The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ecclesiastes 8:17,
"No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it."
Looking for the meaning of this life under the sun sounds futile and unproductive according to the wisest man (excepting the Son of God, of course) that has ever lived, doesn't it? An otiose pursuit!
We read in 1 Kings 3:11-12, "So God said to him [Solomon, author of Ecclesiastes], 'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.'" God gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart, greater than any man, and greater than any man ever to be.
This, the wisest and most discerning man ever, says no one can discover the meaning of life. Not even the wise among us. The reason for this is the viewpoint used for looking for that meaning is within the realm of "under the sun." The meaning of this life resides elsewhere. It is found elsewhere, within the counsel of God. Only when we enter the court of God and seek the meaning of "life under the sun" do we get an answer. And, yes, the answer can be found there, and there alone.
It is akin to the error of pursuing truth by looking "within". That really is ignorant advice because our hearts are deceitful and whatever we look for within our hearts will be anything but truth. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9.
The point of this life is to provide an environment where a great sifting of mankind takes place. God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith. In an effort to help us in this, the greatest purpose in life, God has brought frustration and emptiness into this world to help us look elsewhere, in an effort to find him and reach out to him.
Many, who fail to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes, find the book to reveal an old man (Solomon) who has become embittered and jaded through his sinful indulgences. It is an understanding I reject entirely. We read in 2 Peter 1:20-21 that God (the Holy Spirit) inspired the authors of Scripture to write what they did. Did God become old and embittered? No, they have missed the point. Ecclesiastes was written to prepare us to look not within this life for purpose and meaning and salvation, but outward, upward.
The point of Solomon's excesses, his gold, his horses, his harem, his projects and entertainments was to establish his bonafides as one who could speak authoritatively to us, us people who think we can find happiness in life if we only had this or that. If you read closely, you find Solomon pointing out his indulgences were purposeful and part of a controlled experiment. "I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom." 2:3. "I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me." 2:9.
It is only the guy on the other side that can authoritatively tell us the grass really isn't greener there.
This is a frustrating place! Paul tells us God is the one who has made this life this way, "For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21.
This is one of the many ways God draws mankind to himself-- and, we need it, "No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:44. God draws all mankind to himself, "And I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. The frustrations of this life are purposeful in helping us find Jesus Christ. They are a part of this "draw."
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it."
Looking for the meaning of this life under the sun sounds futile and unproductive according to the wisest man (excepting the Son of God, of course) that has ever lived, doesn't it? An otiose pursuit!
We read in 1 Kings 3:11-12, "So God said to him [Solomon, author of Ecclesiastes], 'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.'" God gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart, greater than any man, and greater than any man ever to be.
This, the wisest and most discerning man ever, says no one can discover the meaning of life. Not even the wise among us. The reason for this is the viewpoint used for looking for that meaning is within the realm of "under the sun." The meaning of this life resides elsewhere. It is found elsewhere, within the counsel of God. Only when we enter the court of God and seek the meaning of "life under the sun" do we get an answer. And, yes, the answer can be found there, and there alone.
It is akin to the error of pursuing truth by looking "within". That really is ignorant advice because our hearts are deceitful and whatever we look for within our hearts will be anything but truth. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9.
The point of this life is to provide an environment where a great sifting of mankind takes place. God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith. In an effort to help us in this, the greatest purpose in life, God has brought frustration and emptiness into this world to help us look elsewhere, in an effort to find him and reach out to him.
Many, who fail to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes, find the book to reveal an old man (Solomon) who has become embittered and jaded through his sinful indulgences. It is an understanding I reject entirely. We read in 2 Peter 1:20-21 that God (the Holy Spirit) inspired the authors of Scripture to write what they did. Did God become old and embittered? No, they have missed the point. Ecclesiastes was written to prepare us to look not within this life for purpose and meaning and salvation, but outward, upward.
The point of Solomon's excesses, his gold, his horses, his harem, his projects and entertainments was to establish his bonafides as one who could speak authoritatively to us, us people who think we can find happiness in life if we only had this or that. If you read closely, you find Solomon pointing out his indulgences were purposeful and part of a controlled experiment. "I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom." 2:3. "I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me." 2:9.
It is only the guy on the other side that can authoritatively tell us the grass really isn't greener there.
This is a frustrating place! Paul tells us God is the one who has made this life this way, "For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21.
This is one of the many ways God draws mankind to himself-- and, we need it, "No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:44. God draws all mankind to himself, "And I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. The frustrations of this life are purposeful in helping us find Jesus Christ. They are a part of this "draw."
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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