ECCLESIASTES 3:16-22

Ecclesiates 3:16-22 is definitely something to think on.  I am going to post all of it because I want it to sink in to your heart.  We can see our day even in Ecclesiastes.  A reminder that there is 'nothing new under the sun'.

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Solomon looked under the sun and in the 'place of judgement' there was wickedness and even in the 'place of righteousness' he saw iniquity.  Wickedness and iniquity in places that should represent justice and holiness. How disappointing! Not only disappointing for Solomon to see, but disappointing to know that this is also the case in our own day.  We must never forget that God is watching.  He sees it all and one day he will righteously judge every man's works.





How many times as a Child of God have you said in your heart about a friend, a loved one, or just people in the world, 'Lord, show them that they can see what they are doing.  Open their eyes to see the truth. Solomon did that too.  It is recorded in verse eighteen. Our heart's without God are wicked. Solomon compares the sons of men to beasts and goes on to explain that just like the beast, we all end the same, with death. So, from an 'under the sun' view man is no different than the beast of the field.  But we know from God's word that our spirit man does not end with death. 'Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labor, that to be present or absent, we may be accepted of him.' (2 Corinthians 5:6-9) 

I love how the Bible Study, Ecclesiastes Wisdom for Living Well, concludes this lesson.  "Little girls dream of prince charming whisking them away, on a white horse, to live happily ever after. Dreams do come true!"  We read about it in Revelation 19:

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.



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