Seldom is heard an encouraging word...

This week I finish my study of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 12 contains one of the most famous of memory verses. One prescribed to me by my mom upon my graduation from high school:

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; Ecc 12:1

Most resources that you will find on Ecclesiastes will warn you that the book is depressing and dark. I disagree. Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom with a sober, but important message, that being to keep in mind that everything under the sun (i.e. in this life), all human works, are ultimately futile (even if they have some human worth) and if you worship them then you will eventually find them as futile and fleeting as chasing the wind.

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But on the other hand, if you remember your Creator and guard your steps when you approach the Temple, you will find that God has blessed you with contentment in this life and youwill find everlasting reward because what God does endures forever. That is the encouraging word within Ecclesiastes.
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I think for my next study I will be doing Galatians, probably again at a rate of about one chapter per week. Please Lord, send your Holy Spirit to rest on me and tutor me and interpret this Holy, inerrant, infallible word to me so that I may apply it to my life.

The sentence against an evil deed

When there is a delay between action and consequence, we don’t get the feedback we need to act appropriately. For instance, you jump into the shower and the water is too cold so you turn up the heat and it’s still too cool and you turn up the heat ... and all of a sudden you’re in hot water. Check out this passage from my reading this week:

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God. (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; ESV)

So, why would God set things up like this? Doesn't it seem like stacking the deck against us for Him to delay punishing the wicked? Not really. If God were to smite every sinner as soon as we needed it and as much as we needed there would be no remnant. There would be no one left, and we know God can’t confound his own plans to work his will out through men.

So, be grateful for God’s mercy.

Here's a preview of Ecclesiastes 7 (I got mixed up and did Chapter 7 today instead of Chapter 6).

Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. (Ecclesiastes 7:10 ; ESV)

This verse reminds me of my mom telling me as far back as I can remember, "There were no good old days. The old days were hard and painful and sad." Be grateful that you live in the good old days. It also reminds me of this old Carly Simon song - the lyrics are very Ecclesiastes:

We can never know about the days to come, but we think about them anyway...