SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/10/2013
7:07 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
Introduction to Ecclesiastes
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference:
Ecclesiastes
Message of the
verses: In this SD we will begin to
look at the book of Ecclesiastes, by looking at a couple of introductions to
the book. In the next SD we will continue
looking at what the book is about by looking at different aspects of Dr.
Wiersbe’s introduction which includes commentary on the first three verses of
the book: “1 ¶ The words of the
Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Vanity of vanities,"
says the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." 3 What
advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun?”
“The name of this book signifies "The
Preacher." The wisdom of God here preaches to us, speaking by Solomon, who
it is evident was the author. At the close of his life, being made sensible of
his sin and folly, he recorded here his experience for the benefit of others,
as the book of his repentance; and he pronounced all earthly good to be
"vanity and vexation of spirit." It convinces us of the vanity of the
world, and that it cannot make us happy; of the vileness of sin, and its
certain tendency to make us miserable. It shows that no created good can
satisfy the soul, and that happiness is to be found in God alone; and this
doctrine must, under the blessed Spirit’s teaching, lead the heart to Christ
Jesus.” (Matthew Henry)
“When I was asked to launch an Old Testament series of BE
books, I could think of no better book to start with than Ecclesiastes. And I could think of no better title than Be Satisfied, because that’s what
Ecclesiastes is about.
‘Life is filled with difficulties and perplexities,’ King Solomon concluded, ‘and there’s much
that nobody can understand, let alone control.
From the human point of view, it’s all vanity and folly. But life is God’s gift to us and He wants us
to enjoy it and use it for His glory.
So, instead of complaining about what you don’t have, start giving
thanks for what you do have—and be satisfied!’
“Our Jewish friends read Ecclesiastes at the annual Feast
of Tabernacles, a joyful autumn festival of harvest. It fits!
For Solomon wrote, ‘There is nothing better for a man, than that he
should eat and drink, and that he should make his should enjoy good in his
labor. This is also I saw, that it was
from the hand of God’ (Eccl. 2:24). Even
the apostle Paul (who could hardly be labeled a hedonist) said that God give to
us ‘richly all things to enjoy’ (1 Tim. 6:17).
“Life without Jesus Christ is indeed ‘vanity and vexation
of spirit’ (Eccl 1:14). But when you
know Him personally, and live for Him faithfully, you experience ‘fullness of
joy [and] pleasures for ever more’ (Ps. 16:11).” (Warren Wiersbe)
ECCLESIASTES;
OR, The Preacher
THREE things in general are to be noted concerning this
book:
1. The author of it, who was Solomon, as is manifest both
from the common consent of Jewish and Christian writers, and from the express
words of the first verse. Nor can any thing be opposed to it but bold and
groundless conjectures. That he wrote it in his old age is more than probable
from divers passages in it, as, that he did it after his buildings, Ec 2:4,
which yet took up twenty years of his life, 1Ki 9:10, and after some
considerable enjoyment of them, and planting of gardens and orchards, and
reaping the fruit of them, Ec 2:5,6, and after long and much consideration and
experience of all those methods in which men expected to find happiness, and
after he had been deeply plunged in impure and inordinate loves, Ec 7:27,
&c., and from many other places, which may be observed by any diligent
reader. And so this book was written by him as a public testimony of his
repentance and detestation of all those vain and wicked courses to which he had
addicted himself; wherein he followed the example of his father David, who
after his sad fall penned the 51st Psalm. And the truth of this opinion may be
confirmed by that expression, 2Ch 11:17, they walked in the way of David and
Solomon, i.e. wherein they walked both before their falls, and after their
repentance.
2. The form or method of it. For whereas there are some
passages in it which may seem offensive and impious, for which some few persons
have suspected its authority, it must be considered that it is in part
dramatical, as was said before of the Book of Proverbs, and that Solomon speaks
some and most things in his own name, but some other things in the names and
according to the opinions of those worldly and ungodly men, as is undeniably
manifest, both from the scope and design of the book, as it is expressed both
in the beginning and in the conclusion of it, and from his serious and large
disputation against those wicked principles and courses. And this way of
writing is not unusual amongst both sacred and profane writers.
3. The design and business of it, which is to describe man’s
true happiness, and the way leading to it; which he doth both negatively,
asserting and proving that it is not to be found either in secular wisdom, or
in sensual pleasures, or in worldly greatness and glory, or in abundance of
riches, or in a vain profession of religion; and positively, showing that it is
to be had only by the fear of God, and obedience to his laws, which alone can
give a man a contented and cheerful enjoyment of his present comforts, and
assurance of his future and everlasting happiness.” (Matthew Poole)
The
Author: I am not going to spend a lot of
time discussing who the author of Ecclesiastes is for both Jewish and Christian
commentators have said it is Solomon, King David’s son born to him by
Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the Hittite. In that statement we see a lot about God’s
grace, and about God’s forgives, and also about the plans of God.
Solomon,
when he was young walked closely with God, but when he got older he went away
from the Lord, and began to follow heathen gods because of the foreign women
that he married. Solomon broke most
every law that the Lord had given about what a king should do, and most
commentators believe that it was in his older years that he returned to the
Lord and looked back at his life without the Lord and then penned this
book.
Dr.
Wiersbe writes “He (Solomon) wrote Proverbs from the viewpoint of a wise
teacher (1:1-6), and Song of Solomon from the viewpoint of a royal lover
(3:7-11), but when he wrote Ecclesiastes, he called himself ‘the Preacher’
(1:1, 2, 12; 7:27; 12:8-10). The Hebrew
word is Koheleth (ko-HAY-leth) and is the title given to an official
speaker who calls an assembly (See 1Kings 8:1).
The Greek word ‘assembly’ is ekklesia,
and give us the English title of the book, Ecclesiastes.” The Greek word ekklesia is also the word that
is used for the Church, which means the called out ones.
Spiritual meaning for my life: When I look at Solomon’s life I can see some
good things that he did like building the temple of God in Jerusalem, and also
writing three different books of the Bible.
The Lord had a special love for Solomon, and I know that Solomon did let
down the Lord in many ways, but that is true of most all believes. I see God’s grace, love and patience in His
dealings with Solomon, and I also see those qualities of God in dealing with me
in my life, and for that I am indeed thankful to the Lord for not giving up on
me.
My
Steps of Faith for Today: Trust that the Lord will give me the grace
today to make good decisions and to please the Lord. Trust that the Lord will give me the grace
needed for today’s life.
Memory verses for the week:
Psalm 32:7-10
7 You are
my hiding place; Your preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of
deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the
way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which
have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in
check, otherwise they will not come near you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord,
lovingkindness shall surround you.
Answer to Yesterday’s Bible Question: “Forty days and nights” (Gen. 7:12)
Today’s Bible Question:
“By whom shall God judge the secrets of men?”
Answer in Tomorrow’s SD.
4/10/2013 8:03 AM
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