Hey everyone,

Here is a copy of my paper for my Old Testament class regarding Beer and the Bible.  Let me know your thoughts on it!

Holy Beer

I’m sure everyone has a verse they strongly dislike.  Mine is Ecclesiastes 1:9.  For some reason, I have heard it quoted repeatedly recently and it drives me nuts. People will toss out, “Well, there’s nothing new under the sun.”

Shut-up. I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Unless you use it in the context it was written, please do not say this verse around me.

Rob Bell, in a podcast interview with Catalyst recently said a line I loved.  He said “I love to create things and share them with people.”  That’s me.  I love to create things and share them with people.  Not to mention that I think that is a part of how we are made in the image of God–our ability to create, design and imagine.

Let’s put this verse in perspective.  The author of Ecclesiastes was describing the world as he saw it during his midlife-crisis.  If convertibles were available during his time he would probably have ended his book with “Fear God, keep his commandments, and buy a convertible” (Ecc. 12:13).  Ok, maybe not, and I don’t really know if he was having a midlife crisis, but here’s what I do know:

The author of this book was contemplating the meaning of life, and he had found no fulfillment in the extreme pursuits of whatever his heart desired.  He observed that the seasons change, the sun rises and sets and the circle of life goes on, no matter our petty wars and kingdoms accomplish.  The ability for humans to love, deceive, kill and hope has never changed.  We say “History is bound to repeat itself.”  So in that sense, there really is nothing new under the sun.

Now, there’s an issue of technology and bioethics.  You might argue that this doesn’t really change the game, it’s just a more advanced form or a new twist on the same issues.  Maybe.

So what is new under the sun?

Technology.

Can we all agree that iPhones did not exist 3,000 years ago?  From the writer of Ecclesiastes’ perspective, looking back some thousands of years on human history, technology itself hadn’t really advanced.  I mean, for how many years did humans kill each other with swords and bows?  Forever.  Up until rather recently, right?  I mean, how many thousands of years have humans walked this earth and it was basically only about 100 years ago we figured out how to fly.  Kudos to us, we did it in record time.  So even technologically, it may not have looked like we had came up with anything new at the time of the writing of Ecclesiastes, but we certainly have.

So, there are new things under the sun.  In fact, there are a lot of new things under the sun.  There are new bands and music.  “Well, they’re using the same theories they’ve been using for hundreds of years.”  Terrific.  So the Sistine Chapel wasn’t a new thing because paint existed before then?  Michelangelo sends his regards.

We create new things, no not out of ex nihilo [out of nothing], but we do create new things.  We paint, we design, we build, we write, etc.  I mean, who doesn’t enjoy seeing new movies, learning about new technology, hearing new songs or trying new restaurants?  Even this article, these words, put in this order (although they may not communicate any “new” ideas) have never existed like this before, so even this article is new.  And I created it!

So can we please stop quoting Ecclesiastes like there is nothing new under the sun?

Because I love to create and nothing kills inspiration like being told that there’s nothing new under the sun.  Which, frankly, is just not true anyway.  So be inspired!  Go create and tell me you made something new under the sun, and I’d be happy to have you share it with me.

Create.  Design.  Imagine.  Dream.

Hello again. This will be the last genre I am going to talk about. I think we have covered all the main genres. Hopefully, you now have a starting point for whatever part of the Bible you happen to be reading. In this final section I want to talk about wisdom literature. Basically, this is just Job, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs. These three books are unique among the rest of the books in their style and content. In a general sense these books are written to help make us wise. They bring up some big issues like why people suffer and God’s awesomeness. Although these three are all in the same genre, they are all unique and I want to talk about each one separately.

Job

The book of Job is primarily made up of speeches. Job and his friends give these long discourses all throughout the book. At the end God speaks and puts everything in perspective. Technically, the beginning and end of Job are made up of narrative sections and so need to be interpreted in light of that genre. But, for the most part this book is made up of lots of talking. Although this is in the “wisdom” genre, not everything that is said is wise. Job’s friends have their own perspective and view on why Job is suffering and give their opinions freely. For the most part what they say is more opinion than fact and they completely miss the point. It is important to read Job as a whole so that we can get the full picture. If we just open up to the middle and read one of the speeches out of the overall context it could lead to some false ideas of what is true.

Proverbs

The book of Proverbs is made up of proverbs. These are short wise sayings that help us learn how to live better. As I have mentioned in a previous post, proverbs are generally true, but are not statements of fact. They should not be viewed as promises, but rather guidelines for better living. As we read the book as a whole, there are certain themes that develop. There is an emphasis on the foolish vs. the wise, cautions about money, advice on the tongue, the benefits of wisdom, and the ethics of working, among other things. Some of these ideas are intentionally repeated throughout the book in order that we would remember them and to show their importance. Each proverb is its own unique idea and so needs to be interpreted by itself. Then as we come across other proverbs with the similar ideas we can compare and contrast them.

Ecclesiastes

The book of Ecclesiastes is the final book in the wisdom literature. It is similar to Job in that some of the ideas portrayed are not necessarily “wise”. There are some things that are said that are somewhat cynical in nature. But, if you read the book in its entirety you will see that his final point is that we need to fear God and keep His commandments. That doesn’t mean that we should disregard the proverbial sayings within. There are a lot of truths to be found here, but we need to make sure that we come back to the overall point that ultimately the only thing worth pursuing is God.

Summary

When reading Job don’t believe everything Job’s friends say and read everything in light of the God’s response at the end of the book.

When reading Proverbs interpret each one individually and look for the repeated themes and big ideas of the book.

When reading Ecclesiastes look for the big picture and try to see what the author’s overall message is.

Reflection

If you saw someone suffering like Job did what would you say to them, or what advice would you give them?

Prov. 11:14 says: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure”. What is the general principle this is trying to teach? How could it be dangerous to take this as a promise?

If you had unlimited resource and a desire to find the greatest thing ever, what would you do? Where would you go? What would you try? Would you come to the same conclusion that the author of Ecclesiastes did?

The last couple of weeks have been extremely busy.  I’ve barely even had time to think about blogging.  And I don’t expect that situation to improve much until after the first of the year.

At some point the other day (I’m not sure how or why), my thoughts turned from the busyness of life to its brevity.  Maybe it was the connection between how we spend our time, and how little time we really have to spend.  I often wonder if I’m making the best use of my time.  Or, as the last line of an old poem goes, “Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Then, right on the heels of thinking about life’s brevity, these poignant lines from the book of Ecclesiastes came to mind:

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Soon (for all of us), the pitcher will be shattered at the fountain and the spirit will return to the God who gave it.  I don’t want to get so caught up in the busyness of life that I lose sight of its brevity.

The Book of Ecclesiastes, written by inspiration of God, contains many of mankinds most serious reflections. These are not necessarily God’s truth, but they stimulate the minds and hearts of men by forcing them to confront the hopelessness which is the logical result of facing life without God.
Ecc 1:3-4: What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. The word for WORK is the Hebrew ‘AMAL and looks at hard work. No easy job is being described here but the hard toil that has been the lot of man since the fall:
A persons time on earth comes to an end so quickly that one wonders if the effort to accomplish anything is really worth while. Our generation, with all its achievements, will pass, and another one will come, and yet the earth, the dirt in which man is cursed to toil, outlasts him.

Eccl 2:16: For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!S olomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecc 7:29: “God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices” What is this saying about the concept of “original sin.”?
Eccl 9:3: “…the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts through their lives.” The human heart is wicked, and therefore all humans are wicked.

Eccl 1:2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” The beginning of hopelessness. Also translated “vanity of vanities…all is vanity.”
Eccl 1:3-18: What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Eccl 3:1: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven Probably mostly known as a tune sung by the Byrds in the mid sixties.
Eccl:3 2 a time to be born Our time is now. The era in which we were born is the era for which we have responsibility; The era for which we were made to be a blessing. This is my only time to be born. and a time to die, Our time is short and there is much to do. a time to plant and a time to uproot,
Eccl 3:14: I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him God is not just dealing with your life for this place in time. It is for eternity.
Eccl 4:9-10: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up Two can accomplish so much more than one.
Eccl 5:2: “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth: therefore let yourt words be few.” When we make a commitment, unless we find it to be a sinful one, we are to carry out that commitment. The great example we have is God’s commitment to sinners.
Eccl 7:10: “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” The “good old days” were never quite as good as depicted. Piners for the “good old days” are usually not historically astute, or at least have poor memories, or their romantic notions cloud those memories that are not poor.
Eccl 11:2: Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. This could be speaking to the subject of benevolence of sowing, but, realizing that we do not know what could come up in the land. So, dont set your heart on riches. We do not know what the future may hold. God will hold to his promises in season, but we dont know what each season will bring in the land.
Eccl 11:4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. A farmer who watches the cloud to decide to plant will not plant. Or one who watches the wind.
Eccl 11: 5: As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sell explanatory scripture.
Eccl 11:6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Sow, but keep working. You do not know which seeds you have sown will actually grow or when they will grow. God works in His own time table and it is not always the same as ours. In fact, I find more often then not, that it is totally different.
7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

Eccl 12:12: “Of the making of books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh.” Aristides (The American Scholar)wrote, “Nothing so improves the style (of writing) as having something to say.”

When the Nile overflows its banks the weeds perish and the soil is disintegrated. The rice-seed being cast into the water takes root, and is found in due time growing in healthful vigour. One has also interpreted it: The expression “cast your bread on the surface of the waters,” is taken from the custom of sowing seed by casting it from boats into overflowing rivers, or in marshy ground. When the waters recede, the grain will fall to the soil and spring up. “Waters” here could be an expression used to represent people, many people, who are recipients of our benevolent efforts, who in turn return to us benevolence in our time of need.

• Read Ecclesiastes 2 here.
• If you missed Sunday’s sermon (November 22) you can listen to it here.

My Thanksgiving sermon this year was heavily influenced by a presentation I heard by Dr Dave Bland at the Great Lakes Lectureship in late October.  As he taught on the book of Ecclesiastes a couple of things caught my attention.  First, the Jews today read Ecclesiastes during the Feast of Tabernacles (sukkot), which has a lot in common with American Thanksgiving.  Second, he highlighted Ecclesiastes’ emphasis on joy, which was news to me.

There are seven joy passages within Ecclesiastes.  (2:24-26; 3:9-14; 3:22; 5:17-20; 8:15; 9:7-10; 11:7-10)  Scholars disagree regarding their significance, but the viewpoint Dr Bland presented establishes these passages as the core message of the book.  My message focused on the first of the joy passages found in 2:24-26.

In the first eleven verses of chapter 2, Qoheleth (the Hebrew name used by the author, a word thought to mean ‘Teacher”) searches for meaning by pursuing pleasure.  His quest is summed up in v10, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.“  And yet in v11 the pursuit only resulted in emptiness, “a chasing after the wind.“

Instead in v24 he concludes that the best thing we can do is to “eat, drink and find satisfaction in our toil.“  Over in 9:7-9 the eating and drinking is placed in a context of enjoying life with family, specifically, one’s wife.  The enjoyment is not found in the food itself, but in the context of loving relationships.

This sounds to me a lot like Thanksgiving, or Christmas, dinner.  A meal with family and friends, contentedly resting from work, and celebrating God’s goodness.  Anyone who experiences conflict within their family may regard this picture as unrealistically idyllic.  And for many people it is.  Perhaps that’s why Qoheleth describes this scene as a gift “from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”

We don’t obtain meaning for our lives through pursuing pleasure, but through placing God at the centre of our lives.  When we do this He allows us to enjoy life.  While we might often see God in the big areas of our life: family, job, and health, God also makes possible the enjoyment of many small moments.

I hope that each reader will at some point pause their festivities and notice God around their dinner table.

• Do you have a favorite “small part” of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner that reminds you of God’s presence & provision?
• Is this an interesting way of approaching Ecclesiastes?  Should I write some more on this topic?
• At first glance Ecclesiastes is a strange book to read at Thanksgiving.  What would you suggest as an appropriate Scripture passage?

If you’re trying to understand how these “joy passages” serve as a theme for the book a couple of extra points might prove helpful.

1. Each ‘joy passage” addresses the “meaningless” passages before and sometimes after, so you need to read them in context.
2. The phrase “People can do nothing better” needs to be read not as an exasperated sigh that “the only thing left to do is…”, but as a declaration that “The best thing that people can possible do is…”

I’m not a Christian, but I read four versions of the Bible cover to cover when I was, and there is much wisdom in some of the passages.   Ecclesiastes has long been one of my favorite sections, and I ran across a piece of it today on a quotes page, so I decided instead of writing a post, I would just put it here for all to read.  Whether you are a Christian or not, these words may well ring true for you, remind you of someone you know, or cause you to rethink your own life.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

1 Then I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were crying, and no one would help them. No one would help them, because their oppressors had power on their side.  2 I envy those who are dead and gone; they are better off than those who are still alive. 3 But better off than either are those who have never been born, who have never seen the injustice that goes on in this world.

4 I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind.  5 They say that we would be fools to fold our hands and let ourselves starve to death.  6 Maybe so, but it is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind.

7 I have noticed something else in life that is useless.  8 Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure?  This is useless, too €”and a miserable way to live.

9 Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.  10 If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him.  11 If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but how can you keep warm by yourself.  12 Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone.  A rope made of three cords is hard to break.

13-14 Someone may rise from poverty to become king of his country, or go from prison to the throne, but if in his old age he is too foolish to take advice, he is not as well off as a young man who is poor but intelligent.  15 I thought about all the people who live in this world, and I realized that somewhere among them there is a young man who will take the king’s place.  16 There may be no limit to the number of people a king rules; when he is gone, no one will be grateful for what he has done. It is useless. It is like chasing the wind.

Do you ever read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8? This passage always brings me comfort, especially when I am not appreciating the hard times of life. In the case that you have not read it, I would like to share it with you.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.”

The reason why I love this passage so much is that it reminds me again that God is in complete control. The verse says that all of those happen UNDER Heaven.

I know that we always want to have fun or to be happy or to be the best. Let’s face it, though. Sometimes, we have to be sad, we have to cry, and we have to feel lost or lonely. If we never experienced these, how could we ever appreciate the good times of happiness, friendship, and ease? If we never had hard times, times when we couldn’t rely on our own knowledge and strength, how would we ever learn to rely on God completely?

Today, I challenge you with one thought that God has placed in my heart:

Life is only ugly when we refuse to accept that it is beautiful.

Pastor Dan Mitchum speaking on Ecclesiastes 7:10, 13-14,  Audio, or Video:

 Gratitude grows in us when we…

  1.  Refuse to ____________ the ____________ (7:10)

  2.  Rejoice in God’s ____________ for the ____________ (7:13-14a)

        Be ____________ when times are ____________

        Have ____________ when times are ____________

  3. Remember the ____________ is in our ____________________ (14b)

 Questions for family and small group discussion:

1. Think deeply about the blessings God has bestowed upon you. At first glance, challenges and adversities may not seem like blessings but God often uses them to grow us in beautiful ways. With that in mind, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? How has God made you grateful for the good and “bad” things in your life?

2. Anxiety can escalate during tough times. Thankfully, the Bible gives us powerful antidotes to anxiety. Read and reflect on Philippians 4:4-7 and 1 Peter 5:7. What are the antidotes to anxiety and how have they worked in your life?

3. It’s no accident that the word “thanksgiving” contains the word “giving.” Giving thanks means more than verbally expressing our gratitude to God. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Paul challenges us to give thanks by offering a portion of our income to God. How does giving money increase our gratitude?

4. Read Psalm 67. God’s goodness is not solely for our benefit and pleasure. Psalm 67 teaches us that God always has a twin purpose in blessing us. What is that twin purpose? How are you sharing the blessings God has given you with your unchurched friends?

In my recent studies of Ecclesiastes I have been overwhelmed by the joy and the reasons to have joy that are exuded from a proper understanding of Solomon’s masterful work on man’s purpose. In my own life I can often sense myself not being thankful or content for what God has given me. I often life for tomorrow and reminisce on the past. But God has given us today, and (in a strange way) he implores that we enjoy it. It is our duty, but it is for our own good. I wrote this poem to bring across some of the thoughts that have come to my mind because of Ecclesiastes.

Why are former and latter days

Better than this day?

Truly childhood was better, it seems.

Hindsight brings out the good,

And forgets the monotonous–

The endless hours of boredom;

The unrelenting pain we caused

And the due discipline we received.

For “those days” are always

Better than “these days”.

All men alike live for tomorrow,

For a hope is kindled

Like fire in our bones.

Will some historic event

Change this misery into majesty?

How can a peasant

Become a king?

How can the weak

Become a warrior?

And so we dream of tomorrow.

And yet the rich have

Been given all things abundantly–

Except for the power to

Enjoy life.

Even they long for more,

They dream of better,

And so are restless.

In between the lines

There is a day overcome,

There is one forgotten,

Lost in the chaos.

This day lies between

The beauty of yesterday

And the swift lightning bolts

That are stored for tomorrow.

Today is today,

And it is the most elusive of all,

Yet it is a mirror in our face

Everyday and all-day long.

Why do we life for tomorrow

If one can only live today?

Why not live today in light

Of tomorrow?

Let me unearth a diamond,

A pearl of mysterious wisdom:

Enjoy today

In order to enjoy

The today tomorrow.

Truly life is breaking,

Difficult yet shadow like,

Mysterious yet bleeding.

The lives of mankind

Are open wounds,

Festering and putrid.

We long for healing,

And so we desperately look

And plead for tomorrow.

But when tomorrow comes

It will be today,

And the darkness

May be even greater then.

So what shall we do?

Shall we stay restless?

Is this all hopeless?

Shall we long for death?

No! There is a better way.

We have a Father,

Not as he on earth,

But he is the Creator of all.

He created all things “good”,

And it is his heart’s desire

That we take pleasure

In what he has given us.

For every hunger

A piece of bread is given.

For every cheer

A laugh is given.

For every sorrow,

A tear is given.

One by one

The Father knowingly gives.

Second by second,

Heartbeat by beat,

Breath by breath.

He gives us today

And promises to keep tomorrow,

Why do we fear?

Only God has control,

Only the good Shepherd knows.

So I tell you,

Enjoy the blessings:

One by one.

Enjoy your work,

Work with all your might at it,

For there will be

More work to enjoy tomorrow.

Enjoy your food,

Fill yourself,

God will provide tomorrow.

Enjoy those who love you,

Your friends and your family,

Love them unquenchably,

For there will be love tomorrow.

God has blessed you with today,

Will you not enjoy it with me?

Enjoy today

In order to enjoy

The today tomorrow.

- Christopher R. Mattix

]]> http://hannibalian.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/good-stuff-from-the-esv-literary-study-bible/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:58:46 +0000 Hannibalian http://hannibalian.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/good-stuff-from-the-esv-literary-study-bible/ http://root48.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/prosperity-misery/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:40:16 +0000 brian hofmeister http://root48.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/prosperity-misery/ http://jamesbradfordpate.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/was-solomon-wrong-to-ask-for-wisdom/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:26:32 +0000 jamesbradfordpate http://jamesbradfordpate.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/was-solomon-wrong-to-ask-for-wisdom/

I finished David Carr’s From D to Q yesterday. I made an error in my last post: I said that Carr thought that the Deuteronomist inserted the part of I Kings 3 in which Solomon goes to Jerusalem to sacrifice. Actually, he says that an Adonai editor did that. The Adonai editor overlaps with the Deuteronomist in areas, but they’re not the same.

What stuck out to me yesterday was Carr’s treatment of the Book of Ecclesiastes. According to Carr, Ecclesiastes is a “counter-textual” reading of I Kings 3. In I Kings 3, Solomon asks for wisdom rather than riches, and God applauds his request. In Ecclesiastes, however, the author (who may purport to be Solomon) says that wisdom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I glanced over Ecclesiastes 1-2 to see what he means, and there’s a sense that wisdom leads to despair. Moreover, the author wonders why wisdom is so great, when everyone is going to die anyway, both the wise and the fools.

This reminds me of a sermon that I heard many years ago. The speaker was at David Antion’s church, and his argument was that perhaps Solomon erred when he asked God for wisdom. Many in my family loved the sermon because it thought outside of the box. I thought it was off-base, though, because God explicitly told Solomon in I Kings 3 that God approved of Solomon’s request. But the idea that there were different perspectives in the Bible wasn’t on my radar at the time.

I may ask my dad if he still has that sermon when I go home for Thanksgiving. Why did the preacher of that sermon think that wisdom was flawed? Critical scholars of the Bible maintain that the author of Ecclesiastes did not believe in an afterlife, and that’s why he thought life was so futile and adopted an “eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy God while you’re alive” sort of attitude. But I don’t think ministers in the Armstrongite tradition had that interpretation of Ecclesiastes. Maybe the preacher of the sermon said that Solomon’s wisdom led to despair because he saw how pointless so many things are: Solomon got bored.

“I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.”- King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

Ecclesiastes will always be my favorite.

It is quite a feat to allow oneself to feel the weightiness of a broken world, knowing that we are powerless to cure it, yet remain unhindered in wholly committing oneself to the betterment of it. Experiencing the weightiness of a broken world in any measure is a feat in itself, but to add in one’s own investment to a cause that never seems satiated is like a circus act. We ask for a heart that breaks like God’s, yet we cannot handle it because our hearts are far too weak.  We ask for God to use us for his purposes, yet we are ignorant mess-ups who couldn’t possibly be of much help to God.  As ironic as it sounds, I believe this is what hope in God looks like.

I often experience this irony.  I have so much passion for evangelism and for others to know the Lord fully, but I often feel that everything is “a chasing after the wind.”  Read Ecclesiastes.

However, the apostle Paul tells us to run in such a way to win the prize.  In 1 Corinthians, Paul explains life as ferocious fight to the finish.  Sprinters train and train so that when they compete, they will reach the finish line first.  Two things confuse me about this though: Christians aren’t trying to be ‘better’ than other Christians, and if the prize/crown we receive is God and eternity, then don’t we already have that?  I still believe that when Paul talks about the crown he is talking about victory.  Although we already have victory in Christ the moment we receive Him as our Lord and Savior, we are still asked to run a race as if we have everything to lose if we fail. This is faith.  If our goal was to receive salvation, then we have made Christianity about us.  However, if our goal is Christ, MORE Christ, then we have every reason to sprint, if we indeed are madly in love with Him.   When a child has been separated from his mother for a time, he may run to her when he firsts sees her again.  This is especially true if the child comes from a place that was dark and frightening.  Why does he run?  Won’t he get to her either way?  It seems that the method of getting to his mother does not make a difference in whether he gets there or not, but his running does seem to imply a love and longing for the one who will keep in safe in her arms.

I know there are times when life seems hopeless, when this race seems aimless.  I have often felt that this world was meaningless.  I have been so weighed down by hurt and heartache that it leaves me immobilized. I have also felt depressed because of the many evils in the world.  It feels like this race is so meaningless sometimes.  Truly, the thing that keeps me going is hope in Christ.  It’s not easy because it still feels like I’m hanging by a thread sometimes, but it’s my only hope.  We all must hope in something.  If we do not believe in God, we must believe that either there is no God, or that there is some imperfect, evil, or incompetent God.  Either of the latter two options would make this life not worth living.  I want to reassure you that I am not entertaining thoughts of losing my life, but I do know that some do.  Many feel depressed.  But when depression is coupled with hopelessness then we are in trouble.  We need hope.

This is how God showed his love for us.  Christ wrote love on his arms when he allowed the nails to be driven through them.  He wrote love on his arms so you would not have to express self-hate on yours. Therefore protect your life, because Christ gave his for yours!

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13, 14

I just liked these pictures.

http://www.twloha.com/

I’ve been asking God a few times today why he chooses to work through trials and why trials make us depend on Him.

I’ve been learning a lot lately about my own comfort levels. And I can’t believe how much I love them. I love a well stocked savings account, a beautifully decorated home, a consistent bed-time, an overflowing pantry and refrigerator, friends that love me, Christmas songs that remind me of childhood and hug my soul, a warm black tea latte, job security, babies that don’t cry, a well-heated car, and the list goes on…

But is that alone what God calls me to?

Yes and No.

He has made all those things. He wants me to enjoy them and to enjoy this life to its fullest. That’s evident all over the book of Ecclesiastes. But, he doesn’t promise  that I’ll be comfortable all the time or exempt from trials. And he never said that comfort draws me closer to him.

Suffering and trials do.

Oh, but I don’t want them when they come. It’s so difficult to live by faith!

But I’m learning, in all my imperfections, that it’s not so much about the trial, but about loving and knowing him because He is better than all the comforts the world has to offer. He is the one who fills my soul and deepest longings. And He is all I will have when this life is over, not all the things I try to hold onto.

Well… I guess that’s His answer to my questions. Now it’s time to trust him in this trial!

‘Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.’

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Ecclesiastes is one of my favourite books in the Bible.

If you read it, quickly you will discover that the ‘Preacher’ has struggles. He’s coming to the end of his days, and looks back over life and makes observations. Now the Preacher is a man who has walked in wisdom and knows God.

Much of the Bible’s wisdom has been interpreted as a pathway to a happy life – how to maintain economic liquidity, how to raise kids and more. This is no bad thing!

Yet the Preacher has lived that life. Remember what he concludes?

“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity”

Now I consider myself to be at the beginning of a journey of wisdom. And I am not so naive as to assume that as I grow – with God’s help – in wisdom and understanding, that I will be nothing but happy all the time, forever.

The Preacher certainly does not think that all the wisdom he has applied to his life has caused him to be happy.

I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”  And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

Of course there is now a problem to be addressed. In my mind at least.

Why pursue wisdom, when there is only vexation and sadness to be had.

Frankly you have to be wilfully ignorant to think yourself wise and presume that the world is a good place. The Preacher looks out at his world and sees many things which cause him to be vexed:

self-indulgence
Wisdom
Work
Injustice
Wealth

What is the point in doing life God’s way, when we all end up the same? From dust we have come and from dust we will return, so why bother? This is the question on the Preachers tongue, and it echoes in my heart.

Though the Preacher makes this observation:

I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Wisdom, then is of benefit to others. But for the individual it is a great cost. The pursuit of wisdom and understanding is not one every person undertakes. Wisdom is a gift bestowed by God and a journey I perceive him to be taking me on, the pathway towards understanding of the world and knowledge of him.

Maybe one day, I will be the poor wise man whom is despised, but delivers the city.

That reminds me of a certain Jewish Rabbi who lived and was murdered in 1st century Palestine. Fancy that

Daily Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:8-15
8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.10 Those who love money never have enough;those who love wealth are never satisfied with their income.This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? 12 The sleep of laborers is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits them no sleep. 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil
that they can carry in their hands.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions:
Some places in Scripture reflect the temptation for even God’s people to see wealth as a sure sign of God’s favor. They found it hard to see the subtle danger of materialism, because they thought all riches were a reward from God. The writer of Ecclesiastes, though, saw clearly the basic emptiness of using “stuff” as a gauge of success.

• Have you ever had a personal experience of the truth behind the words “Those who love money never have enough”? If so, what lessons did you take away from the experience? What things most help you deal with the seemingly insatiable human craving to have “more”?
• This passage suggests that the urge to hoard wealth can harm the person who has the money or property. Have you seen the fear of losing goods or money, in yourself or someone you know, produce a compulsive search for “security”? How does this ancient wisdom point toward a different way of anchoring your life?

Read Rev. Scott Chrostek’s insights on today’s scripture at gpsinsights.wordpress.com

Weekly Prayer:
Dear God, my television, my newspaper and most of the stuff in my mailbox and inbox tug me toward measuring my value solely in terms of material things. When they do, I’m thankful that the Bible speaks very differently, and points me to your very different values. Teach me how to better listen to, and follow, your still, small voice. Amen.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide.

Pastor Dan Mitchum speaking on Ecclesiastes 9:11-18, Audio or Video.

 A. Two facts of life (9:11-12)

   1.  Life isn’t ___________ (11)

   2.  Life is _____________ (12)

 B. Why are human beings so hard to help? (9:13-18)

  1. We become ____________ after a ____________ (15)

  2. We equate ____________________ with ____________ (16-17)

  3. We ____________ our own ______________ (18)

 C. The Wisdom of God still whispers (John 1:10-14)

 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God. (1 Cor. 1:24)

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9)

Questions for family and small group discussion:

1. We have goals, hopes, and dreams for our lives, but the Teacher says things don’t always go as planned because “time and chance” happens to us all (verse 11). What do you think of the Teacher’s statement? How does “time and chance” fit into God’s sovereignty?

2. Reread verses 13-18. How have you seen this parable lived out in your life? In what ways can you relate to those who only had a short-term memory of salvation?

3. When did you first embrace God’s wonderful wisdom? How do you listen for God’s quiet whisper today?