Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Practical Counsel

Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:17

 

“Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants.  His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.” - Ecclesiastes 8:2-6 ^{The Living Translation}

 

            All authority is established by God, therefore, those who are in power on this earth have either been set in place by the Lord or he has allowed them to reign over their people for a season and a specific purpose. Therefore, Solomon has taken the time to address this issue. Why does one obey the king? Back in biblical times the Jewish people would make a vow before God to obey and serve the king that was in power.  If the one who would be king were godly, they had all the power and authority of Almighty Jehovah God behind them. If they were ungodly, perhaps they were allowed to be in power to cause the people to repent to God. The ungodly king may not have the power of God behind them, but Satan’s power, though less formidable, can still drive the king to do evil things to God’s people.

            God’s plan was to be the Jewish people’s sole ruler, setting them apart from the other nations, however, the people complained to the Prophet Samuel. What was their complaint? They desired to have a king just like the other nations. (1 Samuel 8:4-22) God told Samuel to give them what they desired, and that started a cavalcade of both godly and ungodly kings going forward. That is not what God desired for the children of God, but because of their free will they selfishly pushed their demand until them received what they wanted. 

            Like with God, they had a choice to follow the king’s directives or not. With earthly kings, if you said or did something to displease them, you would be punished. With God you might be punished, but in both cases, it would be the consequences of a hand poorly played. Obey and serve the soon coming King and live to please him, for if you do you will have no reason for regret. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Practical Counsel

Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:17

 

“How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness.” - Ecclesiastes 8:1 ^{The Living Translation}

 

            Solomon gained Godly wisdom simply by asking for it. However, he asked for it to the exclusion of all else. His request so pleased the Lord that he gave him what he asked for and what he didn’t ask for as well. How do we receive Godly wisdom? We simply ask with a humble heart, showing the proper reverence to Almighty God.

            “Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective and then to know the best course of action to take.” ^[1]Most would absolutely agree that having godly wisdom would be a very valuable asset to have, but not all know how to acquire it. Proverbs 9:10 says the following - “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”  We are to respect and honor the Lord for this is what is due him. Should the creature not hold its creator in high esteem? Wisdom comes from knowing and trusting God. Frankly, God has never given anyone any reason not to trust him. What he has said in scripture has no falseness in it. The problem we have as his children is waiting for his promise(s) to come to fruition. That is not a flaw of God’s, but rather a totally understandable flaw in man. We are but dust, so God has infinite patience with us all.

            Wisdom leads to a higher level of understanding and understanding will normally lead to acceptance. It is normal to question and even to doubt, for we are finite creatures who generally lack a sufficient amount of trust and patience. It’s as if we all hail from the state of Missouri (known as the “Show-Me” state). If there’s one person you can absolutely and always trust, it’s Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, and man’s first breath. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] From the scripture notes - The Life Application Study Bible.

Word for the Day

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Practical Counsel

Ecclessiastes 7:15-29

 

”‘Behold, I have discovered this,’says the Preacher, ‘while adding one thing to another to find an explanation, which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand [who pleases God], but I have not found [such] a woman among all these [a thousand in my harem]. Behold, I have found only this [as a reason]: God made man upright and uncorrupted, but they [both men and women] have sought out many devices [for evil].’”- Ecclesiastes 7:27-29 ^{The Amplified Bible}

 

According to my sources, Solomon is pointing out that Adam was created morally good (Genesis 1:31). Yet because Eve fell into temptation by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, both Adam and Eve died as God said they would. Since they didn’t die physically, God was obviously speaking of their spiritual death. It is interesting to me that when God asked them who had told them they were naked, Adam pointed at Eve and blamed the sin on her. Then Eve pointed at the evil serpent and blamed him for tempting her. This is a good object lesson. You cannot blame anyone else for your own actions. Eve was to blame for her actions and Adam was to blame for his actions, no one else. Because God created Eve from Adam’s rib, they were then of one flesh so they were equally to blame. Romans 3:23 states that “all have continuously sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” 

Once evil comes upon you you’re liable to do anything. Your godly inclination is gone. Eve did what God specifically commanded both she and Adam NOT to do. Temptation comes in the form of something beautiful. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t be attracted to it if it weren’t. They had everything a person could want, but wanted more. That is the free will God allows in us. Satan knew the difference between physical death and spiritual death, but Adam and Eve did not. 
The Lord tests us, but doesn’t tempt us, to test our faith as a means of allowing it to grow. 

Adam and Eve’s failure opened the door for sin to rule over mankind, but even then there were still godly men. It is a lifelong struggle to live by God’s standard, but in the end it is more than worthwhile. We must become discerning and make our lifelong goal one of obedience to the Lord. We are to be different...not like anyone else we know. We are to stand for righteousness, even as we are righteous and seek to avoid evil at all costs. Be a man / woman who pleases God with their life. It should be our mission in life as believers in Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name and for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon's Practical Counsel

Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

"...I discovered that [of all irrational sins none has been so destructive in beguiling one away from God as immoral women for] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is [composed of] snares & nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken captive by her [evil]."- Ecclesiastes 7:26 The Amplified Bible

        It has always been my understanding that men (generally speaking) are attracted to woman visually; by the way they look and/or carry themselves. Saying that leads me to analyze the above verse in the following way...if we are not focused on Christ and on living a life pleasing to God we WILL trip up and end up weakening, if not completely destroying our testimony. The devil always looks for the weak spot in our armor, so to speak, and plunges the knife deep into the soft, fleshy part not covered by said armor. If the believer is married, their ungodly actions will destroy any trust their spouse has in them. Trust is a nearly impossible thing to regain. Without it a person's integrity is compromised.

        Solomon, perhaps having fallen for the guile of an immoral woman at one time, has warned young men in various places in Proverbs about the sinfulness of allowing your heart to be captured by a woman with ungodly motives. Once a man gives himself to someone he has no business being with his whole world become skewed. Nothing makes sense any more. Everything that is wrong is never right, but once you enter into the darkness, nothing looks wrong to you at all. You can't 'dabble' in the darkness and not expect to be tainted by it.

        To balance out his negative depiction of the immoral [evil] woman, he spends much time extolling the virtues of the godly woman in his other writings (Proverbs & Song of Solomon). Her heart is after God. She is morally upright, exhibiting excellence in all areas of her life. Solomon never confuses his readers with the immoral while omitting the moral. He always counterbalances one with the other. In most cases the best teacher is experience. In this particular case, Solomon uses his experiences to help his readers avoid having the same distasteful, ungodly ones so they might side step the snare that this woman wishes to trap them in. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

http://www.minidevos.blogspot.com

Cell: (848) 240-1293

A Brief Thanksgiving Message from Bread of Life Ministries

           Once a year we stop to thank God for all the blessings he has given us over the past year. Sadly, for far too many people all Thanksgiving has become is a day off from work, watching football, stuffing yourself with good food and napping on the couch. Many don't even acknowledge God at all. On the flip side, some acknowledge God's involvement in their lives. For some it is a time of reflection. Are they all they can be? Do they show their family how much they truly mean to them? Are they as close to God as they could be? Introspection is what each and every person, Christian or not, should do regularly ... not just once a year.                                                                                                                                           

          Let's face it, shouldn't we be thankful every day of the year. Just the fact that we are still above ground and breathing should be reason enough to be thankful to God. Regardless of your circumstances, take the time each day to thank God for your life, your family and your circumstances, which may not be ideal. Remember, God causes and allows all things and there is a reason for everything that we go thru. Don't you realize that no matter how bad things may look to you, it could always be worse ... trust me, it could ALWAYS be worse. So be thankful to God for life and love and peace and hope, because no matter what, with God there is always reason for hope. God hasn't forgotten any of us and will make things right when the time is right. So trust God and thank him for all you have and all you are.

          As always, walk with the King and be a blessing and have a happy, healthy holiday with a grateful heart.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Richard Keller - Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Practical Counsel

Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

 

“I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, ‘I will be wise [independently of God],’ but true wisdom was far from me. Whatever has been is far off, deeply remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it [for it is beyond the grasp of man]? I turned around and directed my heart to know, to investigate and to seek [skillful and godly] wisdom and the reason for things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [leading to stupidity and recklessness].” - Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

 

Though Solomon received God-given wisdom, he still could not understand all that exists. He searched everywhere to comprehend the reason of things, but found no answers. He needed, just like we need, to come to the realization that some things are simply unknowable. God is omniscient, which means ”knowing all things”; therefore, God knows all that can be known.

There is much evil in the world today and it is on full display. The wicked, satan inspired people do not see their folly or that the evil they are doing is foolishness in God’s eyes. Their reckless behavior will be the death of them.

A wise man examines the events and circumstances of life and ask God questions, such as, “What does this mean?” or “What would you have me learn from this?” This is one way to acquire wisdom. One can also gain wisdom by seeking out other wise men. It is also true that Scripture itself can provide many insights and will add perspective and cause you to ask questions that will prompt additional thought on a given subject. A human’s capacity to understand God is like person wrestling an alligator bare handed. It’s simply not possible. Ask the deeper questions of God and then listen for and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the appropriate response. Always pray for discernment from on high so as not to be deceived by the devil who is constantly trying to trip up God’s children. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name and for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

 

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible, The Quest Study Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible & The Wiersbe Study Bible.