Lessons from King Solomon

This summer my pastor’s wife taught an awesome series on how to study the Bible – different methods and resources to dig deeper into the Word.  It was awesome!  So this past month I’ve been putting some of the methods into practice rather than letting them rot on the pages in my journal. 

I’ve been focusing my study on Ecclesiasties this past month..and now that I’m moving on I wanted to share what has impacted me the most:

Vanity. 

When I think of the word “vanity” I used to think of the stick girls that stand in front of the mirror primping when they already look perfect..or the pretty boy who cannot help but glance at his reflection whenever he passed a glass storefront.  It was because of this that I never really understood what King Solomon meant when he wrote, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecc. 1:2)

Revelation came as I sought out the real meaning of that word – Vanity: “hebel.”  Hebel means emptiness; something transitory or unsatisfactory.

King Solomon, as the Preacher, declares every facet of his life vanity.  It was unsatisfactory, and only transitory.  It held no real value.  Even the good things, work done for others, wisdom acquired..it all is worthless and doesn’t last. 

I look at my life, and all the time I spend doing “things.”  Everything in this world is only transitory, yet I can put so much weight on what I DO or STUFF that I acquire…even the my “good” things are really worth nothing…

BUT

“Fear God and keep his comandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecc. 12:13) The only thing not transitory, the only thing not done in vain, is to worship the LORD and obey his commandments.  To tell others about Him. 

I’m provoked to view my whole life through this lense once again, to weed out everything that I do for my own pleasure or benefit, and ask God to take what I have to use for His Kingdom.  I do not want to live in vain.

Do You?

Psalm 24: A Psalm of David

the question, “Who is this King of glory?” kept coming to mind this morning…

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, 
     the world, and all who live in it;

 for he founded it upon the seas 
     and established it upon the waters.

 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ? 
     Who may stand in his holy place?

 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, 
     who does not lift up his soul to an idol 
     or swear by what is false.

 He will receive blessing from the LORD 
     and vindication from God his Savior.

 Such is the generation of those who seek him, 
     who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
     Selah

 Lift up your heads, O you gates; 
     be lifted up, you ancient doors, 
     that the King of glory may come in.

 Who is this King of glory? 
     The LORD strong and mighty, 
     the LORD mighty in battle.

 Lift up your heads, O you gates; 
     lift them up, you ancient doors, 
     that the King of glory may come in.

 Who is he, this King of glory? 
     The LORD Almighty— 
     he is the King of glory. 
     Selah

this needs to be stored in my heart and memory.  does anyone have a favorite translation to suggest for memorizing this psalm?

The Sheep is Me.

I used to have a copy of the “Footprints” poem hanging in my room. You know the one I’m talking about. I found it framed at a thrift store when I was 14 or so, and could not pass it up. God and I were very close during that season of my life…but as I grew, I put the old tacky poem away. Wasn’t my style anymore.

Fast forward 10 years, and I find myself once again contemplating being carried by my Lord.

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:4-7 (emphasis mine)

My savior sees worth in me – enough to go out in search for me when I wander off. When he finds me, he doesn’t hand me a map showing me the way home and *vanish*. He is so much greater than that! He picks me up and carries me. And that’s great, because compared to him I have no strength at all, certainly not enough to get myself out of the messes I make.

He puts me on his shoulders. He takes my burden, my sin, on himself. Rejoicing. He’s happy to do it, because he loves me. He will carry me all the way back to the flock. He will tend to my wounds, and throw a party over my return. I’ll lead him on wild goose chases all over the country side, and he will faithfully look out for me, kindly carrying me home. Every time, no matter how far or close I wander.

My mind can’t wrap itself around the kind of love that makes a girl reading a story about a shepherd and his flock suddenly stop and say, “Hey, I’m the sheep…” and begin to cry.

The sheep is me. Crazy love.

You’re the sheep. What do you think about that?

Judges: Thoughts worth considering

Wow, April is over.  Crazy?!

During April, I, along with many others in my church, read the book of Judges.  It’s 21 chapters long, and a fairly fast read.  The stories are exciting, and can hold my attention as well as any sci-fi book out there. 

A Mere Professor

Already challenged today, and it’s not even noon yet. 

Choosing professors wisely is essential in college.  They have the ability to make or break your educational experience.  Though out of school for over a year, painful memories remain of the semester of Statistics I went through, actually passing the class with a 40%.  Whoa nellie.  After that, I never turned down advice on choosing professors.

Merriam-Webster’s first definition of professor is “one that professes, avows, or declares” something.   And a good general definition of profess is: “to declare or admit openly or freely”.  So a professor is someone who declares something openly.  In academia, professors have doctorate degrees, and declare mathematical theorems or elements in classical British literature.  But you don’t have to work at a university to be a professor.  In fact, you most likely are one.

For instance, I profess knowledge of materials science.  I profess love for my husband.  I profess affection for the Green Bay Packers.  And I profress Christ as the Son of God.  I’ll declare these things freely in any setting.  That makes me a professor.  Ok, so what?

Well, I was reading today in Judges 3, and was intrigued by vs. 1-7.  The nations which remained after Israel was to have driven them all out of the promised land were used by God to test his people.  I clicked over to the Matthew Henry commentary available in youversion.com, and was hit between the eyes by what he had to say about this:

Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners; and strengthen the graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan, sin, and this evil world. They must live in this world, but they are not of it, and are forbidden to conform to it. This marks the difference between the followers of Christ and mere professors. The friendship of the world is more fatal than its enmity; the latter can only kill the body, but the former murders many precious souls.

Go back and read that again.  (I had to.)

Professor is a title I’ve always associated with the well educated.  A title of respect and privilege.  But today the Holy Spirit as asked me to examine myself.  Am I a “mere professor” of Christ…?  Does he get my lip-service only?  Do I have the appearance of Biblical education, but not a heart devoted to Christ?  This professor is not someone to be respected.   Being a “mere professor” of Christ makes you a “mere hypocrite” (if there is such a thing). 

Ick.

Yeah.  That has been me.  Praise God for his grace and forgiveness. 

Seeking the world’s enmity.   Following Christ. 

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:14-16

Isaiah 55: 5 of 13

Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.” Isaiah 55:5

Here’s a quick thought for this verse….