. His eternal home is the grave (9:10), thus ending his bodily existence. There was revealed to Paul, however, a more profound hope (2 Cor. 5:1-10). (12:6) The picture here is probably that of life poured out or ended. The golden bowl, i.e., the lampstand, breaks when the silver cord which hangs it from the roof is cut. When the bowl holding the oil, which supplies the flame, is broken, the light is consequently extinguished. (12:13) In this verse is the authors own statement of the overall theme of the entire book. Amid all the difficulties and inequities of life, as well as in the midst of all lifes blessings and prosperity, one duty remains primary and unchanging: mans honor and obedience to the Creator God. This alone will merit and secure happiness and fruitfulness on earth and throughout eternity. (12:14) The author closes this book by stating that there is a God who will hold man accountable for his life (3:17; 8:12, 13; 11:9). Mans life under the sun (1:3) will be judged from a heavenly perspective. Thus the book truly ends with a positive and encouraging word, because ones accountability before God means his life is of eternal value. In spite of frequent observation and experience of lifes apparent futility, the inspired author exhorts his readers to grasp by faith the sovereignty, goodness, and justice of God and to enjoy all the facets of life as His gift. Beings created in the image of God are not insignificant, and life lived unto God is not vanity. No Pictures today Remember since I will be gone for the next 9 days and totally out of internet coverage, I will be posting all the devotions until July 21 today. Till Tomorrow Allen
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 05:42:13 +0000
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