THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily devotions is designed to help you in daily honoring God with adoration.

Each day, Monday through Friday, a devotion is posted. You may also request these devotions directly e-mailed to you. Just send your request for "Daily Devotions" to mcge3582@bellsouth.net.

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by date, just clik

HERE.

Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through Isaiah are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to:

Bruce McGee
P.O. Box 1627
Columbia, LA 71418

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE STUDY
ECCLESIASTES

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

Two quite different words are used here: season and time. The word for season is the Hebrew zeman, used also in Daniel 2:16 to denote a specific appointment. The word for time is the Hebrew 'eth, used also in Jeremiah 33:20 to specify a certain period of time, such as day or night.

Now the word purpose is the Hebrew chephets, which generally means pleasure or an acceptable thing.

Life is a Divine appointment from God.
Death also is a Divine appointment.
And AFTER death, there is ANOTHER Divine appointment (Hebrews 9:27) -- JUDGMENT.

During life, there are some other Divinely appointed "acceptable things." Solomon mentions 28 of these things, creating 14 oppositions:

All the other things mentioned are actions and/or feelings and emotions over which we have some control.

Now I said all THAT to say THIS:
LIFE is an appointment from God. How we LIVE life is directly affected by how we RELATE to God!

Since we live our lives by a Divine appointment from God, we receive no PERSONAL "profit" from what we do (verse 9). It is GOD'S life! We are to live it for HIM!

And though the general periods and cycles of life are Divinely appointed, we are to "exercise" ourselves IN them (verse 10).

Rick Warren, pastor, and author of "The Purpose Driven Life," says that we are to live life with PURPOSE for God. And our MAIN purpose is to PLEASE God in the way that we interact with the Divinely appointed feelings, emotions, and actions.

Solomon says it is our "travail" to do so. The word for travail is the Hebrew inyan, which means BUSINESS. It is our BUSINESS to please God in all that we interact with.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

The "gift of God" (verse 13) to man is LIFE. Man can find ENJOYMENT in life, when he lives FOR God. When man lives to PLEASE God in all things with which he interacts, then man finds JOY.

God has made EVERYTHING "beautiful" in its Divinely appointed time. We cannot understand that because we cannot see the end from the beginning as God does.

Now, I realize there is nothing appealing or beautiful to US in war, hurricane destruction, cancer, etc. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the beauty of the WHOLE. We only see the PART.

I could not find "beauty" in losing our first child. It didn't "feel good." Neither was it pleasing. And, quite frankly, I was angry with God about it.

But, later, when God called me into the pastoral ministry, I understood that it was an experience which God could use in my life to comfort others.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

WHATEVER God is doing in the earth has at least ONE major purpose: "..that men should fear before Him."

16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

In mankind, when there should be "judgment" (or deliverance), there is "wickedness." And when there should be "righteousness," we find "iniquity." (verse 16) Man is SINFUL, and does not live as he SHOULD before God.

But, as I said before, there is yet ANOTHER "appointed time." It is the appointed time of JUDGMENT. God will judge all men for they way in which they have lived. (verse 17)

We all die, and return to the dust from which we were created (verses 19-20). But the "spirit" (essence) of man is FROM God and will RETURN to God for judgment (verse 21).

THEREFORE, Solomon concludes, let us live life rejoicing in God. Let us live according to our appointed PURPOSE -- to PLEASE Him. THEN, and ONLY then, can we receive joy.

1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

As a Christian, knowing the comfort and joy of a real relationship with a living and loving God, I find it hard to understand how people without that relationship face life from day to day. Solomon looked around and found the same feeling in his heart.

There are many "oppressions" (or oppressive things) in this life, and Solomon is going to talk about several of them in this.

He begins with The Abuse of Power.
Those who are subject to power-abusing supervisors hardly have any recourse. Their only release seems to be in "tears." These have no "comforter," for day after day they are subject to manipulation and degradation.

Solomon concludes that the poor slave (or employee) would be better off dead, and thus released from the cloud of discomfort which constantly hangs over his soul. He would even be better off if he had not been born, because then he would not face this awful "oppression."

4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. P> Now Solomon considers the plight of The Zealous Worker vs The Sluggard.

Those who work earnestly and honestly receive envy from co-workers and neighbors. The term used to explain the feeling is "vexation of spirit." Literally interpreted, that means striving for the wind. The worker may have a sense of accomplishment, even be promoted; but his environment is constantly strained by the envy of co-workers.

Then there is the sluggard, or "fool" who doesn't work. He "foldeth his hands together" refusing to abide by that law of God (Genesis 3:17-19). The end result is that this man will starve to death ("..eateth his own flesh").

Verse 6 seems to be a proverbial conclusion to the study of this subject. It is better to work righteously for a "little" and have contentment in the soul than to be overzealous or a sluggard. This is a "middle-of-the-road" approach to life. And I think it reflects the attitude of those laborers who feel trapped by their employment. Since they HAVE to work in order to eat, they find their only release in doing just enough to "get by."

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

The person who has no one to whom he can leave possessions finds no satisfaction in gain from his labor. For he knows that there is none who will receive benefit from it.

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

A man without a friend has little strength. But WITH a friend there is help (verse 10) and comfort (verse 11). And having TWO friends is an even STRONGER bond (verse 12).

This brings another thought from Scripture, Proverbs 18:24. In order to HAVE friends, a man must BE friendly, and sometimes a friend will stick closer than a brother. There is ONE Friend Who ALWAYS helps and comforts -- JESUS!

13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Solomon begins this discussion with a proverbial thought, then examines the subject: Rising to Power.

A poor and wise child will accept instruction (verse 13). He is much better off than even a king who is enclosed within himself and refuses advice.

A young man might come out of prison, rise to power and even become king (verse 14). But, in the end, someone will take it from him by also rising to power (verse 15). The cycle seems endless, and leaves no comfort.

Now Solomon has presented some very greivous thoughts about life. But, the truth being said, ALL of us suffer these thoughts from time to time.

Are you oppressed by the behaviorisms of society?
Do you sometimes feel trapped and forced to be what you are?
Do you look toward the END of life and find no solace?

Well, my friend, I have GOOD NEWS for you! REAL LIFE can change all that. REAL LIFE is life WITH CHRIST. He gives comfort, solace, peace and even joy. He also gives a view toward the END of life that far surpasses all the feelings and emotions we have. It is the view of living with Him forever in glory - without oppression, because it is a life without sin!