Jul 5, 2020

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 is Solomon's 'bottom line' as he brings his book to a close.  It is the summarization of what life's central focus should be.  "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecc 12:13).

This passage is, at once, both an exhortation to...

Jun 28, 2020

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Solomon mentions death several times in Ecclesiastes, but in the final chapter of the book he focuses on death at some length. His thesis comes first, in verse 1. "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near of which you...

Jun 21, 2020

 Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

After citing some of the seeming inequities of life (Ecc 8:14) and repeating his observation that God's designs for human life are often impossible to determine (Ecc 8:17), Solomon draws some conclusions.

Though life is often painful, righteous people (i.e. people of faith) know...

Jun 14, 2020

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 7;8,9; 7:21,22; 10:12-14

We live in a day of excess in which passion and ego reign supreme.  The commonness of lawsuits is evidence enough that people are increasingly demanding of their rights and "a financial settlement will do just fine … thank you very much."

For the Christian there is...

Jun 7, 2020

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

The old saying warns, "Familiarity breeds contempt." When it comes to worshipping the Almighty, we might say, "Familiarity breeds casualness." Whereas we were once filled with zeal and delight and anticipation when it came to Sunday gatherings at our church, these same gatherings...