THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Do not be selfish or self-centered
“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”
Proverbs 21:13 (KJV)
Ecclesiastes
Author: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. There are quite a few verses that imply Solomon wrote this book. There are some clues in the context that may suggest a different person wrote the book after Solomon’s death, possibly several hundred years later. Still, the conventional belief is that the author is indeed Solomon.
Date of writing: Solomon’s reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
Purpose of Writing: Ecclesiastes is a book of perspective. The narrative of “the Preacher” (KJV), or “the Teacher” (NIV) reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. This book gives Christians a chance to see the world through the eyes of a person who, though very wise, is trying to find meaning in temporary, human things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning.
In the end: The Preacher comes to accept that faith in God is the only way to find personal meaning. He decides to accept the fact that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God. The Preacher advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.
Ecclesiastes 1
These are the words of Solomon
Ecclesiastes 1:1 (KJV), “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”
Though the word, Preacher, here technically means ‘teacher’, in this context, it means more than that.
Strong’s Concordance (6953) – Qoheleth: “a collector (of sentences),” “a preacher,” a son of David.
Brown-Driver-Briggs – a king in Jerusalem, son of David, probably = Solomon, the pseudonym of book of Ecclesiastes.
Solomon came back around to identify his great fall from God
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (KJV), “2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?”
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (NIV), “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
Under the sun
The phrase “under the sun” occurs 28 times, and refers to the mortal world. When the Preacher refers to “all things under the sun,” he is talking about earthly, temporary, human things.
Brown-Driver-Briggs – 3. object of worship; c. ׳תַּחַת הַשּׁ, i. e. on the earth.
Solomon expresses living on the earth is essentially cyclical. The basic laws of nature repeat every day.
Ecclesiastes 1:4-7 (KJV), “4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever. 5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 (KJV), “9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.”
For all of the vanities described in the Book of Ecclesiastes, the answer is Christ
Ecclesiastes 3:17 (KJV), “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
Solomon is specifically talking about worldly wisdom [Once at this link, scroll down to Brown-Driver-Briggs and look for 5.c.]
Ecclesiastes 1:17-18 (KJV), “17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
Strong’s Concordance (2451) – chokmah: wisdom. More importantly …
Brown-Driver-Briggs – c. of man. [Once at this link, scroll down to Brown-Driver-Briggs and look for 5.c.]
Hosea 11
God’s Continuing Love for Israel – God will never give up on us (Jesus is our mediator)
Hosea 11:1-3 (KJV), “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.”
Hosea 11:8-9 (KJV), “8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.”
Another example of the Old Testament word, ‘Backsliding’. Today, we use that word whenever we do something in weakness, not the same
Hosea 11:7 (KJV), “And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.”
Strong’s Concordance (4878) – meshubah: turning back, apostasy. Same in Brown-Driver-Briggs.
The 1828 Websters – noun The act of apostatizing from faith or practice; a falling insensibly from religion into sin or idolatry.
Today’s definition – the action of relapsing into bad ways or error. <– see the difference!
Jeremiah 45
Baruch is Jeremiah’s scribe
Jeremiah 45:1-3 (KJV), “The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch: 3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.”
This final word to Baruch is also pertinent to Christians. Christians live in a world that is doomed to destruction. A Christian who seeks great things for himself or seeks to become great on earth is shortsighted. Christians should simply be faithful to do what God requires and rejoice in the fact that they will escape the coming judgment.
Jeremiah 45:4-5 (KJV), “4 Thus shalt thou say unto him, The Lord saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. 5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.”
Proverbs 21
It is imperative to understand that though God directs all of our ways, predetermination, unless you choose to receive His godly direction, free will, He has already determined where you will go, predetermination
Proverbs 21:1-2 (KJV), “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord (predetermination), as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will (predetermination). 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes (free will): but the Lord pondereth the hearts. ”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV), “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (free will). 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him (free will), and he shall direct thy paths (predetermination).”
Ezekiel 43
The Temple, the Lord’s Dwelling Place – We are God’s temple
Ezekiel 43:8-9 (KJV), “8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. 9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them forever.”
We are the salt of the earth, we should bring the life of Jesus to all
Matthew 5:13 (KJV), “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Leviticus 2:13 (KJV), “And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.”
Numbers 18:19 (KJV), “All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute forever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee.”
God uses us to impact the people around us. Whether we are slowing down the moral decay or enhancing the spiritual “flavor” of the world, God has created us to be a positive impact. As followers of Christ, we are called to be different and to live righteous lives.
Grow in the Word of the Lord 