Author Archives: elizabeth

Intro To Ecclesiastes Pt.2

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“The phrase “under the sun” is used twenty-nine times in Ecclesiastes. It is frequently paired with hebel. Many commentators take the phrase to be an expression of life without God. The reality is that “under the sun” is just life. It is life for everybody” – Brian Borgman

 

The most crucial aspect to understanding Ecclesiastes and how it connects with our life is to properly grasp the word which our translations translate “vanity,” “futility,” or “meaningless.”………. The Hebrew word translated “vanity” is hebel. It is used 38 times in this book, which is about half of all Old Testament uses. But when we consider that Solomon says twice, “Hebel of hebels. Hebel of hebels. Everything is hebel,” then we have a keyword and a key theme that helps us understand this book…..

We now understand that everything is hebel of hebels, but what does it mean?…….. One of the first things to observe is that Abel’s name is the Hebrew word hebel, depicting the brevity of his life. The word is used in many contexts and, according to the way words work, may have a variety of implications. The basic sense of hebel is breath, mist, fog, or vapor……

Based on the above understanding of hebel, it becomes apparent that Ecclesiastes should read: “Breath of breaths. Breath of breaths. Everything is breath.” Or, “Vapor of vapors. Vapor of vapors. Everything is vapor.” Or as David Gibson suggests, “The merest of breaths … the merest of breaths. Everything is a breath.”

Hebel Is for Everybody –  Hebel is a constant in everyone’s life. The life of the sinner and the life of the saint are both marked by hebel. Nobody escapes it. It is a reality for those who love God and those who hate Him. There is no escaping it. Life is short and elusive, for everyone. ……The point of the book is not how to get around hebel, but how to cope with it and thrive within it.

Hebel Is from God –  Hebel is not only a constant for everyone, but also the constant condition of this present life because of God’s judgment. Hebel is part of the curse. It is the graffiti written all over a fallen world. Therefore, God is the one who is in control of hebel.

Hebel and Life Under the Sun – The phrase “under the sun” is used twenty-nine times in Ecclesiastes. It is frequently paired with hebel. Many commentators take the phrase to be an expression of life without God. The reality is that “under the sun” is just life. It is life for everybody. Every mere mortal lives “under the sun.” It is the perspective, as one writer put it, of our death row cell existence.

Hebel and Chasing After the Wind – The phrase “striving after the wind” is used seven times, and six of those are paired with hebel. Chasing the wind, or shepherding the wind, is trying to do something impossible. It is trying to control the uncontrollable……..For those who think they have their future wrapped up with a neat bow, for those who have done everything right and made all the proper preparations for a life of joy, know this: the wind can shift. No one can shepherd the wind. Making plans is wise, but in a life that is a breath on a cold morning, you never know what awaits you at the next turn. This short life is unpredictable and uncontrollable.

Ecclesiastes stands out in our Bibles as an unusual gift. It is a book of inspired wisdom that sounds different from other books. It deals with the exceptions and mysteries of life. Ecclesiastes helps us break through the make-believe, pretend views of life, which are designed to anesthetize us. If we live anesthetized, fabricated lives, we will be unprepared when it is time to die. Ecclesiastes shouts, “Life is a gift, it is really short, you will die, and you need my wisdom to live it joyfully.” Ecclesiastes is an unexpected source of joy that warns us and equips us to not waste our breath before it ends in death. – Brian Borgman

Everyone gives mental assent to the fact that we will die oneday, but because the society has been designed to distract us from facing the reality of death, so many do not live as those ready to stand before God and give an account for their lives. Ecclesiastes challenges us to put first things, first. – Elizabeth

Soli Deo Gloria

 

 

Recommended Resources: 

“Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches us to Live in Light of the End”

By David Gibson

“Don’t Waste Your Breath: Ecclesiastes and the Joy of a Fleeting Life”

By Brian Borgman

Intro to Ecclesiastes

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Ecclesiastes wrestles with the brevity of life, not its meaninglessness…..
It’s a book in the Bible that gets under the radar of our thinking and acts like an incendiary device to explode our make-believe games and jolt us into realizing that everything is not as clean and tidy as the “let’s-pretend” world suggests…..

 

The Bible’s Problem Child Ecclesiastes has been called “the black sheep of the Bible.” It has been called the “problem child of Scripture.” Iain Provan has commented, “Ecclesiastes has a long history of perturbation behind it.” And yet for all its bad press, the book has always captured my attention. When I was in college I took an elective on wisdom literature, trying to better understand Scripture’s “problem child.” When I was in seminary, I took another class that covered Ecclesiastes. Although I was able to grow some in my understanding of the Bible’s “black sheep,” I could not unravel the mystery. I collected articles, books, and commentaries. I read, I asked questions, read more, and still the message of this book eluded me. The mystery of the book is wrapped up in so many of the apparent pessimistic and even contrary statements to what is in the rest of the Bible.

This book was like a jigsaw puzzle to me. Some expositors held up various pieces and claimed to know what the picture on the box was supposed to look like. But those claims always sounded off or incomplete. Was I chasing the wind? In the back of my mind, I wanted to preach Ecclesiastes, but I knew I was not ready. I had not found the corner pieces of the puzzle. I had not discovered the edges. It is a fool’s errand to try to put a puzzle together without the corners and edges. I knew I needed to see the forest if I was ever going to understand the trees. My “hebel moment” gave me the impetus to put the puzzle together. I was driven………

My journey in Ecclesiastes has led me to believe that this is a wonderful, even positive book that shows us that life is a gift from God which is to be enjoyed for His glory. Hebel is not meaninglessness, it is vapor, breath, or mist (as I will demonstrate). Ecclesiastes wrestles with the brevity of life, not its meaninglessness……-Brian Borgman

The book of Ecclesiastes is one of God’s gifts to help us live in the real world. It’s a book in the Bible that gets under the radar of our thinking and acts like an incendiary device to explode our make-believe games and jolt us into realizing that everything is not as clean and tidy as the “let’s-pretend” world suggests…….- David Gibson

 

Recommended Resources: 

“Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches us to Live in Light of the End”

By David Gibson

 

“Don’t Waste Your Breath: Ecclesiastes and the Joy of a Fleeting Life”

By Brian Borgman

 

Soli Deo Gloria

Faith, Love and Hope

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remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 1:3

 

After Paul was beaten and driven out of Thessalonica by jealous Jews (Acts 17), his heart yearned for the new church he had left behind, he was concerned for their spiritual well being, wondering if the persecutions they had suffered had caused them to abandon their new found faith. So, he sent Timothy, his faithful companion and son in the gospel to go find out how they were doing. To Paul’s joy and to the glory of God, Timothy brought back news of a vibrant church whose faith in Christ had not been shaken by the trials and persecutions, but  instead, had grown stronger. Paul was thankful and overjoyed. In light of the good news from Timothy, he wrote his first letter (1 Thessalonians) to this persecuted but thriving church, praising them for the steadfastness, recounting the selfless service he had observed in their lives before he was abruptly taken from them.

What Paul remembered most about these new believers was their work of faith, labor of love and their steadfast hope in Jesus. Each of these Christian graces are not self focused, neither are they self serving but are directed outward. Faith is directed towards God, Love towards others and Hope towards the future return of our Lord Jesus.  These are Christian graces that should mark all those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. They point to the fact that we are no longer living for ourselves, but for the one who called us and saved us.

Genuine faith in God always lead to good works. James tells us that faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26). A genuine faith in God, produces a genuine love for people, a genuine love for people causes us to labor for them, both of which produces a genuine hope in the return of Christ. Living with the hope of Christ’s return (with eternity in view) causes us to remain patient and steadfast in the face of persecution and injustice.

True and genuine Christianity is marked by a life of faith towards God, our labor of love for people and steadfast hope in the return of our savior, Jesus Christ.  As John Stott puts it, “Faith works, love labors and hope endures”.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Reason, Explain, Prove.

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Reason is not the foundation of faith, but it is the instrument of faith. – Kevin DeYoung

 

After he was released from the Philippian jail, Paul and his companions, headed to Thessalonica. As someone who took every opportunity to preach the gospel, Paul did not waste anytime. He found a Jewish synagogue and as was his custom, went in once a week (on the sabbath day) for three weeks where he reasoned with those present out of the scriptures, explaining and proving why the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was necessary for our salvation. (Acts 17:1-3).

Notice that Paul did not go to argue, neither did he try to present the gospel by manipulating their emotions. Instead, he appealed to their minds by reasoning out of the scriptures, explaining from the scriptures and proving from the scriptures the necessity of the work of Jesus.  This does not mean that the gospel is all intellectual. The road to the heart is through the mind. It is impossible to love or submit or trust someone you do not know. That is why it was important for Paul’s hearers to know and see the plan of God for salvation from the scriptures and be convinced of it. While we are saved by grace through faith, we cannot put our faith in what we do not know.

Someone said to me some time ago, the Bible is a spiritual book, not a textbook, bringing reason into studying it is the same as reading the Bible like a text book.  While It is true that we need the Holy Spirit to open our minds to understand and obey the Bible, that does not mean however, that we do not need to engage our minds when we study the Bible. The Bible is not irrational, understanding it’s meaning requires us to engage our minds as well as our hearts. Kevin DeYoung puts it this way in his book “Daily Doctrine” – Reason is not the foundation of faith, but it is the instrument of faith. For two years, Paul reasoned daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). He reasoned with Felix and Drusilla (Acts 24:24). And he pleaded with Festus, “I am speaking true and rational words” (Acts 26:25). The truth of the Bible may be beyond reason’s comprehension, but it is never nonsensical and irrational.

Something else we see from Paul’s reasoning, explaining and proving the finished work of Christ from the scriptures is that we need words in order to share the gospel. Most of us have the heard the saying that goes like this “preach the gospel, if necessary, use words”. I believe the person who coined this phrase was probably calling Christians to not just talk the talk, but to also walk the walk which is a good thing. But in order to believe and receive the gospel, one must know exactly what it is. Words are necessary to convey the message of the gospel. What is the gospel? Paul summarizes the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 as follows:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

The gospel message is that Christ died for sinners, He was buried, and He rose from the dead in order to save and justify those who would put their faith in Him. This is a message that cannot be communicated through behavior, but through spoken words. This message of the gospel is effectively communicated as we reason, explain and prove from the scriptures, the finished work of Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria

God The Source of All Good

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Subdue in me the love of sin, Let me know the need of renovation as well as
of forgiveness,   in order to serve and enjoy thee for ever.

 

O LORD GOD, WHO INHABITEST ETERNITY,

The heavens declare thy glory,
The earth thy riches,
The universe is thy temple;
Thy presence fills immensity,
Yet thou hast of thy pleasure created life,
and communicated happiness;
Thou hast made me what I am, and given me
what I have;
In thee I live and move and have my being;
Thy providence has set the bounds of my habitation,
and wisely administers all my affairs.

I thank thee for thy riches to me in Jesus,
for the unclouded revelation of him in thy Word,
where I behold his Person, character, grace, glory,
humiliation, sufferings, death, and resurrection;
Give me to feel a need of his continual saviourhood,
and cry with Job, ‘I am vile’,
with Peter, ‘I perish’,
with the publican, ‘Be merciful to me, a sinner’.
Subdue in me the love of sin,
Let me know the need of renovation as well as
of forgiveness,
in order to serve and enjoy thee for ever.

I come to thee in the all-prevailing name of Jesus,
with nothing of my own to plead,
no works, no worthiness, no promises.
I am often straying,
often knowingly opposing thy authority,
often abusing thy goodness;
Much of my guilt arises from my religious privileges,
my low estimation of them,
my failure to use them to my advantage,
But I am not careless of thy favour or regardless of
thy glory;
Impress me deeply with a sense of thine
omnipresence, that thou art about my path,
my ways, my lying down, my end.

 

From the Valley of Vision

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Fear Not little flock….

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Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. – Luke 12:32

 

Believers are a “little flock.” They always have been, ever since the world began. Professing servants of God have sometimes been very many. Baptized people at the present day are a great company. But true Christians are very few. It is foolish to be surprised at this. It is vain to expect it will be otherwise until the Lord comes again. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14.)

Are we members of Christ’s little flock? Then surely, we ought not to be afraid. There are given to us exceeding great and precious promises. (2 Pet. 1:4.) God is ours, and Christ is ours. Greater are those that are for us than all that are against us. The world, the flesh, and the devil, are mighty enemies. But with Christ on our side we have no cause to fear.

True Christians should never be greatly moved by the persecution of man. Their enemies may be strong, and they may be weak; but still they ought not to be afraid. They should remember that “the triumphing of the wicked is but short.”

What has become of the Pharaohs and Neros and Diocletians, who at one time fiercely persecuted the people of God? Where is the enmity of Charles the Ninth of France, and Bloody Mary of England? They did their utmost to cast the truth down to the ground. But the truth rose again from the earth, and still lives; and they are dead, and mouldering in the grave.

Let not the heart of any believer fail. Death is a mighty leveler and can take any mountain out of the way of Christ’s church. “The Lord lives” forever. His enemies are only men. The truth shall always prevail.

 JC Ryle

 

 

 

 

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Benefit of Affliction

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There are no lessons so useful as those learned in the school of affliction

 

Affliction is one of God’s medicines. By it He often teaches lessons which would be learned in no other way. By it He often draws souls away from sin and the world, which would otherwise have perished everlastingly. Health is a great blessing, but sanctified disease is greater.

 Prosperity and worldly comfort are what all naturally desire; but losses and crosses are far better for us, if they lead us to Christ. Thousands at the last day, will testify with David, and the nobleman before us, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” (Psalm. 119:71.)

Let us beware of murmuring in the time of trouble. Let us settle it firmly in our minds, that there is a meaning, a needs-be, and a message from God, in every sorrow that falls upon us. There are no lessons so useful as those learned in the school of affliction.

There is no commentary that opens up the Bible so much as sickness and sorrow. “No chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous — nevertheless afterward it yields peaceable fruit.” (Heb. 12:11.) The resurrection morning will prove, that many of the losses of God’s people were in reality eternal gains.

-JC Ryle

Soli Deo Gloria!

Faithful & Solemn Admonitions to a Religious Professor

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I stand in doubt of you. — Gal. 4:20.

 

 How solemn, if after all your profession you have yet to take the very first step in the divine life! Examine yourself by the revealed Word of God and see how matters stand between Him and your own soul.

This is a mighty concern, and one not to be trifled with. It is not a mere profession that will stand at a dying hour; you must have something essentially more. God has to do with the HEART. “I, the Lord, search the heart. “If you have never yet felt yourself a lost sinner, then you have not sought Christ with your whole heart. “Ye shall find Me when ye seek Me with your whole heart.” Trifle not with yourself, trifle not with an endless eternity, for God will not be trifled with.

The world is still in your heart, and after your idol you will go. What will it profit you if you gain the whole world and at last lose your own soul? A little space is yet allowed you; let me entreat you to make the best use of it to gain an interest in Christ. Why will ye die? Look fully at Christ; see what He suffered for sinners. Look at the wonderful goodness of God in giving His well-beloved Son that sinners might be saved from the wrath to come.

O flee to Christ just as you are. Lose not a moment in settling this great concern. Keep your eye upon the finished work of Jesus and aim to get a close acquaintance with Him. The more you know of the desperate wickedness of your own heart, the more you will love Christ, and see how suitable He is in every way to meet your lost condition. The more you hate yourself, the more you will love Jesus. Keep far from trifling religious professors and be much in secret prayer.

 

– Mary Winslow

 

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Holy Admonitions

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You have begun your career heavenward; run, and look not back, but keep your eye upon Jesus, and so run that you may at last attain the crown of glory laid up for you in heaven, which Jesus will give you in the last day.

 

Beloved in the Lord, how is it with your soul?
Are you traveling onward?
And what part of the heavenly road are you in now?

Never forget that Jesus is with you; and although, through the mists of this poor world, which the enemy may draw around you, you may lose the sensible presence of your best and constant Friend, yet when the mists obscure your sight, call upon Him at once, and rest not until your language is,“I cried unto God with my voice, and He gave ear to me”.

Precious sister in Jesus, I bless God on your account. He has done great things for you, whereof my heart rejoices. Hold fast your confidence. Suffer not the enemy or his emissaries to beguile you of your rich reward. He has many agents, but ask the Lord that you may know; and strengthen you to overcome them in His name. You are like one who has conquered a mighty foe, but have too hastily gone into the midst of the enemy’s camp again; and you re beset on the right and on the left. Look afresh to Him who once helped you to conquer, and you will find him a present help in time of need.

You have begun your career heavenward; run, and look not back, but keep your eye upon Jesus, and so run that you may at last attain the crown of glory laid up for you in heaven, which Jesus will give you in the last day.

Read much in the Psalms. You will always find a word there to meet your case and present necessity.

– Mary Winslow

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

Follow Him

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The LORD is my shepherd – Psalm 23:1

 

We are such forgetful creatures; too often forgetting what we are, and what a God He is.

How poor and unsatisfying are all things here below; even the best and the loveliest! Oh, to walk more intimately with Him, to live above the world, and hold the creature with a looser hand, taking God’s Word as our guiding light; our unfailing spring of comfort.

God is my Shepherd, and all my concerns are in His hands. Blessed, forever blessed, be His dear and holy name, who has looked with everlasting mercy on such a poor, vile sinner as me; and encouraged me with such sweet manifestations of His love, to trust my soul and all my interests in His hands!

The world and its ‘nothings’ are often a sad snare to God’s saints. Oh that by faith we may overcome it all, and keep close to Jesus! We are not of the world. Let us try and not attend to its gewgaws! Keep a more steadfast, unwavering eye upon Christ. He has gone a little before us, and stands beckoning us to follow. Live for eternity! Let go your hold upon the world!

Let us aim in all things to follow Him who, despising this world’s show, left us an example how we should walk. Have your lamp trimmed and brightly burning, for every day and every hour brings us nearer and nearer to our home!

Dearest Jesus! help Your pilgrims to live more like pilgrims, above a poor dying world, and more in full view of the glory that awaits them when they shall see You face to face!

-Mary Winslow

 

 

 

 

 

Soli Deo Gloria!