Editor's Note: Wearied, often pessimistic observations and life lessons shared from an anonymous author who has "been there, done that" - generally believed to be King Solomon, looking back on his journey.
Ecclesiates 1
Life is a vapor, and wears you out
You cannot affect real change, whatever you do, whatever you learn, however you apply it
Ecclesiates 2
The author has explored hedonism and empire building, the pursuit of knowledge and legacy - and found it all empty and frustrating. Yet he learned that we can enjoy what we do, and this is a good way to live.
Ecclesiates 3
"For everything there is a season" The LORD has purpose in what he does, and he will evaluate people on what they do, too. Life is a gift, and we should enjoy the journey.
Ecclesiates 4
The author observed oppression, envy, ambition, and found it all disheartening. Living in community brings value and meaning, and listening with an intent to obey the LORD is the best way to approach him.
When reading this book you must know the conclusion going in:
ReplyDeleteEcc 12:13-14 13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Mat 19:16-17 16 And look, someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do, that I may have everlasting life?” 17 He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? No one is good but one. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Joh 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Solomon's father, King David, expounded on this beautifully in all of Psalm 119 which starts like this:
ReplyDeletePsa 119:1-8 1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart. 3 Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways. 4 You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them. 5 Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes. 6 Then I wouldn’t be disappointed, when I consider all of your commandments. 7 I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments. 8 I will observe your statutes. Do not utterly forsake me.
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
Rev 20:11-15 11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. 12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and hell gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Death and hell were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 If anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:6-8 6 He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But to the cowards, and unbelieving, and detestable, and murderers, and sexually immoral, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Rev 12:10-11 10 I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now is come the salvation, the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. They did not love their life, even to death.
Ecc 12:13-14 13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Let's love God, יְהוָה֙, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with our whole heart by submitting our lives completely to His rule, His Way of life, His instructions, His commandments, and we will love our neighbor as much as ourselves.
Mat 5:14-20 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to magnify. 18 For truly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or part of a letter will disappear from the Law, until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever will break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, will be called least by the kingdom of heaven; but whoever will do and teach them will be called great by the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the kingdom of heaven.