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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for November 2018
December 1, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:9 – All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
Thought: Solomon saw so many things during his lifetime. It would have been a blessing to sit at his feet for a day to glean from his wisdom. Here, he notes that a rule can rule in such a way that he produces his own hurt. We are reminded to Pharaoh in the days of Moses. He was a man full of pride. Rather than heeding God’s warnings he continually hardened his heart. Ten plagues devastated his kingdom. Eventually, he lost his army in the Dead Sea. He brought the destruction of his own nation.
Exodus 15:3-4
December 2, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:10 – And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
Thought: Rulers die. Both good and bad rulers die. Solomon had seen wicked kings buried. They departed from their “holy place,” that is, their holy position on earth. Once these evil men were buried, they were forgotten. Their subjects were glad to forget them. Their lives were vanity. Their rule was vanity. Their chance to be great, to make a difference, to have a lasting legacy was wasted. Vanity!
II Kings 9:34-35
December 3, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:11 – Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Thought: We often hear that punishment is not a deterrent to crime. The Bible does not affirm such a doctrine. When there is no sentence against an evil work, “the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” If evil individuals are not punished quickly, they continue their evil ways. A lack of punishment also causes others to think they can get away with similar crimes. Quick and just punishment will cause some criminals to think before they act. In fact, they will not act.
I Corinthians 5:1-6
December 4, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:12 – Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.
Thought: There are times when those who fear God can be fooled into thinking wrong things. We can look at the sinners of the world and be fooled. They do evil over and over again. However, they continue to live long lives. Sometimes the life of the righteous ends too quickly. The righteous wonder: “Why?” They may be fooled into thinking that being a sinner is more profitable. Solomon assures his readers that this is not the case. “I know that is shall be well with them that fear God.”
Psalm 115:12-13
December 5, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:13 – But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are a shadow, because he feareth not before God.
Thought: The average age to which any human being lives is very short. Our lives come and go like a shadow. At times, it may appear the wicked live longer, but they do not live any longer than the average man. The wicked are not blessed because they do not fear God. One day their lives will pass from the earth. At that time, they must be ready to stand before their Creator.
Psalm 144:4
December 6, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:14 – There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happened according to the work of the wicked; again there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
Thought: Life does not always appear to have rhyme and reason. Sometimes it appears like the righteous are treated like a wicked man should be treated. At other times, it appears like the wicked are treated as if they are righteous individuals. Solomon saw this during his experiment with life. He refers to this as vanity. What must be remembered is that there is coming a day of equity. God will right all the wrongs. The righteous will be rewarded. The wicked will receive their rewards as well.
Romans 2:6-11
December 7, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:15 – Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
Thought: Solomon goes back to a thought he has expressed before in the book. Man works. Man works hard. One of the benefits of his labor is the fact that he gets to enjoy the fruits thereof. To eat, drink, and be merry brings him joy. He can stop, relax, and experience the rewards of his hours and days of toil. Notice that he refers to this as something that God gives to man. In others words, God expects man to find some personal benefits to his labor.
Ecclesiastes 2:24
December 8, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:16 – When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:).
Thought: Many men and women put in long hours of work. They work in all kind of fields. They are constantly trying to fathom the depths of knowledge found in this world. Literally, they hardly sleep either day or night. They want to know more. They want to accomplish more. They want to discover more. Perhaps you are one of these people. This world intrigues you. You realized how much man does not know. The more you know, the more you know you do not know.
Ecclesiastes 7:25
December 9, 2018
Ecclesiastes 8:17 – Then I behold all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Thought: The depth of knowledge and understanding of the Universe that has yet to be mined by man is incomprehensible. The more we learn, the more we find out that we do not know. Man deceives himself into thinking that he ultimately find out everything there is to know. Not so! “Though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.” God’s wisdom brought this world into being. Man will never fathom the depths of the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God.
Psalm 40:5
December 10, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:1 – For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
Thought: Man often fails to understand how much of his care is in the hands of God. This is especially true of the righteous. “The righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God.” Man sometimes attempts to discern God’s providence in his life. He looks back upon the good and the bad in attempt to see God at work. However, the past is not an indicator of the future. “No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him.” Note: Hatred is the word man uses when he sees affliction in his life. However, when he is blessed, he calls it love. Both can come from God’s hand.
II Samuel 15:25-26
December 11, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:2 – All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
Thought: There are all kinds of men upon the earth. They can be described in an assortment of ways. In this verse, Solomon contrasts five different groups of people: 1) righteous vs wicked, 2) clean vs unclean, 3) he who sacrifices vs he who does not sacrifice, 4) good vs sinner, and 5) he that sweareth vs he that feareth an oath. Basically, however, they fall into one of two camps, godly and ungodly. Regardless of how a man is described while he lives, one event is going to come to him. He might delay it, but he cannot keep it from happening.
Isaiah 3:10-11
December 12, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:3 – There is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Thought: One event in the life of all men that was impressed upon the mind of Solomon as he carried out his experiment with life was death. This is the way of all men. Methuselah, the oldest man who ever lived, eventually died. All men know this event is coming, however, they do not seriously contemplated it enough. They sin. They are involved in evil. There is madness in their heart. They seem not to understand that death is coming.
Proverbs 14:32
December 13, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:4 – For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Thought: The fact that we are living should cause us to live wisely. Right now we have hope. Right now we have the ability to develop our character, to love others, to serve others, and to please our heavenly Father. We can know the truth. We can repent of sins. We can worship and praise our God. Yes, we are alive. Keep in mind: “A living dog is better than a dead lion.” Dear reader, make something of your life while you are alive.
Isaiah 38:18
December 14, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:5 – For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Thought: One of the blessings of being alive is knowing that one day you will die. While we are living we can plan for death. We do not have to step out into eternity unprepared. The dead do not have this ability. Their destiny is sealed. Sadly, over time, their memory fades in the minds of the living. If you are reading this, you are alive. Count your blessings. Prepare yourself. Be ready for your death.
Job 30:23
December 15, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:6 – Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished: neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.
Thought: Upon one’s death, there is a transition of the spirit from the realm of the living to the unseen realm of the dead. At that moment, everything changes. The individual is in a different place. Even their emotions change. The love, hatred, and envy they experienced here are not valid there. Why? The things that brought forth these emotions have been left behind. Upon one’s death, he will never have “any more portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.” There is no coming back.
Job 3:17-20
December 16, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:7 – Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
Thought: There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying life as long as it is enjoyed correctly. God ordained work. He knew man would prosper in his labors at times. He does not forbid the laborer from enjoying the fruit of his labor. Thus, we are to eat our bread with joy and drink our wine with a merry heart. My friend, be thankful for God’s blessings, then enjoy.
I Timothy 6:17
December 17, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:8 – Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Thought: The two actions mentioned here are expressions of joy and gaiety. The person is dressed in white as opposed to black. His hair and face are well groomed and shine. This is life as it should be. This is life as God desired it for man. His life is filled with the rewards of his labors and happiness permeates his abode. If this is your lot in life at this time, bow, be thankful, and, again, enjoy.
Psalm 45:8
December 18, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:9 – Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Thought: Solomon has looked at how men live their lives. From one perspective, life in vanity. However, man can still find some joy in life. He can enjoy the fruit of his labors. He can also live joyfully with his wife whom he loves. Marriage is supposed to bless the lives of the man and woman who have been joined in holy matrimony. Some feel this cannot be done. But, if marriage is lived according to Biblical principles it can be filled with blessings and joy for both husband and wife.
Proverbs 5:18-19
December 19, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.
Thought: The day of death is coming to all. When that day comes, the individual who leaves this life will never participate in this world again. With this thought in mind, Solomon encourages his readers to live life to the fullest. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Give everything your best. Learn all there is to know. Develop your skills to the fullest. Participate to the max. Live life with no regrets. Give it your all.
Romans 12:11
December 20, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:11 – I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Thought: Sometimes the positive results of life seem to be left to time and chance. The slow win the race. The battle is won by the weaker army. The wise are not always the prosperous. Riches come to those who are not that smart. And, honor is given to those who have no skills. As we look upon these results, we are confused. We run hard, train to be strong, and seek wisdom and understanding. We invest ourselves to have many skills. Yet, things are not always positive for us. This is not always the case. Most of the time diligence pays off, but time and chance change things from time to time.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
December 21, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:12 – For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes are taken in an evil net, and as the birds are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Thought: No human being knows the day when he will depart this earth. Fish are suddenly taken by the net without warning. Birds are caught in the snare without warning. In like manner, men are also taken without warning. We can be here one minute and gone the next. Tragedy can come suddenly upon any man. This is a fact of life that many have experienced. Others have been witnesses to it. The only hope at such times involves spiritual preparation. Remember: “Man also knoweth not his time.”
Luke 12:20
December 22, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:13 – This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me.
Thought: Solomon really spent some time looking at, investigating, and researching the events of life. As he looked at them, he would evaluate them. His evaluation of the thing to follow was that “it seemed great unto me.” Could it be great in significance? Could it be of great joy? Could it be of great injustice? The inspired writer does not say. He will let us read for ourselves and allow each of us to do our own assessment. It may seem great to us in another sense. Just keep reading.
Deuteronomy 4:32-33
December 23, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:14 – There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
Thought: From time to time in our lives, evil will come against us. Sometimes it comes against us personally. At other times, it attacks our community, city, or nation. We must remember that the enemy is very strong. Too, the enemy is not our friend. The enemy will do all it can to destroy. The enemy is smart. The enemy possesses many skills. Please never underestimate your enemy.
I Peter 5:8
December 24, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:15 – Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Thought: In the previous verse, it was said that a great king besieged this city. His intent was to overthrow the city. He would have killed or enslaved her citizens. Fortunately, a wise man delivered them from their enemy. However, he was just “a poor wise man.” Many of us might be described with these words. His efforts were monumental, but he was never honored. How would you have felt if it were you? Why do we allow class to determine one’s worthiness? Even the poor can be great.
Esther 6:2-3
December 25, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:16 – Then said, I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
Thought: What part of the country are you from? Where did you go to school? Who were your parents? These are good questions by which to get to know someone. They are not good questions to ask in an effort to evaluate a person’s wisdom. Wisdom resides in many places, even among the obscure, the insignificant, the poor, and the uneducated. Sadly, the wisdom of some is rejected because of who they are and where they come from. Those who reject their wisdom, however, are the losers.
John 1:45-46
December 26, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:17 – The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Thought: One would think that a person who is “in charge” would be very wise. One would assume that the words that he publically proclaims to his followers come from knowledge and understanding. This is not always the case. Rulers have their talking points and agendas.. Little wisdom comes from their lips. True wisdom is found in quiet places. One or two words in quiet are worth more than ten thousand words of one that ruleth among fools.
I Samuel 25:23-34
December 27, 2018
Ecclesiastes 9:18 – Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Thought: We fail to understand the importance of wisdom. Solomon says that wisdom is better than weapons of war. The use of wisdom will allow us to conquer our enemies without firing a shot. Sometimes it will enable us to make friends of our enemies. The wise man also asserts another fact. “One sinner destroyeth much good.” Not many. Not even two. Just one sinner can destroy what is good, and, possibly, what has taken years to build.
Joshua 7:11-12
December 28, 2018
Ecclesiastes 10:1 – Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
Thought: An apothecary was one who produced and sold perfumes. They had a remarkable fragrance unless a few flies were allowed to get into the mixture. Just a few dead flies would cause the perfume to stink. The same is true of a person’s reputation and character. He can manifest many good qualities for many years. Then, a single action can cause his life to stink. All of his wisdom and honor from the past is tarnished. Be careful about unwise decisions and unguarded moments.
Matthew 26:73-75
December 29, 2018
Ecclesiastes 10:2 – A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Thought: There are many thoughts as to the meaning of Solomon’s words. Some see the right hand as being good and the left as being evil. Thus, the wise man seeks what is right. The fool engages in what is wrong. Another thought is that the right hand is usually strong and diligent. The left hand is weaker and lazier. Still another sees the right as being disciplined, sacrificial and responsible. The left, on the other hand, is reckless, irresponsible, and absorbed with self. The point is that there major differences between the heart of a wise man and the heart of a fool.
Proverbs 14:8
December 30, 2018
Ecclesiastes 10:3 – Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Thought: The fool must eventually operate in the public arena. When he does, his wisdom fails. He shows his lack of understanding. He shows his inconsistencies. He proves that his solutions do not work. He exposes his selfish, carnal desires. His behavior is what speaks loudly to others. “He saith to every one that he is a fool.” He should just wear a t-shirt that says: “You dealing with a fool.”
Proverbs 13:16
December 31, 2018
Ecclesiastes 10:4 – If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Thought: The Bible often gives simple, practical advice for daily living. Here is an incident of such advice. All of us serve as inferiors from time to time. We have someone over us to whom we are to submit. How are we to handle ourselves when he rises in anger and rages against us? Solomon tells us. Maintain your post of duty. Do not quit fulfilling your responsibilities. Keep calm. Stay posed. Do not lose your cool. “…for yielding pacifieth great offences.” Your calm reaction will cause the “ruler” to calm down.
II Kings 5:11-14
Read devotionals for January 2019