Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The Understanding of Man and the Frustrations of Man

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:8-11
All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.  Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new "? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still.

Insights:   The first two verses today deal with man’s inability to truly learn from life experiences.  In other words, the pattern of man’s life is just as cyclical as the natural world around him.  For example, man built roads thousands of years ago and then man got better at making roads, but they are still roads.  Now our roads are made of concrete or asphalt, but they are still roads.  It is for this reason Solomon states there is nothing new under the sun.  Man’s search and quest for more leaves him empty because he does not truly grasp wisdom and understanding as he travels this world.  The last two verses reveal Solomon’s frustration with this pattern.  Understand that at this point Solomon is an old man and he has literally tried to fill the gap of his heart with everything and it has left him empty and wanting.  It is because of this reality that we can say these first eleven verses of chapter one point to the conclusions of a desperate man.  Solomon is desperate for an answer to his frustrations.  By the grace of the Lord, Solomon is given an answer by the Lord and starting tomorrow we will begin to look at the answer Solomon discovered which transforms his frustrations into gladness.

Questions:
  1. Do you actually learn from the life lessons through which you traverse?
  2. Or are you full of frustration because of the desperateness of your situation?

Prayer: Father, grant me wisdom and help me to learn so I do not experience the frustrations of life.  Let me grow in Your grace.  Amen.

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