He did.... What?

Its somewhat uncomfortable to think about your faults; I mean, who actually LIKES to think about the things you do wrong?  The cartoon brings up a good topic though; even the best of us (perhaps even a magnificent Disney character) can be subject to criticism.  I know I think differently than my spouse and understand that she feels things in a way I will never fully appreciate, but even though we approach things from different perspectives, we can usually come to an agreeable compromise.  For me, this passage is important; I hope it will be to you as well...

WEB: Ephesians Chapter 5

[22] Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. [24] But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

[25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; [26] that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, [27] that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. [28] Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. [29] For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; [30] because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. [31] “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” [32] This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. [33] Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

It must be especially hard on the ladies; I mean, having to submit to their husbands when they know that their spouse is wrong.  But, it is what it is and accepting God's will for us eventually will help us grow in our Spirituality.  Love and understanding go a long way to making things WORK and submission to God by every member of a family is the key to a happy home.  To me, the cartoon is funny because unlike the TV show, its "G" rated and a little absurd.  I am having a problem identifying with their husbands though.  Sometimes, I feel like a beast and others like prince charming; the rest I just won't talk about!!!!

Mar. 19 Exodus 32, 33

Mar. 19

Exodus 32, 33

Exo 32:1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him."

Exo 32:2 Aaron said to them, "Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me."

Exo 32:3 All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.

Exo 32:4 He received what they handed him, and fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molten calf; and they said, "These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt."

Exo 32:5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh."

Exo 32:6 They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Exo 32:7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, "Go, get down; for your people, who you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!

Exo 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, 'These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' "

Exo 32:9 Yahweh said to Moses, "I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people.

Exo 32:10 Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation."

Exo 32:11 Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

Exo 32:12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'He brought them forth for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?' Turn from your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against your people.

Exo 32:13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your seed as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.' "

Exo 32:14 Yahweh repented of the evil which he said he would do to his people.

Exo 32:15 Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other they were written.

Exo 32:16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tables.

Exo 32:17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is the noise of war in the camp."

Exo 32:18 He said, "It isn't the voice of those who shout for victory, neither is it the voice of those who cry for being overcome; but the noise of those who sing that I hear."

Exo 32:19 It happened, as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing: and Moses' anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain.

Exo 32:20 He took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

Exo 32:21 Moses said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you have brought a great sin on them?"

Exo 32:22 Aaron said, "Don't let the anger of my lord grow hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.

Exo 32:23 For they said to me, 'Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him.'

Exo 32:24 I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them take it off:' so they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

Exo 32:25 When Moses saw that the people had broken loose, (for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies),

Exo 32:26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on Yahweh's side, come to me!" All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

Exo 32:27 He said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.' "

Exo 32:28 The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

Exo 32:29 Moses said, "Consecrate yourselves today to Yahweh, yes, every man against his son, and against his brother; that he may bestow on you a blessing this day."

Exo 32:30 It happened on the next day, that Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin."

Exo 32:31 Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold.

Exo 32:32 Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin--and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written."

Exo 32:33 Yahweh said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Exo 32:34 Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin."

Exo 32:35 Yahweh struck the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

Exo 33:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, "Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your seed.'

Exo 33:2 I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

Exo 33:3 to a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you in the way."

Exo 33:4 When the people heard this evil news, they mourned: and no one put on his jewelry.

Exo 33:5 Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell the children of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up into your midst for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.' "

Exo 33:6 The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

Exo 33:7 Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it "The Tent of Meeting." It happened that everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp.

Exo 33:8 It happened that when Moses went out to the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent.

Exo 33:9 It happened, when Moses entered into the Tent, that the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses.

Exo 33:10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door.

Exo 33:11 Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn't depart out of the Tent.

Exo 33:12 Moses said to Yahweh, "Behold, you tell me, 'Bring up this people:' and you haven't let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'

Exo 33:13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people."

Exo 33:14 He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exo 33:15 He said to him, "If your presence doesn't go with me, don't carry us up from here.

Exo 33:16 For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn't it in that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?"

Exo 33:17 Yahweh said to Moses, "I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."

Exo 33:18 He said, "Please show me your glory."

Exo 33:19 He said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy."

Exo 33:20 He said, "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live."

Exo 33:21 Yahweh also said, "Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock.

Exo 33:22 It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;

Exo 33:23 then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

Mar. 19, 20 Mark 12

Mar. 19, 20

Mark 12

Mar 12:1 He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.

Mar 12:2 When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

Mar 12:3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

Mar 12:4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

Mar 12:5 Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some.

Mar 12:6 Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

Mar 12:7 But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

Mar 12:8 They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

Mar 12:9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.

Mar 12:10 Haven't you even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.

Mar 12:11 This was from the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

Mar 12:12 They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away.

Mar 12:13 They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.

Mar 12:14 When they had come, they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don't defer to anyone; for you aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

Mar 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it."

Mar 12:16 They brought it. He said to them, "Whose is this image and inscription?" They said to him, "Caesar's."

Mar 12:17 Jesus answered them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled greatly at him.

Mar 12:18 There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying,

Mar 12:19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us, 'If a man's brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.'

Mar 12:20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.

Mar 12:21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;

Mar 12:22 and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.

Mar 12:23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife."

Mar 12:24 Jesus answered them, "Isn't this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God?

Mar 12:25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Mar 12:26 But about the dead, that they are raised; haven't you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

Mar 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken."

Mar 12:28 One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"

Mar 12:29 Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:

Mar 12:30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.

Mar 12:31 The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Mar 12:32 The scribe said to him, "Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,

Mar 12:33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Mar 12:34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one dared ask him any question after that.

Mar 12:35 Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Mar 12:36 For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet." '

Mar 12:37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?" The common people heard him gladly.

Mar 12:38 In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,

Mar 12:39 and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:

Mar 12:40 those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

Mar 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.

Mar 12:42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.

Mar 12:43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,

Mar 12:44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES" Chapter Eight by Mark Copeland

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

                             Chapter Eight

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To glean wisdom for enduring evil and oppressive governments

2) To note the similarity between the Preacher's conclusion and the book
   of Job about the inability of man to discern all of the work of God

SUMMARY

Among the "vanities" in life is living in circumstances over which we
have little control.  Such as the kind of government ruling the country
in which we live.  The Preacher observed that evil men are often in
positions of power, and offers his counsel for enduring such "vanity."

Wisdom is helpful, capable of softening one's countenance (so one is not
overly troubled?).  Submitting to governing authorities is important,
especially in view of the power wielded by those in authority.  There
will be times when the wicked rule, bringing misery.  Be patient, while
judgment against such evil may be delayed it will come in its own time
and the wicked will soon be forgotten after their demise.  In the
meantime, it is best to fear God (1-13).

Another "vanity" is how the righteous sometimes suffer while the wicked
prosper.  The Preacher reiterates his conclusion that it is best to seek
to enjoy what good God gives in one's labor under the sun.  Even the
wisest man is unable to discern all that God is doing, no matter how
hard he tries.  A lesson similar to the one taught in the book of Job
(14-17).

OUTLINE

I. ENDURING THE GOVERNMENTS OF MEN (8:1-13)

   A. SUBMIT TO AUTHORITIES (1-8)
      1. Wisdom has its value, able to change one's countenance
      2. Obey the king's command, for God's sake
         a. Don't be hasty to leave the king's presence
         b. Don't take your stand for an evil thing
         c. Respect his power, and you will be unharmed
      3. A wise man will understand that judgment will come in it's own
         time, so don't resort to wickedness (i.e., rebellion) to 
         alleviate misery - cf. Ro 13:1-7; 1Pe 2:11-17

   B. ANTICIPATE WICKED RULERS (9-13)
      1. There will be times when men rule to their own detriment
      2. They will soon be forgotten after their demise
      3. Why do some persist in their evil?
         a. Because their judgment does not occur immediately
         b. Even so, it is still better to fear God

II. ENDURING THE VANITY IN LIFE (8:14-17)

   A. EXPECT PERPLEXITY (14, 16-17)
      1. Sometimes the righteous suffer, and the wicked prosper, which
         is vanity
      2. One cannot always understand why things happen the way they do
         (remember Job?)

   B. ENJOY LIFE (15)
      1. Delight in the fruits of your own labor
         a. Eat, drink, and be merry
         b. As you labor in the days God has given you in life under the
            sun
      2. The advice given throughout this book - 2:24-26; 3:12-13; 5:
         18-20

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Enduring the governments of men (1-13)
   - Enduring the vanity in life (14-17)

2) What benefit does wisdom have? (1)
   - It can make the face of a man to shine, softening its sternness

3) Why should one be in submission to the king (i.e., government)? (2-4)
   - For God's sake
   - Because of the power which the king has at his disposal

4) Generally speaking, what will one experience who heeds the king's
   command? (5)
   - Nothing harmful

5) What will a wise man discern even though misery may increase greatly?
   (5-7)
   - There is a time and judgment for every matter

6) What is said of those who are given to wickedness? (8)
   - Wickedness will not deliver them

7) What had the Preacher observed about the rule of men? (9)
   - There is a time when a man rules over another to his own hurt

8) What did he observe about the wicked who had come and gone from the
   place of holiness? (10)
   - They were soon forgotten after their death

9) Why were the hearts of some men set to do evil? (11)
   - Because the sentence against evil was not executed speedily

10) What did the Preacher conclude about a sinner whose days are
    prolonged? (12-13)
   - It will be well for those who fear God
   - It will not be well with the wicked

11) What did the Preacher describe as a vanity which occurs on the
    earth? (14)
   - There are just men who receive what should be for the wicked
   - There are wicked men who receive what should be for the righteous

12) In view of such vanity, what does the Preacher commend?  Why? (15)
   - To eat, drink, and be merry (i.e., enjoy life)
   - For this is what God gives to man as he labors in life under the
     sun

13) What did the Preacher conclude after diligently observing the
    business that is done on the earth? (16-17)
   - That no one can know all of the work of God, even if one is wise

A road to nowhere

Whether or not this is the "Road to nowhere" the Republican politicians have been referring to I really don't know, but it really is a road to nowhere.  Just look!!!  Now, everyone in this world has things that happen to them; some by accident, some by choice.  In the context of religion, the life we live (lets call it a road) is our choice, but the question is... where will it get us?  Consider these two verses of scripture...

WEB: Matthew Chapter 7

[13] “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. [14] How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

WEB: John 14:6. Jesus said to him, "“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

The entrance to destruction is wide, while that to life is narrow.  This is to say that it is easy to go to destruction and difficult to enter into that way that leads to life (eternal life, that is).  The next verse (John 14:6) has Jesus saying... that he (himself) is the way (the road), the truth (notice the... the) and the life (genuine life, not just existence).  Think all paths lead to heaven?  Wrong!!! If you are not following what Jesus teaches, then you are on a road to nowhere, to a road that will ultimately lead to destruction.  If you think this sounds narrow minded, bigoted and sectarian, then YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.   Jesus is saying this, not me.  Face it, common sense tells you that everyone can't be right, otherwise truth is no longer truth.  But, you may say... what about the Muslims, the Hindu's the Jews and that group down the street that worships the great pumpkin.  You mean they are headed on a path of destruction?  Yep!  Once again, read the two verses and think about what Jesus says!!!  OK, you think these things do not apply to you because you are a member of a denomination; think again!!!  If you believe more or less than the Bible teaches you are on the wrong path; a road to nowhere and this is one dangerous road.  Put aside all your religious tradition, your creeds and your other than scripture church organization and do exactly what the Bible teaches and you will enter via the narrow gate and be on the road to heaven.  Do it before its too late!!!!

Mar. 18 Exodus 30, 31

Mar. 18

Exodus 30, 31

Exo 30:1 "You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood.

Exo 30:2 Its length shall be a cubit, and its breadth a cubit. It shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it.

Exo 30:3 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding around it.

Exo 30:4 You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it.

Exo 30:5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.

Exo 30:6 You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you.

Exo 30:7 Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it.

Exo 30:8 When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.

Exo 30:9 You shall offer no strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering; and you shall pour no drink offering on it.

Exo 30:10 Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Yahweh."

Exo 30:11 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Exo 30:12 "When you take a census of the children of Israel, according to those who are numbered among them, then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to Yahweh, when you number them; that there be no plague among them when you number them.

Exo 30:13 They shall give this, everyone who passes over to those who are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary; (the shekel is twenty gerahs;) half a shekel for an offering to Yahweh.

Exo 30:14 Everyone who passes over to those who are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering to Yahweh.

Exo 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls.

Exo 30:16 You shall take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the Tent of Meeting; that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls."

Exo 30:17 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Exo 30:18 "You shall also make a basin of brass, and its base of brass, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.

Exo 30:19 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in it.

Exo 30:20 When they go into the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, that they not die; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Exo 30:21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they not die: and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his descendants throughout their generations."

Exo 30:22 Moreover Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Exo 30:23 "Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and of fragrant cane, two hundred and fifty;

Exo 30:24 and of cassia five hundred, after the shekel of the sanctuary; and a hin of olive oil.

Exo 30:25 You shall make it a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil.

Exo 30:26 You shall use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the testimony,

Exo 30:27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense,

Exo 30:28 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its base.

Exo 30:29 You shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.

Exo 30:30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest's office.

Exo 30:31 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your generations.

Exo 30:32 It shall not be poured on man's flesh, neither shall you make any like it, according to its composition: it is holy. It shall be holy to you.

Exo 30:33 Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on a stranger, he shall be cut off from his people.' "

Exo 30:34 Yahweh said to Moses, "Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be an equal weight;

Exo 30:35 and you shall make incense of it, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy:

Exo 30:36 and you shall beat some of it very small, and put some of it before the testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be to you most holy.

Exo 30:37 The incense which you shall make, according to its composition you shall not make for yourselves: it shall be to you holy for Yahweh.

Exo 30:38 Whoever shall make any like that, to smell of it, he shall be cut off from his people."

Exo 31:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Exo 31:2 "Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

Exo 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

Exo 31:4 to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

Exo 31:5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship.

Exo 31:6 I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

Exo 31:7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,

Exo 31:8 the table and its vessels, the pure lampstand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,

Exo 31:9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,

Exo 31:10 the finely worked garments--the holy garments for Aaron the priest--the garments of his sons to minister in the priest's office,

Exo 31:11 the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do."

Exo 31:12 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Exo 31:13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.

Exo 31:14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Exo 31:15 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.

Exo 31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Exo 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.' "

Exo 31:18 He gave to Moses, when he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets, written with God's finger.

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES" Chapter Seven by Mark Copeland

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

                             Chapter Seven

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To understand what makes for "better living" in this vain world

2) To appreciate the limitations of wisdom in providing answers

SUMMARY

In the first six chapters the Preacher has shared with us his search for
meaning (1:1-2:24) and observations gleaned during the course of his
search (3:1-6:12).  He has repeated his conclusions time and again..

   * Life "under the sun" is vanity - 1:2,14; 2:11

   * Yet there is good that one can do, provided one is blessed by
     God - 2:24-26; 5:18-20

In the remaining six chapters the Preacher shares his counsel through a
mixture of proverbs and narration.  He imparts wisdom designed to make
the most of life "under the sun".  In other words, while life under the
sun is "vanity", how then should we live?

The first half of chapter seven offers "counsel for better living" with
a series of comparisons.  For example, honor is better than luxury, your
day of death is better than your day of birth, a funeral is better than
a party, etc.  His estimation of what is better may often sound strange,
but it comes from who has learned from both experience as well as
inspiration (1-14).

The second half of the chapter offers "counsel for balanced living."
There are challenging and difficult statements which should be
understood in their context, and in the context of the Bible as a whole.
It appears the Preacher is mainly warning against extremism, and against
the presumption that one can find the answer to every question in life
(15-29).

OUTLINE

I. COUNSEL FOR BETTER LIVING (7:1-14)

   A. HONOR IS BETTER THAN LUXURY (1a)
      1. A good name is highly valued
      2. Better than precious ointment (representative of luxury)

   B. YOUR DEATH DAY IS BETTER THAN YOUR BIRTHDAY (1b)
      1. One's birth is the beginning of sorrows - cf. Job 14:1; 3:1-3;
         Jer 20:14-18
      2. One's death can be the beginning of eternal bliss - cf. Isa
         57:1-2; Re 14:13

   C. A FUNERAL IS BETTER THAN A PARTY (2-4)
      1. Better to go to the house of mourning than the house of
         feasting
         a. For the funeral home is the end of all men
         b. Where the living will take it to heart
      2. Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance makes a
         heart better
         a. Thus the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning
         b. While the heart of fools is in the house of mirth

   D. A REBUKE OF THE WISE IS BETTER THAN THE SONG OF FOOLS (5-7)
      1. For the laughter of the fool is vanity, like the crackling of
         thorn under a pot
      2. Oppression destroys a wise man's reason, and a bribe debases
         his heart

   E. THE END IS BETTER THAN THE BEGINNING (8a)
      1. Similar to what we have already seen regarding birth and death
         - cf. Ec 7:1
      2. Not all that starts has an end; in the completion of a task one
         finds satisfaction

   F. PATIENCE IS BETTER THAN PRIDE (8b-9)
      1. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit
      2. Do not be hasty to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of
         fools

   G. THE PRESENT IS BETTER THAN THE PAST (10)
      1. We should not say "why were the former days better?"
      2. One is not wise in thinking in such a manner

   H. WISDOM IS BETTER THAN WEALTH (11-12)
      1. Wisdom along with an inheritance is good, and profitable for
         the living
      2. Wisdom is a defense like money, but wisdom gives life to those
         who have it

   I. RESIGNATION IS BETTER THAN INDIGNATION (13-14)
      1. There are some things of God we cannot change
      2. God has appointed both the day of prosperity and the day of
         adversity, so man is unable to determine what will happen after
         him
      3. The solution?
         a. In the day of prosperity be joyful
         b. In the day of adversity consider (e.g., what lessons might
            be learned)

II. COUNSEL FOR BALANCED LIVING (7:15-29)

   A. DO THINGS IN MODERATION (15-22)
      1. The righteous don't always prosper, nor do the wicked always
         suffer
         a. Avoid extremism in seeking to righteous and wise, lest you
            destroy yourself
         b. Avoid extremism in wickedness and foolishness, lest you die
            before your time
      2. Don't refrain from true righteousness and wisdom
         a. Fearing God will help one escape extremism
         b. Wisdom is a source of strength
         c. But no one is perfect
      3. Don't take to heart everything you hear
         a. You may hear another curse you
         b. Yet you have likely cursed someone at sometime

   B. WISDOM ALONE IS NOT THE ANSWER (23-29)
      1. There are questions wisdom can't answer
         a. Some things are beyond one's ability to find
         b. No matter how hard and long you search
      2. A wicked woman is certainly to be avoided
         a. Which he found out in his search for wisdom
         b. She is more bitter than death
         c. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner
            shall be taken by her
      3. A good man is hard to find
         a. In his search, he found only one in a thousand
         b. A good woman was even rarer
         c. God made man upright, but man has sought out many schemes

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Counsel for better living (1-14)
   - Counsel for balanced living (15-29)

2) What is better than precious ointment? (1)
   - A good name

3) Which is better, the day of death or the day one's birth? (1)
   - The day of death

4) Why is it better to attend a funeral rather than a party? (2)
   - The funeral house is the end of all men, and the living take it to
     heart

5) Why is sorrow better than laughter? (3)
   - By a sad countenance the heart is made better

6) Where does the heart of the wise reside?  The heart of the fool? (4)
   - In the house of mourning
   - In the house of mirth

7) Which is better, to hear rebuke from the wise, or a song from a fool?
   (5)
   - The rebuke of the wise

8) What is the laughter of the fool? (6)
   - Like the crackling of thorns under a pot; vanity

9) What destroys a wise man's reason?  What debases the heart? (7)
   - Oppression; bribery

10) What other two comparisons are made? (8)
   - The end is better than the beginning
   - Patience is better than pride

11) Why should one not hasten to be angry? (9)
   - Anger rests in the bosom of fools

12) What is not a wise thing to say? (10)
   - Why were the former days better than these?

13) What is good along with an inheritance?  Why? (11-12)
   - Wisdom; it is a defense just as money is a defense

14) What is the value of knowledge? (12)
   - It gives life to those who have it

15) What should we consider about the work of God? (13)
   - No one can make straight what He has made crooked

16) What should we do in days of prosperity?  In days of adversity?
    Why? (14)
   - Be joyful
   - Consider
   - God has appointed both so that man can not find out what will come
     after him

17) What two things had Solomon seen in the days of his vanity? (15)
   - A just man perishing in his righteousness
   - A wicked man prolonging life in his wickedness

18) Against what does Solomon caution? (16-18)
   - Extremism in being righteous and wise, and in being wicked and
     foolish

19) How strong is wisdom? (19)
   - Stronger than ten rulers of the city

20) Is there anyone who does not sin? (20)
   - No

21) What should one not take to heart? (21-22)
   - Everything people say

22) In his effort to be wise, what did Solomon find? (23-25)
   - There were things beyond his ability to discern

23) What did he find more bitter than death? (26)
   - A woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters

24) Who can escape such a woman? (26)
   - He who pleases God

25) In his search, what had he found, and not found? (27-28)
   - He found one man among a thousand
   - A woman among all those he had not found

26) What else had he found? (29)
   - God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes