Ecclesiastes: Week 1 ~ Day 2

March 22, 2016

Week 1, Day 2

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:7-11

SOAP: 1:9-10

S:

“All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold, this is new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.”

O&A:

The circle of life.  As Solomon mentioned in yesterday’s passage, everything comes back to where it started, and continues on.  History repeating itself.  There is nothing new under the sun, also to be understood as “nothing new on earth”.  What day of creation was the sun made?  First, YHVH said, “אוֹר 'owr” and there was אוֹר 'owr.    In Genesis 1:16, Abba differentiated the light into sun (greater light) and moon (lesser night).  So since the beginning, the sun has been witness to history repeating itself, maybe just in different form.  We see the harvest times as a circle, contingent upon the sun.  Till the soil, plant the seeds, nurture the growth, harvest the crop.  Wash, rinse, repeat. 

In Psalm 1, there’s a verse that speaks about the tree that is planted by the streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, or according to its cycle. “That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done.”  Even the seed that the crop comes from has already been in existence – without that seed, there is no new crop to harvest.  “Most assuredly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the eretz and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.” (John 12:24-25)  If we are to serve YHVH/God, we have to die to ourselves, and live for and in YHVH/God, for Yeshua.  Whose fruit are we bearing?  Whose works do we do?

Abba has seen a multitude of generations of people seeking after the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, the pride of life, even when what they seek changes from generation to generation. 

P:

Abba, as I try to understand the depths of Your glory, and Your wisdom, I sometimes get really overwhelmed!  I feel like there is so much to grasp here, yet I can’t completely put my finger on it, and if I do, I can’t articulate it!  Out of today’s passage, I see how YOU are in control of ALL things.  You keep the oceans from overflowing; You keep the sun rising and setting, and the moon, too.  When I look up at the stars, and I hear Your words, that You know them and call them all by name, I am amazed every time.  Truly, what is there that is new under the sun?  Just as the messengers/angels in the shamayim/heavens, we were created to serve You, and to love You.  Since the creation of Adam and Hawwa/Eve, there has been temptation, and mankind has found new temptations, and we still fall short of the glory that is You!  And from the time of Adam and Hawwa/Eve, You have found a way to cover our multitude of sin.  In the Garden of Eden, You covered them in animal skin, for the first time, the first sacrifice.  In our time, You have covered us in the blood and sacrifice of our Savior, our Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach/the Messiah.  Abba, You know our comings, our goings, everything in between.  You have seen it and yet You love us, Your people.  You continue to give us a way to repentance, and You keep making a way for us to return to You.  There is nothing new under the sun.  Behold, is this new?  Your love for us, is it new?  Your desire for us to love You, and turn to You - is it new?  It’s not.  All paths that don’t turn to You are worthless.  Let our eyes only be satisfied when they are set on You, and our ears filled only with Your words, and Your instructions.  In Your Son Yeshua’s name, in Your blessed and Kodesh, set-apart name, Amein.