LHC Midday Word

Monday, 30 August 2021

The Book of Ecclesiastes - Chapter Twelve

Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

and the years approach when you will say,

‘I find no pleasure in them’–

before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim;

when the doors to the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint;

when people are afraid of heights

and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags itself along

and desire no longer is stirred.

Then people go to their eternal home

and mourners go about the streets.

Remember him – before the silver cord is severed,

and the golden bowl is broken;

before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

and the wheel broken at the well,

and the dust returns to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher.

‘Everything is meaningless!’

The conclusion of the matter

Not only was the Teacher wise,

but also he imparted knowledge to the people.

He pondered and searched out

and set in order many proverbs.

The Teacher searched to find just the right words,

and what he wrote was upright and true.

The words of the wise are like goads,

their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails –

given by one shepherd.

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end,

and much study wearies the body.

Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Ecclesiastes 12: “conclusion” (v.13)

What was Solomon’s “conclusion” (v.13)? Answer: everyone has a “duty” (v.13) and so is accountable.

[A] “God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing” (v.14) – he misses nothing.

[B] since that is the case, it behoves us to act as those who are answerable – “fear God and keep his commandments” (v.13).

His summing up focuses on “the whole duty of man” (v.13); so he advised “remember your Creator in the days of your youth ... before the spirit returns to God” (vv.1 & 7). Have you got a better “conclusion”?

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The Book of ECCLESIASTES

- Chapter 12 -

Read by David Suchet

-=-

The Book of ECCLESIASTES

- Overview - “The Bible Project”

https://youtu.be/lrsQ1tc-2wk

The Book of ECCLESIASTES

- Wisdom - “The Bible Project”

https://youtu.be/VeUiuSK81-0

STUDY - LINKS

The Book of ECCLESIASTES

by David Pawson

https://youtu.be/mExfn1kAxLE

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(1)Hevel (The Divine Disconnect/Ecclesiastes)

By Tim Mackie(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/a0wWB8YEDiA

(2)Gift (The Divine Disconnect/Ecclesiastes)

By Tim Mackie(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/zAbpygDZcwc

(3)The Limits of Labor (The Divine Disconnect/Ecclesiastes)

By Tim Mackie(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/-X1MxFLqnjg

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Sunday, 29 August 2021

The Book of ECCLESIASTES - Chapter Eleven

Invest in many ventures

Ship your grain across the sea;

after many days you may receive a return.

Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;

you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

If clouds are full of water,

they pour rain on the earth.

Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,

in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,

or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning,

and at evening let your hands not be idle,

for you do not know which will succeed,

whether this or that,

or whether both will do equally well.

Remember your Creator while young

Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

However many years anyone may live,

let them enjoy them all.

But let them remember the days of darkness,

for there will be many.

Everything to come is meaningless.

You who are young, be happy while you are young,

and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart

and whatever your eyes see,

but know that for all these things

God will bring you into judgment.

So then, banish anxiety from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigour are meaningless.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Ecclesiastes 11 : “banish” (v.10)

Solomon told folk to “banish anxiety” (v.10). Easier said than done, and especially from his own dark standpoint (v.8). Fatalism had taken over from faith in his outlook on life. ‘Que sera, sera (what will be, will be) is not really very cheerful. Essentially one sees oneself as a hostage to fortune, helpless in the face of what life may throw at one. Solomon’s advice was ‘shut your mind to negative thoughts’; Jesus offers a positive route, “do not worry … seek first his kingdom …” (Matthew 6 vv.31-33).

Put God in charge. He can calm your spirit!

-=-=-=-=-

The Book of ECCLESIASTES

- Chapter 11 -

- Read by David Suchet -

https://youtu.be/hPGPcl7LKV0

-=-

The Book of ECCLESIASTES

- Overview - “The Bible Project”

https://youtu.be/lrsQ1tc-2wk

The Book of ECCLESIASTES

- Wisdom - “The Bible Project”

https://youtu.be/VeUiuSK81-0

STUDY - LINKS

The Book of ECCLESIASTES

by David Pawson

https://youtu.be/mExfn1kAxLE

-=-=-=-=-

(1)Hevel (The Divine Disconnect/Ecclesiastes)

By Tim Mackie(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/a0wWB8YEDiA

(2)Gift (The Divine Disconnect/Ecclesiastes)

By Tim Mackie(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/zAbpygDZcwc

(3)The Limits of Labor (The Divine Disconnect/Ecclesiastes)

By Tim Mackie(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/-X1MxFLqnjg

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Saturday, 28 August 2021

The Book of ECCLESIASTES - Chapter Ten

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.

The heart of the wise inclines to the right,

but the heart of the fool to the left.

Even as fools walk along the road,

they lack sense

and show everyone how stupid they are.

If a ruler’s anger rises against you,

do not leave your post;

calmness can lay great offences to rest.

There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

fools are put in many high positions,

while the rich occupy the low ones.

I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;

whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;

whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

If the axe is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed,

but skill will bring success.

If a snake bites before it is charmed,

the charmer receives no fee.

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,

but fools are consumed by their own lips.

At the beginning their words are folly;

at the end they are wicked madness –

and fools multiply words.

No one knows what is coming –

who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

The toil of fools wearies them;

they do not know the way to town.

Woe to the land whose king was a servant

and whose princes feast in the morning.

Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth

and whose princes eat at a proper time –

for strength and not for drunkenness.

Through laziness, the rafters sag;

because of idle hands, the house leaks.

A feast is made for laughter,

wine makes life merry,

and money is the answer for everything.

Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird in the sky may carry your words,

and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Ecclesiastes 10 : “smell” (v.1)

The expression ‘a fly in the ointment’ come from the 1611 Bible translation of this passage; the phrase in our NIV version is “dead flies give perfume a bad smell” (v.1). It’s a simile, and means something naturally nice (“perfume”) can be spoiled by something small. Solomon’s comparison was “a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour” (v.1). Think of a small stain on your clean clothing. The whiter the shirt or blouse, the more noticeable the stain is. What’s more, faults get worse (vv.12-13). Remedy? Let Christ eject ‘flies’, perfuming your life!