GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 17 ~ ~ *Psalm 78:1 ~ ~ “Give ear, O my people, to my Word.  Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”

We’re in Chapter 9 of “How to Read The Bible” by Dr. Michael Youssef— The Books of Solomon

“Meaningless!  Meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes)

Some Bible scholars believe Solomon wrote this book late in life, after he began to drift away from God, lured away by the pagan gods of his foreign wives.  I disagree.  I think he probably wrote it in the middle of his life, when he reached that stage when people realize they have more yesterdays than tomorrows.  I think he paused in the middle of life and took stock of his existence.  Even though a king enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, Solomon’s daily grind consisted of the same boring activities day after day – meeting with dignitaries, judging legal disputes, negotiating trade deals, or discussing tax policy with his advisors.

And what did he have to look forward to?  Death.  Like all men, kings are born, live, and die – and the earth and sky go on while the king’s fame and achievements are soon forgotten.  Out of this midlife crisis, Solomon took pen in hand and wrote the book of Ecclesiastes.

King David had warned him not to forsake his faith in the God of Israel:

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.  Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as a sanctuary.  Be strong and do the work.”  (1Chronicles 28:9-10)

But when Solomon turned to the other gods, he was living “under the sun,” and he lost God’s perspective on life.

The Law of Moses laid out God’s commandments to the kings of Israel, so that they would rule wisely and righteously.  Solomon failed to heed these commands from the book of Deuteronomy in 17:16-17:

“The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, ‘You are not to go back that way again.’  He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray.  He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

Solomon sinned in all three of these commands.  He accumulated horses and gold and many wives – AND he purchased many horses and chariots from Egypt, where he was forbidden to send his servants.  In Solomon’s final years, God allowed him to be troubled by enemies, including Hadad of Edom, Rezon of Zobah, and a rebellious official of his own government, Jeroboam.  And 1 Kings 11 records that the Lord punished Solomon by allowing all the tribes of Israel except Judah to rebel against Solomon’s son, Rehoboam.  Thus, Israel was divided into two warring kingdoms.

Take a good look at your life.  Are you living under the sun – or above it?  If you are wandering in the parched wasteland of Ecclesiastes, I have good news for you.  You can rise above your meaningless existence.  You don’t have to remain under the sun.

Those who live in a personal relationship with the Son of God not only experience joy and contentment in this life, but they know that an even richer, more rewarding future awaits them in His presence.  Those who have placed their trust in Jesus will one day have perfect knowledge, perfect memories, and perfect resurrection bodies.  You can live above the sun because you know who you are – and whose you are!  You have a meaningful life because you know your ultimate destination.

So get out from under the sun!  When you gain God’s perspective on life and have the mind of Christ, then you will truly live above the sun.

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2Timothy 1:7

FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND OF A SOUND MIND.

*IIChronicles 16:9

“For the eyes of the Lord run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is toward Him.”

IPeter 3:12,13

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?

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