Second Bible Read Thread

[Multifavs]

Some really great points there, SK.

The futility of selfish pleasures, indeed. I do know of this, sadly, ever since I came to this city I now live in. But I determined, at least, not to compound the error by blaming or judging someone other than myself. And I think that, if I am understanding Solomon's intent here correctly, I actually laid hold of the selfishness all the while knowing better in my heart - or thinking that I knew better - just to see what was good for me to do or pursue in life and what was not, much like I am assuming Solomon meant to say that he did in wine. If the selfish pleasure was indeed selfish, perhaps, and would only work to my detriment instead of benefit. To prove it to myself and my personal satisfaction that it was folly to spend so much of my time in.

I am probably making little sense to anyone with these words, but, I just want to get them out to someone, if that is okay.

You're not alone, we all have some time in our lives where we may be a bit selfish. I have too, often without even realizing it. It can be hard to change and to look back on, but when we see our mistakes and are truly sorry for them, we can learn from them and become better than before.

I thought to myself as I wrote all of these thoughts that perhaps part of what I should glean from Ecclesiastes so far is that even the finer, simpler things in life that seem more invaluable than material things - family, friends, charity, love - are ultimately in vain. .... But in a way, no. It is all about God, but think of the precious treasures I mentioned above. They too are gifts from God. All of us here in this community? Our friendships and abilities to lean upon one another in times of sorrow, struggle, and trouble? Our families and our precious moments with them? All from God. No thing that is good will ultimately come from anyone but the Lord. So, yes, we can count all of these as blessings without putting our hopes into they themselves but the God who made them even in a life of vanity.

Yes, sometimes it may feel like everything we do is pointless - last week when I was having all those sad feelings, I kept having this horrible feeling of my life and everything I do in it being completely meaningless. But that's not really true, is it? After all, I'm here to serve the wonderful God who created me and to help His children, just like everyone else. We all have good things in our lives - friends, family, talents, etc. and they are all great gifts from God.

So this life does have a purpose. As my parents have said before, it is a test for us, to prove that we are in God's friendship and fit for Heaven. The good things in life show us His great love for us. The bad things in life test us and can purify us, preparing us for His Kingdom. All our joy comes from the Lord!

 

[SarahsKnight]

You're not alone, we all have some time in our lives where we may be a bit selfish. I have too, often without even realizing it. It can be hard to change and to look back on, but when we see our mistakes and are truly sorry for them, we can learn from them and become better than before.

Indeed. ... And again, I managed to take some comfort in the fact that I did not greatly multiply my sin by blaming or treating poorly the others involved with my failing. To me, as a knight, that would have been far worse than the initial offense.

Thank you, Knightess.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Day 159: July 17

Ecclesiastes 7 through 12

 

[Swords&Sunflowers]

gaaah i'm so behind! lol I'm sorry God! 6 days behind, good golly!

 

[Swords&Sunflowers]

Spoiler: Psalm 146:3-4

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thought perish.

Spoiler: Psalm 146:9

The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Spoiler: The Kindness of God

Psalm 147:3-4 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

Such beautiful verses that describes God's character. It warms the heart to know that He is near. Why such a great God would care for such as us, that disappear like vapor? Only a being with such great love could do such a thing. I really like this song by Misty Edwards

Spoiler: See The Way He Holds The Stars In His Hand

"There's nothin like You and I"

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Oh I love that song and Misty Edwards.

 

[Swords&Sunflowers]

Spoiler: Too Much Honey

Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey:so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Quite true, the importance of not overindulging. Very important to always ask God to see what's in our hearts, our motives of doing things, are we seeking our own glory? Do we seek to satisfy ourselves to the point of selfishness and greed? Truly, it might really be a blessing in disguise when God gives us just enough of what we need and not more, because of our fallen nature we have the tendency to neglect God and be consumed by His provisions instead.

Spoiler: Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

This verse got my attention, because frankly, in society, we are constantly bombarded by "talebearers", even at my workplace. This is something God frowns upon, and we, as Christians, have to be careful not to participate in such conversations. To talk about someone with spite behind their back is not right. Lol, this is something I need to work at, because at my workplace...oh boy, there are some personalities that just get to me and to others and we could gather a storm if not careful.

 

[Swords&Sunflowers]

Friendships is one of God's wonderful gifts and Solomon gives us some wisdom regarding it...

Spoiler: Fwens

Proverbs 27:10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

On money matters, very true, that riches are not forever and even Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow, enough are the trouble of today. But it doesn't mean that we live carelessly, in fact Jesus said that we should seek First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in all our daily affairs. Solomon warns about riches, to not be hasty, to not be wicked in order to gain it, to be diligent handling it and not to be proud and greedy once wealth is achieved.

Spoiler: Moneh

Proverbs 27:23-24 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not forever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Proverbs 28:19-20 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
Proverbs 28: 27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

 

[SarahsKnight]

It appears the Proverbs has got you thinking quite a bit tonight, Miss S&S. You make wise points.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Day 160: July 18

1 Kings 10 and 11
2 Chronicles 9

 

[Swords&Sunflowers]

Oh boy...Ecclesiastes...one of my favorite books, but makes me ponder a lot...

Spoiler: Ecclesiastes 1:18

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

This verse reminded me about way back in the garden of Eden, remember when Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Bingo! I think this is what Solomon is referring to, basically because there is "evil". Knowing both good and bad is quite overwhelming and only God can handle such, we the created beings do not have the capacity to grasp all knowledge and remain sane. We are just not God.

I'm amazed at how alive I am right now, lol, to have cognition, to be oriented, to be able to compute to feel, to breathe...as I continue to read Ecclesiastes, I begin seeing the faces of those patients I had who passed away (hospice). It's really life changing when you see a person die. I've seen a lot. The moment their heart stops, and the hands grow cold, body stiffens, face become pale white. Then I would listen for a heartbeat, and call another nurse to verify. Where did the spirit go? I always wondered to myself. And it's like everything is just gone. What's left is just the outer shell of the person, where his spirit is, only God knows.

Spoiler: Ecclesiastes 2:16

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 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. All go unto one place; all are of dust, and all to dust again.

Solomon also talked about life having "seasons". Very well said and true, life is like a roller coaster ride. Even Jesus said that here on earth we will have "tribulations". I think that's why sadness exists, it's because we are eternal beings and we are stuck in this temporal world. Where everything is so temporal and eventually our spirit longs for that pure eternal bliss that can only be satisfied by a 24/7 presence of God. And our fallen state, makes us so hungry, but what can really satisfy an eternal being? We are constrained in our physical bodies, our understanding is also flawed as of now. But I am excited for that day when we can finally be free and returned to our original self where there is no more sorrows and unnecessary hardships (caused by sin).

Indeed if everything is vanity, then the more so we must really look into the motives behind everything we do. But one thing is moderation to everything seem to be the key. Not to overdo things. To work but also to rest. And really to not be attached to this world, somehow it's a heart thing, since all is vanity, hold on to that which is eternal, the things of God, His kingdom - righteousness, love, peace, joy, not the kingdom of this world. I'm just so glad that God exists, He is our hope and ultimate reason to live.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Where did the spirit go? I always wondered to myself. And it's like everything is just gone. What's left is just the outer shell of the person, where his spirit is, only God knows.

That spirit is his breath, if the meaning of the Hebrew term "Ruach" is to be taken literally, and it goes back to God, who first breathed His spirit into man. The breath of life. Really another reason I am a conditionalist Christian who believes that man's spirit is not some immortal, eternal entity that continues on after death, but rather, just the breath, the force that gave him life and returns to the God who first gave it upon demise.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Day 161: July 19

Proverbs 30 and 31

 

[Swords&Sunflowers]

Day 160: July 18

1 Kings 10 and 11
2 Chronicles 9

Spoiler: Downfall

1 Kings 11:1-13
1 Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; 2 of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.


3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.


4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father.


5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.


6 And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and went not fully after Jehovah, as did David his father.


7 Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.


8 And so did he for all his foreign wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.


9 And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which Jehovah commanded.


11 Wherefore Jehovah said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.


12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.


13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

Lol my dad told me that the downfall of great men usually is one of or combination of these 3 Gs....Gold (greed), Girls (sexual sin), Glory (pride).

It's quite sad how Solomon's last years seem to be. Obviously he is but human that also struggled with fleshly desires. There is truth to this why God prohibited to be unequally yoke. I believe that we can also apply this to friendships, we have to be careful with whom we surround ourselves with, lest our hearts turn away from God.

 

[Swords&Sunflowers]

Day 161: July 19

Proverbs 30 and 31

Spoiler: Proverbs 31 Woman

10 A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.


12 She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.


13 She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.


14 She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.


15 She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.


16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.


17 She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.


18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.


19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.


20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.


21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.


22 She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.


23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.


24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.


25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.


26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.


27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.


28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praiseth her, [saying]: 29 Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.


30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; [But] a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.


31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.

I love these verses...and hope that I and other/all women strive to be like this, but overall to be one who fears God...

 

[SarahsKnight]

Day 162: July 20

1 Kings 12 through 14

The end of Solomon's reign and the beginning of many more.

 

[SarahsKnight]

I wondered who the "old man" in 1 Kings 12:6 who used to advise King David was, when it says Rehoboam went to him for advice on how to answer Jeroboam and the men who begged for his mercy.
Unfortunately Rehoboam did not heed this but instead chose the tyrannical counsel of younger (and perhaps therefore more impetuous) advisers to lay a heavier burden on the people. I noticed that 1 Kings 12:6 where it first mentions the "old man" had Job 12:12 as a cross reference, where Job says that wisdom is found among the elderly.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Day 163: July 21

2 Chronicles 10 through 12

 

[SarahsKnight]

I wondered who the "old man" in 1 Kings 12:6 who used to advise King David was, when it says Rehoboam went to him for advice on how to answer Jeroboam and the men who begged for his mercy.

Sorry, @Multifavs and @Swords&Sunflowers , apparently I somehow misremembered this part in just the half hour or so between reading 1 Kings 12 and making the post about it, for it was, to be sure, more than just one old man whom Rehoboam consulted first, and they had been advisers to his father Solomon, not his grandfather David.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Day 164: July 22

1 Kings 15:1-24
2 Chronicles 13 through 16