Hear the Conclusion!

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to  every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; NASBU)

The One Shepherd of Ecclesiastes

"The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd" (Ecclesiastes 12:11; NKJV)

Ecclesiastes portrays the emptiness and perplexity of life without a relationship with the true and living God.

Each person has eternity in his heart (3:11), and only Christ can provide ultimate satisfaction, joy, and wisdom.

Man’s highest good is found in the “one Shepherd” (12:11) who offers abundant life (John 10:9-10).

Read Ecclesiastes and see Jesus, the One Shepherd!

Life Under the Sun

Set Your Mind on Things Above

A choice…

We choose to direct our minds in a certain direction…

We choose to think about the will of Heaven while we are on the Earth.

Perspective

1.A way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their relative importance

2.The proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it; objectivity: try to get some perspective on your troubles (World English Dictionary) http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perspective

Two Perspectives 

1.His – Isaiah 40:22

2.Ours - Ecclesiastes (29x)

Hidden in My Heart

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17; NKJV)

Song of Solomon

1.  Song of Solomon is a bold and positive endorsement by God of love in courtship and marriage, in all its physical and emotional beauty

Sex, created by God and pronounced good in Eden, is to be between a husband and a wife within the context of their God approved marriage as a holy means of celebrating love, experiencing pleasure, and producing children, protected by the commitment of marriage

2.  Love can be pure and chaste, steadfast and loyal, able to withstand the lures of riches and pomp and not be willing to sell itself to the highest bidder, able to see the beauty of true love from a humble person

3.  Natural appetites are not to be hated or feared or treated as base or low, but are to be kept within boundaries (1:2; 4:7, 12; 5:2; 6:9; 8:2

4.  Young people, marry someone you love (2:7; 3:5; 8:4

5.  Do not marry a man or a woman because you he or she has persuaded you that he or she “needs you” (6:8-9

6.  Young people, do not manipulate someone into marrying you (6:8-9

Sex is God’s gift to marriage and is to be enjoyed as a blessing from above (Genesis 2; Hebrews 13:

A husband and wife need not feel any guilt or shame as they engage in sex (

God approves of romantic love so long as it is grounded in commitment (

The beauty of a  person’s character will endure long after their physical beauty has passed away (1:2-3 her passion is based on his character

God longs for sex to be motivated by love and commitment, not lust (2:16; 6:3; 7:10

Young people, be a “wall” (8:8-10, 14)

Find someone like the shepherd boyfriend/the shulammite, tie your heart to that person and entwine your life to theirs in marriage, knowing this is a decision that God approves and sanctions (    

We must avoid the extremes of lust and asceticism as we learn to see sexuality as God sees it

Conclusion:  Read Song of Solomon remember that you are loved by God, and commit yourself to seeing courtship, marriage and the sexual relationship from His point of view!

Proverbs 31

And Jehovah God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18; ASV).

Men and women were made to be complementary parts of a remarkable whole.  Our ultimate nature and destiny are the same, and much we are to be in life is identical, but our roles here are different.  This difference has nothing to do with value or status, but with the way God in His great wisdom ordered the human family.

There is nothing so priceless and so beautiful as a woman of spiritual grace and loveliness:  “Who can find a virtuous wife?  For her worth is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10; NKJV).  The man achieves what he does from a position of leadership, the woman from a position of submission.  This submission arises from the very nature of creation, the woman created for the man and not man for the woman (see 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9).  There is nothing degrading about God’s order!  The wife follows to serve her husband and the husband leads to serve his wife.  Both serve each other in order to serve the Lord Jesus:  “…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21; ESV).  Everything is for the sake of others.

The secret of the worthy woman is revealed by in the “words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him” (Proverbs 31:1; NASBU).  The worthy woman “fears the LORD” (Proverbs 31:30; NASBU).  That is why the “heart of her husband trusts in her” (Proverbs 31:11; NASBU).  That is why she does her husband “good and no evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12; NASBU).  The foundation of her love for him is not his handsome good looks or his charming personality, but her deep love for Christ before whom she has committed here faithful love to her husband.

“Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:  ‘Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all” (Proverbs 31:28-29; NASBU).  Let all of us rise up and give glory to God for the Godly women that have blessed us along the way.  Follow the lead of these good women as they have followed the lead of the Chief Shepherd. 

Jason

         

Old Age and Gray Hair

"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness." (Proverbs 16:31; NKJV)


"The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head." (Proverbs 20:29; NKJV)

Wisdom to Handle Money

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Proverbs 11:4)

“Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.” (Proverbs 15:16)

“A good name is to be chosen rather than riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have this in common, the LORD is the maker of them all.” (Proverbs 22:1-2)

“Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” (Proverbs 23:4-5)

“For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” (Proverbs 27:24)

“He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.” (Proverbs 15:27)

"Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.” (Proverbs 16:8)

“Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.” (Proverbs 21:6)

“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in in his ways, though he be rich.” (Proverbs 28:6)

“He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 28:19-20)

“Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9)

Remove Not the Ancient Landmarks

“Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.” (Proverbs 22:28; NKJV)

Landmarks
“Some remove landmarks…” (Job 24:2)
“You shall not…” (Deuteronomy 19:14)
“Cursed is the one…” (Deuteronomy 27:17)
“Do not remove…” (Proverbs 22:28)
“Do not remove…” (Proverbs 23:10)
“I will pour out my wrath on them like water.” (Hosea 5:10)

Landmark – a boundary, a border
Physical Landmarks
Real Estate – boundaries of an individual’s property.
Stop Signs – bring order to our traffic system – if removed confusion results.

Spiritual Landmarks
Serve to help one distinguish between right/wrong – if removed confusion results.

Physical – lose land, life
The equivalent to stealing...
Spiritual – lose soul…

Physical – lose land, life
The equivalent to stealing…

Spiritual – lose soul…
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’” (Malachi 3:8; NKJV)

A Soft Answer

"A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1; NKJV)

1.  Speak softly and turn away wrath.

2.  Speak harshly and stir up anger.

3.  Choose wisely and edify someone.

Hidden in My Heart

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17; NKJV)

Pride and Envy

Pride & Envy:  The Demonic Duo 

Solomon warns that pride is an abomination to Jehovah God (Proverbs 6:16-17) and that it portends destruction (Proverbs 16:18). 

Paul calls envy a work of the flesh that will keep one from inheriting the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). 

These two attitudes work together in tandem.

The proud person would be nothing without someone to pay homage to his superiority by being envious of him. 

We underrate ourselves by failing to understand that our real worth does not come from how we are doing in the competition, but in the fact that GOD has made us in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27) and sent His own Son to the cross to save us (Hebrews 2:9).  We are worth something because GOD loves us!  And the wonderful thing about it is that our own sense of value does not diminish that of others.  No one loses.  Every one wins!

Are you Sure that You Want God to Love You?

Love your children!

Our heavenly Father disciplines us because He loves us.
–Hebrews 12:3-11
–Proverbs 3:11-12

I demonstrate my love for my children through discipline.

The Fear of Jehovah

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).

–“that is wisdom” (Job 28:28)

–“a good understanding” (Psalm 111:10)

–“blessed is the man who fears” (Psalm 112:1)

–“the conclusion of the whole matter” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

–“sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17)

Wisdom Calls Aloud!

Wisdom calls aloud!

20.Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.

21.She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:

22.“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.”

Proverbs 1:20-22; NKJV

Who are these people?

1.The Simple
–Believe anything, examine nothing.
–Gullible, easily led astray.
–Blank look on their face.

2.The Scoffers
–Think they know everything.
–Laugh and sneer.

3.The Fools
–Not low IQ or poor education.
–Choose to be ignorant.

What does wisdom say?

How long?

What if I don’t pick up?

1.Wisdom will laugh and mock in my time of need (1:26-27).

2.Wisdom will not answer, will not be found in my time of need (1:28).

3.I will reap what I sow (1:31).

The Extent of Solomon's Glory

 "So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom" (1 Kings 10:23; NKJV).

As glorious as Solomon's kingdom was, Jesus puts it all into perspective in the Sermon on the Mount.

 Matthew 6:25-34; KJV

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?


26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?


27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?


28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:


29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.


30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?


31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?


32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.


33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Shekhinah

"Shekhinah" is a Hebrew word that does not appear in the Old Testament.  Yet, the idea is all over it.  "Shekhinah" has to do with the visible manifestation of the presence of Jehovah.

When the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple "the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD" (1 Kings 8:11; NKJV see also 2 Chronicles 5:13-14).


When Solomon finished dedicating the Temple the Shekhinah filled it:  "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Jehovah filled the house.  And the priests could not enter into the house of Jehovah, because the glory of Jehovah filled Jehovah's house.  And all the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of Jehovah was upon the house; and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and gave thanks unto Jehovah, (saying), For he is good; for his lovingkindness (endureth) for ever" (2 Chronicles 7:1-3; ASV).

See the Shekhinah of GOD and fall before Him in worship!

Hidden in My Heart

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17; NKJV)

The Speech that Pleased Jehovah

4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 


5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" 


6 And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 


7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 


8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 


9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 


10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. (1 Kings 3:4-10; NKJV)

Would you like for your speech to please Jehovah?  Ask for wisdom.  "Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7; NKJV).

From David to Solomon

Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.  And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying,'If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,' He said,'you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' (1 Kings 2:1-4; NKJV)

David understood the promise Jehovah made him in 2 Samuel 7:12-16.  He urged his son Solomon to be faithful to Jehovah, because He understood that if Solomon were unfaithful, Jehovah would remove him from the throne.  So long as Solomon was faithful, Jehovah made him prosper.

Keep the charges of Jehovah.  Walk in Jehovah's way.  Prosper in all that you do.

Psalm 110

This Psalm advances the idea of the Davidic King by teaching that the offices of King and Priest will be united in one who will be superior to David.

David’s superior is invited to serve at Jehovah’s co-regent in verses 1-3.

Verses 4-7 add a new dimension to the role of the King – He will also serve as Priest, that is, He will make atonement for sin.

The King of the tribe of Judah will be a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (4; 2 Samuel 7:16; 1 CHRON 17:14)

n

Psalm 2

Psalm 2:1-2 & Acts 4:25-28

Anointed – Jesus

Herod – Representative of the Kings of the Earth

Pilate – Representative of the Rulers

Romans – Representative of the Nations/Heathen/Gentiles

Jews – Representative of the People

Psalm 130

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope." (Psalm 130:5; NKJV)

The Bible is full of two-part stories.

1.The account of God’s spoken promise.
2.The fulfillment of that promise.

The problem is that between the first part and the second part, there is usually a gap – a length of time endured by those who received the verbal promise before it actually came to pass.

Wait on Jehovah for "He shall redeem Israel" (Psalm 130:8; NKJV).

Psalm 42

This is how Jehovah would have us talk to Him.

But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:15; NKJV).


"When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.  For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast" (Psalm 42:4; NJKV)


"Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:8; NKJV).

"Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the LORD.  Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street" (Lamentations 2:19; NKJV).

Pour out your heart before Him.

Hidden in My Heart

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17; NKJV)

Psalm 139

Psalm 139 praises "The Omni God."

1.  The Omnisicence of Jehovah (1-6)

2.  The Omnipresence of Jehovah (7-12)

3.  The Omnipotence of Jehovah (13-16)

He knows.  He is present.  He is powerful.

Psalm 136

checed OT:2617, "loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion." This word is used 240 times in the Old Testament, and is especially frequent in the Psalter. The term is one of the most important in the vocabulary of Old Testament theology and ethics.

The Septuagint nearly always renders checed with eleos  ("mercy"), and that usage is reflected in the New Testament. Modern translations, in contrast, generally prefer renditions close to the word "grace." KJV usually has "mercy," although "loving-kindness" (following Coverdale), "favor," and other translations also occur. RSV generally prefers "steadfast love." NIV often offers simply "love."

In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: "strength," "steadfastness," and "love." Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. "Love" by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet "strength" or "steadfastness" suggests only the fulfillment of a legal or other obligation.

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

" All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17; NKJV)

Psalm 119

"Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, who walk in the law of Jehovah." (Psalm 119:1; ASV)


1.  Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the Bible.

2.  Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible.

3.  With its 176 verses, Psalm 119 has more verses than 13 OT Books and 16 NT Books.

4.  Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm of 22 stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

5.  Psalm 119 literally praises Jehovah from A - Z!

Read Psalm 119 and praise Jehovah.  Learn His way.  Walk in it and be blessed.

Psalm 103

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19; NASBU)

Sovereignty – supreme authority or rule, royal power, dominion.

The extent of GOD’S exercised sovereignty is the issue.  What kind of Sovereignty does GOD exercise?  Does GOD micromanage everything?  Did GOD decide before the foundation of the world not to control every last detail that happens?  GOD, in His sovereignty, chose to create mankind with free will – the personal freedom and responsibility to choose between good and evil.

 
7 Truths About GOD’S Sovereignty

1.GOD is ultimately in control.
2.Even though GOD is in control, not everything in this life, however, turns out exactly the way He wants.
3.Divine sovereignty works in conjunction with human freedom.
4.Sometimes GOD uses the actions of free creatures to bring the greater good even when there is no apparent connection on the human level.
5.We must confess that there is a whole lot we just don’t know about the will of GOD.
6.GOD calls us to trust Him and commit ourselves to Him anyway, because eternally everything is going to be alright.
7.GOD longs to share with you His glory, but He will not do so without your consent.

“Come to Me…” (Matthew 11:28)

Psalm 93

“The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.” (Psalm 93:1; NASBU)

The GOD we worship and adore is majestic.  There are many synonyms for majesty:  Beauty, comeliness, excellency, glory, glorious, goodly, grandeur, honor, magnificence, ornament, splendor.  Majesty has to do with having an imposing form and appearance and carries with it overtones of superior power and position.  When used of GOD it evokes a sense of amazement in the mind of the one beholding Him.  Simply stated, GOD’S majesty is his “greatness” (Vine).  GOD would have us see His majesty, respond to His majesty, and magnify him in our lives.

 See His Majesty.  Moses requested to see GOD’S greatness:  “Please, show me Your glory”  (Exodus 33:17 – 34:7; NKJV).  What Moses saw at Mount Sinai we are to see by faith!  See GOD’S greatness through the eyes of faith!  Gaze at His glory, majesty, and dominion.  Grow in the grace of seeing Him:  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” (Ephesians 1:18; NASBU).  Each of us needs our own Mount Sinai experience.  Wisdom unsearchable.  Purity unspotted.  Years unending.  Strength undaunted.  Love immeasurable.  Glimpses of the majesty of GOD!

Respond to His Majesty.  “So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped” (Exodus 34:8; NKJV).  The proper response to GOD’S greatness is worship!  To worship is to prostrate oneself (literally or figuratively) in reverence to the great I AM.  The externals (reading, prayer, singing, the Lord’s supper, giving, and preaching) are important, but our hearts must be engaged in order for GOD to be glorified!  In worship, GOD longs for you to turn to Him “with all your heart.    So rend your heart, and not your garments…” (Joel 2:12-13; NKJV).

Magnify Him in My Life.  To magnify is to make great, to enlarge (Vine).  GOD is great; but is He great in your life?  Have you made these words your own:   “…in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20; NKJV)?  Magnifying GOD in every aspect of your life glorifies GOD!

The GOD we worship and adore is worthy of our praise because His is majestic!  See His majesty.  Respond to His majesty.  Magnify Him in your life.  He is worthy.  “…to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.” (Jude 25; NASBU)