Hebrews 7-9

 Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7:1-3 We turn now to Melchizedek, whose name means king of righteousness. He appears briefly, after Abram and his allies (four kings) had defeated five other kings. The presence of the king of Sodom in this encounter appears puzzling but that is not the point here. Was Melchizedek a human priest, perhaps Shem as had been suggested, or a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ? There are few statements. (Genesis 14:18-20)

• He was King of Salem, which is, King of Peace (sounds very Christlike)
• He brought out bread and wine, foreshadowing the Eucharist, symbolizing the body and blood of Christ.
• He was also a priest of the most high God.
• He blessed Abram and praised God for giving him the military victory.
• Abram gave him a tithe of everything.

Since we know little about Melchizedek, nothing about his family, birth or death, he remains a mystery. The analogy to Christ beings questions, such as whether he resembles the Son of God or was in fact a revelation of the Son of God. What this passage focuses on is that he was a transcendent high priest whom other high priests (Aaron and those who followed him) derived their calling from. More importantly, we have a picture of the role of Jesus acting as our eternal high priest. 

Shem was born about one hundred years before the flood. If we accept the biblical accounting, the flood was 2348 BC, which puts his birth in 2448 BC. His son Arpachshad was born two years after the flood, and Shem lived five hundred years after that, which puts his death at 1846 BC. Based on Abram’s birth being 2166 BC, the war of the kings and Melchizedek’s appearance was sometime between 2091 and 2066 BC. Shem may not have been quite as close to God as Enoch, but he was one of the last of the patriarchs to live several centuries. Physically, he could have been Melchizedek. He is the patriarch of the Semites, from whom that term is derived.

Hebrews 7:4-10 Dealing first with Abram’s tithe to Melchizedek, the law (which came hundreds of years later) commands that tithes be given to the Levites. (Numbers 18:21) Since this law did not exist in Abram’s day, we can infer that the Lord spoke directly to Abram that he needed to do this. Not to support the priest or the church or even for any other use, but as an offering to God to acknowledge that He was the source of victory of those who want to do what is right and good. This tithe was not made to cash in on the later promise of the prophet that God would bless those who tithe (Malachi 3:10), because Abram had already been blessed. It was simply an acknowledgement. To honor God, tithes are first and foremost an acknowledgement of His nature and character and His transcendent work in the life of the offeror.

Hebrews 7:11-19 The limitations of priests appointed according to the law was that they could not bring to completion the full character of God in those who they ministered to. They were an intermediary between God and man, which we need because in our fallen state we cannot survive in the presence of God. And even the high priest from the Levitical priesthood had very strict rules for entering the holy of holies, and faced certain punishment if he violated them. Think Raiders of the Lost Ark. So the true High Priest had to come from a different source, and Jesus was that. His mother was from the line of Judah, not Levi, and His father was YHWH AB. This gave Him perfect credentials as far as lineage. But beyond genealogy, He had the power of eternal life, so that He could be a priest perpetually.  (Psalm 110:4) The point is that the High Priest could intercede directly with God about people and their sin, apart from the law, but based on transcendent eternal realities. 

Hebrews 7:20-22 The use of oaths is common in our day under certain circumstances. Those holding political office, those entering military service, and marriage vows are all examples.  Even though Jesus advised about not swearing, either by the Lord’s name, or by anything on earth (Matthew 5:33-37), God who is eternal swore by Himself that the Son would be an eternal priest, and He will not change His mind about this. (Psalm 110:4) Through this oath, God the Father empowered Jesus to guarantee a better covenant than the Mosaic law. This is further explained in the following verses.

Hebrews 7:23-25 One aspect of Jesus’ better covenant is His eternal life. He is able to intercede for us for all eternity, because He always lives. Human high priests eventually died. Jesus died but rose from the grave never to die again. 

Hebrews 7:26-28 Another dimension of Jesus’ better covenant is His perfect holiness. Human high priests had a very detailed ritual for ceremonial cleansing. (Leviticus 16:3-28) This included burnt offerings of a ram, a bull, a sin offering of two goats (one of which was to become the scapegoat), changing his clothes to a special garment, sprinkling incense, and putting blood on the altar. Instead, Jesus offered Himself once. He is perfect forever, appointed as our High Priest.

Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8:1-2 The Levitical law requirements for a high priest give us a glimpse, a picture of the eternal reality in heaven, in the transcendent dwelling of God. In that true tabernacle, Jesus is the true high priest. 

Hebrews 8:3-6 Exodus 25 describes what the earthly tabernacle is to contain. This includes the Ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, and the lamp stand. At the end of the description was the warning that they must make everything exactly according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain. (Exodus 25:40) This implies that Moses actually got a glimpse of that true tabernacle, in which the Trinity is seen.

• The Ark was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, which may symbolize the divine and the natural in complete union and harmony. Poles were to be used to carry the Ark so that it would not be touched. It was to contain the tablets of the law. Most likely this is the best way we can understand God the Father. On top of it was the atonement seat, and two golden cherubim. (Exodus 25:10-22) Cherubim are described elsewhere in one other vision, not as angels but as created beings that constantly surround the throne of God. (Ezekiel 10) Their description, and their role, remains mostly mysterious. 
• The table was also acacia wood overlaid with gold, with pure gold plates and dishes. There was to be bread of the presence on it at all times. (Exodus 25:23-30) Most likely this is to symbolize that Jesus is continually before the Father interceding on our behalf. We do not continuously observe the Passover or the Lord’s supper, but Jesus continually works in our lives and on our behalf, having completed His mission on earth, to deliver us from the Egypt of sin. His body that was broken is now nourishing us (spiritually).
• The lamp stand is also pure gold. It has six branches and buds associated with them. (Exodus 25:31-39) The burning of oil provides light within the Holy of Holies. This would seem to symbolize the Holy Spirit, who came to earth on the day of Pentecost to fill and empower the believers. (Acts 2:3-4) 

The point of this passage is that Jesus’ ministry is superior to that of earthly high priests because He is in the real thing, the true tabernacle, of which the earthly tabernacle is only a copy. And the promises of the gospel are better than the promises of the Law of Moses.

Hebrews 8:7-13 Jeremiah prophesied about this new covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31-34) When 

Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, He was saying that the life behaviors that God wants, expects, and approves are from a changed heart, not rule-following. A heart that He occupies will lead to attitudes and actions that come naturally from that occupied heart, because Jesus is at home there. The new covenant is based on personal relationship, divine love, and grace. Forgetting our sins goes beyond forgiving them, it enables us to live a life completely free of them. 

Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9:1-5 The earthly tabernacle established under Moses instructions was in a tent, not a temple. There were two rooms, the outer room called the holy place and the inner room called the holy of holies. The outer room had the lamp stand symbolizing Ruach HaKodesh, and the table of showbread, symbolizing the body of Yeshua HaMashiach.  The inner room had the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. The incense represents the pleasing aroma that God’s very presence brings - not stark terror. Raiders of the Lost Ark notwithstanding, the ark represents the interactions of the Presence of God with humans. Its contents: Manna - provision for daily life in a barren world; Aaron’s staff that budded - new life springing from rigid legal structures; and the tablets of the law - basic principles by which life can be lived, relationally with God and with other people. The cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat simply shows that God has other beings beside humans that participate in joyous worship in His presence. (Exodus 25)

Hebrews 9:6-10 Rules for the priests entering the earthly sanctuary involves daily ministry in the outer room, but only annual entry into the inner. Ritual cleansing was required, including washing and offering sacrifices. All of this was simply a picture of things that the Holy Spirit is saying was now revealed as reality in Christ, in the new covenant, in which justification can be rested on, implicitly rather than a court trial in which deeds are judged.

Hebrews 9:11-15 It is hard for us to grasp that the eternal reality that the above symbolizes is more real than the earthly implementation of its picture. In the real, eternal Most Holy Place, Christ entered and offered His own blood, rather than that of an animal. This implemented the new covenant that God had promised. (Jeremiah 31:31-34, cited in chapter 8.) Only the perfect, eternal Christ could offer substitutional redemption in this venue. Jesus spoke of this at the last supper. (Luke 22:20) Only His blood can cleanse our conscience so that we can have relationship with the true and living God. 

Hebrews 9:16-22 As almost an aside, a will that directs the allocation of a person’s assets only takes effect after that person dies. The first covenant invoked the blood of animals, because this emphasized the point of redemption, that death precedes new life, like trees shedding their leaves in autumn before a winter of rest and a springtime of new life. Without the shedding of blood - death - there is no forgiveness of sin - being born again. 

Hebrews 9:23-28 All of the foregoing now summarized. Christ shed His own blood, entered the true sanctuary, one time, to fulfill the new covenant and abolish sin. It closes with the promise of the second coming of Christ to save those who are waiting for Him in expectation, as He promised when on earth. (Matthew 24:30-31) That salvation will consummate the work He has already done in the hearts of believers. Since He has already entered the true sanctuary and atoned for our sins through His blood, this judgment will be the glorious gift of His presence.  

What does all this mean to us? As we now understand in more detail the true nature of Christ and His eternal reality, how do we respond? Do we treat this incredible holy and loving savior as the most important person in our life? Do we spend time cultivating a relationship with Him, and pay attention to and respect what He say, or is this all just interesting theology to us, and then go about a daily routine of our own? When the Prince of Peace offers us peace, do we accept or ignore? The king of Sodom apparently saw Melchizedek when Abraham did, but not too long after that, his city was destroyed because of its lifestyle. (Genesis 18:30-19:29)

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)