The One Year Bible- September 3rd
A few years
ago I wrote the following introduction to this week’s study:
I came
into the office today and I was greeted with ants!! Tons of them just walking
around my desk. There was no point to it. I had no food for them to get, they
were not organized in a line going to or from some sweets, but they were just
there. It seemed to be meaningless. It reminded me of the book of Ecclesiastes
that we read in its entirety this week. Those ants lead meaningless lives at times,
but God created them for a purpose. There are people who live meaningless lives
in our world today. Many do not know the joy of Jesus or the wonderful grace
that comes through him. As we study this book today, don’t forget that this
topic is just as relevant today as it was when Solomon wrote it.
On to the
study...
Seth’s Thoughts
The Old Testament
Let’s start
with a few last comments on Job before we jump into Ecclesiastes. . I will be
honest with you, I never read the whole book of Job until my first journey
through the One Year Bible. I had heard the stories and knew the basics, but I
never actually read the book straight through. Job is a hard book to wrap your
head around. Does God really want us to suffer? Is it OK for us to be mad at
God? These are rough questions. In my final analysis, God is a loving God who
does not give us anything we can’t handle. I am reminded of what it says it the
book of James, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV). If that is what it
takes, then I guess I am ready.
The book of
Ecclesiastes is another book that is hard to understand. Solomon wrote this
book at the end of his life, after he followed God for a while and then spent a
good deal of time away from God. He brings a neat perspective on the idea of
life. A casual reading of the book may bring up more questions than answers and
that is O.K. Once again, to help us understand this book I am bowing to a
higher source.
Roland Cap
Ehlke in his commentary on Ecclesiastes says the following:
The
entire Bible is a unified whole. It all points to Jesus Christ. It all presents
the law of God and the gospel of his love in Christ. Nevertheless, within this
unity there is room for diversity. Some books are historical, others doctrinal.
Some books emphasize one theme, while others stress something else. In other
words, each book of the Bible has its own special emphasis. With this in mind
we shall consider the outlook and purpose of Ecclesiastes.
Throughout
the book two important concepts occur over and over. Together they make up the
combination which unlocks Solomon’s outlook on life.
The
first thought is summed up in the terms “meaningless” and “under the sun.”
Again and again Solomon returns to the initial refrain of Ecclesiastes:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!...Everything is Meaningless” (1:2). This is how he
describes life “under the sun,” that is, in this world. According to Solomon,
life on earth is full of trouble; and even when we find pleasure, it is
fleeting and soon disappears like one’s breath on a winter day.
This is
the first key thought of Ecclesiastes: everything under the sun is, and of
itself, meaningless. Solomon’s repeated
use of this concept implies that there is something “beyond the sun.” Somewhere
out there is something or someone not subject to this meaningless world. That
someone, or course, is God. The role of God in our life is the second main
thought in Ecclesiastes. Solomon describes God as a stern Judge, but also as a
gracious God who blesses us with countless gifts. The greatest of these gifts
is life after death: “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the
spirit returns to God who gave it” (12:7)
When one
puts these two main thoughts together, it becomes evident what Solomon has done
in Ecclesiastes. He has presented life from two perspectives. First he views
the world without God. This view leads to the conclusion, “Everything is
meaningless.” But he also looks at life with God in control. Here we find many
gifts and blessings. We can picture Solomon’s twofold presentation thus:
spiritual
world
-----------------
material world
-----------------
material world
The
unbeliever sees nothing beyond the material world, or at best catches an
occasional glimpse that there might be something beyond. His sights are focused
on what is under the sun. The believer on the other hand, views life through
the eyes of faith.
From his
perspective the unbeliever can only conclude that all is meaningless. For him
it would be better never to have been born (4:2,3). The believer, however, sees
God’s hand in everything and so finds peace, contentment and stability in a
changing world. And this brings us from Solomon’s outlook to his purpose in
writing. He directs us to God and his love for the purpose of strengthening our
faith and courage as we carry on “under the sun.”
From- The People’s Bible Commentary- Ecclesiastes / Song of
Songs by Roland Cap Ehlke, Concordia Publishing House, p.p.4-5.
It is
important to remember Solomon’s point when reading this book. We have hope
because we know what is beyond this world. Our hope is beyond the sun as we
look to the Son—Jesus Christ himself.
The New
Testament
I don’t know about you, but I have really enjoyed reading through 2 Corinthians the past couple of weeks. This letter of Paul’s does not get the top billing like Romans, Ephesians, or even 1 Corinthians, but it has been quite an enjoyable read. I have found some connections between what we read in Job and the encouragement Paul gives to the Corinthians. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV).
I don’t know about you, but I have really enjoyed reading through 2 Corinthians the past couple of weeks. This letter of Paul’s does not get the top billing like Romans, Ephesians, or even 1 Corinthians, but it has been quite an enjoyable read. I have found some connections between what we read in Job and the encouragement Paul gives to the Corinthians. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV).
Paul really
spoke to me in Chapter five this week. At times I think I am nuts for doing
what I do. Every week I look at my schedule and think, “What am I doing???” I
have so much to do as my ministry at Bethany expands, I have multiple Bible
studies to write, help plan worship, visit those in the hospital, meet with
various boards, not to mention spend time with my wife and kids, try to keep up
with the Angels, and the list goes on. But Paul, writing through the Holy
Spirit speaks directly to me, “If
we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind,
it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one
died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was
raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:13-15 NIV).
One big
theological thing that Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians is The Ministry of
Reconciliation. The fact is that we, as sinful people, are enemies of God. We
do not do what he wants, and we continually fall short. But we are new
creatures in Christ, “the old has
gone, the new has come!” (2
Corinthians 5:17b NIV) We have been reconciled to God. The American Heritage
dictionary defines reconciled as: “To reestablish a close relationship between”
or “To settle or resolve”. What has been reestablished is our place in God’s kingdom.
What has been settled is the problem of sin. This is a gift from God, but this
is not the only gift. We are also given us the task of reconciling people to
God (see 2 Cor. 5:18 ff.). We have been given the task to share the good news
of reconciliation with everyone!! What an honor!! More on 2 Corinthians next
week.
Bits and
Pieces
We will get into the book of Song of Songs this week. Here are the vital stats for the book:
PURPOSE: To
tell of the love between a bridegroom (King Solomon) and his bride, to affirm
the sanctity of marriage, and to picture God’s love for his people (and a
foreshadowing of our life with Christ)
AUTHOR:
Solomon
DATE
WRITTEN: Probably early in Solomon’s reign
SETTING:
Israel—the Shulammite woman’s garden and the king’s palace
LAW THEMES:
Religious promiscuity and unfaithfulness (idolatry), like sexual promiscuity
and unfaithfulness, are destructive.
GOSPEL
THEMES: In faithful love, God sent Christ to save the world; He grants to
believers the priceless blessings of love for Him and marital love for spouses.
KEY VERSE:
“I am my lover’s and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies” (6:3)
KEY PEOPLE:
King Solomon, the Shulammite woman, and friends
We will also
start the book of Isaiah this week. It will take us a while to get through this
book. It is deep and theological. Here are the vital stats for Isaiah:
PURPOSE: To call the nation of Judah back to God and to tell of God’s salvation through the Messiah.
AUTHOR: The
prophet Isaiah son of Amoz
DATE
WRITTEN: The events of chapters 1-39 occurred during Isaiah’s ministry, so they
were probably written about 700 B.C. Chapters 40-66, however may have been
written near the end of his life, about 681 B.C.
SETTING:
Isaiah is speaking and writing mainly in Jerusalem
LAW THEMES:
Judgment on false worship; Judgment day; selfishness; woes against Israel and
the nations; defeat by Assyria and Babylon; idolatry condemned.
GOSPEL
THEMES: The remnant preserved; Immanuel; the Messiah’s just reign; salvation
promised to Ethiopia, Assyria, and the nations; the feast; mercy for Hezekiah;
God’s comfort for Zion; the Lord’s Servant; Zion’s deliverance; new heavens and
new earth.
KEY VERSE:
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are
healed.” (53:5)
KEY PEOPLE:
Isaiah, his two sons Shear-Jashub and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz
SPECIAL
FEATURES: The book of Isaiah contains both prose and poetry and uses
personification. Also, many of the prophecies in Isaiah contain predictions
that foretell a soon-to-occur event and a distant future event at the same
time.
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