I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.

Ecclesiastes 3

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. Ecclesiastes 3:17

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 3:16-17, which is the first division of the commentary chapter titled Politics and Justice Are Meaningless without Jesus (covering Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3, and 5:8-9).  The commentary first posits that in our fallen world, all paths to promote justice, whether it be through the government and the political process, or through social change/justice that might leverage non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or non-profits/charities, ultimately fall short of perfect (most far short) justice because we are all sinful and imperfect. Humanity's collective sin and imperfect motives and actions mar our efforts.  V17 offers encouragement for those seeking perfect justice as God alone is judge and He will judge everyone according to their deeds - every knee will bow and tongue will confess Jesus as Lord and Savior (see also Philippians 2:9-11). The commentary shares: "God has a carefully timed plan, but we cannot know when it will be executed. Even Jesus, when He laid aside His glory in the incarnation, admitted that the Son of Man did not know the time and hour (Matthew 24:36). Of course, He knows now in His exalted and glorified state! But even though he does not know the timing, Solomon trusts that God will set things right and that injustice will finally be reversed. The wicked will not ultimately get away with it (Greidanus, Preaching Christ, 99)." Seek God as a means to gain peace knowing that God has a plan (and it's perfect) for justice in this world, on judgement day, and in the world to come (Heaven).  

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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 me peace knowing that Your justice is perfect.  Thank You Jesus for this peace and for how it is a peace that surpasses all understanding as it is a blessing well beyond justice. I am not deserving for this peace or any other blessing or gift that comes from above - including my salvation.  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.

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.

Ecclesiastes 3

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. Ecclesiastes 3:17

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 3:16-17, which is the first division of the commentary chapter titled Politics and Justice Are Meaningless without Jesus (covering Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3, and 5:8-9). In v16, Solomon shares a frustration over how pervasive wickedness is in the world around us - believers and non-believers alike share a desire for justice but often you cannot see justice....this is the root cause for the frustration many will feel.  Yet believers should know that God alone is the Judge and everyone (either upon death or upon Jesus' second coming) will be held accountable for their deeds, and if not saved, will be subject to eternal damnation.  Indeed, that we live in a fallen world rife with sin and wickedness should drive us into the arms of Jesus who helps us see how ever knee will ultimately bow (see John Piper post here).  Believers gain peace knowing that God's justice is perfect - bow to Jesus now and feel the peace that surpasses all understanding!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion with me, and You give me peace knowing that Your justice is perfect because You are perfect.  Thank You Jesus for this peace and for the many blessings You pour out for me...every day.  I am not deserving of these blessings, nor my salvation.  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, mind and strength 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.

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.

Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.

Proverbs 1

Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. v19

Peter, like Solomon, encourages us to be alert for Satan and those reject God:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Sin separates us from God and only Jesus, through our confession and through our turning away from the sin towards God (by drawing near to Him and building up a desire for Him that can help us protect ourselves from sin and temptation).

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:13

Paul also encourages us to "not yoke" ourselves with unbelievers in the sense that we should avoid closeness with those who are enslaved to sin to the point where such closeness becomes an undue influence on us.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? 2 Corinthians 6:14

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...You protect me from sin and guide a path for me.  Thank You Jesus for Your love, protection, and direction...and so much more.  I am not worth such love.  I am broken with my sin of stress and worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn from it towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength. Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.