BIBLE READING: Ecclesiastes 8

“...Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.” (Ecclesiastes 8.2)

We live in a time when it is popular to criticize authority. Especially right now, many are decrying the poor choices and corruption of those in positions of authority. We are given the freedom and liberty to do so without immediate consequences. But look at the news and you can see what human passions unleashed creates: strife, division and unrest.

I hate some of the things I see in our world. Injustice exists in places of authority (Ecclesiastes 3.16; 4.2). Men with bad character and upside down morality lead in all corners of our world. In your lifetime, you will experience leadership with which you may completely disagree.

While we cannot control how leaders will behave, we can control how we respond to them. In wisdom, we must temper our perception of power abused with an understanding that all forms of leadership have their shortcomings. No one can predict the future or operate with perfect foresight (Ecclesiastes 8.7). 

I don’t say this to dismiss or excuse ungodly behavior, but to offer perspective. Although leadership may be imperfect at times, it is necessary to have structure and government in a society. This is God’s pattern (Romans 13.1-2), and it is not only practical, but imperative to the stability of any society. “...rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad” (Romans 13.3). God’s hope is not to establish the perfect earthly government — he has already set his king on the throne (Psalm 2)!— but to create a context in which his people can fulfill their mission: to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with their God (Micah 6.8)

“... I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2.1-2)

God expects believers to pray for, and to humbly submit to the authority of earthly leaders. Our subjection to human authority despite its corruption shows our submission to God (Romans 13.1-2), and gives a greater platform for the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ.

It is evident our cultural forms of conflict resolution are not only defective but destructive. The attack on governing bodies has only deepened the divide along cultural and racial lines. God’s people need to take a stand during these times of cultural tension and model God’s patterns of respect for one another and authority. The peace we promote is not of this world. And so, let us obey God rather than man by putting our passions aside, seeking justice in our own life and character, and humbly submitting to authority for the sake of God‘s kingdom

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2.17)

BIBLE READING: Ecclesiastes 1

“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1.9)

It’s exciting to start something new. It energizes our spirit and produces hopefulness because of its potential. But the honeymoon always ends. Ecclesiastes snubs the pleasantries of feel-good philosophy and blasts us with a concentrated dose of reality. Any experience, at its very best, is temporary and futile. If you’re doing it, it’s already been done and proven to be unsatisfying. Just pack up and go home already.

Life experience teaches this brutal truth; so it makes sense to cut to the chase rather than muddle our way to this reality. We've all heard people say, “there’s nothing new under the sun” as a complaint against life’s futility. When Solomon wrote the statement, he was emphasizing the cyclic nature of human life on earth and the emptiness of living only for the “rat race.” He observed that despite human efforts, the world continues unchanged. All the activity of a man during his lifetime is lost in the grander scheme of things. Part of Solomon’s frustration from this observation is that “no one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them” (Ecclesiastes 1.11). People tend to forget the past, repeating its mistakes as a result.

The futility of life can be depressing and debilitating. But one thing we all have in common is that in desperation we see honesty. When pretense is stripped away and reality acknowledged, we have no choice but to objectively evaluate our existence. 

So, does the fact that there is nothing new under the sun mean we should give up trying? The entire book of Ecclesiastes should be read before jumping to any conclusion. In the end, Solomon writes this: “Now all has been heard... here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12.13–14).

In other words, life involves more than what happens “under the sun.” Living for God and His glory is the goal of life. Those who do not seek this goal will not only be left wanting, but will ultimately be judged by God (Romans 14.12; 2 Corinthians 5.10). Even our good deeds that have gone unnoticed in this life are seen by God and will be rewarded in the future. This knowledge should result in a life lived for God, with a deep love for others and desire to make a difference.

There may be nothing new under the sun, but Jesus promises, someday, to make all things new (Revelation 21.5). So, while we must accept the futility of life under the sun, we can live a life of purpose a meaning filled with hope beyond this life. 

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 16

“Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” (Proverbs 16.20)

I start every day with bible reading. It is a critical habit that gets my day started right. However, a couple weeks ago, someone asked me about what I read that morning and I couldn’t remember. I remember reading the words, but nothing stuck…

I suspect we’ve all found ourselves here before. We check the bible reading box for the day but we’re not sure what we just read. Which begs the question, what value does it offer if we don’t remember it?

An important discipline in spiritual development is meditating on truth and looking for ways to apply it. The language of this Proverb suggests not simply a time investment but resting our mind knowing the value it offers. Consider these other verses: 

“Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1.1-2)

“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1.23-25)

Reading God’s Word is vitally important, but without extended thought, we will forget. Notice that hearing and doing are what produce blessedness (James 1.22). 

We are conditioned to live on impulse and minimal information. The media offers sound bites and Twitter gives us 140 characters from which we are encouraged to form opinions. What results are often “firecracker reactions” that emotionally drive people to ignorant beliefs and create deep-seeded tensions. Our present cultural and political dynamic accentuates the folly of impetuous living. It never leads to positive outcomes and creates constant fear of the next moment. 

We sometimes take this shallow approach to God’s word. We minimize the depth of God’s wisdom by relegating important truths to bumper stickers and catchy blurbs on social media. However, wisdom is a process that develops with patience and grace. Much like a diamond in the rough, it takes time and effort to uncover the beauty of God’s wisdom in our life. 

There is vitality in focused thought on God’s word. It is a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119.105). It enlightens us to right choices in difficult situations. We are foolish to be satisfied with a shallow investment in God’s Word. So, don’t just read your bible… Think about it. 

“Blessed is the man who meditates day and night on God’s word. He is like a tree planted by a stream that bear fruit and thrives. In everything he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1.1-3, paraphrased)

BIBLE READING: Psalm 27

“I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27.13, CSB)

Affirmations are powerful tools. Your actions will always follow your thoughts, your beliefs and ideas. We often digress into depression, anxiety and failure because we have not reminded ourselves of what is sure. The affirmations of Psalm 27 empower us to confidently engage the enemy with courage

King David was keenly aware of his own insufficiency. Without the LORD he has no light, salvation or stronghold that will protect him with certainty. This is a pattern we often seen in the psalms: human insufficiency and injustice highlight the futility of trying to affect change. 

David understood he was incapable of affecting change with certainty. He could wield his power, but when faced with a daunting foe the outcome was bleak. Considering the power and position of king David only magnifies the humility of his plea and the sovereignty of God. 

And yet, David believes that God will act. He bookends his thoughts with confident affirmations because he trusts in the nature of God. He will see fulfillment with God. He will not live with fear and anxiety always. He believes that God’s goodness will ultimately prevail.

When faced with uncertainty, the most powerful thing we can do is affirm what we know about God. God is not bound by the limitations of time and chance. When he acts, he is always successful. God is the help and hope of the righteous and there will be justice for them against the evildoers. 

It is important to see that David’s affirmations do not exclude self-awareness or action. Instead they promote greater introspection and deeper trust. Just as he was certain of God’s nature, he purposed in his heart to pursue God’s ways (Psalm 27.11) He will seek God’s favor and his face (27.4, 8). He will praise God in his hour of trouble (27.6). 

Our minds are designed to overpower our carnal weaknesses and allow us to do more than we think possible. This is how you see sports figures overcome enormous odds to accomplish amazing feats. But we must take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10.5) and engage them with God’s word if we will overcome the unseen challenges that plague our souls.

Affirmations of God’s power will not always lead to immediate positive results, but it will train us towards endurance. Notice the Psalm ends with an encouragement to wait on the Lord (27.14). As we learn patience, we develop confidence in God’s timing that produces hope. This is what God is trying to develop in us (Hebrews 6.19; 10.36). Our strength and courage come from his stability and victory. Do you believe that God will win?

Don’t just think it… Affirm it, believe it and live it.

“The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of who shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27.1b)

BIBLE READING: Job 17

“My spirit is broken my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me.” (Job 17.1)

You won’t see this verse hanging in anybody’s house. In fact, this type of attitude seems contrary to what you might expect from someone of faith. Faith primarily hinges on hope and with that is assumed one will have optimism and a positive outlook on life. 

Job doesn’t seem to have those things. Job often appeared unstable as he vehemently defended his faith. Even his words about God become very pointed as he wrestled with His sovereignty (see Job 7.11; 10.1-3). And yet, God praises Job for his integrity and faith (Job 2.3). Which begs the question, “How can someone of exemplary faith be so negative about life?” 

Job’s story must challenge our paradigm of faith. 

I think our primary struggle to resolve Job’s attitude with his faith is that we often pretend difficult seasons shouldn’t exist. Life should always be sunshine and rainbows… but we know that’s just not true. Sometimes we hurt and must grapple with the existential question of “why?” It’s the only way we will look beyond the temporal to a bigger solution than what we can see or know. In those seasons, our deepest fears and strongest emotions of negativity often come to light. 

I’m not condoning perennial negativity, but we need to be realistic about life and allow its various seasons to shape us. Job teaches that faith doesn’t exempt us from feeling helpless. In fact, it might amplify those emotions. Trusting God sometimes feels like we don’t have a safety net, and everything is crashing down. There is a helplessness we will experience because we just don’t know God’s plans. 

People turn to God because they are looking for help and hope. Faith is our effort to engage with God to receive something better (Hebrews 11.13-16). For believers, it is God’s faithful and sure promises that propel them forward. These promises are life-changing, but we must remember that hope’s fulfillment is not found in this life. 

This is a hard reality. We will encounter situations outside of our control that drive us to our limits. We will not always be emotionally centered or mentally stable as we deal with the issues of life. But God is patient, gracious and even welcoming as we work through these emotions (see Psalm 6; Hebrews 4.15-16; 1 Peter 5.6-7). 

You may feel unstable, but God doesn’t desire for you to remain that way. Instead, faith learns to anchor itself in God. Hope is stronger when you are weaker (1 Corinthians 12.9). And so, “let us rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer” (Romans 12.12) and anchor our souls in what we can confidently know about God. 

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19.25-26)