1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. 1:3 What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun? 1:4 One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever. 1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth. 1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits. 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again. 1:8 All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter `it': the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 1:9 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 1:10 Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 1:11 There is no remembrance of the former `generations'; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter `generations' that are to come, among those that shall come after. 1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 1:13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 1:16 I communed with mine own hear, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 1:17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind. 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless!" Ecc 1:2 NLT
Prayer: Father, we come united together to hear from you and to enjoy your word. We ask that you prepare our hearts and remove the scales from our spiritual eyes so that we may know your way. Open our understanding and wisdom and let the eyes of our heart be open. Give us a teachable and gentle spirit as we seek to know you better. I ask Lord that you would guide me as I only try to write what you have directed. Be a cloud behind us and a pillar of fire before us as we walk through this learning, growing, and healing process. Father, many people have messaged me privetly and this is their first study and they are scared....I ask that you give them peace that surpasses all understanding, remind them that you will never leave them nor forsake them. Show them throughout their day that you are there. I ask that only the blood of Jesus be over each of us and this study. Father, we praise you for the many truths you will bring into our lives. Shine your cleansing light into our darkness. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Light. {John 14:6} We ask these things in Jesus name, Amen.
The teacher in Ecclesiastes was searching for a truth that would heal a raw open door to life's meaning. Life and its various activities are not 'meaningless' in an absolute sense. They are only meaningless when we make them the ultimate goal of our existence. In this search for truth, the teacher, King David's son, began looking for the meaning of life by looking at nature. For as we know, in the beginning the world was created by God. Potentially, looking at nature was the opening or beginning as to what the teacher could physically see. Potentially with the disasters handed to him in life, nature may have been the only stable force in his life. For he knew each day the sun came up and each day the sun set again.
As preparation only, In this process, I would suggest that one needs to go back to the root of their knowledge and understanding of the world and the events that have wronged them. Many of us lived in negative home environments, were assaulted left and right by things out of our control. Some of us have made choices that were not the best but we are all human; that is why Jesus came to forgive us when you accept Him into your life. This may be scary for some and not a welcome beginning, but hold on as this is just the beginning to the healing process. With this process and as you wish, as offenses come to your mind from the past, say a prayer over each one, and know that God is everpresent and faithful. My daughter and I pray 'popcorn' prayers as we feel a abuse coming to the surface in our life. We mentally take hold of it and as we pray we throw it up to God. Try whatever means you would like, but keep it light. In this exploration, ask God to show you the truth of His existence. Go back to nature as the writer of Ecclesiastes did and begin to see and start with baby-steps in the enjoyment of nature and the truth that God is here for you. Look at the trees as the newness of Spring buds into them. Sit outside and relish the rays of the warmth from the sun. This may be extremely terrifying to some of us. Many of us have been handed lemons in life. I too personally know what life is about walking through the valley of death. As it seems God brings me up a step in the storm that rage, then I am handed another tornado. Only with God in my life am I able to stand strong in the midst of these storms. {Please read my testimony..linked on my homepage if needed...or under the blog title..Soggy Tacos...for a deeper look at what has been handed to me} God has been faithful, loving, kind, everpresent, and a rock in my life...he is here for the same with you. Take the hand of God through this time and do not be afraid....
1:7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.
Simply knowing each day the sun will rise and fall also may be the only stable thing in your life. Count on that even if you have nothing else to count on. God is always on his throne. God is faithful.
Jesus came that we may be whole and complete...by His stripes we are healed.
Prayer: Father, we come to you and ask that you hold us as we begin to walk in a healing process. You said you will never leave us nor forsake us, show me that as I go through this study. You appointed this healing in my life for this time and I will begin to embrace it, bring your truth into my life. Teach me to make you the center of my life even when I can not escape the grind of the natural world. Help me to walk in victory. I know that nothing in this world can satisfy the God shaped whole in my life...but You. Thank you for your faithfulness and meaning in life. Thank you for restoring my meaning and joy. In Jesus name. Amen.
C.S. Lewis had a similar epiphany. "The world that comes after is the true reality," he said, "This world is nothing but the shadow lands." What great wisdom Jesus hands to us. He reminds us that it is pointless to work to gain or keep anything in this life. The only things that matter-- the only real treasure--are things that are eternal. Invest in the lives--the very souls-- of others. There is no other way to joy; and no surer way. You have a sensitivity to the heartbeat of crisis. Good post.
Cheryl, this is a great out look to hold onto, You have given what God asked you to give and it has truly helped me on this day. Thank you so much for your words of inspiration.
Thank you Cheryl. This is an interesting study. I have been looking for a more scriptual way of studying GOD through nature. You have given me a great starting point.
Very good, Cheryl, it is so true that God is the only constant in our life. When everything falls apart around us all we have to hold fast to are His promises. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that, 1. He will not give me a load too heavy to bear, and 2. He is always by my side. Thank you for this study.
As usual, your thoughts have provoked thoughts of my own and reminded me of a couple of verses that correspond with your lesson here today. They are found in Romans Chapter 1, Verses 19 & 20, which say:
They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Looking forward to day 2
On the second day of Ecclesiastes, Cheryl said to me.....
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
This is a good word Cheryl. I think we all, at one point or another, have asked ourselves what's the point. The "daily grind" gets old, and we do have a tendency to grow weary. However, when we look at nature, I see how faithful God is. I know that the sun will rise tomorrow. He is faithful. I know that the wind will blow again, and the rivers are running. Just like I know the Promises of God, and He is Faithful to perform this. But I look toward that Glorious Day when I can join My Father for all eternity. I apologize this is so long. You've got me dreaming. :) Look forward to tomorrows!
There are times when the sun rising is all it seems a person can depend on. But striving to move on and push through and depend on God turns it around and we are thankful for that sun rising on a day given to us wnen we are past that obstacle. When we are able to say "thank you Lord for being there during those seemingly dark days of sunrises into these Bright and Beautiful ones."
Thanks Cheryl, I very much enjoyed the first chapter, read and listened to it ...takes time to sink in. I know from my past when i didn't trust Him with my life I was so unhappy.I didn't know how to pray and even though I am not strong in prayer today, like you said little popcorn prayers are fine, my heart is true!!! I know He was always with me today as I am with Him, and so very grateful for that! Today I accept what God gives me and I am very happy with my life! look forwards to chapter 2
God bless ♥
so glad I popped on tonight or I would have missed lesson one HAHAHaa Old age y aknow
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