My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 12:12-14, which covers the fourth division of the commentary chapter titled Politics and Justice Are Meaningless without Jesus - the fourth division specifically is referred to in the commentary as Ecclesiastes Cries Out for a Better King, a Resurrection, and a Final Judgment.  Here, Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes by lovingly looking to pass on final words on the meaning and purpose of life to his son Rehoboam.  The commentary combines Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 and 5:8-9 with these final verses of the book to reinforce how scripture should be read in its entirety and be seen as perfect and "...breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Therefore, Ecclesiastes should not be interpreted on its own but as part of a broader redemption story as part of God's plan - which again is perfect.  Also, we should see Jesus in all books of the Bible as He is the Alpha and the Omega, and part of the Holy Trinity - as He is God and present with God since the beginning (John 1:1-2).  Solomon's parting words - this fourth division - of course reinforce how all things are meaningless without God, that we exist solely to serve and glorify Him, and today we are encouraged to see Jesus as part of message that earthly authorities do serve a purpose and were created by God, but they are not God and should not become idols for us to do what only God can do - God truly saves! Jesus is the King of Kings!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - providing earthly authorities in my life that serve me and most importantly You give me Yourself, the Holy Spirit, my salvation, and Your Word.  Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and without I would be lost.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of all of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Proverbs 30-31

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

I return to my study of Proverbs - starting week 10 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 30-31:9.  My focus for today is an introduction to the entire text for the week. The opening from my workbook for this week describes the text as (1) "sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh..." and these words stress humility - Proverbs 30; and (2) words from King Lemuel "based on teaching he received from his mother about wise kingship" - Proverbs 31:1-9. The workbook encourages us to see the "big picture" as instruction from "two otherwise unknown sages...[that share] what it means to fear the Lord and to reflect his glory in one's calling."  The memory verse for this week is Proverbs 30:5-6.  

Reflecting on this week's memory verse, I also think of Paul's words for Timothy and of the memory verse from week 8 of my Proverbs study:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. Proverbs 22:17-18

I am reminded that God's Word is God Himself and we can take refuge in God through His Word. I am also reminded that we are to study God's Word and know it so that we can allow God to do His sanctifying work in our hearts and lives, and so that we can be equipped for every good work - we must understand that we exist for these good works and to glorify Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me Your Word, the Holy Spirit, etc. so that I can take comfort and refuge in You, and so that I can be equipped for work that ordain for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is daily and it continues.  Please forgive me for harshness with co-workers, and for other sin.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of Your heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please provide Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  Heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed.

Romans 9

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. Romans 9:6

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter thirteen God's Word Has Not Failed, which covers Romans 9:1-29.  My focus today is Romans 9:6-13, which my commentary refers to under the heading Truth 1: God is Working Out His Sovereign Purposes in History. As I posted yesterday, Paul expressed anguish over the unbelief of his fellow Jews, particularly in light of how Jesus is the Messiah so promised to the Jews in the Old Testament. Paul now pivots to write how it is not God's word has failed (v6) - in fact, "no word from God will ever fail" (see Luke 1:37 NIV). Paul goes on to write how "not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel" (v6), how children of the flesh are not children of God (v8), and how Esau "I hated" (v13) despite his birth to Issac and Rebekah. Many will seek to find contradictions in scripture but they won't find them. See also Psalm 18:30 where David writes how God's way is perfect and "the word of the Lord proves true"; these same words are echoed in 2 Samuel 22:31 where David's word in song are captured as well. 

My commentary emphasizes how "God never promised that every Israelite would be saved....God has always chosen some within the nation of Israel to be his true people (a remnant)."  God both hardens and softens hearts by His design and will and He even chose to "include Gentiles in this believing company."  The commentary points out Paul's use of Genesis 12, 15, 17, and 21, and how Paul loosely quotes Genesis 18:10, 14 to show that "[t]here is an Israel within Israel" and how Sarah's miraculous birth of Isaac demonstrates to us that "[s]alvation is not by birth or works but by grace." If salvation is extended by birth than Esau would have been grafted in but he was not - again it is by grace that we are saved.  Similarly for Jacob, a deceiver, one could expect that Jacob not be part of God's family given his actions; but again God saves and Jacob is part of God's family through grace.  The commentary goes on to say that neither Esau nor Jacob deserved salvation (none of us do!) but grace saved Jacob as one of the elect. It should be noted that the commentary references how Esau's rejection is also discussed in Malachi 1:2-3.  Bottom line, yes, Paul is full of anguish due to unbelief among the Jews, but this is not due to failure of God's word. My commentary ends by stating that God's word "was and is being fulfilled in an Israel within Israel.  In sovereign freedom, God has always chosen a people for himself.  And he continues to work out his sovereign purposes in history."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and whose Word is true and perfect!  Thank You Jesus for the gift of scripture - it is You and I cannot live without You.  Yet I am undeserving of how You provide Your Word, the Holy Spirit, and my salvation.  My sin continues...daily; worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.