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1st – Meaning in Religion … vs. 1-7
- 1st – Come to listen… vs. 1-3/7
- Empty tradition… vs. 1
- Walk prudently when you go to the house of God and draw near to hear.
- Rather than to give the sacrifice of fools – for they do not know that they do evil!
- As Solomon continues his search for PURPOSE under the SUN…
- He considers RELIGION – does coming to WORSHIP God have meaning…
- FIRST – he concludes when someone comes into the HOUSE of God [בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים]
- They should GUARD [שָׁמַר] their FEET [רַגְלְךָ] – come with RIGHT motive…
- Because if they give a SACRIFICE – but NEVER [אִין] think [יָדַע] about WHY…
- If they do NOT realize they are a SINNER [רַע] – they FOOLISHLY [כְּסִיל] missed the point…
- Which is why they should come to LISTEN [שָׁמַע] to the WORD of the LORD!
- Too many people make CHURCH part of their TRADITION…
- They show up on a Sunday [or Wednesdays] out of ROUTINE…
- They assume because they SACRIFICED their time – they have done what is REQUIRED…
- But unless they stop and THINK about WHY they are there [sinner] – CHURCH is pointless…
- Which is why CHURCH must NOT be a tradition – it is meant to be a place to LEARN…
- Because only through hearing the WORD – getting to KNOW God – can we be SAVED!
- Better perspective… vs. 2
- Do not be rash with your mouth and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
- For God is in heaven – and you on earth – therefore let your words be few!
- PLEASE [jussive] do NOT be quick to SPEAK [piel] in the HOUSE of God [church]
- And do NOT think [jussive] in our HEART [לִבְּךָ] that we have the ANSWERS [piel]
- Because God is the one in HEAVEN [בַּשָּׁמַיִם] – we are on EARTH [הָאָרֶץ]
- Therefore [כֵּן] – we should be careful [jussive] NOT to say very much!
- There are advantages to being TALL – not much blocks my view…
- I can see off into the distance and therefore make good choices about where to go!
- We have a problem – we do NOT have a good PERSPECTIVE…
- We might THINK we know the best solution to a problem – but we CANNOT see tomorrow…
- The wisdom is to come to the ONE who can see EVERYTHING…
- God who is HEAVEN – has a much better vantage point than we do on EARTH!
- Isaiah 55:9 – “As the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways – and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
- Foolish words… vs. 3
- For a dream comes through much activity – and a fools voice is known by his many words!
- [כִּי] BECAUSE – just like a DREAM comes from being too busy…
- If have a LOT on our mind – it causes us to not get good SLEEP…
- So also the FOOL [כְּסִיל] comes from speaking [רֹב] too MANY words…
- When we say MORE than we should – some of it will inevitably be WRONG!
- It has been well said that God wisely designed us with TWO ears and ONE mouth…
- Because we should be listening at least TWICE as much as we are talking…
- The problem is that often open our MOUTHS – when we should be opening our EARS!
- The LESS we say – the BETTER off we will be…
- Because we are NOT the solution – and we more than likely do NOT have the answer!
- Proverbs 17:28 – “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent.”
- Fear God… vs. 7
- For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God!
- [כִּי] BECAUSE – lots [רֹב] of DREAMS and empty [הֶבֶל] WORDS…
- Are NOT what people need – that is NOT why we come to CHURCH…
- We come to LEARN about God – [כִּי] BECAUSE we should learn to FEAR [יָרֵא] Him!
- Bottom line – CHURCH is not a place to come and share are OPINIONS…
- It is place where we come to HEAR the TRUTH – John 17:17
- Empty tradition… vs. 1
- 2nd – Keeping promises… vs. 4-6
- Do not wait… vs. 4
- When you make a vow to God do not delay to pay it!
- When a PROMISE [נֶדֶר] is made to God [אֱלֹהִים] – we need to PAY it…
- PAY [שָׁלַם] – the verb form of the Hebrew noun PEACE [שָׁלוֹם]!
- When we make a PROMISE – until we keep it – we have no PEACE!
- Do not promise… vs. 4-5
- For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed.
- Better not to vow than to vow and not pay!
- [כִּי] BECAUSE – God is NEVER [אִין] pleased when we are a FOOL [כְּסִיל]
- When we just SAY things [promises] that we do NOT intend to do…
- Therefore we MUST [imperative] pay [piel] what we have promised [נֶדֶר]
- For it is BETTER [טֽוֹב] NOT to promise [נֶדֶר] – than NOT to pay [שָׁלַם]!
- People often make FOOLISH promises to God when in TROUBLE…
- God if you get me out of this – I will read my Bible EVERY day…
- Lord if you help me – I PROMISE to go to church EVERY Sunday!
- Do not sin… vs. 6
- Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin.
- Nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.
- Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?
- PLEASE [jussive] do NOT cause [hiphil] our mouth to SIN…
- PLEASE [jussive] do NOT make excuses telling the Pastor the promise was a MISTAKE…
- MESSENGER [מַלְאָךְ] – angel – but in context it means Pastor [priest]
- WHY [לָמָּה] would we want God to be ANGRY [imperfect] with us…
- AND [וְ] – take away everything that we have worked for!
- We must be careful and KEEP our WORD – be true to our PROMISES…
- Because too often we speak – then we stop to think about what we said…
- It is easy to say the WORDS – but the KEY is to follow up with ACTIONS…
- If we are not sure if we can keep our PROMISE – better to say NOTHING!
- Matthew 5:37 – “Let your Yes be Yes – and your No be No. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one!”
- Do not wait… vs. 4
- 2nd – Meaning in politics… vs. 8-20
- 1st – Corruption… vs. 8-9
- Do not marvel… vs. 8
- If you see the oppression of the poor – and the violent perversion of justice.
- And righteousness in a province – do not marvel at the matter!
- [אִם] – IF – we see [imperfect] the OPPRESSION [take advantage] of the poor…
- And THIEVES [גֵּזֶל] rather than righteous [צֶדֶק] JUSTICE in our PROVINCE…
- PLEASE [jussive] do NOT be surprised!
- Out of 180 nation in the world – the Philippines ranks 115 in corruption…
- That does NOT surprise us – we KNOW there is corruption…
- I knew a salesman who sold EQUIPMENT to the local government…
- Anything that had a serial number – had to be legitimate [trackable]
- But consumable supplies [paper] was NOT – so LARGE orders would be placed…
- But NOTHING was delivered – the cash would be divided up among those in charge!
- Top down… vs. 8-9
- For high official watches over high official – and higher officials are over them.
- Moreover the profit of the land is for all – even the king is served from the field!
- [כִּי] BECAUSE – the corruption comes from the TOP down!
- Why does the BARANGAY captain require a PERCENTAGE of every project…
- The answer is because the MAYOR also gets his cut…
- The reason why is because the CONGRESSMAN is also in on it…
- But it does NOT stop there – it goes all the way up to the PRESIDENT [king]
- There is NO perfect government – because they are run by PEOPLE [sinners]
- Which is why we should NEVER put our FAITH in politics!
- Do not marvel… vs. 8
- 2nd – Loving money… vs. 10-12
- Never satisfied… vs. 10
- He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver.
- Nor he who loves abundance with increase. This also is vanity!
- The person who LOVES [אָהַב] money – will NOT be satisfied no matter how much they have…
- And whoever LOVES to have LOTS of things – will NEVER have enough!
- Therefore since MONEY can never make us CONTENT…
- And no matter how much we have – we will always want MORE – this is VANITY!
- More mouths… vs. 11
- When goods increase – they increase who eat them.
- So what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes?
- Solomon had LOT of money – and a LOT of things…
- But what he noticed is that only meant he fed a LOT of people…
- Therefore what was the POINT – all he got to do was SEE others take it!
- EVERY day Solomon would cook 6500 kilos of RICE [130 sacks]
- As well as THIRTY cows and one HUNDRED sheep – I Kings 4:22-23
- It might sound nice to have MAIDS and GARDENERS…
- But what it really means is that we have MORE people to take care of!
- No sleep… vs. 12
- The sleep of a laboring man is sweet whether he eats little or much.
- But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep!
- Someone who works HARD – will always SLEEP well…
- It does NOT matter if [אִם] he has eaten a LOT or a LITTLE…
- BUT [וְ] – the RICH man will NEVER [אִין] have a good night rest…
- He will be kept up all NIGHT as he worries about his wealth!
- Solomon makes a solid point – why are we consumed with the idea of being RICH…
- Since MONEY just means that we will have MORE people to take care of…
- And WEALTH just means that we will have MORE things to worry about [no sleep]
- Better to work hard – but be CONTENT with what we have!
- Never satisfied… vs. 10
- 3rd – Empty handed…. vs. 13-17
- Bad investment… vs. 13-14
- There is a severe evil I have seen under the sun. Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
- Those riches perish through misfortune. When he begets a son there is nothing in his hand!
- Solomon had seen another EVIL [רַע] under the sun…
- When a man [בַּעַל] put his FAITH [holds] in RICHES – to his own harm [רַע]
- BUT [וְ] – then loses his MONEY in a BAD [רַע] investment…
- AND [וְ] – therefore has NOTHING to pass onto his children!
- It is FOOLISH to put our TRUST [faith] in colorful pieces of paper…
- All it takes is ONE bad investment – ONE bad doctor appointment…
- And everything we have worked so hard for – can be LOST…
- That is why we should NEVER store up our TREASURES on earth!
- Matthew 6:20 – “Store your treasures in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy and thieves do not break in and steal.”
- Naked… vs. 15
- As he came from his mothers womb – naked shall he return – to go as he came.
- And he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand!
- Just as [כַּ] we came INTO this world [birth] – we were NAKED…
- When we LEAVE [שׁוּב] – we will take NOTHING with us!
- Jesus gave a PARABLE of the RICH fool – Luke 12:16-20
- A man had such a great harvest – he did not know what to do with all his CROPS…
- He decided to build bigger and better BARNS – then he would enjoy the EASY life…
- But the Lord called him a FOOL – for that night he would DIE…
- Then what would happen with all his MONEY – what would happen to him!
- When we were BORN we had nothing – when we DIE we will leave with nothing…
- So all even if we had ALL the possessions – ALL the money in the world – it does not last…
- We can WASTE our life chasing these things – or choose to be CONTENT – Hebrews 13:5
- Because the meaning of in life is not how much we OWN – it is KNOWING Jesus!
- Luke 12:15 – “Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
- For nothing… vs. 16-17
- And this also is a severe evil. Just exactly as he came – so shall he go.
- And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
- All his days he also eats in darkness – and he has much sorrow and sickness and anger!
- ALSO [גַּם] – this is EVIL [רַע] – since we LEAVE the same way we CAME [naked]
- Then what is the BENEFIT of chasing [imperfect] after the WIND our whole lives…
- ALL [כָּל] of our days we are FRUSTRATED – SICK – and ANGRY…
- Because we are looking for ANSWERS in a world that has NONE to offer…
- Then we DIE – and take NOTHING with us – making this an EMPTY [vanity] life!
- We all have all worked hard – suffered – only to get paid a small wage…
- And the money we received did not even last very long – we had to work again!
- If that is all that life was – then truly it would be EMPTY – and EVIL…
- Because everything we do – means NOTHING – because we cannot take ANYTHING with us…
- But that is NOT the case – life is about a choice – we have to decide what we want to live for…
- Do we live for the moment and GRASP for the wind – or listen to the truth and live for God!
- Bad investment… vs. 13-14
- 4th – Simple life… vs. 18-20
- Enjoy life… vs. 18
- Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink.
- Enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun.
- All the days of his life which God gives him for it is his heritage!
- Solomon did see ONE thing that was GOOD [טֽוֹב]
- If someone can EAT and DRINK – meaning they do NOT lack what they NEED…
- AND [וְ] – they get to SEE [רָאָה] all [כָּל] their hard work do GOOD [טֽוֹב]
- It gives purpose to the SHORT [מִסְפָּר] life God [אֱלֹהִים] has given to him!
- I can remember thinking that THIRTY was OLD…
- Now I look at those who are THIRTY and think they are YOUNG!
- Life is QUICK – it passes like in the blink of an eye…
- We do NOT have much time – and therefore not much time to waste…
- Rather than chasing after the WIND – we should be looking to make a DIFFERENCE…
- So long as our NEEDS are met – we should focus on trying to do GOOD!
- James 4:13 – “What is your life… a vapor that appears for a little time then vanishes away.”
- Blessed life… vs. 19
- As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth and given him power to eat of it.
- To receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor – this is the gift of God!
- ALSO [גַּם] – any [כָּל] man [אָדָם] who focuses on doing GOOD…
- Will be blessed by God [אֱלֹהִים] – and given wealth…
- Along with the POWER [שָׁלַט] to be able to ENJOY [eat] it…
- Because they are NOT looking for they MONEY – they are focused on the Lord…
- Therefore – they will take whatever God gives to them and REJOICE…
- Knowing that everything they have received as a GIFT from God!
- If I gave TEN pesos to someone and asked them to BLESS others…
- And they went and bought themselves a snack – that was their CHOICE…
- But I would NOT give them more – because they used it selfishly!
- God does NOT lack for resources – He has MORE than enough to go around…
- Yet He is looking to BLESS those who want to do GOOD…
- Not that we EARN it – ALL that we have is a GIFT from God – I Corinthians 4:7
- And those who understand that – REJOICE in using those GIFTS to do GOOD to others!
- Full life… vs. 20
- For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life.
- Because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart!
- [כִּי] BECAUSE – that person is BLESSED by God…
- That man will NOT think much [hiphil] about his SHORT life…
- [כִּי] BECAUSE – God [אֱלֹהִים] has filled [hiphil] his heart with JOY!
- The most MISERABLE person – is someone who lives ONLY for themselves…
- A FULL and BLESSED life comes from doing good to others…
- It will FILL our hearts with JOY – as we get to be used by God!
- Acts 20:35 – “‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
- Enjoy life… vs. 18
- 1st – Corruption… vs. 8-9
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