Thus far in Ecclesiastes, “the Preacher” has looked at the futility of life and human wisdom. For both pass with fleeting hope. A vapor that cannot be contained nor held. Each promise to make us happy or prosperous in some way. However, we find this so only in the illusion of our own minds and hearts. Yet, neither can we hold on to. Both escape us or fail us. Then, we are left with deeper despair than ever before. As we watch the futility of nature itself, always returning to what was before. For all the progress of humanity, there remains the oppressed and the depressed. Time enters and time fades with little to show for all the labor we have done. In his search for meaning, King Solomon looked to see if religion or government could bring lasting happiness or prosperity. Yet, once more, this was but a vapor.
Regarding Religion
As we look first at Ecclesiastes 5, it begins with a warning and an admonition.
“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.”
How many people go through the motions of religion, without truly worshiping God? Going through the motions; yet, not truly trusting Him nor worshiping Him. That among the religious who call themselves Christians. And what about all the other religions and spiritualists who proclaim their rituals bring them closer to God. Yet for all their religion, they are not happy or prosperous. Oh certainly some may have money; but does money itself make one happy or prosperous spiritually?
Ecclesiastes 5:2-3
2 Do not be rash with your mouth,And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.For God is in heaven, and you on earth;Therefore let your words be few.3 For a dream comes through much activity,And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
What fools we prove ourselves to be when we speak rashly as though we speak for God! So many religious today or those who proclaim themselves to be Christians speak with high and mighty voices, “Surely God would not send anyone to hell! After all we must realize there are many ways to God, and He will honor them all. Let us peacefully just agree with all society places on us. Certainly, we are to love the sinner, remembering from whence we came. But religion cannot become a substitute for true worship.
To Make a Vow
How often do we try to bargain with God? If you do this, then I will do that for you. I will give up everything, if only you… It happens more often than we would like to admit. This is a dangerous place to stand.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;For He has no pleasure in fools.Pay what you have vowed—5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your [a]excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
Was there ever a time that you made a promise to God that if He would just fix this you would? Then what happened.
Government
Some believe that the Government or some politician can fix things so that all might be happy and prosperous. In fact, that is what a lot of politicians campaign on; but, it would appears that they are the ones who become drunken with power. Their promise to fix the nations problems always fall by the wayside.
Ecclesiastes 5:
8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.
9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
So much is promised to be given to the poor. Yet all that when managed by government leads to further corruption. There is a movement toward dependency and social slavery in a since by the government as socialistic ideas are further embraced. Yes, the poor need to be fed; but that should be the work of the church to help by guiding people how to stand up while helping them and teaching them of the true source of all that is good.
Ecclesiastes 4:
1Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun:
And look! The tears of the oppressed,But they have no comforter—[a]On the side of their oppressors there is power,But they have no comforter.
Therefore, Happy or prosperous?
We cannot depend upon religion nor government to make us happy or prosperous. Rather we must turn to the true source of life—Jesus Christ. When we understand who the source of our happiness is, then we trust Him, our provider through it all. Joy then can fill our hearts.
Psalm 20: 6-7
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed.
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
But we will remember and trust in the name of the LORD our God.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
For Prayer or Comments
If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here
Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here
Poetry Books Available
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As I prepared for this lesson, reading, and contemplating all that it might mean to us today, my internet became sketchy. I need to check a few other things and then I needed to write, paste in scripture, while the internet in my house flickered in and out. Frustration, anger, despair all mingled into one big emotional bag. Perhaps one that fit the picture presented by King Solomon depicting the utter futility and waste our lives may seem at moments. There in those pages he, the wisest man to ever live (concerning human things) admits himself a fool. No wonder he used the pseudonym of Preacher instead of King Solomon. Or some says the translation is better philosopher. That name would fit as well. Certainly, today I too felt more the desperation of a fool.
Life if filled with constant change, yet all the same emotions of highs and lows. We seek for eternity, goodness, peace, joy, and hope. Yet, it seems for every step forward, there are rocks or even boulders in our way. Our hearts, hands, and bodies racked with pains we never thought would come. Scars that dig deep within. Perhaps, we too could feel these words penetrate deep within our own souls as well. We battle against the inevitable aging. The whole human race running toward something, only to find nothing there. That is nothing there apart from Jesus Christ. Indeed, we long for that which we cannot fully comprehend. Our desires are for eternity with God; although all too often we fail to recognize that truth and try to fill that longing with everything else.
The Wisest Man
J. Vernon McGee wrote:
“the wisdom God gave Solomon was a little different from what we think it was. We imagine that he was given spiritual insight; but Scripture does not tell us that he even asked for that. He had prayed: ‘Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?’ (I kings 3:9).
Apparently, God gave him what he asked for: wisdom to rule. He was wise in political economy and probably did a marvelous job of ruling the nation. He brought in a era of peace. Other nations of the world went there to study and to behold the wisdom of Solomon. He gave a testimony for God thought the temple with the altar where sacrifice was made for sinners. These were some of the things that the Queen of Sheba learned when she came from the ends of the earth. But in the area of spiritual discernment, Solomon was probably nil.”
This was something I had wondered about before. How did the wisest man to ever live, make such foolish decisions spiritually? But is that not always true of human wisdom? It will always fall short of God’s wisdom. Perhaps that is why 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty,”
The Wisest Man And Fatalism’s Cry
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time [a]to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3 NKJV
Solomon wrote this as a fatalistic ideology that nothing mankind does can ever matter. However, these words have been embraced since then by philosophers and even became a popular song sung by The Byrds during the time of the sexual revolution and hippie movement. Drugs, alcohol, self-fulfillment of desires with no inhibitions was the thought. Since we have no control of tomorrow, might as well get the most pleasure out of every moment today with no thought of tomorrow. Sadly, sometimes I see this same ideology rampant today throughout our world. This monotony and powerlessness should cause us to look to God. Instead of running so far from Him, we should run to Him instead. For it is God who placed the desire of eternity within our hearts and He only can satisfy the longings of our hearts.
The Wise Man (with human wisdom) is Truly the Fool without God
J. Vernon McGee so nailed it when he wrote:
“Man has tried to be happy without God; it is being tried every day by millions of people. This book (Ecclesiastes) shows the absurdity of the attempt. Solomon was the wisest of men and he had a wisdom that was God-given. He tried every field of endeavor and pleasure that was known to man, and his conclusion was that all is vanity. The word vanity means ‘empty, purposeless.’ Satisfaction in life can never be attained in this manner.
God showed Job, a righteous man, that he was a sinner in God’s sight. In Ecclesiastes God showed Solomon, the wisest man that he was a fool in God’s sight.”
Then Why Try?
9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:
If we cannot find it, then why? Ah, but you see really we can. For God said,
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in [a]distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice Deuteronomy 4
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; ( Jeremiah 29)
Psalm 145:
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all [f]generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. 20 The Lord preserves all who love Him,
Concluding Thoughts
The wisest man is but a fool without God. Our wisdom is futile unless we turn our lives and hearts over to God Himself. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Let us seek Him with all our hearts. As Paul spoke in Athens, as recorded in Acts 17
24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one [j]blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
For Prayer or Comments
If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here
Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here
Poetry Books Available
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Throughout Job, we saw the futility of personal control over our circumstances. After all we live in a broken world where it appears so often that evil wins. There are times when it appears all is lost and much like Job did, we question God. Job’s big question came when all of prosperity disappeared in a moment’s time. Then, now as we turn to Ecclesiastes and ask, what if you had everything? Would that bring lasting joy apart from God? Or is that also, futility of thought and action? After all, a brief glance at the elite and one might see they are some of the most despairing of all.Suicide, drug addiction, drunkenness, and despair reigns rampant among the elite. Always chasing after the wind. One more pleasure, another affair, more money, power, prestige. Yet, it is appointed to every person born, a moment to die.
I saw an article this morning within a women’s magazine describing “smiling depression”; otherwise known as Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). It describes those who continue in life with an outward facade of happiness and control; yet, deep within lies a sadness that cannot be overcome. So afraid that anyone might find out, they march on in silent despair. We chase after the wind and in the end, lie down at night wondering what it is all about.
C. S. Lewis wrote: “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
That brings us to the words of Ecclesiastes:
The Futility of All Endeavors
Ecclesiates 1:
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”
3 What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does [a]under the sun (while earthbound)? 4 One generation goes and another generation comes, But the earth remains forever. 5 Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hurries to the place where it rises again. 6 The wind blows toward the south, Then circles toward the north; The wind circles and swirls endlessly, And on its circular course the wind returns.
7 All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again. 8 All things are wearisome and all words are frail; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. 9 That which has been is that which will be [again], And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which it can be said, “See this, it is new”? It has already existed for [the vast] ages [of time recorded or unrecorded] Which were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of earlier things, Nor also of the later things that are to come; There will be for them no remembrance By generations who will come after them.
The Futility of Wisdom
12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by [man’s] [b]wisdom all [human activity] that has been done under heaven. It is a miserable business and a burdensome task which [c]God has given the sons of men with which to be busy and distressed. 14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted.
16 I spoke with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom and experience, more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.” 17 And I set my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I realized that this too is a futile grasping and chasing after the wind. 18 For in much [human] wisdom there is much displeasure and exasperation; increasing knowledge increases sorrow.
The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions
2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness). 2 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
4 I made great works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and orchards for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made pools of water for myself from which to water the forest and make the trees bud. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had slaves born in my house. I also possessed herds and flocks larger than any who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male singers and female singers, and the delights and pleasures of men—[a]many [b]concubines.
ALL IS FUTILITY
9 So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes looked at with desire I did not refuse them. I did not withhold from my heart any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun.
Wisdom Excels Folly
12 So I turned to consider [secular] wisdom, madness, and folly; for what will the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing except what has already been done. 13 Then I saw that [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and yet I know that [in the end] one fate happens to them both. 15 Then I said to myself, “As it happens to the fool, so death will also happen to me. What use is it then for me to be extremely wise?”
Then I said in my heart, “This too is vanity (meaningless).” 16 For there is no [more] lasting remembrance of the wise man than of the fool, since in the days to come all will be long forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Even as the fool! 17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.
The Futility of Labor
18 So I hated all the fruit (gain) of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will succeed me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity (futility, self-conceit). 20 So I turned aside and let my heart despair over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.
21 For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill yet gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what does a man get from all his labor and from the striving and sorrow of his heart with which he labors under the sun? 23 For all his days his work is painful and sorrowful; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity (worthless).
24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.
Must We Conclude Futility is our Only Hope?
Paul the Apostle wrote in I Corinthians 15 (nkjv):
“19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a [m]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O[n] Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
So, Is Futility Our Only Hope in Life?
No, Jesus Christ is our hope of joy in life and in the world to come. He is the only one that can fulfill the desires of our heart. We were made for a relationship with Him and nothing on this earth can satisfy that longing. All else is futility, chasing after the wind.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
For Prayer or Comments
If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here
Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here
Poetry Books Available
If you enjoy poetry perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon
Any study of Job begins with the premise that within this book there is the answer to the age-old question, “Why do Good people Suffer?” Well beyond the truths that God-ordains it as part of his permissive will and suffering is a part of this broken world, we might feel that the answer falls short. At least in fully explaining why. God never even told Job why he had faced such suffering and loss. Yet, hidden in these pages is the richest treasure trove. There we find 7 precious promises of God. Ones that we can remember when life hurts.
These include Precious Promises of God’s Sovereignty, Love, Grace, Justice, Righteousness, Omnipotent Power, and Perfect Plan. His Will mounts higher than the farthest reaches of all the Galaxies surrounding us. He sees and executes every minute detail to bring to fruition His plan of Love, Grace, and Mercy to all whom He knows as His own. Higher than our minds can even comprehend He IS and we can trust Him. He who created us with the purpose to be loved by Him, to have a close relationship with Him, and to be showered with His joy and His Glory.
Precious Promises of God: #1
God is Sovereign and In Control: Isaiah 46:9-11
For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. (For) I have purposed it; I will also do it.
To that some would ask
So Why Did He Allow Evil?
There are multiple reasons; but let me give the one C.S. Lewis wrote.
God created things which had free will. That means creatures can go either wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata-of creatures that worked like machines-would hardly be worth creating.
The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each in an ecstasy of love delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they must be free.[2] (C. Lewis 1952)
Can Love Be Perfect without Free Will
Without free will, we could never understand nor experience perfect love, joy, hope, or glory. Instead, we would be like robots wandering about the planet with no depth of feeling and no reasoning. Lewis goes on to say:
Of course, God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk. Perhaps we feel inclined to disagree with Him. But there is a difficulty about disagreeing with God. He is the source from which all your reasoning power comes: you could not be right, and He wrong any more than a stream can rise higher than its own source. When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on.
If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will—that is, for making a live world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings—then we may take it is worth paying.[3] (C. Lewis 1952)
Precious Promises of God #2: God Loves You
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Willingly He provided the payment so that we might know Him.
Romans 5:8 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We will never fully understand the cost to Himself to love us; that is, until one day we stand before Him and perhaps not even then.
Precious Promises of God #3: God limits our suffering
I Corinthians 10: 12-14
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it.
Precious Promises of God #4: He Never Leaves Us
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus said:
“19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
Precious Promises of God #5: He Brings Blessings to Us In Our Suffering
Romans 8: 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Precious Promises of God #6 He will be with us in our suffering
2 Corinthians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our [b]consolation also abounds through Christ.
Psalm 34: 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [a]have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Precious Promises #7: All things work together for our Good
Romans 8: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Therefore, even when I do not understand, I trust Him. Because ultimately all that He does is
For Our Joy and His Glory
Jonathan Edwards presents the argument that ultimately the existence of evil in this world was necessary for both our joy and God’s Glory. Before balking at this thought, I ask you to read thoroughly His argument. I will let it stand upon its own merits. Of all the defenses, this one was the one that shone light into my heart during many years of suffering. It provided me with a deeper understanding of my suffering and ultimately lead me to rejoice, even in my suffering.
A CASE for GOD’S GLORY AND OUR JOY
It is a proper and excellent thing for infinite glory to shine forth; and for the same reason, it is proper that the shining forth of God’s glory be complete; that is, that all parts of his glory should shine forth, that every beauty should be proportionably effulgent (=radiant), that the beholder may have a proper notion of God. It is not proper that one glory should be exceedingly manifested, and another not at all….
Thus, it is necessary, that God’s awful majesty, his authority and dreadful greatness, justice, and holiness, should be manifested. But this could not be, unless sin and punishment had been decreed; so that the shining forth of God’s glory would be very imperfect, both because these parts of divine glory would not shine forth as the others do, and also the glory of his goodness, love, and holiness would be faith without them; nay, they could scarcely shine forth at all.
If it were not right that God should decree and permit and punish sin, there could be no manifestation of God’s holiness in hatred of sin, or in showing any preference, in his providence, of godliness before it. There would be no manifestation of God’s grace or true goodness, if there was no sin to be pardoned, no misery to be saved from. How much happiness so ever he bestowed, his goodness would not be so much prized and admired, and the sense of it not so great….
So, evil is necessary,
in order to the highest happiness of the creature and the completeness of that communication of God, for which he made the world; because the creature’s happiness consists in the knowledge of God, and the sense of his love. And if the knowledge of him be imperfect, the happiness of the creature must be proportionably imperfect.[1] (Edwards 1974)
Therefore, all that He does is for us—to maximize our joy one day.
Therefore, When Life Hurts, Cling to the Precious Promises of God
He will show you the way and lead you to your expected end of Joy if you will but trust Him.
Due to the rebellion of the nation of Israel, they were sent into captivity. But remember it was not all the people. There were those who were faithful as well. Daniel was one of those. He read these words in Jeremiah and His heart leapt with joy and hope.
Jeremiah 29:10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you,and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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When God speaks, will you listen? That was the question proposed to Job. It is the same question presented to everyone born throughout history. It is the story of Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Mary. As well, it is everyone’s story, then and now. Sometimes, God speaks with a soft, gently voice and sometimes it is through a fiery bush. It may be as we walk through the fiery furnace, where Jesus joins us to walk beside us. In our finite thoughts, desires, and hearts; we do not always hear His voice of love and grace. It seems to be drowned out by all the noise and the evil of this world. Yet, it His voice of Love that calls to us from the foundations of the world.
Every detail of this His creation cries out to us that He is Supreme, All Powerful, and indescribable. How could this universe hold together with such intricate design, were it not for an indescribable Amazing God who chooses to speak with us. Not His most magnificent creation; yet He chooses to lift us above all else to call us His own children.
Because God loves you so much, He willingly sits patiently with us in our darkest hours. Individually, He does this. He who intricately wove us together in our mother’s womb, willingly came to earth, experienced our suffering and our trials. Then, He took upon Himself all the sin of the world. A sacrifice so enormous, we cannot comprehend it. Then He rose again to life, providing a way to save us.
Why all this? Could He not have avoided it all? Yes, but He knew without free will, one cannot choose love or feel its glorious joy. Nor can one see His splendorous righteousness and justice if evil never occurred.
God Speaks in the Storms
Last week’s lesson, as Bildad spoke, a thunderous storm was brewing off in the horizon. In his dissertation, he referred to God’s voice being in the storm.
Job 37:
Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth. 3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His [a]lightning to the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard. 5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
Perhaps, we do not want to hear His voice when it thunders; yet it is His love, mercy and grace that thunders to us for direction, lest we continue down the wrong path. Sometimes it is for our correction, other times for our edification (to bring us closer within His arms of love where He can shelter us). Yet, sometimes it is for the good of the Kingdom. Only He knows because He sees beyond our tiny time/space continuum.
However, even then, He chooses to remain with us in the storm—very present within our time and space. Just like Jesus in the storms with His apostles or when He walked in the fiery furnace with Meshach, Shadrack, and Abednego. He did not save them from the fiery furnace. Instead, the furnace was heated hotter than ever before. Yet, He walked with them in the furnace and even the smoke did not touch them.
Therefore, God speaks to us even in the storm. Perhaps, I dare say, God speaks with greater clarity when we are in the storm. If only we would be still and listen.
God Speaks and Job is Silenced.
Finally comes the moment that Job had pleaded for. God speaks. He did not come with a full explanation to Job for all the suffering. Yet, He came with the better answer for Job. Even though God speaks to Job through a series of questions, revealing to Job how infinitely wise, just, loving and kind God is. He demonstrated His indescribable power, majesty, justice and mercy through these questions.
Job:38: (TLB) Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? 3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
Remember this, it was a whirlwind—a tornado that took Job’s children. Now it is a whirlwind from which God speaks. Just imagine for a moment how Job must have felt. After all the lofty words he had spoken. He had said, he wanted God to come before him so he could plead his case, proclaiming himself innocent. Now we have God thundering voice coming out from the whirlwind to say, “Who are you to question me? Obviously, you do not know me for who I am.
God Proclaims His Sovereignty, His Brilliance and His Power in Creation
Job 38(TLB)
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. 5 Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? 6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone 7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?
8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, 9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? 10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. 11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? 13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? 14 As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.[b] 15 The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
“Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? 17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? 18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
19 “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? 20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? 21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
Furthermore,
31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? 32 Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? 33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34 “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? 35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? 36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? 37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven 38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?
39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites 40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket? 41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?
God speaks of his provision for his creatures as well as His power and wisdom. Then He asks Job to another question.
Job 40 (TLB)
2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?
How often do we think we have the answers when in truth, we have none? This was Job’s conclusion as well.
Job 40 (NKJV)
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 “Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
God Speaks Again with a Question, we must answer as well
Job 40: (NKJV)
“Now [a]prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
8 “Would you indeed [b]annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? 9 Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? 10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty. 11 Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. 12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.
In other words, Job can you rule the earth? Put on your best garments of righteousness and see how that goes.
Then Job answered the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted; 3 you asked,[a] ‘Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?’ But[b] I have declared without understanding[c] things too wonderful for me to know.[d] 4 You said,[e] ‘Pay attention, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you.[f] 6 Therefore I despise myself,[g] and I repent in dust and ashes!”
Concluding Thoughts
And this is you and me. We question God out of our own ignorance of who He is. So, often I have done that and still do at times. Yet, step by step, He is transforming me into the likeness of His Son and the Holy Spirit will not stop His work until it is finished.
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. Whatever it takes, Lord Jesus transform this heart so that I might see you. The Holy Spirit within me is the promise already fulfilled. One day as I close my eyes here on this earth, I will see Him face to face and the magnificence of that, His glory will take my breath away when I run into His arms of love. No matter what this world may bring, I must keep my eyes on my destination. God speaks and I long to hear his voice of love in every situation and every moment of this life.
And the amazing part is. We can. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. All I must do is choose to die to self that He might live and shine through me. Therein is fullness of joy here and throughout eternity. Hallelujah, what a Savior.
So, the question remains. Do you know Him? When God Speaks, even in the storm, will you listen to His voice of love?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
For Prayer or Comments
If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here
Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here
Poetry Books Available
If you enjoy poetry perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon
