Ecclesiastes Chapter 9

Lesson in Chapter 9 is summed up in verses 2 and 3.  It says "All share a
common destiny__the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,
the clean and the unclean, those who offers sacrifices and those who
do not." 

v3-"This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all."

Death is eminent for everyone who has breath, so while you live,
eat your food with gladness.  Give thanks to God in all things.  He favors you.  Enjoy life, but be careful to be clothed in white, and give your heart to God, for after your days on earth ends, your eternal destiny is what is going
to matter most. 
Our purpose is to do whatever our work in this life is to the best of our ability and with all our might, for in the grave, where
we will all go, there is neither working, nor planning nor knowledge or wisdom. 
In the grave we will know nothing, until the Lord returns to
claim his "children" meaning those who accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior while living.  None of us know the hour of our death nor the hour the Lord will return to gather those who are already in the grave.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 8

Key verses in Chapter 8 to think about:
8:6 - For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though
a man's misery weighs heavily upon him.

8:8 -No man has power over the wind to contain it,
so no one has power of the day of his death.  As no one is discharged in
time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

8:17 - No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun.  Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.
(NIV version)

Ecclesiastes Chapter 7

As I posted in my interpretation of Chapter 6, our life's purpose isn't always the most important thing to worry about.  Our purpose should be to worry about our destiny or eternity.  As Chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes teaches us, (see v. 1-2) that it is our destiny to die and this should not be taken lightly.  For life is temporary.  Death lasts for eternity.  If we live our life for God and HE is our savior, then the ending is better than the beginning!  That is exciting to me.  Life is fleeting, live it to please God.  Patience is better than pride.  We do not need to be provoked in our spirit, for anger is for the foolish.  What does anger solve?  Nothing, period. 
Perhaps the most profound and meaningful verse in chapter 7 is verse 14.
It says "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider:

photo by Freida

God has made the one as well as the other.  "Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future."  To me this means God is in charge, do what he says and TRUST HIM.  Then you can be sure HE's got your back and eternity with HIM will be worth everything you went through HERE, under the sun. 

Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

Chapter 5 has key verses that tell us what things we should do while here on earth whether we understand them or not.  In other words,
God is God and is in heaven,  we are down here.  Who are "we" to question  God.  When or if God gives us any wealth and posessions, and enables us to enjoy them, then we should be content with what we have and be good stewards of it.  Because in the end vs. 15 reminds us that "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs."  The blessings and possessions we have while on earth are gifts from God, we do not own them, for if it weren't for God, we wouldn't have anything.  We need to "guard our steps" and be careful not to make a vow to God and not fulfill it.  Work hard, enjoy it, but remember to thank the GIVER!  vs. 12. The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but "the abundance  of a rich man permits him no sleep." 
Consider this: God does not mean for us to understand everything about our life or his purpose for us.  Instead, focus on our eternity and not on the mundane things in life.  Your interpretation of the verses in Ecclesiastes may be very different from mine.  That's ok, and the way it should be.  God speaks through his word "differently" to each one of us.  We need only to listen and God will speak.

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 4

The rising and fallling, the peaks and valleys in our lives are what
make it interesting.  Though circumstances sometimes seem unbearable and
scarey, we can be assured that God is behind every scene that unfolds in our lives and HE has our back.  When we fall, he always sends a friend our way to "pick us up!"  There is no need to worry about our purpose every minute.  All in due time will be made known.

We see after reading chapter 4, that the writer is still mostly negative about
what he sees and understands about life, however I chose today not to focus
so much on what this chapter is still dwelling on, but what comes later on as we continue through the reading of Ecclesiastes.  Hang in with me, and
there is a positive lesson to be learned here.

But tonight, just know that we (you) are not alone in this world.  The God who created you and I loves us so much and always has a purpose in mind for us.  We will have to just trust him. 

                                      photo by Freida

Ecclesiastes: Chapter 3

Chapter 3 is where we begin to find the answer to what life's purpose is.  The "A time for everything" I call it is comforting to read when we begin to ask the question "Why."  The reality is that God has a purpose for "everything under the sun."  Every single step we take, word we say, hug we share, trial we go through has a purpose.  Most times our human eyes can't see the purpose behind tragedy especially.  This is when it is hardest, but after reading Chapter 3 verses 1-8, we find that it is a little easier because it is the plan of God.  I just want to record these verses here for your convenience and reading again.

Chapter 3 says: 1.There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2. a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3. a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4. a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5. a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6. a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7. a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to keep, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8. a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
The king in Jerusalem in the first two chapters was right in the since that life does go in a circular motion, and there is nothing new under the son.  Everything that happens has happened before, maybe not to you, but to someone.  The difference is "life is not meaningless," but exactly the opposite!
As I said before, every step and action we take in our life "means" something, whether it is to you personally or to someone who knows or observes you.  Our life experiences as well as other people's experiences are meant to entertwine and teach us things.  Our lives are mirrors through which we see ourselves, but which others see as a reflection of ourselves.  Our perception of ourselves can be very different than that of others and in fact often are.  These are my thoughts when I read Chapter 3.  Please share your thoughts if you are inclined to do so.

We are all similar to these ducks, different sizes, colors with different personalities and traits, but in the beginning we are each given breath, and in the end, we all die.  We just all march toward the end at different paces and through unique circumstances, but we are all alike, just like our fellow creatures of the air and sea, we too will die.
photo: Freida

Study of Ecclesiastes: Chapter 2

In Chapter 2 verses 1-26 the Teacher, a king in Jerusalem is still looking for the purpose of life.  He decides to "test" life's pleasures to find out what is good. (verse1)  He tries to find happiness with wine, laughter, folly.  He wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.  He planted vineyards, built houses, made gardens and parks.  He even amassed silver and gold and had a harem.  He gave himself all the delights of a man's heart.  He denied himself nothing, but he realizes in the end he is still not at peace and called all of his accomplishments  "meaningless."  He states in verse 16 "For a wise man, like the fool will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise man too must die."  So, he had no joy, hated his life and despite all he has gained in his life, he must leave to someone who has not earned it when he dies.  So what has he gained by all of his toil and trouble?

I think this chapter is so relevant to how people are today.  Everyone is busy building up treasures on the earth, competing with "the Jones."  Concentrating on material and sexual pleasures and perversions.  Most have no time for the things of God.  As we read chapter 3 for tomorrow, let's think about where we are in our lives.  Does our life have joy and contentment or are we bound up in the things we can "achieve and acquire?"

Study of Ecclesiastes: Chapter 1

I have read the book of Ecclesiastes (NIV version) many times over, and
I always have a different perspective on it every time I read it.  So, I'm reading it again.  I'm going to go chapter by chapter and write my thoughts
on what I get from it.  Feel free to read a chapter a day with me and comment whenever you want to share your interpretation of what the writer is saying.  Let's get started today. Read chapter 1.  I have...here are my thoughts.

A teacher and son of David is looking for a purpose to his life.  I too, am still looking for my purpose, so I can relate to this.  In verses 5-8, I sense him saying that everything in life goes and comes in a circle.  He says "The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises."
The streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full, and where the stream flowed from, they end up returning to the same place.

I think the Teacher is asking himself "What does life really matter?"  We are here enduring the same things again and again.  What is new?  What in life has a purpose? There is nothing new under the sun.

He says in verse 12 that he has seen everything under the sun and has seeked wisdom, all to no avail.  He calls everything meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  He sounds very doubtfull that the twisted and screwed up things in life cannot be straightened.  He calls the wisdom he has gained comes with sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

I wonder first, how old is this teacher?  He is down, negative and feels lost at this time as to what the future holds for him.  People today I think feel the same way many times.  Many are lost and don't know which way to go.
We feel life is meaningless.  But is it?  Think about how you feel about
your life as we read together the second chapter of Ecclesiastes for tomorrow.

Until then, may God give us a clear picture of what the Teacher is saying to us individually.