In Ecclesiastes, chapter two, verses one through eleven, Solomon relates how he tried pleasure, wealth, and cultural delights in an effort to find fulfillment and the good life. Yet these things did not result in true happiness – life was still void of satisfaction, as in verse eleven, “Then I looked on all the works […]
Pleasure this is also vanity Read More »
In Ecclesiastes, chapter one, verses twelve through eighteen, humans cannot find purpose in life in and by themselves, nor can they use their own human achievement to set right all that appears wrong in the world, as in verse fifteen. “That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.”
I the preacher search out by wisdom Read More »
In Ecclesiastes, chapter one, verse nine, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” The theme verse does not mean that there are no new inventions. The pursuits, goals, and desires of humankind remain the same. “Under the sun”
There is no new thing under the sun Read More »
In Ecclesiastes, chapter one, verses five through eight, beginning with verse one, “The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.” The earth itself appears to move in its own predetermined way, with nothing changing. Human beings cannot look to nature to find meaning for their existence
The sun also riseth Read More »
In Ecclesiastes, chapter one, verse two, the verse states the theme of this book. All of our activities on earth are meaningless and purposeless when carried out apart from God’s will, His fellowship, and His loving activity in our lives. Ecclesiastes also emphasizes that creation itself is subject to vanity and corruption. The author’s concern
Proverbs, chapter thirty-one, verses ten through thirty-one, describe the ideal wife and mother. Her whole life centered around a reverent fear of God, as in verse thirty. “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” She has compassion for those in need, as in verse twenty, “She stretcheth out her hand to the
Who can find a virtuous woman Read More »
In Proverbs, chapter thirty, verse seventeen, God requires young people to respect and obey their parents. To honor our fathers and mothers will bring God’s blessing, as in Exodus twenty, verse twelve, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Deuteronomy
Mocketh father despiseth mother Read More »
In Proverbs, chapter thirty, verse eight, our “daily bread,” as in Matthew six, verse eleven, “Give us this day our daily bread,” represents our need for primary provisions. We should pray for an adequate income to meet personal and family needs, to support God’s work, and to give to those in need. Believers who give
Neither poverty nor riches Read More »
In Proverbs, chapter thirty, verse six, “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” The established Word of God must not be mixed with human ideas and speculations, such as those found in worldly philosophy, psychology, sorcery, and spiritism. God’s revealed truth is fully adequate to meet
Add thou not unto his words Read More »
In Proverbs, chapter thirty, verse five, “Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Second Timothy three, verse sixteen declares, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The purity of God’s word corrects, reproves, and instructs all believers who
Every word of God is pure Read More »
