Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Poetry Thursday. Ecclesiastes 7-8. I’m calling today’s episode “Trust.”

Comments on Ecclesiastes 7-8

I think that what we can take from Solomon’s teaching here in Ecclesiastes is that wisdom, money, power and everything else that man strives for does not bring happiness or understanding or peace. Solomon had it all. But at the end of his life he realized that what God does is far beyond man’s understanding. 

Notice that not once has he accused God of being unjust or unfair. He has said that some of the things he has seen are unfair, but he chalks that up to just what happens in this life. And he admits in the last two verses of today’s reading that we just cannot understand it.

Some things we just need to leave in the hands of God. Our human heart doesn’t easily find that conclusion to be very satisfying, but if you don’t want to drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what is impossible for our puny, finite minds to grasp, then you really do have to come to grips with that reality. 

We need to trust that God truly does love us. And He does. We need to trust that God truly is holy. And He is. We need to trust that God is just. And He is. We need to trust that on the last day, God will set everything right. And He will. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 7-8 CEV

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Transcript

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
Not once has he accused God of being unjust or unfair.

INTRO S12E316 – 0:11
Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. This episode is pre-recorded. I don’t know what I was thinking yesterday when I said I’d be back in time to produce this show for you at the regular time, but I should be back to do tomorrow’s show, Lord willing. Today is Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Ecclesiastes 7 and 8. I’m calling today’s episode, “Trust”. The show notes page for today is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e316. And my email address has not changed. It’s st***@*************ia.com. Send me an email. Let’s get started.

ECCLESIASTES 7 (CEV) – 0:54
Ecclesiastes, chapter 7.

(1) A good reputation
at the time of death
is better than loving care
at the time of birth.
(2) It’s better to go to a funeral
than to attend a feast;
funerals remind us
that we all must die.
(3) Choose sorrow over laughter
because a sad face
may hide a happy heart.
(4) A sensible person mourns,
but fools always laugh.
(5) Correction from someone wise
is better by far
than praise from fools.
(6) Foolish laughter is stupid.
It sounds like thorns
crackling in a fire.
(7) Corruption makes fools
of sensible people,
and bribes can ruin you.
(8) Something completed is better
than something just begun;
patience is better
than too much pride.
(9) Only fools get angry quickly
and hold a grudge.
(10) It isn’t wise to ask,
“Why is everything worse
than it used to be?”
(11) Having wisdom is better
than an inheritance.
(12) Wisdom will protect you
just like money;
knowledge with good sense
will lead you to life.
(13) Think of what God has done!
If God makes something crooked,
can you make it straight?
(14) When times are good,
you should be cheerful;
when times are bad,
think about what it means.
God makes them both
to keep us from knowing
what will happen next.

(15) I have seen everything during this senseless life of mine. I have seen good citizens die for doing the right thing, while criminals live and prosper. (16) So don’t destroy yourself by being too good or acting too smart! (17) Don’t die before your time by being too evil or acting like a fool. (18) Keep to the middle of the road. You can do this if you truly respect God.

(19) Wisdom will make you stronger than the ten most powerful leaders in your city.

(20) No one in this world always does right.

(21) Don’t listen to everything that everyone says, or you might hear your servant cursing you. (22) Haven’t you cursed many others?

(23) I told myself that I would be smart and try to understand all this, but it was too much for me. (24) The truth is beyond us. It’s far too deep. (25) So I decided to learn everything I could and become wise enough to discover what life is all about. At the same time, I wanted to understand why it’s stupid and senseless to be an evil fool.

(26) Here is what I discovered: A bad woman is worse than death. She is a trap, reaching out with body and soul to catch you. But if you obey God, you can escape. If you don’t obey, you are done for. (27) With all my wisdom I have tried to find out how everything fits together, (28) but so far I have not been able to. I do know there is one good man in a thousand, but never have I found a good woman. (29) I did learn one thing: We were completely honest when God created us, but now we have twisted minds.

ECCLESIASTER 8 (CEV) – 3:49
Ecclesiastes, chapter 8.

(1) Who is smart enough
to explain everything?
Wisdom makes you cheerful
and gives you a smile.

(2) If you promised God that you would be loyal to the king, I advise you to keep that promise. (3) Don’t quickly oppose the king or argue when he has already made up his mind. (4) The king’s word is law. No one can ask him, “Why are you doing this?” (5) If you obey the king, you will stay out of trouble. So be wise and learn what to do and when to do it. (6) Life is hard, but there is a time and a place for everything, (7) though no one can tell the future. (8) We cannot control the wind or determine the day of our death. There is no escape in time of war, and no one can hide behind evil. (9) I noticed all this and thought seriously about what goes on in the world. Why does one person have the power to hurt another?

(10) I saw the wicked buried with honor, but God’s people had to leave the holy city and were forgotten. None of this makes sense. (11) When we see criminals commit crime after crime without being punished, it makes us want to start a life of crime. (12) They commit hundreds of crimes and live a long time, in spite of the saying:

Everyone who lives right
and respects God
will prosper,
(13) but no one who sins
and rejects God
will prosper or live very long.

(14) There is something else that doesn’t make sense to me. Good citizens are treated as criminals, while criminals are honored as though they were good citizens. (15) So I think we should get as much out of life as we possibly can. There is nothing better than to enjoy our food and drink and have a good time. Then we can make it through this troublesome life that God has given us here on earth.

(16) Day and night I went without sleep, trying to understand what goes on in this world. (17) I saw everything God does, and I realized no one can really understand what happens. We may be very wise, but no matter how much we try or how much we claim to know, we cannot understand it all.

COMMENTS – 5:53
Well, Beloved, I think that what we can take from Solomon’s teaching here in Ecclesiastes is that wisdom, money, power, and everything else that man strives for does not bring happiness or understanding or peace. Solomon had it all. But at the end of his life, he realized that what God does is far beyond man’s understanding. Notice that not once has he accused God of being unjust or unfair. He has said that some of the things he has seen are unfair, but he chalks that up to just what happens in this life. And he admits in the last two verses of today’s reading, that we just cannot understand it. Some things we just need to leave in the hands of God.

Now, our human heart doesn’t easily find that conclusion to be very satisfying. But if you don’t want to drive yourself crazy, trying to figure out what is impossible for our puny finite minds to grasp, then you really do have to just come to grips with that reality. We can’t understand the things that God does. We need to trust that God truly does love us, and he does. We need to trust that God truly is holy, and he is. We need to trust that God is just, and he is. We need to trust that on the last day, God will set everything right, and he will.

What are your thoughts? Is it hard for you to just “Let go and let God”, as they say. Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e316. And tell me what you think. Tomorrow is Prophecy Friday. We will read the first seven chapters of Zechariah.

Boost!

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 7:46
On this date in church history, July 14, 1768, Scottish evangelist James A. Haldane, who founded the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel at Home in 1797, was born. Happy birthday, James.

And on this date in church history, July 14, 1892, the Baptist Young People’s Union holds its first annual National Convention in Detroit, Michigan.

CLOSING PRAYER – 8:19
Let’s pray. Our Heavenly Father, help us to trust in You. Help us to rest in you. Hold us close to you, Lord, You are our shelter, our rock, our provider. We need you more than we need life itself.

And we praise You and we worship You. Lord, I ask that You would bless the Lifespring family today and I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

If you have a prayer request or a praise, please go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

And I said this yesterday, but today I mean it. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be back in time to produce tomorrow’s show. So go ahead and send in your prayer request or praise if you want me to share it on the show, prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E316 – 9:09
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e316. Do you find it hard to rest in God? Do you find it hard to trust that you will make things right? Tell me lifespringmedia.com/s12e316. Or send me an email at st***@*************ia.com.

Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise, I thank you for your service and for your donation of time and talent.

Beloved, thank you for inviting me into your life, today, and being patient with me being out of town. Support the show, if you would, please at lifespringmedia.com/support.

And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise