This is a favorite verse of Jesus. He quoted it back to the devil when tempted to turn the stones to bread. Jesus told his disciples that he had food they didn’t know about. He told them “My food is to do the Father’s will.” (John 4). Now that’s a spiritual diet!
I’m glad God gives us new beginnings. In Christ, we can wad up last year and start with a new page, a clean, blank sheet to write on. Will join myself and others in the WCC One Year Bible Readers commitment for 2010? What a great way to “begin” a new year… with God and His Word.
Just FB me if you want to commit. We’ve got a special group on FB that you can join. You’ll see my regular posts there, along with other member’s. It’s a good daily discipline to add to your reading:
1. Ask God to speak to you.
2. Read the OYB selection while listening for His Voice.
3. Quote the verse He underlines for you on a post to the WCC OYB site
4. Make a short comment about it.
You’ll be surprised at how God will speak when you ask!
“My name is in the book of Life, Oh, bless the name of Jesus; I rise above all doubt and strife, And read my title clear. I know, I know, My name is there; I know, I know, My name is written there.”
“Yahweh” (LORD, “I am that I am,” Jehovah, God). “YHWH” (As in the Hebrew Bible. The Tetragrammaton. The Name without the vowels. The Name that cannot be spoken). “The Day of the LORD” was a repetitive phrase in the OT prophets describing the coming of the Messiah and the Day of God’s judgment.
felt about the idolatry of Israel (Samaria) and Judah (Jerusalem).
After the death of King Solomon, Israel became a divided kingdom. The Northern kingdom called Israel moved its capital to Samaria. They were later conquered by the Assyrians. The Southern kingdom called Judah continued some years after the fall of Israel. The Babylonians conquered Judah whose capital city was Jerusalem.
Ezekiel’s prophecy came true.
How to read Scripture. Reflect & ask the Lord.
A man (or woman) of God is marked by what they retreat from as much as what they pursue. What are you chasing?
A welcome prophecy for an upside down culture. Instead of Hollywood stars and famous athletes, what if we celebrated faithful fathers and mothers? What if we made pastors and teachers our heroes? What if we lifted up those who really act wisely?
Our reading of Ecclesiates ended today. It took Solomon a long, circuitous journey to exhaust his study of life “under the sun.” I’m glad that Jesus is rescuing/has rescued me from this. I’m focusing/focused on life beyond the sun. I’m a spiritual astronaut temporarily stuck in an earth suit.
So, we begin reading Ecclesiates today. Written by King Solomon, the book’s Hebrew title is “Qoheleth” (the preacher or teacher or speaker)
The Greek translation (the Septuagint) translated the title as “ekklesiastes” (which might be translated “the one calling out”). In the New Testament, the word came to be the name for the church (ekklesia – the called out ones). The Preacher is calling out to his hearers explaining that everything “under the sun” is “vanity” (or “meaningless” as in the NIV). The key to understanding Ecclesiates seems to be in this repetitive phrase “under the sun.” Unless there is more to life than what we experience “under the sun,” then life is meaningless. But what if there is life “beyond the sun?”