Hebrews 4-6

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4:1-13 Jesus offers rest for our souls. We don’t receive it if we harden our hearts, and do not have faith or trust in Him. Faith results in obedience. If we do not trust and obey, there is no way to be happy in Jesus.

Hebrews 4:1-5 Psalm 95:11 is quoted again (see 3:11). The relationship between work and rest is referenced in the creation story that is quoted. (Genesis 2:2) Contrasting these two verses, God rested because He had done what was right. He is not going to share that rest with those who are disobedient. 

Hebrews 4:6-7 When David wrote the warning about hardening one’s heart (Psalm 95:7-8), God Himself was saying “today” - and David spoke prophetically about the coming seed of the  lineage of David (through Mary). God’s eternal day is always today to us. We can’t change the past, we can only plan for the future, but now - today - is the time to hear His voice and act accordingly.

Hebrews 4:8-11 Joshua took the people into the promised land and defeated the inhabitants. But this was only a picture or type of what Jesus does for us. The rest that Israel achieved by leaving the desert and settling in a bountiful land was not a true rest for the soul, because they still had enemies and wars (e.g., Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians). The rest of God mentioned after the creation story is also a promise for us. The sin in human weakness is born of not trusting God for the outcome.

Hebrews 4:12-13 The living word - logos, not rhema - brings piercing, sharp conviction.  In his epistle, Paul speaks of the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God - rhema, the spoken word. (Ephesians 6:17) The difference is whether God is speaking to us or whether we are speaking His word in spiritual combat. He speaks to us to instruct and nurture us, even though conviction of sin hurts. When we speak His words aloud, it is to overcome His enemies. 

Hebrews 4:14-16 Jesus was a man who experienced human emotions as He endured temptations, but His manliness was choosing to reject sinful acts. He was the great high priest who was not descended from Aaron, but was fathered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was greater than both Moses and Aaron because He endured the trials of the flesh to bring His people grace. We are encouraged to approach His throne of grace because of this generous willingness to prepare the way.

Hebrews 5

Hebrews 5:1-4 Although Aaron was called to be a high priest, he was human and sinned, for example, making a golden calf for the Israelites when they grumbled. (Exodus 32) So he had to offer sacrifices for himself. Both Aaron and Jesus were called to be high priests, but Jesus did not have to make an offering for Himself for sin. 

Hebrews 5:5-6 When Jesus became our high priest, He did not take the glory of this role on Himself, it was given to Him by God the Father. The Psalmist is quoted to describe the words of the  Father making Jesus His Son, implicitly saying that by dying on the cross, Jesus had fully  entered into the Father’s will, His heart, His essence, and therefore His inheritance. (Psalm 2:7) David’s statement identifies the eternal priesthood of the Messiah with that of Melchizedek (more on this in chapter 7). (Psalm 110:4) Both Psalms are in the context of conflict, of God crushing His enemies, judging the nations, and establishing His Son as priest and ruler over them.

Hebrews 5:7-10 Even Jesus learned through suffering. Although He never sinned, He learned what it is like to live as a human. We all suffer. What we need to learn from Him is steadfastness in suffering, as God is teaching us each, uniquely, through it all. We are enrolled, not in the school of hard knocks, but in the school of holiness and love, and we need to do our homework, not avoid it. He has already paid the tuition. We are learning not just theology, but a Spirit-enabled sense of right and wrong, good and evil. Jesus as our High Priest is the source and fount of this salvation.

Hebrews 5:11-14 Another metaphor. Solid food contrasted with milk is like experience-based discernment of good and evil contrasted with elementary truths of theology. As babies we drink milk, but to become adults (physically) we have to eat solid food. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us to pray daily for bread. (Matthew 5:11) In this prayer we are asking God to train us in this discernment daily. As per the previous verses, this involves daily learning through suffering, constantly training ourselves by our response, applying His written word to our circumstances and acting accordingly.

The concept of karma, that one reaps what one sows, is often held in both Christianity and non-Christian religions. Naturally, on earth there is cause and effect. Karma is the idea that there is a spiritual level of causality that brings on someone their just desserts, whether for good or bad actions. (Hosea 8:7) Job’s comforters certainly believed this. (Job 4:7-8 et.seq.) There are other places in the Bible where the Lord makes it clear that this is not a universal principle. Sowing and reaping is as natural as cause and effect, but what we see in Christ’s sufferings is that He paid for what others have done. That is the gospel, the good news. And in this passage this is generalized to say that God uses suffering to teach us in our spiritual lives, not necessarily because we have sinned, but because He wants to show us something about Himself. After his ordeals, Job discovered this; that which he saw, that the Lord showed him, was too wonderful for words. (Job 42:2-6) There will be a judgment day, but we need to be attentive to what the Lord is showing us, and not be predisposed to a simple solution to the problem of pain. Our prayer for ourselves or for others in the midst of suffering should be to ask the Lord to help us understand what He is doing, what He is trying to show us or teach us.

Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6:1-3 The epistle describes the previous passage as elementary teaching, and transitions to move forward to maturity. Theological doctrines based in scripture are true, the foundation of the faith, the essentials like a child learning to read and write, but to mature, to become an adult, there is more. 

Hebrews 6:4-8 The risk of backsliding becomes very real. A recap of history: What happened to the Israelites after they had sampled some of the fruit of Canaan, grapes and pomegranates and figs, and then grumbled and complained and wanted to return to Egypt? (Numbers 13:23-14:30) They wandered in the wilderness for forty years, until the entire generation had passed away, and never entered. The men who had brought the bad report died immediately. (Numbers 14:36-37) When the people changed their mind and wanted to go in, it was too late. (Numbers 14:39-45) The Lord forgave them, but did not bless them with entry into the life he had promised. (Numbers 14:22-23) In this passage the metaphor of unproductive farmland is used. Land that is seeded, and fertilized, and watered, but yields no crop. 

Hebrews 6:9-12 The mixture of metaphors leads to debates of interpretation, whether believers can backslide and lose their salvation, or if they renounce the gospel after a period of belief means they never really believed. The debate about eternal security is endless. The point of this passage is straightforward. Each person, when you encounter difficulties, do not give up on faith, but press forward into what the Lord is doing. He is able to see you through. Diligent work on our part is to follow salvation, and will build our faith.  Service to the Lord and to others should be from the heart, not to gain praise from other people or try to earn our salvation. It flows naturally from a heart of love.

Hebrews 6:13-15 The promise God made to Abraham did not automatically fall on every descendent. (Genesis 22:15-18) Abraham passed the test. (Genesis 22:2,8) But … Abraham’s descendants were slaves in Egypt. When they cried out to God, and then obeyed by observing the Passover, they were delivered from bondage in Egypt. But then most died in the desert. Their descendants finally received the promised land after entering in with obedience and fighting battles. Faith without works is dead. (James 2:17) 

Hebrews 6:16-20 God’s character is the basis for both our hope and our faith. The Ten Commandments included the injunction to not make any false statements. (Exodus 20:16) The law of Moses further went on to specifically say not to make any false vows in God’s name. (Leviticus 19:12) In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus went further to tell people not to make any vows at all, but just to say yes or no. (Matthew 5:33-37) However, here we find that God did make an oath to Abraham, and He does not lie. So our salvation rests on trust in Jesus, who saves us, and who died so that we can come into God’s presence. This is the fulfillment of His high priestly role, to which both the high priests of Aaron’s order and Melchizedek point.

Hebrews 1-3

Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1:1-4 Jesus, the final revelation of God. This could be a worship song, if set to music. It describes His glorious attributes. (John 1:1-14)

• He is the Son who is the rightful inheritor of all that is the Father’s;
• He is the agent for creating the universe, from the wonderful earth to the wonders of distant stars.
• He radiates the weight of God’s glory (see essay by C.S. Lewis)
• The one and only perfect representative example of God’s nature and character, His essential essence.
• The sustainer of the universe and of all matters spiritual and natural through His word. 
• He purifies from sin all who come to Him in faith, through His death on the cross.
• He sits on the throne next to YHWH AB with full authority.

I do not know of any worship song that articulates this fully. Perhaps Hansel’s Messiah in its entirety?

Hebrews 1:5-16 This section recaps several Old Testament Scriptures that point to Jesus, with the purpose of demonstrating that although Jesus and angels are spiritual beings serving God, Jesus is superior to angels, both in quality and position.

• Hebrews 1:5 He is God’s king established on Mount Zion. (Psalm 2:7) He is God’s promised Son. (2 Samuel 7:14)
• Hebrews 1:6 The angels are commanded to worship Him. (Deuteronomy 32:43, as found in the Dead Sea scrolls)
• Hebrews 1:7 God’s splendor is revealed through His angels (Psalm 104:4)
• Hebrews 1:8-9 In a wedding song celebrating the King’s Son’s wedding, God honors the Son for His character by establishing His throne forever and anointing it with joy. (Psalm 45:6-7)
• Hebrews 1:10-12 At the end of a prayer of desperation, the eternal sustainment  of the earth and heavens is promised, not as they are, but as He remains forever. (Psalm 102:25-27) 
• Hebrews 1:13-14 None of the angels will receive the promise of being an eternal priest of the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:1) Angels serve believers according to God’s order. Do we serve God faithfully?

Modern worship takes many forms. One link between traditional and contemporary worship is the recognition of Jesus’ glory as revealed in all of the dimensions above. We also worship Him for His actions, recognizing and thanking Him for His work in our lives and circumstances.

Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2:1-4 We must be careful to stay tethered to the anchor for our souls. (6:19) God’s revelation initially came through the Old Testament. In the New Testament (before the Council of Hippo formally established the canon) there were eyewitnesses who told of Jesus’ life on earth, and angels who spoke from time to time. (Matthew 2:13,19; 28:5; Luke 1:18, 30; 2:10; Acts 5:19; 10:3; 12:8) What Jesus said is recorded in the gospels. The truth of the gospel continues to be confirmed by signs, wonders, and miracles. But … what Jesus said will not be changed by Holy Spirit-inspired gifts, only clarified and applied. 

Hebrews 2:5-8 David testified of God’s mighty works, and prophetically spoke of how Jesus came from mankind (which is lower than the angels because of the fall) but ultimately reigns over all things. (Psalm 8:4-6) The point is that the angels are not going to rule over the earth, but humankind under Jesus’ authority. That was the background on why Satan rebelled and tempted man to reject God’s authority. But Jesus set things right through redemption on the cross, which Satan cannot accept. No redemption for fallen angels. They see the spiritual reality of God’s nature and character and know the final outcome of their rebellion, and choose it anyway, as reflected by John Milton in Paradise List (book 1, lines 261-263).

https://poets.org/poem/paradise-lost-book-i-lines-221-270

Hebrews 2:9-11 The greatest of YHWH’s works is that Jesus was perfected by suffering as humans suffer. This is not to say that Jesus was imperfect, but that He learned what it feels like to be human and experience pain and suffering as a result of others’ actions and choices. And He experienced temptation on a human level that we cannot, both in the desert and in the garden of Gethsemane. This gave Him compassion for us, in the human condition. And Jesus completed this role by dying as we die. In some transcendent mystery, His death and resurrection is imputed to us when we receive Him by faith.

Hebrews 2:12-13 David’s prophetic psalm was quoted by Jesus on the cross. (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46) David’s prophecy continued, to promise that the Lord would declare His Name in the midst of the assembly of His brothers and sisters, quoted here. (Psalm 22:22) Isaiah declared very similarly, that those who trust in the Lord would be given as children to Him. (Isaiah 8:17-18) This was a promise to those who feared earthly enemies. YHWH AB looks after His children, the brothers and sisters of Yeshua HaMashiach.

Hebrews 2:14-18 There are three dimensions of the outworking of the power of Christ in or life. 

• Hebrews 2:14 By His death, He broke the power of Satan to kill us by tempting us into fatal sin. The devil is real. The devil does not give up easily.
• Hebrews 2:15-16 As we gain experience in walking with the Lord, we can become more aware of Satan’s ploys and the circumstances around us and choose to glorify God instead through our faith and obedience. This delivers us from slavery to the fear of death. Jesus has overcome.
• Hebrews 2:17-18 Jesus is a merciful high priest because of what He experienced in His human body. He was tempted and He overcame temptation. Nevertheless, He suffered for our sins by making atonement with his bodily death. He is therefore able to help us when we face temptation. It is not just our eternal fate that He has rescued, but He empowers us in this life as well.

Hebrews 3

Hebrews 3:1-6 In this passage discussing Israel’s history, which the Hebrew readers of this epistle knew well, a foundation is laid based on Moses. The contrast is made of the difference in roles between a person who builds a house, perhaps a contractor or perhaps the future occupant, and the head of household. Clearly, once the house is built, the occupants are what matters, far more than the building. The leadership of the head of household sets the standards and behaviors, the long-term plans, and the day-to-day actions and decisions. And in God’s household, we are His children, not servants, and Jesus is the head. God is the owner and Jesus is the Son who leads this family. Moses was a faithful servant, but Jesus is the uniquely-begotten Son who leads us, if we hold to the faith.

Hebrews 3:7-11 The Psalmist is here identified as Ruach HaKodesh, who pointed back to Israel’s history. (Psalm 95:7-11) This psalm is quoted three times in this epistle. (3:7-11; 3:15; 4:7) In the beginning of the psalm there is a call to worship the Lord and sing with joy, but it concludes rather sternly with this warning. The ancient Israelites were miraculously blessed by God, walking through the Red Sea and being fed with manna. Nevertheless they grumbled and rebelled at Massah and Meribah. (Exodus 17:2-7) Ultimately, the reason they spent forty years in the desert was because they refused to enter the promised land. (Numbers 14:23-30) The underlying root cause was because of their hard hearts, which could not understand God’s heart.

Hebrews 3:12-15 The practical step to avoiding the judgment of a hardened heart is to listen to God’s voice. (Psalm 95:7-8) Sin tries to deceive us (the world, the flesh, and the devil), and believers need to encourage each other to not be hardened against God’s voice.

Hebrews 3:16-19 The consequences of a hardened heart in our life will parallel those of Israel spending forty years in the desert. Worse is that God swore they would never enter His rest. The root of their hardened hearts was unbelief. Moses could not change their hearts, but Jesus can soften our hearts if we have faith in Him. If we see Israel as a type or picture of the believer, they eventually did enter the promised land after forty years of learning, through trials in the wilderness and also being fed daily by manna, to have faith in God. In our individual lives, it may take forty years of trials and tribulations to get to a place where we are ready to live the lives He has promised. Whether crossing the Jordan symbolizes baptism or death could be open to debate, what Israel experienced was that there were more battles on the other side. Through obedience to God and trust in Him, they were able to win those battles. This passage focuses on those who sadly never entered that rest because they did not trust God. He still took care of them, but they did not enter His rest.

Ecclesiastes 10-12

Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10:1 I have no idea what dead flies smell like. Online seems unanimous that they smell putrid, like a rotting corpse. A little folly - one mistake, not really a mistake except in judgment - can ruin your reputation and life. 

Ecclesiastes 10:2 True wisdom is more than insight. It includes a heart that is turned toward Jesus. True foolishness is turning our heart away from Him.

Ecclesiastes 10:3 Fools demonstrate their stupidity by how they drive. It’s not just testosterone, it is an attitude that believes they can get away with driving recklessly (not wrecklessly). I’m sure God’s heart grieves for them, and hopes that they will come to their senses before they kill themselves or someone else.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 Can calmness really allay great offenses against a ruler? I don’t know, it depends in his personality. Calmness, staying on the post, will not give you peace with the King of kings, regardless of how much He grieves for you, unless you repent of your sin and receive Him.

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 Thinking that wealth indicates the capability to rule well has been proven to be an error. Perhaps in Solomon’s day they believed that it was a sign of God’s blessing. The rich have demonstrated the ability to manage resources, but it does not prove what is in their heart. Solomon had become wealthy, and he had great worldly wisdom. But one case does not prove a proposition. 

Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 There are also hazards and risks associated with regular jobs, especially manual labor. Solomon gives a few examples. Accidents happen, often without warning. Sometimes they occur because we skip safety procedures because it seems to us that the likelihood of a risk materializing seems remote. In any job we need to study and sharpen our tools, to do the best job possible. One event can ruin everything, even be fatal.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 In commending worship of God, Jesus quoted David (Psalm 8:2), saying “Out of the mouths of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.”  (Matthew 21:16) This was His response to the indignation of the chief priests and teachers to the children shouting’Hosanna to the son of David’ in the temple. He also warned that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45) The words of the wise bring grace, not just insight. Grace is, of course, unmerited favor with God. 

Ecclesiastes 10:14-15 Fools multiply words, but they don’t know the future, or even how to get to town. People who claim to know the future are either con artists or complete fools.

Ecclesiastes 10:16-18 Laziness is contrasted to nobility of character. If the king is of noble birth, the land is blessed if his sons eat for strength rather than feast for self-indulgence. I think that the King of kings grieves when those He calls His sons choose to use the blessings He gives to simply party through life. The practical consequences of laziness are eventually impossible to ignore - the house starts to visibly deteriorate. Paul talked about slaves wholeheartedly serving their masters. (Ephesians 6:5-8)

Ecclesiastes 10:19 Only fools believe that money answers everything. Money can be used to build God’s kingdom on earth, and address many legitimate needs. It can fund missionaries to carry the good news to the remote tribes outside the fringes of “civilization”. It can save the lives of the poor and distressed. It can pay for legitimate celebrations, or it can be used for foolish, drunken orgies. (Daniel 5:1-4) The prosperity cult taught that wealth was a result of having faith, and that this defined a believer’s standing within the kingdom of God. Solomon has previously talked about hard work vs. laziness, and their outcomes in life, but we must be careful to understand that our call is to different things. Some are called to be stewards of resources, in boardrooms or on Capitol Hill. Others are called to minister to the poor and outcast of society who have had many different paths to poverty, some self-chosen and some driven there by external forces. Giving them money often doesn’t help because they need spiritual life. Some have great spirituality yet are called to live simple lives in trusting God. ‘Money answers everything’ is a foolish, worldly error that will one day be set straight.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 Even before the days of electronic bugs, slips of the tongue in private could easily make the rounds. People talk. People gossip. And God knows when you revile Jesus, the King of kings, in your private spaces. 

Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 Three themes are interwoven here. 

• Since we do not know the future, invest broadly in multiple areas, so that when things go awry, some of your investments will bear fruit. This may include (as examples) selling food overseas, investing in multiple entrepreneurial startups, and planting seeds at various times of day.
• There are many things that happen that we cannot understand, control, or undo. We might be able to forecast the weather, but we can’t prevent typhoons or tornados, and cloud seeding to produce rain is a new (and expensive) capability. A dead tree can’t be resurrected. A startup business may succeed or fail for reasons we cannot control nor know at the outset. God does things in the spiritual realm beyond our understanding. He is omniscient and omnipotent, and He is not our servant.
• Don’t be lazy. Hard work pays off eventually, often in ways we don’t anticipate.

Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 As a young person, life is often sweet, so enjoy it, but remember that eventually you will age. (12:1-7) The choices of youth set the course for the rest of our life, so choose wisely. Financial prosperity ties us to this world, which we will eventually leave, and we can’t take it with us. There is a bit of seeming contradiction in that Moses advised us not to follow the desires of our heart, but Solomon says we should. (Contrast 11:9 to Numbers 15:39) The upshot is that we need to turn our heart to the Lord, and not follow the worldly or carnal lusts that tempt us. God will ultimately put everything into His order, and we will recognize (eventually) that a heart that loves and communes with Him will have joy, but life apart from Him is meaningless. Don’t let dopamine highs become the focus and priority of life. True, eternal satisfaction in the fruit of spiritual investments will endure.

Ecclesiastes 12

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 A detailed discussion of the effects of aging, on the human body

• Ecclesiastes 12:1 The pleasure in various aspects of life is diminished. Physical, mental, and emotional pleasures no longer come.
• Ecclesiastes 12:2 Eyesight is diminished, and sunlight and moonlight no longer brighten as they once did.
• Ecclesiastes 12:3 Muscles become weak, we lose teeth, eyesight is diminished.
• Ecclesiastes 12:4 Hearing becomes diminished, but one cannot sleep in, waking early instead. Before the earliest hint of sunrise that we cannot see and chirping birds that we cannot hear, we awaken early anyway. Solomon does not reflect on this being a divine call to get up early and spend more time talking to the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 12:5 We lose courage because we are constantly reminded of various dangers that we have learned about throughout life. Hair turns white and falls out; sexual desire and function disappear.
• Ecclesiastes 12:6 The spinal cord and brain eventually fail; our ability to work and, manage finances goes away.
• Ecclesiastes 12:7 A reference to God’s creation of man from the dust of the earth and breathing the breath of life into him, and the curse put on Adam after the fall. (Genesis 2:7, 3:19)

Ecclesiastes 12:8 From a natural or worldly perspective, the collapse of human life in old age rends all of our accomplishments, and the meaning of life from when we were young. Life is ultimately meaningless as these things are torn from us.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-12 Solomon listened to others, pondered their words, and set them out clearly in the right words, as proverbs. He warns about adding to them, maybe not as opening the door to error, but because doing the study, pondering, sifting, and seeking of truth is endless toil, and there is no final arrival at all worldly wisdom. Hence, the final conclusion is not found in the world’s wisdom….

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Life apart from God is meaningless, so while still under the sun, obey Him. As we race like rats, remember that there is something much greater outside the maze. Jesus redeems those who come to Him, through His paying the price for our sins on the cross.  We will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, but that is better than facing the final judgment at the end of time. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12-15) He will welcome those who come to Him into His eternal home. (John 14:2)

Ecclesiastes 7-9

Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 After birth comes life, and with it disappointment. After death comes the reality of eternity in the spiritual realm. Mourning the death of another should remind us that this day of reckoning will come for everyone. Except Enoch and Elijah, whose lives were so connected to God that they went to Him without the grimness of death.

Ecclesiastes 7:3-4 Dealing with sadness and frustration, being discipled by pain reveals the reality that foolish pleasures are only fantasy. 

Ecclesiastes 7:5-6 We have a choice. The wise who have been schooled and discipled by God through painful life experiences, and learned from them, share what they have learned. Our choice is to heed their teaching, or go through the same kinds of learning experiences (i.e., pain of reaping what we have sowed). It is better to learn from others than suffer ourselves. But it is our choice.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 The corrupting influence of money can infect even the wise and the seemingly righteous. No one ever graduates from temptation.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 There is satisfaction in wrapping up some issue or event, which is better than starting it, which requires resources and effort, and usual involves some level of difficulty. In the middle of such a matter, patient perseverance is a better path to a positive outcome than the belief that one is so wonderful or lucky that they can let things slide. Trusting in God is not pride, but trusting in one’s own faith and treating God as a servant is not going to work out well. 

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Not sure who said this - that anger is our way of punishing ourself for something that someone else did. But we do know that Jesus said that whoever is angry with his brother is guilty before the court. (Matthew 5:22)  He went on to say to be reconciled to your brother and make friends with our opponent at law. (Matthew 5:23-26)

Ecclesiastes 7:10 Fondly recalling the good old days and omitting their pain and difficulties is fantasy. We should remember the lessons we learned by paying the tuition of pain, so that our lives now will line up with reality and be better. That is wise.

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 Anyone who is alive can get wisdom. If heeded, it preserves their lives. Money can buy things, but wisdom can (if heeded) bring life itself. Israel is Abraham’s inheritance, but wisdom is found in God’s word.

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 If we believe in God’s omnipotence and His love, then we should see dry spells as learning and growing experiences. This is part of the resolution to the problem of pain - why does God allow bad things to happen to good people. We need to roll with the punches, having confidence that God will set things right in the end.

Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 Continuing on the problem of pain, explicitly identified here. (7:15) Perhaps the Pharisees of Jesus’ day exemplified over-righteousness. Their problem was that they thought that the appearance of righteousness - words and externals - were all that mattered, but ignored the content of their hearts. (Matthew 23:27-28) Avoiding extremes doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be fully devoted to God. W should reverence Him. This will enable Him to help us, in humility, avoid sins lurking at the extremes of behavior.

Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom provides a strategy for life, so that we don’t have to fight off ten demons who would try to assert control over us. Jesus has defeated them. 

Ecclesiastes 7:20 This was quoted by Paul. (Romans 3:12) The consequence of the fall of Adam. As soon as we are old enough to understand that we can choose, we choose to sin in the likeness of Adam. (Romans 5:12-14) There was only One who was completely righteous and never sinned.

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 Mind our words, so that we do not become a stumbling block to others. Just avoiding hurtful words is a good start, but we need to change our heart to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us. (Matthew 5:44)

Ecclesiastes 7:23-25 Based on this, Solomon set out to discover wisdom. Hence we have both this book and the Proverbs. He searched to find out the scheme of things. This did not necessarily mean science, but human affairs. Why do people stupidly choose to do wicked things, or act as though insane  with their foolishness. In today’s internet era, there are endless videos of people doing foolish things and immediately getting hurt, but fewer depict the long-term consequences of evil. Read books like the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

 https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Third-Reich-History/dp/1451651686

Ecclesiastes 7:26 The very first thing that comes to Solomon’s mind in his search for how things work is a woman like Jezebel, who controlled Ahab. (1 Kings 16:30-31) Ahab was already sinful. She just encouraged and amplified his sin. Disaster not only for him, but for the northern kingdom of Israel.

Ecclesiastes 7:27-28 There was one upright Man. Solomon did not know Him in the flesh, but recognized that He would come. Paul quoted this verse also. (Romans 3:10) In the garden of Eden, we are told of the coming seed of woman. (Genesis 3:15) Solomon looked forward to that.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 God created man upright, in His image. (Genesis1:21) But Adam and the rest of us have sought after other things besides God. (Genesis 3:17)

Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8:1 How does wisdom affect our appearance? Solomon says it brightens and softens our face. Wisdom brings sorrow, but also compassion for those who muddle in darkness and ignorance. We don’t normally associate wisdom with compassion, although we can simply see Jesus as wisdom personified. (For example, in The Final Quest trilogy.) 

Ecclesiastes 8:2-5 Solomon warns about taking oaths, especially foolish oaths before God and king, for bad causes. These days, within a democracy and having freedom of press, anything we say or do will be criticized by someone online. Aside from breaking laws, the president and the police have authority to tell some to stop doing something. Of course, you can always be sued in court. But we have no earthly king to tell us what to do. A wise person will know how to do things properly without a king’s direction. However, when do what the King of kings command, we may face opposition.

Ecclesiastes 8:6 The  Jewish calendar given to Moses identifies proper times and procedures for all the matters of life. Apart from that, we may not know when is the proper time. If God sets a proper time, we should do it even if we are struggling with trials. He knows what we are going through. 

Ecclesiastes 8:7 The prophets reveal what is to come. There are many fakes out there. Beware of mediums who consult dark spirits. (Deuteronomy 18:9-15)  

Ecclesiastes 8:8 There are four observations in this compact verse. Most are ignored by everyone. Pay attention!

• No one can control the wind. Hurricanes and tornados happen, and weather forecasters work very hard to forecast a few days out where they might occur. No one can control them.
• No one can prevent their own death. It is possible to commit suicide. However, this is not a desirable action and the consequences are horrendous. It is self-murder. (Exodus 20:13)
• Whether one has been drafted or volunteered for active duty, the nation will not release soldiers from active duty while they are needed. War is hell, which the Bible doesn’t say explicitly but it is consistent. The Prince of Peace will end war for a thousand years. But until He returns, this adage is obvious.
• Doing something evil to try to get out of a bad situation is a losing strategy. The outcome will be worse. The only way out is to turn to Jesus, confess and repent, and do what He says. 

Because there are many things we can’t control - weather, war, death - we have to trust God for the outcome. Sin and evil will never deliver us.

Ecclesiastes 8:9-13 It may be that an evil person will outwardly be respectable-looking, honored in public, and live a long time. They may get a church funeral. But their end will not escape justice. (Revelation 20:10-13) 

Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 Solomon once again raises the problem of pain. His answer here is superficial. Enjoy life with whatever you have been given by God under the sun. Jesus will solve the problem of pain. Rather than trying to be a conqueror who compels good to be done, we need to recognize that God has an inscrutable strategy, revealed in the gospel, and respect Him, and gratefully receive His gifts, as well as obey Him.

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 Solomon finally admits it is unknowable even by him. In this life, things will always have the potential to go wrong, and some will, due to our own mistakes, even if evil is throttled. Anyone who claims to have it all worked out, doesn’t.

Ecclesiastes 9

Solomon continues to elaborate on how, through our sin, we destroy the blessings God has given us

Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 Everyone shares a common destiny - to stand before the judgment seat of God. The outcome of that judgment depends on what is written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 13:8, 20:12; Daniel 7:10) Solomon mentions taking oaths as though the outcome doesn’t matter. Jesus said it is better not to take oaths, but simply say yes and no and follow through. (Matthew 5:33-37)

Ecclesiastes 9:3-6 Despair is the sin of not trusting God for the outcome. Looking only at events on earth apart from Him, despair is a logical result. Question: does difficulty in life mean that we lose meaning in life and despair, or does it give meaning to what we do while we are alive, accomplishing something for God against opposition?

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 Has God already approved what we do? Probably what Solomon means is that if we do what God approves, we are told to enjoy life, this results in us being able to enjoy life. Serving Him gives meaning to an otherwise meaningless existence. The answer to the issue just posed. 

White clothing symbolizes purity. Being anointed with oil symbolizes the anointing of Ruach HaKodessh. We need to be that way every day, not just in church, but in our daily life activities - both pure in heart and inspired by the Spirit of God.

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 Solomon is wrong! God rewards our efforts on His behalf, and He controls the outcomes. (Jeremiah 1:12, 44:27) The timing of our death is unknown to us, and it could happen when we are young or old. (8:8) 

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 We have an example of both wisdom and foolishness. The wisdom of an old but poor man is stronger than the military prowess of a king. The wise man understands the unseen realm and God’s power, and how to overcome evil. The people recognized that wisdom and appreciated being rescued, but otherwise ignored the wisdom of age, experience because they looked down on his poverty. But his wisdom was insight into God and His ways to live them out. Unfortunately, we live in an age where the internet and social media amplify the shouts of a ruler among fools.