Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins....See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

Ecclesiastes 7-11

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins....See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.  Ecclesiastes 7:20, 29

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is a commentary assisted review of Ecclesiastes chapters 7-11 and the commentary's second division for these chapters - Sin Leads to Brokenness and Meaninglessness.  

Excerpts from the commentary's second division Sin Leads to Brokenness and Meaninglessness:

• "When it comes to brokenness in this world, we need to realize two things. Sometimes we are broken because of our own sin, and sometimes we are broken because we live in a cursed, broken world."
• "Ecclesiastes makes something abundantly clear: all of humanity—including you—has sinned and departed from God’s wise design for the world. When we rebel against our design, we end up broken. We know this to be true experientially. After all, anytime you attempt to use something in a way that its designer did not intend for it to be used, it gets broken or does not work."
• "Some people think intimacy will fix their brokenness so they go from relationship to relationship trying to fill the void, but they end up hurt and unsatisfied each time as they look harder and harder for something they will not find. Others look to success in a job, or making lots of money, or hundreds of other things, but these things never bring lasting satisfaction. So much of our futility and brokenness is due to our own sin and our own idolatry in which we turn good things into ultimate things. We worship money, pleasure, sex, success, power, and much more. Instead of seeing those things as gifts from God to be used as He intended, we see them as ultimate and seek to get from them what they cannot give. So often the things we think we want so badly fail to provide what we think they will, and we end up empty. That is the brokenness of departing from God’s good design. We all sin, and we are all broken."  See also Ecclesiastes 7:20, 29, and Romans 3:9-20.
  
• "God made the world crooked in response to Adam’s sin (7:13), and man cannot fix it! Solomon says, “Consider the work of God, for who can straighten out what He has made crooked?” All humans experience the meaninglessness and brokenness of this world where things do not work right. Sin and brokenness are equal-opportunity destroyers."
• "Things do not work the way we think they should. The righteous suffer while the wicked prosper (7:15). The wisdom literature honestly recognizes that things do not always work out as they ought immediately in this world. Some scholars want to act like Ecclesiastes is a corrective to the overly optimistic wisdom of Proverbs, but that is simply not the case. Proverbs recognizes these discrepancies and points them out as well, but Ecclesiastes simply dwells on them more."  See also Ecclesiastes 8:10-17.
• "Shockingly, not only is there no justice, but sinners prolong their lives while the righteous receive the retribution the wicked deserve (8:12,14). We see this reality and we say, “That’s not fair!” But that is the world we live in. The problem is not just the random injustice of things not working out right but also the ultimate mystery that happens to all of us. Death is the ultimate problem, and it comes to all regardless of how we live. You may not experience brokenness until death, but it will come to all of us regardless of how successful we are in this life. Your effort makes no difference. Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 that no matter how well you live this life, you will eventually be caught by time and chance. The Grim Reaper is faster than us all. He never grows weary, and when he shows up, we often never saw him coming!"

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6), the Living Water that you drink and will never thirst again (John 4:13-14), and He is the reason for the hope believers have (1 Peter 3:15).  Surrender your life to Him!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus for giving me faith, hope, and everlasting life!  I am not deserving...no way not by a long shot.  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.  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.

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous.

Ecclesiastes 8

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. Ecclesiastes 8:14

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 8 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the second division of the commentary for chapters 7-11: Sin Leads to Brokenness and Meaninglessness. V14 succinctly encapsulates the futility of life without God - regardless of what you do, apart from God sin persists.  Solomon is a product of the Old Testament and the ceremonial law that led people to believe that works (without a heart set on pleasing God) were pleasing to God.  The point of course is that Jesus Christ and His death on the cross ended the need for the ceremonial law and the sacrificial system as He died as the spotless lamb - the once and for all time perfect sacrifice for all of humanity's sin.  Solomon's futility pointed to the need for Jesus.  Hebrews 8 serves as a fantastic example from scripture that illustrates that what Jesus offers is infinitely better than covenant offered to Israel in the Old Testament.  God does not want animal sacrifices, He wants Your heart and life surrendered to Him.  See also Psalm 50:8; Hosea 6:6; Psalm 51:16; Psalm 40:6–8; Isaiah 1:11–31; Jeremiah 7:21–23; Hebrews 10:4–10.  Surrender and believe!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - saving me and pour out Your mercies ceaselessly. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and compassion and mercies.  My sin is great and it is 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.  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.          

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 1

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Ecclesiastes 1:8

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 1:3-11, which per the commentary, is the first division of the first chapter of the commentary. The commentary shares the following in its introduction to commentary that unpacks Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 and 12:8-14: "[w]e are stuck in a monotonous prison where nothing we do really changes anything, and the only way to live a meaningful life in this meaningless existence is to find satisfaction and contentment in what God has given us."  The book of 1 Kings captures the story of Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, as he asks God for wisdom, is then granted wisdom, as well as great wealth and power.  Ultimately, this evolved into a life of sin and ungodly pursuits.  The commentary shares how Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes are just as relevant today as when first written: "[p]eople think to themselves all the time, If I could just have more money, more pleasure, or more success, then I would really be happy. Solomon had everything and tried everything, and in Ecclesiastes, perhaps at the end of his life, he tells us, 'No! All of that is meaningless.'" See also my post yesterday, where I am encouraged to read Ecclesiastes in the context of the Fall and with understanding and knowledge of the Gospel where believers know that we exist to glorify God and this purpose should drive all that we do. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You bless me - my cup overflows...again I am not deserving.  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 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.

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 1

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Ecclesiastes 1:8

I start a new study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 1:3-11, which per the commentary, is the first division of the first chapter of the commentary.  Solomon, referred to as the son of King David, authors this chapter of Ecclesiastes, where he writes about the emptiness of life, and how humanity, left to its own natural inclinations, falls prone to sin and sinful pursuits - separated from God.  This is certainly true since the Fall in Genesis 3 where sin entered the world and has followed ever since.  John 15 comes to mind where Jesus shares how He is the Vine and we are the branches.  In v5, Jesus shares how "apart from me you can do nothing."  We are encouraged to abide in Him.  We must remember that we exist to glorify God, and this broadly directs our lives as we seek to more specifically identify and develop our spiritual gifts and use them for His glory.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me...giving Your children spiritual gifts to develop and use for Your glory.  These gifts are then distributed among the church such that we can work in unity...again for Your glory.  Thank You for Your church and the community it provides, including prayer, encouragement, teaching, spiritual growth, etc.  What incredible blessings...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  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.  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.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! v21-25

Paul describes the struggle he had as a pious Jew and the struggle we all have without Jesus - we all want to be good, be better, and avoid sin - yet since The Fall we cannot avoid sin being in our nature. But Jesus provides The Way!  Hallelujah!  Jesus died so that all of humanity's sin would die with Him - giving us grace, forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, the Word, eternal life...and SO much more! Amazing grace indeed!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who provides life...and abundantly...far more than I can ever imagine!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such abundance.  I worry...all the time.  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.  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.  

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[.]

Habakkuk 2

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[.] v4

We often see wickedness all around us and we question how God can allow wickedness to exist - yet we must recognize that sin exists in the world since the beginning from The Fall. 

Habakkuk questions how Judah can get away with such wickedness. 

God responds to Habakkuk's (chapter 1) plea for justice by handing over Judah to the Chaldeans (Babylonians).  God also reassures us that our focus should be on ourselves (do not judge) and that God sees all sin (nothing is hidden) and sin does not go unpunished.  See also my recent post on Nahum 1.

Help me God live a righteous life by faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who sees everything and rules with perfect justice - what a great God You are.  Thank You for Your unending love.  I am not worth the love of a God such as You.  I daily miss the mark.  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.  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.

I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did. The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.

Judges 2

I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.  The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua. v22-23

Bad things happen in the world because of sin; since the Fall, we no longer live in perfect unity with God.  However, God sent his Son so that we may reconciled to God. As is the case here with the Israelites, God either causes or allows things to happen for his purpose. 

We must all be aware for what God is doing in our lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has refined me, trained me and made me more like You.  Thank You Jesus - it has not been a straight path or an easy one but You have always been with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such God - I often neglect You.  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 do.  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.