Ecclesiastes 7:10 MSG “Don’t always be asking, “Where are the good old days?” Wise folks don’t ask questions like that.” ️ LET’S TALK Do you know most of the things we see today in the nations of the world are harvests of the decisions that were made in years gone by? And for the Christian, the end is indubitably superior than the beginning. Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 4:7-12. — Ecclesiastes 4:12 Sam loves to play video games with his friends. 7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Part 3 of the Ecclesiastes devotional series explores Ecclesiastes 7:14: “In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other. While in the desert, the Israelites notoriously looked back upon former days as better than their situation in the desert. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Israel was told to “Hear”. / Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, / For anger rests in the bosom of fools.” January 7th, 2018 by Pastor Ed in devotional. May God touch you as you avail yourself to Him. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Copyright © 2021 First Baptist Church, Amsterdam NY. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning.] Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29. The Worth of a Good Name Devotional. Your death date tells more than your birth date. Author J. V. Fesko hopes to awaken the Church to the majesty, beauty, and splendor of Psalms through a devotional exploration of Psalms 1–8, a “grand Christ hymn,” in which David, as the suffering king, prefigures the King of kings, Jesus Christ. Don’t Take Anything for Granted. Thus, all that remains pleasant are former days—even days of slavery! Ecclesiastes Devotional Guide: Week 7 *Every week during our 12 week series in the book of Ecclesiastes we will post a devotional guide that week for the passage that was preached on the most recent Sunday. Cultivating a patient spirit by focusing on the promises of God in His Word and the work of the Spirit of the Lord will lessen frustration and reduce the anger that is the mark of the foolish heart. Many people who have a good reputation do not deserve it, for they live as impenitent hypocrites. More importantly, however, the Preacher posits this verse of wisdom for multiple reasons. Are you enjoying prosperity at the moment? 1700 28th Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508. 8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. No right judgment can be made of anything unless we can see the end of it. Good is intermixed with bad. Save 75%. 9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart 2 of fools. View Resource, Although the many entertainment options we have today are not inherently bad, they might get in the way of sustained, biblical reflection on the things of God if we are not careful. View Resource, Impatience can lead to frustration, which can lead to anger. Indeed, much in life is a striving after wind (1:2), and much grief accompanies much wisdom (1:18), and Solomon knew this all-too well. To draw near to listen is better than to p offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Ecclesiastes 7:8–9: “The end of a thing is better than its beginning, / The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. The vain, meaninglessness of life without God, and the vital importance of having the Lord in our lives, is summed up at the end of the book of Ecclesiastes: we are to fear God, and keep His … Second, taking the book as a whole, the Preacher has put the reader in mind that the future will repeat the past in some form, and nothing “new” genuinely exists in terms of wise living (1:4-7, 9). Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”  For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this (NASB). If wisdom is truly valuable in itself, and obtaining wisdom is better than not having done so, then yearning for days of yore, especially those days in which one did not possess this wisdom—such yearning literally cannot be from wisdom. We all want our lives to make a difference. B) 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning. The vain, meaninglessness of life without God, and the vital importance of having the Lord in our lives, is summed up at the end of the book of Ecclesiastes: we are to fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 3475 Mainway PO Box 5070, STN LCD 1 Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8. We need to be patient and slow to anger. Today’s passage shows that the doctrine of total depravity can be arrived at simply by observing the world and its people. 2 You learn more at a funeral … By its very qualifier, a good inheritance is good, but that goodness was intertwined with bad. says the Teacher. 8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.… So, every time you have the stage, make sense on time because the stage is not yours forever; there are others on queue warming up to make sense. 7 Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Many people who have a good reputation do not deserve it, for they live as impenitent hypocrites. Yet restive minds look upon present tedium with disdain, and future unknowns with angst and fear. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that … 7 A good reputation is better than a fat bank account. 3 Frustration is better than laughter,( E) It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Tweet. We can therefore appeal to an individual’s innate knowledge of his own imperfection when we are sharing the gospel. 8. Maybe you’re the first in the office early and the last to leave, giving everything to the company you hope to one day lead. The Next 500 Years: 2017 National Conference, Naming Ligonier the Beneficiary of a Bank or Investment Account, Gifts That Provide Income and Tax Benefits. Ecclesiastes: A 20-Day Devotional. (Psalm 119: 105). Clearly, we can find no person who has never sinned. But, there is wickedness that leads to an early death. because God will bring all matters to judgment, both good and bad (12:13-14). We hope that these next 20 days would be life changing for you. Our remaining sin means that we will never fully live up to the good opinions others may have of us, but that does not mean we cannot have a good reputation that we do, in fact, deserve. What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? May we seek the Lord’s face in our suffering, trusting in the promises of God that we might endure in patience and love. Ecclesiastes 7:1. The very thought of a good inheritance should immediately bring this to mind. "Utterly meaningless! In the succeeding verses, we learn that wisdom is akin to a good inheritance (verses 11-14). Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes Devotional Commentary ... Ecclesiastes 7:9. To encourage readers to come to a greate... $7.99. Daybreak: Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14) Hurting itself should not make us glad, but we should rejoice in suffering, for we know that God uses it to perfect us. 7 A good name is better than fine perfume,( A) and the day of death better than the day of birth.(. Lent Devotional: Ecclesiastes 7. Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this (NASB) . Obtaining wisdom is a similar process. This is a vital task, for unrighteous anger is the root of many other sins. Devotional: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29. But it will not arrive without much grief. The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. Christ’s glorious return will accompany much death and eternal condemnation of the lost. James 4:7 Psalm 23:1 Romans 8:28 Matthew 6:34 Hebrews 11:1 Philippians 4:13 1 Corinthians 13:4 Bible Topics Verses on Love Verses on Faith Verses on Trust Verses on Lying Verses on Mercy Verses on Anger Verses on Prayer Verses on Strength Today's Devotional Inspirational Images Christian Artists. Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. It was good for Solomon and for Israel when he ascended to the throne; but that particular good had been birthed through the bad, namely the death of King David. Let us then forsake the question of verse 10, for we know very well as Christians that it is truly not from wisdom that we ask. And we should be quick to confess ours as well. That is why we must take time on a regular basis to meditate on Scripture and what it tells us about the Lord and His ways. 5 n Guard your steps when you go to o the house of God. Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit Every ending signals a beginning, and a new beginning brings a former matter to a close. how does attain an inheritance? He vividly remembers a time at the end of the school year when a group of them teamed up to complete an especially difficult level. By highlighting the good times and overlooking the bad times, human beings incline themselves to romanticize the past. The Value of Wisdom … 6 For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. Seeds Of Destiny MAKE SENSE ON TIME 07 January 2021 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE Seeds of destiny & other daily devotional here Beloved, opportunity is universal, but success is not universal. But too often we rush through life like a hamster on its wheel — exhausting maximum effort on something that doesn’t matter. May we find ways to spend this time of meditation on God and His gospel of salvation, always being careful to use His Word as our guide. 10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” Meaningless!" After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on … Finally, taking the Bible as a whole, it is not from wisdom that one longingly desires former days. Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Helpful thoughts: In this passage, the Preacher reiterates the great commandment, “ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. The temptation for every human being is to fondly reminisce about former times, forgetting about their hardships in the process. Ecclesiastes 9:12 Man Does Not Know His Time (white) Ecclesiastes 4:12 A Cord Of Three Strands Is Not Quickly Torn Apart (blue) Ecclesiastes 3:1 To Everything There Is A Season (brown) View Resource, In his novel Redburn, Herman Melville writes, “Not till we know, that one grief outweighs ten thousand joys, will we become what Christianity is striving to make us.” Though Scripture is clear that suffering in itself is painful, it is also plain that the Lord has a good purpose in our pain, using it for our good and His glory (Rom. Even if they could not anticipate the good that awaited them in the promised land itself, their situation in the desert, though monotonous, was far superior to their lives as slaves in Egypt. 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, This too is futile. 1. Daily Devotional. Moreover, may we extend the same grace to those who apologize for what they have said about us that we would want them to extend to us for our sinful speech. For how could God judge otherwise when the good so intertwines with the bad that bad often births good and vice versa? Ver. Fear God. Solomon tells the reader to “Listen” Typically, someone close must die for the benefactor to receive his inheritance. Fear God and keep His commandments—this commandment applies to everyone (not just the righteous!) There is a kind of practical attempt to make sense of the world, but it is the attempt of the worldly person. Thus, the end of all matters is better than their beginnings (7:8), and the end of Ecclesiastes is better than its beginning for it settles the matters put forward throughout the book. What good could be wrought by King Solomon to romanticize his pre-reigning past? Let us strive to develop a heart for God and a love for righteousness that will give us good reputations, not for the sake of the reputations themselves but for the sake of pleasing our Creator. Fix that problem! Are you facing hardship? View Resource, The mission, passion and purpose of Ligonier Ministries is to proclaim the holiness of God Wicked people may live longer under the sun than a righteous person. "Meaningless! As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 NLT. - Ecclesiastes 7:7 In 2000, the FBI began its investigation of investigation of Louisiana Congressman William J. Jefferson. The proverbs in Ecclesiastes 7:7–22 are harder to categorize. Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit. Artist Directory Christian Concert Alerts Top Videos Donate Now. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. In doing so, both tendencies forsake the intermix of good and bad. Ecclesiastes 7 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things —28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. But the good news about this end is that the completion of Christ’s inheritance will simultaneously see the decoupling of the good and the bad. Our remaining sin means that we will never fully live up to the good opinions others may have of us, but that does not mean we cannot have a good reputation that we do, in fact, deserve. Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it. in all its fullness to as many people as possible. Enduring Word Bible Commentary Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 Ecclesiastes 7 – Trying to Find a Better Way A. The temptation for every human being is to fondly reminisce about former times, forgetting about their hardships in the process. We should also keep in mind our own tendency to speak ill words against others so that we will refrain from gossip. 24 That which is far off is deep, exceedingly deep; who can find it out? I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. View Resource, Harsh words spoken against us are hard to bear, but as we have seen in Ecclesiastes 7:21–22, we have to develop discernment regarding when to take these words seriously and when we should ignore them. 1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. Already installed on over 455 million unique devices all over the world, the Bible App offers a free Bible experience for smartphones, tablets, and online at Bible.com. View Resource, As we grow in faith, we should find ourselves increasingly aware that our hard days are from the Lord no less than our good ones, and we should be thanking Him for bringing trials into our lives through which He works to conform us to the image of His Son. Helpful thoughts: You can be overly righteous (pious) and pursue wisdom to a fault. Welcome to DAY 8 of the 131 Project. Daily Devotional In Christ Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:8‬ “The end of a thing is better than it’s beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Our generous partners make it possible for us to offer 2,062 Bible versions in 1,372 languages for free, and without advertising. Home > Pastor's Blog > Lent Devotional: Ecclesiastes 7. What is the conclusion of Ecclesiastes? Though one obtains something good, what was the process whereby one obtained it, i.e. 23 All this I have tested by wisdom. Know that God is working for your good, and He will use your difficulty to advance His kingdom. Ecclesiastes 7:9. June 18, 2020. 25 I turned my heart to know and to seek out and to search wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. How could wisdom yearn for its own pre-existence? Any simple mind should have perceived this. So that man will not discover anything that will be after him." Looking at life through better and worse. Everything is meaningless." Your gift enables our worldwide outreach. 2 1 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter … (1-4) Better in life and death. First, in the preceding verses, the lesson has been that the end of something is often better than its beginning (verses 1-3, 8). But in further taking the book as whole, with respect to 7:10, one should do so in light of the end, namely the end of the book itself. (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, 12:13) View Resource, The Old Testament Wisdom Books, including Ecclesiastes, tend to draw conclusions by observing the world around them. Ecclesiastes 7. Rejoice, then, in what the Lord has given you. Verses 8 and 9 are doubtless good counsel in the life of the believer, but in this context they have a merely pragmatic tinge. than to go to a house of feasting, for death( C) is the destiny( D) of everyone; the living should take this to heart. 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