THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Only God can change ones heart
“Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?”
Ecclesiastes 7:13 (KJV)
Ecclesiastes 7 The Value of Practical Wisdom
If there was any doubt of who wrote Ecclesiastes, there is none now – Wisdom Literature
Solomon undoubtingly regretted what his actions were to where he repeats that it would have been better to not have been born
Ecclesiastes 7:1 (KJV), “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
From Ecclesiastes 4
With all of the oppression in the world, Solomon says it would be better if you were not born then have to face it
Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 (KJV), “2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.”
Be only in the moment and allow God to set you straight
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (KJV), “In the day of prosperity [[1]happiness]be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NASB1995), “In the day of prosperity [happiness]be happy, But in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.”
In my opinion, one of the wisest sayings of Solomon
Showing two different translations (KJV & NASB1995)
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 (KJV), “15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity [unsubstantial, worthless, vanity, as of idols] : there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.”
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 (NASB1995), “15 I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16 Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? 17 Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.”
Solomon finally realized what all of us must realize, we are worthless sinners without God
- Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV), “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
- Proverbs 20:9 (KJV), “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”
- Romans 3:23 (KJV), “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
- 1 John 1:8 (KJV), “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Solomon searched the earth to seek earthly wisdom
Ecclesiastes 7:25 (KJV), “I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.”
Though God made us in His image, we take over from there and want to do things are own way
Ecclesiastes 7:27-29 (KJV), “27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: 28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions [schemes, devices, inventions].”
Joel 3
God Judges the Nations – End times
Joel 3:1-2 (KJV), “For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”
Brown-Driver-Briggs – 3. The day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous.
God’s favor on Israel
Joel 3:20 (KJV), “But Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.”
Jeremiah 50
Judgment on Babylon and Babylonia
God’s favor on Israel
Jeremiah 50:4-5 (KJV), “4 In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.”
Jeremiah 50:20 (KJV), “In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.”
Do not allow a pastor, televangelist, preacher, etc. to lead you astray
Jeremiah 50:6-7 (KJV), “6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. 7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers.”
The nations that go against Israel
Jeremiah 50:12-13 (KJV), “12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate.”
Proverbs 29 Please read
The righteous acknowledge the poor in spirit (or those in poverty) and want to help them, but the proud (or unrighteous) mock and belittle them
Proverbs 29:7 (KJV), “The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.”
Proverbs 29:10 (KJV), “The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.”
- The poor (Proverbs 29:7)
- Strong’s Concordance (1800) – dal: lean. Brown-Driver-Briggs – דַּל adjective low, weak, poor, thin.
Often times in scripture, the word poor and rich can have two meanings; those who are in fact poor in poverty or those who are lazy
Proverbs 10:4 (KJV), “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
- In this case, poor
- Strong’s Concordance (7326) – rush: to be in want or poor. Brown-Driver-Briggs – A primitive root; to be destitute — lack, needy, (make self) poor (man).
Ezekiel 48
Division of the Land
- In this chapter we have particular directions given for the distribution of the land
[1] Strong’s Concordance (2896) – towb: beautiful. Brown-Driver-Briggs – 1. welfare, happiness
Grow in the Word of the Lord 