Solomon decides that anything can happen to anyone. There is no formula for making God do what you want. And everyone is going to die.
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes 9-12"Ecclesiastes 8
Starting in verse 2, Solomon, unironically I suppose, is offering the advise to keep the command of the king because of "the oath before the Lord".
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes 8"Ecclesiastes 6
Solomon begins the topic of riches in Chapter 5; but it seems to continue here.
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes 6"Ecclesiastes 5
I'm working my way through Ecclesiastes and (in my opinion) watching Solomon flail between faith and the faithlessness that has come with all of his selfishness and worshipping other gods. He vacillates between seeing the real purpose we have in the Lord and no purpose as he walks in his own strength trying to use God's wisdom without obidience to the Lord.
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes 5"Ecclesiastes 4
Solomon is using his life mixed with God's wisdom as an experiment in search of some meaning he has lost since he has walked away from worshipping God alone. He'll contemplate some portion of life left hollow in his earth pursuits and then briefly come back to the understanding that life lived with God does have meaning and purpose. We just completed the famous chapter three in which he contemplates the events in life under heaven.
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes 4"Ecclesiastes 3
Taking a detour between I and II Kings into Ecclesiastes.
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes 3"Ecclesiastes 2
Solomon, or the author taking on his persona, has made his claim of the vanity of vanities. Now he continues to explain his grim world view.
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes 2"Ecclesiastes
I'm waiting on a commentary for II Kings before I move on with the chronological study. So I thought I would take a detour through Ecclesiastes. I had planned to read this with all of the other David and Solomon reading; but the failed attempt at Psalms stopped that plan.
...continue reading "Ecclesiastes"I Kings 22 (final chapter)
Well...if you've following along on the recent adventures in my blog you'll know that Ahab finally brought God to the end of His mighty patience and God poured out a most severe judgement. Ahab finally expressed some grief and humility- bringing God to delay the judgement package until Ahab's son.
...continue reading "I Kings 22 (final chapter)"I Kings 21: God’s Amazing (and Surprising) Grace
We're firmly into Prophet Elijah and King Ahab territory. Mostly recently, Israel was attacked by Syria and God took a very personal interest in King Ahab, assisting for His own name's Sake. While Ahab was partially obedient to his nation's benefit, he was also partially wrong.
...continue reading "I Kings 21: God’s Amazing (and Surprising) Grace"