Solomon now turns from a beautiful section (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15) about God making everything beautiful in its time, taking pleasure in God’s gifts to us, thanking and fearing our sovereign God… to the section which is our focus for today, verses 16-22. Solomon’s brief interlude into a vertical perspective quickly ends and he turns his attention back to … More Don’t forget the vertical perspective
October 4 Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (ESV) A Time for Everything 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; … More October 4 Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24b-25, verses 17-26 in our reading plan today) Ray Stedman comments, in a message, “Life in the Fast Lane” That is his second declaration, and that is the true message of this … More Enjoyment is a gift of God.
October 3 Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 (ESV) 17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind. The Vanity of Toil 18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who … More October 3 Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
Ecclesiastes 2:1 (part of our reading plan today) I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. Solomon was searching. Searching for lasting satisfaction but pursuing it in all the wrong places. He became like a new freshman on a college campus, trying … More The Pleasure Test
October 2 Ecclesiastes 2:1-16 (ESV) The Vanity of Self-Indulgence 2:1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with … More October 2 Ecclesiastes 2:1-16
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a … More Unsatisfied until we find our satisfaction in God alone
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. —Ecclesiastes 12:13 Ray Stedman: Everything hangs upon that word, “Fear God.” I know that this is a difficult word for us to comprehend. Most of us think of it in terms of … More Understanding the FEAR of God
Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. —Ecclesiastes 11:5, in our read-through-the-Bible plan. Life is unpredictable and mysterious, just like the wind. The wind blows sovereignly. … More Trusting God with wind and bones
The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. —Ecclesiastes 10:12 We probably all know foolish people who use many words. I know a few wise people who use many words and are discerning and articulate. Using many words is not necessarily an indicator of one’s … More Using many words is not necessarily an indicator of one’s wisdom.
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 