S3E324 – Ecclesiastes 9-10: No White Knuckles

Transcript

Today is Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Ecclesiastes 9-10.  I’m calling today’s episode “No White Knuckles.” 

Last week when we were last in Ecclesiastes, at the end of chapter eight, Solomon had said that after setting his mind on understanding wisdom, after watching what happens here on earth, he concluded that it’s impossible for a man to understand it all. And this is coming from the wisest man that ever lived!

At the beginning of our reading today began with the words, “So I considered all of this carefully, examining all of it: The righteous and the wise and their deeds are in God’s hand…”

I’ve discovered that this is a good place to be.

Before Jesus left this world he said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.”

If we try to make sense out of the world, as Solomon did, will become just like him. We will become cynical and jaded. Solomon spent many years in pursuit of the things the world tells us will bring happiness. And near the end, he threw in the towel, and he said, “It’s too much. I can’t understand.”

When I was a few years, well, okay, when I was many years younger, during the Jesus Freak days…In the late 60s and early 70s, there was a popular bumper sticker around that said, “Let go and let God.” Like most bumper stickers, that’s overly simplistic, but it fits in our discussion here. When we’re willing to admit that we’re not in control, that it’s all in God’s hands, it becomes easier to let go and let God.

One of the reasons Jesus came was to give us peace, which is good, since all the things that the world says will give His peace fall sadly short. It’s a good thing to remember that I’m not God, which is good because I don’t want that job.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 9-10 NKJV

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
It’s too much. I can’t understand.

INTRO S12E323 – 0:10
Right outta Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. How’re you doing? Today’s Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Ecclesiastes 9 and 10. And I’m calling the episode, “No White Knuckles”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e323. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get going.

ECCLESIASTE 9 (NKJV) – 0:42
Ecclesiastes, chapter 9. (1) For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. (2) All things come alike to all:

One event happens to the righteous and the wicked;
To the good, the clean, and the unclean;
To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.
As is the good, so is the sinner;
He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.

(3) This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. (4) But for him who is joined to the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

(5) For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.
(6) Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.

(7) Go, eat your bread with joy,
And drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has already accepted your works.
(8) Let your garments always be white,
And let your head lack no oil.

(9) Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

(10) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

(11) I returned and saw under the sun that—

The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
(12) For man also does not know his time:
Like fish taken in a cruel net,
Like birds caught in a snare,
So the sons of men are snared in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon them.

(13) This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: (14) There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. (15) Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.

(16) Then I said:

“Wisdom is better than strength.
Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
(17) Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
(18) Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But one sinner destroys much good.”

ECCLESIASTER 10 (NKJV) – 3:36
Ecclesiastes, chapter 10.

(1) Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment,
And cause it to give off a foul odor;
So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
(2) A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
But a fool’s heart at his left.
(3) Even when a fool walks along the way,
He lacks wisdom,
And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
(4) If the spirit of the ruler rises against you,
Do not leave your post;
For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

(5) There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
As an error proceeding from the ruler:
(6) Folly is set in great dignity,
While the rich sit in a lowly place.
(7) I have seen servants on horses,
While princes walk on the ground like servants.

(8) He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
(9) He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,
And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
(10) If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom brings success.

(11) A serpent may bite when it is not charmed;
The babbler is no different.
(12) The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
(13) The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is raving madness.
(14) A fool also multiplies words.
No man knows what is to be;
Who can tell him what will be after him?
(15) The labor of fools wearies them,
For they do not even know how to go to the city!

(16) Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
And your princes feast in the morning!
(17) Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles,
And your princes feast at the proper time—
For strength and not for drunkenness!
(18) Because of laziness the building decays,
And through idleness of hands the house leaks.
(19) A feast is made for laughter,
And wine makes merry;
But money answers everything.

(20) Do not curse the king, even in your thought;
Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
For a bird of the air may carry your voice,
And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

COMMENTS – 5:54
Last week when we were last in Ecclesiastes, at the end of chapter 8, Solomon had said that after setting his mind on understanding wisdom, after watching what happens here on earth, he concluded that it’s impossible for a man to understand it all, and this is coming from the wisest man that ever lived.

And the beginning of our reading today began with the words: “So I considered all of this carefully examining all of it, the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in God’s hand…”

Well, beloved, I’ve discovered that this is a good place to be.

Before Jesus left this world, he said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.”

If we try to make sense out of the world, as Solomon did, we’ll become just like him. We’ll become cynical and jaded. Solomon spent many years in pursuit of the things the world tells us will bring happiness and near the end, he threw in the towel, and he said, “It’s too much I can’t understand.”

When I was a few years – well, okay, when I was many years younger, during the Jesus Freak days – we’ve talked about this before – in the late 60s and early 70s, there was a popular bumper sticker around that said, “Let go and let God”. Well of course, like most bumper stickers, that’s overly simplistic, but it fits in our discussion here. When we’re willing to admit that we’re not in control, that it’s all in God’s hands, it becomes easier to let go and let God

One of the reasons Jesus came was to give us peace, which is good, since all the things that the world says will give us peace fall sadly short. It’s a good thing to remember that I’m not God, which is good because I don’t want that job.

What do you think? Let me know at lifespringmedia.com/s12e323. Tomorrow is Prophecy Friday and we’ll read Zechariah 8 through 14 which will finish that book.

Boost. Boost. Boost.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 8:08
On this date in church history, July 21, 1829, Priscilla Jane Owens was born and she was an American public school teacher and hymn writer. She lived her entire life in Baltimore, where she taught for 49 years. She also published a number of articles and poems during her lifetime, including the hymn texts, “We Have an Anchor” and “Jesus Saves”.

And on July 21, 1900, Albert Schweitzer received his Licentiate in theology. He later became famous as a musicologist, physician, and missionary.

CLOSING PRAYER – 8:50
Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, help us to let go. Help us to trust You, Lord. Help us to focus on the things you’ve called us to do and let go of the things that are out of our ability to control. Help us to “let go and let God” because we know in our minds that you are infinitely more capable than we are. But sometimes it’s so difficult to let go. Of course you know that about us, and that’s why you said in your word so many times, “Fear not”. Help us not to fear Lord, give us your peace and help us to trust in You. Lord, I thank you so much for the Lifespring family and I ask that you bless them today. In Jesus name, amen.

The word tells us that we are to bear one another’s burdens. That means we’re supposed to pray for each other. So if you’d like to share a prayer request or to praise with the Lifespring family, there’s a place you can go. It’s at prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E323 – 9:54
If you’d like to comment on anything you heard today, go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e323. Send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. Thanks to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise.

And thank you for letting me be in your ears today. I appreciate it. Support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support.

Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise