fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 7, 2019 13:06:45 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes: 1-18
Introduction:
Title: means:
Preacher (Greek)
One who gathers (Hebrew)
Author: almost certainly Solomon
It aims to answer some of life's most challenging questions.
The author studied life first with man's empirical wisdom
( rather than Divine Wisdom)
and discovered man's wisdom is vanity, fleeting, and filled with disappointment and vexation.
( including his great intellect) on his own personal pleasure,
rather God's glory....
He tried to enjoy life without fear of God's judgement, in the end he came to grasp the importance of Obedience.
He came to realize the cursed condition of the universe, but if one perceives each day of existence, labor, and basic provision as a gift from God that person will live an abundant life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All Is Vanity
Without acknowledging God, then, in the end, what is the use of all your labor ( be it for material items: estates, cars, horses, clothing, arts etc etc etc.) if in the end you die and that is the 'end'? There is no 'lasting' good in this life, if it is all there is.
Everything is 'fleeting, transitory, cursed even,
and
without God, in the end....meaningless.
he sees a difference between permanence and impermanence.
Solomon had tried to discover life's mysteries and critical issues,
by man's empirical knowledge only
( not divines wisdom)
and found it lacking, grievous, full of vexation, and empty.
But this was not for his lack of trying...he had applied his heart to it....this was not just a brief study.
Solomon was a brilliant man with a great mind and brain.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Sept 7, 2019 15:13:36 GMT -5
In the book of Ecclesiastes it's subject is the meaning of life. The author or the preacher, son of David, king of Jerusalem, King Solomon; he is not talking about what should be pursued in a faith/covenant context, he is talking about what should not be pursued from a worldly perspective. We are to enjoy life's good times as gifts from God's hand and accept adversity. Words used often are meaningless and under the sun, meaningless is the opposite of self-fulfillment and under to sun is our experience in this life. Each path pursued has potential drawbacks, paths pursued in wisdom, wealth, pleasure, power and legacy. Instead we are given the message to find enjoyment in the gifts from God.
*** *** ***
The wealth and pleasure of this world are not enough to make us happy. What profit has a man of all his labor? All he gets from it will not supply the wants of the soul, nor satisfy its desires, will not compensate for the sins of the soul, nor hinder the loss of it: After all a mans labor he is no nearer to finding rest than the sun, the wind, or the current of the river. His soul will find no rest, if he does not get rest from being right with God.
Men's hearts and their corruptions are the same now as in former times; their desires, and pursuits, and complaints, still the same. How many things and persons in Solomon's day were thought to be very great, yet there is no remembrance of them now.
Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the knowledge, love, and service of the Savior.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 8, 2019 10:10:05 GMT -5
That was really good Anna!!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Post by fearnot on Sept 8, 2019 10:57:24 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 2: 1-26
The Vanity of Self-Indulgence
So since learning and intellectual pursuits did not provide lasting happiness, Solomon decides to try a new experiment and try all manner of self-indulgence in pleasures, fulfill all his lusts and passions....
human gratification,
but ...
without any acknowledgement of God or giving Him any glory.
Solomon spared no expense at this pursuit, he built built houses and planted vineyards for himself, and all sorts of pleasure from nature. He made himself gardens and parks.
He surrounded himself with music, art etc.
He bought all sorts of things....
Nothing that might delight the eye or senses of a human, was beyond his reach.
The operative word in all of it was:
myself.
Mankind has done this throughout history.....
self-centered indulgence
if at all possible
and
coveting if you do not have....
either way, its all about 'me'.
Sin has not changed and mankind has not evolved.
Even laughter, what good is it really when one comes to die?
Neither great great knowledge nor great pleasure, neither the wise nor the fool are different in death.
Life in a cursed world is empty in the end, without God.
The Vanity of Living Wisely
Vanity- nothing enduring or even satisfying
As MacArthur says: "To expend God given resources for human accomplishments alone...is empty".
Solomon does determine wisdom is better than folly but neither give anything lasting
The Vanity of Toil
The same is true for all the work man may do without God.
Even the most prosperous successful business enterprises have to be left in the end.
However, God can give blessing of enjoyment to those who love Him. They can be thankful, grateful, blessed, content etc.
" I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him[d] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God."
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 8, 2019 11:41:26 GMT -5
That was really good Anna!! |
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 8, 2019 12:08:39 GMT -5
Chapter 2
Solomon set his mind to the understanding of vanity and vexation of amusement. He went all out for mirth, houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards, fruit trees, pools of water, servants, cattle, silver and gold, singers, young women, the vanity of pleasure and wealth. Solomon increased more than all that were before him in Jerusalem and also his wisdom remained with him, not withholding from himself anything he wanted, he sought to enjoy but he said all was vanity and vexation of spirit. Then he understood that wisdom excelleth folly. He felt despair of all the labor he had done. Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. Riches are a blessing or a curse to a man, according as he has, or has not, a heart to make a good use of them.
In our modern time we could say that to seek the love of Christ and His blessings, is the only way to true and satisfying enjoyment in this present world.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 9, 2019 10:17:12 GMT -5
Like wise Anna, I read all that both you and Cindy write, and find it very helpful to me!! :-)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Post by fearnot on Sept 9, 2019 11:55:00 GMT -5
Ecclesiates 3: 1-22
A Time for Everything
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes time itself can seem to drag on and on. If one is in an uncomfortable situation, and it never seems to end, a person can begin to give up hope...but that would be wrong.
God has appointed times, and in His timing, a bad situation can change in a flash. We have to continue to learn patience.
Some of the things listed depend on God alone clearly, others seem to be in man's control, but with a careful look, we can know that even these are only being allowed ( or seem to be) under man's control.
The God-Given Task
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is also a beautiful verse speaking of God:
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart...'
All the things we are able to do, we ought to be grateful and thankful for, they are a gift from God.
Verse 14 reminds me of the First law of thermodynamics ( I am not saying that is in fact what God is saying here, because even this law is man trying to understand what God has done)
( this 'material' law ( law about energy) was only discovered or stated, maybe 100 years ago....give or take, some time):
"whatever God does endures forever;
nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it".
From Dust to Dust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now Solomon turns to injustice and justice in the world ( or lack of)
to.
there is injustice in this fallen sin cursed world.
One example would be, some men are very rich ( due to hard work, or theft, fraud, etc. etc.)
Nevertheless, they all have one thing in common, they all shall die ( which is true of the animals...
well actually plants too).
Strangely v.20 reminds me of the 2nd law of thermodynamics ( I kind of always thought that law 'might' have come into existence when mankind sinned)
"All are from the dust, and to dust all return"
God made man from 'dust' ,
but I always think of everything in the universe being cursed and returning, and/or running down, becoming less organized, by sin ( the whole creation groans).
These are just thoughts I have when reading this ( not that they are true).
But IF they were true, it would show that those who scoff at the Bible as some simple bunch of 'fairy tales' to be instead, thousands of years ahead of man kinds greatest minds....
which is true, irregardless if these verse point to the first and 2nd law of thermodynamics or not, which are only man's attempt to try to explain what God has done. God is infinitely beyond any human mind....to be able to create a universe, living beings etc. ( and not only that but He will destroy this one and create a new one in the future)....not to mention Heaven and Hell.
God has put eternity into our hearts.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Sept 9, 2019 20:18:39 GMT -5
chapter 3
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose. The changes of human affairs.
We can follow the lead of the Lord in our lives to do good works because the time to die is fast approaching. It is a mistake if we think we were born for ourselves. It is our business to do good in this life, which is short and uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time and have faith that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. There is no change or temptation that happens to us that is not common throughout history to man. Jesus is the hope for sinners.
Labor and sorrow fill the world.
Solomon said it is good for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life and to eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 10, 2019 12:31:14 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 4:1-16
Evil Under the Sun
This chapter deals with chasing after success. I know its false and foolish and deadly, but there are times when I think or have thought,
IF ONLY.....
we had a bit more money.....
and there have even been times when like Solomon says:
"all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor".
We want to keep up with the Joneses because it seems like they have ease, fun, pleasure, no money stress and worries etc.
However,
"This also is vanity and a striving after wind."
Poor people when they might hear a child of the rich say:
but my parents don't have any time for me.....
they mock that child and say:
"Ohhhhh poor poor little rich kid"
However, they do not understand that tho that child may have lots of 'material' things but
if they are not loved, never given any attention etc. it actually is worse,
than a poor home with little material things but lots of love.
Prov. 15:16 "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and and trouble with it."
And yes, the rich can be arrogant, without compassion, cruel, ruthless in climbing the corporate ladder, are oppressive, etc. ( if they have no love or compassion on their own children, why would they have any for strangers or employees).
But in the end when it come time to die.....what do they really 'have"?
Without God, in either the rich or the poor person life, deep down inside can feel that death can seem to be the only release....because the struggle for human power, material gain, success etc, is intensely relentless...
but neither person is looking towards what really comes next, after death.
Solomon is not to saying we should all be sluggards but to be rats in a rat race, striving to 'win', gain glory for ourselves, is foolishness and without God in your life, death before death.
You often are so enslaved, that if you stopped to think, you might wonder:
“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business".
Furthermore, its lonely at the top....the poor may say again....poor poor baby, but when you can't trust anyone, no one to share anything with, live without love....its a cold -hearted existence.
You have no one to lift you up.
Its strange tho, I always have thought of this verse in relation to marriage
“A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
Many people when they marry are thinking of the 2 of them.....but the best marriage, is when you have 3 ( God is the major priority in both of your lives.)
And even if you become king of whatever mountain you have climbed, the day is coming when you are going to fall....due to old age, one mistake whatever.
( unless you do it God's way....it can be possible to be a godly leader, and so forth)
But at some point, the person, someone young is going to take your place.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Sept 10, 2019 14:16:52 GMT -5
In chapter 4 Solomon considers miseries from the oppression. Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed- and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors- and they have no comforter. Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
He sees the troubles from envy, the folly of covetousness but he does see the advantages of mutual assistance.
There is a time for all things, and man must do each in its season, and enjoy that which God gives on his way. But God is the same in all His works, that men should fear before Him. We know that God will judge the righteous and the wicked; and man knows that he dies as the beast dies, and who can tell what becomes of what he left behind, yet by the love of God people can be given a good foundation for their heart and mind.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Post by fearnot on Sept 11, 2019 11:00:18 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 5: 1-20
Fear God
~~~~~~~~
It starts with the house of God ( the one place where vanity does not rule)
and God can sooth all manner of sorrows
"....make them joyful in my house of prayer...." Isaiah 56:7
But we need to "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God"
That we don't fall into mindless ritual while there.
It is better to hear and listen than to babble foolishness. This is true be it talking to people or prayer.
If our public ( or even private) prayers are just vain long cold repetitions without love for God and others, it is not acceptable.
Then there is a warning about making vows to God, they should not be done in a half-hearted flippant way, rashly made in the heat of the moment.
"Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay"
Don't try to wiggle out of it, by saying oh its no big deal, it was a mistake etc.
The Vanity of Wealth and Honor
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There is truly great injustice in the world, "the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness........"
yet Solomon says:
"do not be amazed at the matter"
How can one go on knowing this is true....
Well
"for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them"
so yes on earth the poor often will not win ( do not be amazed) because the rich often have the judges in their corner ( due to their money)
However, the oppressed may know there is even a higher judge (God) who will make everything right one day.
we can either know that is true or the atheist can rebel, join a war to fight, join a political group, etc. only to see that men are still sinners, and oppression never ends.
This is not to say there are not reason to help suffering if you can, nor is it reason to stop doing anything and just die because of injustice......but for those who know God, they know that :
"28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."Romans 8:28
Even bad things can in the end be turned to good....as hard as that is to understand ( I am not sure we can always understand, sometimes tho we do see in time, how something bad actually was a blessing, and other times we just have faith in God.
And strange as it may seem, the king, those of high rank, the rich etc. actually depend more on the poor than the poor in fact depend on them. Tho today they rich have made great strides promoting the opposite belief ( thus the victim mentality is more alive than ever).
No amount of wealth is ever enough. A person may think if ONLY I had a million dollars I would be sooooo happy. But if they actually get it, they almost immediately say, If ONLY I had 10 million, then it would become 100 million, and then a billion would make me ecstatic, well 10 billion would do it, 100 billion and on and on it goes.
And the time you spend in its upkeep polishing, book keeping, dusting, etc etc etc.
Can you see a 100 billion dollars putting its arms around you and hugging you, will it care if you are in pain, does it really give you true peace ( or do you worry about thieves who might steal it and kill your family or even you?)
Not to mention what it often does to a person increases also their pride, arrogance, lack of compassion, vanity, love of the world,often increases in lusts and addictions etc.
But more than that....it often cause a more horrible death.....you can have made so much money on your own, that you think....I did this all on my own, who needs God....and you have gained the world but lost your soul for all eternity.
People often condemn the rich but long to be them....but really..... at what cost....if you gain the world but spend eternity in Hell, is it really worth it?
There is a great need to be thankful, grateful, count the blessings God has given us. We know the time is coming when in Heaven there will be no more sorrow, pain, sin, and we cannot even imagine the blessings that God will bestow on us.
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 11, 2019 13:22:03 GMT -5
Ecclesiates 5
In the beginning of chapter 5 Solomon demands respect from man, the folly of the heart is indeed folly in the Lord's presence. Scripture says, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
Solomon said,"Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin." In the NT Eph. 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
The Book of Ecclesiastes makes it manifest that the rule of life is to fear God, who knows every action all the days of our vanity. In this book it speaks of the experience of this present life, and of that which God has said with respect to it—namely, His law, His commandments, and the consequent judgment—that which is decreed to man.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 12, 2019 12:35:24 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 6: 1-12
People are certain if they had wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lacked nothing of all that they desired...fathered a hundred children and lived many years, so that the days of their years were many...
they would have a happy ecstatic life.....
what they do not know is:
God may not give them power to enjoy the blessings ( because of sin? lack of gratefulness to God, self-centeredness? etc.etc).
However, if you are given blessings by God and you are allowed to enjoy them, that is ok....for it is not for us to know clearly the future in this life ( should we lose those blessings or not).
To live a life in depression, it might have been better not to have been born.....
it is foolish to be in a forever pity me state.
It is certain be you rich, or wise, or poor, that all types of people will die....
but to think it would be better to be rich, is foolish ( often they are more to be pitied...they have endless stresses, worries, lack of love, compassion, no real rest ,etc etc.).
To be content with whatever God gives and to love Him no matter what....is to have real joy.
Tho it is most likely true, the world has never had computers, AI's etc etc. etc. before,
but even with all this technology....
mankind has not changed,
we are still all sinners, headed for death.....and we all need Jesus as our Savior.
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 12, 2019 18:09:10 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 6
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind. God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. Such a person in his passage through life, seems to have been born for no end or use. It could be that a person who has life only for a short time and then dies has it better than the one who lived a long time, but only to suffer. It is better to live by faith in things to come, than to live by sense which dwells only upon present things.
In this Book is the folly of all man's efforts in seeking happiness here below, and that the wisdom which judges all this only renders man still more unhappy. All this experience, on the part of one who possessed the highest capacity, is put in contrast with the simple principle of all true wisdom which is submission and obedience to God, who knows all things, and who governs all things. God shall bring every work into judgment.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 13, 2019 9:34:28 GMT -5
Anna:
I really liked what you said here:
"It is better to live by faith in things to come,
than to live by sense which dwells only upon present things".
I think that is helpful for those suffering depression of various kinds, death in a family, sickness etc.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Post by fearnot on Sept 13, 2019 10:30:22 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 7: 1-29
Contrasts
a good reputation is pleasant
It is often we learn the most, gain the most compassion etc. in sorrows rather than is silly foolishness, parties, drunken songs etc. and laughter.
The truth ( rebuke) tho it can be hard to hear, is better than false flattery.
To be looking back and thinking life was so much better than now is useless, and perhaps wrong....( we may only think it was better),
but even if it was, we need to keep our eyes on the Lord ,and what He wants us to learn and do now.
Can He use us now ( even if all we can do is pray....which is actually a very very powerful thing) ...... bemoaning is not helping anyone.
True wisdom is a protection....the truth shall set us free.....this is an eternal protection and a worthy priority.
If we consider God..... it will cure our murmurings. complaints, woes etc.
It is true that sometimes godly men die young ,
and the evil live a long life
( tho in reality I think, the godly man even tho he died young is blessed because he ( or she) went straight to be with God, and the evil can only 'enjoy' this life, because his eternity will have no joy.
Tho we aim for 'righteousness' , we need to be careful not to drift into self-righteousness.
If someone says something hurtful about you....be willing to forgive, because if you are truthful, how many times have you yourself said hurtful things about someone else?
Also there are some things we shall never understand in this life.....we have to trust the Lord in such matters.
God made Adam and Eve perfect in a perfect environment but they were not satisfied...i
t behooves us to be content with what God has seen fit to give us, and be thankful and grateful.
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 13, 2019 12:11:14 GMT -5
I know in my own life that I have learned from sorrow and very little from foolishness.
I got bad memories from foolishness.
I want to hear the truth and do not like false flattery.
It is good to have encouragement that prayer is powerful.
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 13, 2019 12:17:41 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 7.
Better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, so we can see the hand of God and learn to examine our lives. Oppression makes a wise man becomes like a beast. Better is the day of death than the day of one's birth, better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The former days were not better than the current day.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Consider what desolation and destruction will come, if you do not obey, for God hath made man upright, but man has sought out many devices, (a plan, scheme, or trick with a particular aim.) The crackling of thorns under a pot, which crackle for a while and profit nothing.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 14, 2019 10:45:41 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 8:1-17
Keep the King's Command
This may seem like a strange verse at first, but on second thought it often is true:
"A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
and the hardness of his face is changed."
I have seen many types of non-believers, some that are gang members often have hard faces, but even a physically beautiful woman who has no use for God, can also have a hard look, or a rich business man climbing the corporate ladder and does not care who he has to step on to gain power and money and many other types......
all of them if they come to Christ and are born again, soon have their face change to a more compassionate, loving, caring etc. look.
I am not sure if this is a correct way to look at the 'king'.....I see it is true for 'earthy' leaders
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities." Romans 13:1
But I also 'think' it would also mean obey God, Jesus the King of kings.
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Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just because God may delay punishment, so that a evil man sins repeatedly does not mean his evil deeds are not already condemned ( If he never repents and is born again)....
We often cannot understand why does God delays the 'execution' and justice?
There are different thoughts ( sometimes we just cannot understand everything God does or why)...
but one idea is if God were to always send a lightening bolt our of the sky for every evil deed, people might indeed stop much of it.....but obedience would totally, and ONLY be out of abject fear.....
this is NOT the relationship God wants with us.
He waits, and is long suffering, and so, some evil men do become believers in the end, tho they have hurt many people in their life, and hurt the Lord...yet He will forgive....until it is too late.
Still sometimes it is just that:
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
If we could know everything of God then He either would not be God, or we would be,
and neither are true.God is God and we are NOT.
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 14, 2019 12:53:08 GMT -5
I wrote that verse this morning in chat, " A man's wisdom make his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed." I said that I was watching a woman's cooking video and then she started talking about Jesus and when she did that I said I noticed that the countenance of her face changed.
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 14, 2019 12:58:23 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 8
In this chapter Solomon recommends wisdom to us as the most powerful antidote against both the temptations and vexations that arise from the vanity of the world. Here we read the benefit and praise of wisdom, and some particular instances of wisdom prescribed to us. We must keep in due subjection to the government God has set over us. We are aware of sudden evils, and especially sudden death. We must arm ourselves against the temptation of an oppressive government and not think it strange. It will be well with the righteous but not with the wicked so the present prosperity of the wicked and afflictions of the righteous ought not to be a stumbling-block to us. We must cheerfully use the gifts of God's wisdom. We must be in the will of God.
Keep the king's commandments, for he has sworn to rule thee in the fear of God, and thou hast sworn, in that fear, to be faithful to him.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Sept 15, 2019 11:54:23 GMT -5
Eccelesiastes 9:1-17
Death Comes to All
Man's future is obscured to him, no matter if he or she is godly or the worst sinner, wealthy or poor, wise or foolish....all of these could change in a moment ( from poor to rich, or rich to poor etc.). But they are all headed for death.
That being the case for all men than rather than grumble, whine, etc.
Enjoy Life with the One You Love ( this is especially for the believer).
And Wisdom Better Than Folly ( and God's wisdom is really the only wisdom).
Its also best not to camp on what seems like God is being 'unfair'....you really do not have enough wisdom for that.
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anna
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Post by anna on Sept 15, 2019 12:52:54 GMT -5
Study from the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 9
Solomon says to make the best of this life. God must be honored, and the king also, to whom God has given authority. But we read how little everything here meets the understanding of man and even if they do understand it is real, how seldom it is esteemed. Nevertheless the wisdom of the upright, and the folly of the fool, have each its own consequences, and after all God judges. God must be remembered, and that before weakness and old age overtake us. We are given advice from the preacher to "Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man." For the one who possessed the highest capacity, is put in contrast with the simple principle of all true wisdom—submission and obedience to God, who knows all things, and who governs all things, because "God shall bring every work into judgment." This book tells us the experience of man, and the reasoning of man, on all that happens under the sun. There is no question, in this book of Ecclesiastes, of grace or of redemption, but only of the experience of this present life, and of that which God has said with respect to it—namely, His law, His commandments, and the consequent judgment—that which is decreed to man. In Proverbs we have practical moral guidance through the world; in Ecclesiastes the result of all efforts of man's will to find happiness. In the book of Ecclesiastes there is no covenant relationship, no revelation. It is man with his natural faculties , such as he is, seeking with his own thoughts where happiness is to be found. Conscience has its part in the matter, and the fear of God. It is God owned indeed, but man in the world with full experience of all in it. I wrote down something that brother Michael said. "The Lord will uphold us if our ways are His ways. As you have need so will the Lord supply it. All of us will eat from the garden we have sown from."
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Post by fearnot on Sept 16, 2019 10:14:05 GMT -5
How weird....I thought I posted but can't find it....just saying we are getting closer to finishing this book and you or Cindy can choose the next. :-)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Post by fearnot on Sept 16, 2019 10:31:40 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 10: 1-20
Why does being foolish 'stink' like dead flies in perfume?
Sometimes what may seem like just a 'little' harmless fun/foolishness ( like a fly that is not too big) can have devastating results.
Just one small example, a little fun at a party getting blindly drunk and then drive, can be not just foolish but deadly.
And even if just stopped by the police ( or in any situation with someone in high authority)
a fool will be angry, argumentative, giving excuses to their stupid behavior ( whatever it might be), rash, impulsive, rebellious, filled with pride, boasting etc.
They do not seek peace and calm to a situation, but rather prefers his sins. and will choose to repeat them over and over....by choice.
but what are some other ways....
People sometimes elect fools ( or someone buys it for them etc.) to high places and allow the wise and righteous to do menial work.....this is foolish also.
But even doing normal everyday activities can have unexpected things happen, some with dire or deadly results.
Fools frequently talk foolishly, they have no internal edit, and often do not care to.
they may end up paying a price they did not wish for their foolish talk.
Fools can be lazy.
We are not to curse the rulers above us but pray for them.
Something that is rarely followed in our country.
I have been guilty of this in the past.
Not only does it rarely do any good, if it were a boss etc. this evil trashing gossip usually gets back to them.
I am amazed at how often such talk gets back to Hossanah now that she has been the manager for over a year ( obviously its not all bad that she hears, but if an employee is grumbling, it usually gets back to her......
thankfully for them, she is not vindictive but if it goes on and on,
it effects the work of everyone
and she has to have a 'chat' with the culprit.
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,995
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Post by anna on Sept 16, 2019 11:28:26 GMT -5
Ecclesiastes 10 This reads of precepts and rules, as of great use for the right ordering of our conversation and to caution us against folly. What a great need a wise man has to take heed of being guilty of any instance of folly; for a little folly is a great blemish to him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor, and is as hurtful to his good name as dead flies are to a sweet perfume, not only spoiling the sweetness of it, but making it to send forth a stinking savor. True wisdom is true honor, and will gain a man a reputation, which is like a box of precious ointment, pleasing and very valuable. The reputation that is gotten with difficulty and by a great deal of wisdom, may be easily lost, and by a little folly, because of envy or forward talk from others can be a disadvantage. Those who make a great profession of religion have need to walk very circumspectly, to abstain from all appearances of evil, and approaches towards it, because many eyes are upon them watching their character.
It talks about keeping people loyal and dutiful to the government. In Solomon's reign the people were wealthy, which perhaps made them proud and when the taxes were a lot of money to pay, though they had enough to pay for them, it is probable that many conducted themselves rude towards the government and threatened to rebel. To such Solomon here gives some necessary cautions. Solomon speaks for himself, and for every wise and good man. He said that he could easily forgive those men upon their submission, though he had been angry with them. It is safer and better to yield to an angry prince than to contend with him. Rather let both prince and people act towards each other with prudence, mildness, and good temper: Wisdom is profitable to direct the ruler how to manage a people that are inclined to be in conflict or confusion.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves, or I have seen these riding in pomp and state as princes, while princes, men of noble birth and qualities, fit to rule a kingdom, have been forced to walk as servants upon the earth, poor and despised.
Fools talk a great deal to no purpose, and they show their folly--and mischievousness of their words, whereas the words of a wise man's mouth are gracious. He manifests grace in his heart and ministers grace to the hearers, that is such as should be and he does good to all about him. Many a man has been sunk by having his own tongue fall upon him. As soon as he begins to speak you may perceive his folly; at the very first he talks idly, and passionately, and like himself then it rises up to fury, and tends to the hurt and injury of others. The end he aims at is mischief.
The happiness of a land depends upon the character of its rulers.
Scripture from 1 Kings. 2:23. And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou may prosper in all that thou does and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.
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Post by Cindy on Sept 16, 2019 15:01:51 GMT -5
Wow, you oth have done a fantastic job! I really enjoyed reading everything you both wrote. Something you said Barbara, might give us all something to think about... He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecc 3:11. And that includes each of us. I have a feeling that if we were to reflect on that for awhile, we might be surprised with what God reveals to us.  I don't have a keyboard yet but I'll try to be here every day for you.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Post by fearnot on Sept 17, 2019 10:40:24 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy!!!
Are you feeling a wee bit better?
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Post by Cindy on Sept 17, 2019 10:59:47 GMT -5
A little bit, thanks Barbara! I really appreciate all your prayers, it's a huge help! I'll be back shortly. Just want to see what book we should study next ..... or should we study a topic instead?
Let you know soon....
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I don't have a keyboard yet but I'll try to be here every day for you. 
!!
