Re: Ecclesiastes - Quotes from GOOD NEWS BIBLE
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Hi Mandy, I just finished listening to a Christian woman from China speaking to an American radio program about life today in Communist China.? She put her experience in religious terms, good versus evil, noting that the persecution served to strengthen people's faith.? You're probably aware to some degree of what's happening today in the USA*, something that I follow closely; recently many more people other than just born-again believers are phrasing that in biblical terms as well, as a battle of good versus evil.? Evil is rich and powerful and has a lust for total control at any price, even as more and more of their secret plans are exposed to the light.? And the horrible prospect is that evil may win out, at least "under the sun". The Bible sums up one problem with this concept of good versus evil while answering the young ruler (whom many think was Mark) in Luke 18:18-23 when He said, "Why do you call Me good? No one?is?good but?One,?that is,?God. (Luke 18:19)"?? A person may be well and truly evil and still consider themselves to be "good people" or otherwise justified in their actions.? I daresay that some if not many of the rioters have convinced themselves that they are righteous even as they seek to tear down a representative democracy and replace it with totalitarian fascist tyranny.? Most, as Mandy noted, suffer from depression, substance abuse, cognitive dissonance, self-justification, and self-hatred because they've been taught in expensive schools that life under the sun is all that there is. A famous study of straight-laced German civilian police drafted into the WWII German Army who slowly morphed into Nazi death squads examines the human psychology of this in detail. On the other hand, most on the side of the "good" are aware that there are ways in which they fall short. Life, as Solomon noted, is an adventure to be lived with ups and downs, decisions to make, turns and round-abouts. Life can seem hard, as hard perhaps as "for a camel to go through the eye of a needle."? Yet as Solomon seemed to belatedly appreciate, there's more to life that just the depressing doom and gloom that we see all around us under the sun. The Bible notes that "things which are impossible with men are possible with God” and that "nothing will be impossible with God."? There is much, much more to life than merely that found under the sun.? When one's worldview looks to God, three simple but powerful concepts start making themselves known: faith, hope, and love. It doesn't help much to remember that, while the specific details may differ, pretty much everyone who ever lived has faced similiar pressures and circumstances.? The Bible was written thousands of years ago as a guide to life.? Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther was struggling with similar issues when he discovered a simple Bible verse in the obscure book of Habakkuk, "The just shall live by faith. (Hab. 2:4)"? 1,500 years earlier, Paul had written a trilogy of three New Testament books on Habakkuk 2:4.? Romans identifies "the just".? Hebrews tells how they should live.? Galatians discusses faith. Thursday week, we'll begin our study of the books of Galatians and Hebrews.? As has happened so frequently during our U3A studies, the timing seems to be somewhat providential.? When a person believes in small miracles as I do, it's hard not to see them all around.? Thanks for a perfect example, Mandy. I'm often aware that our U3A course is not religious and that I'm neither priest nor pastor nor rabbi nor imam nor shaman.? Sometimes that seems to be a weakness and other times a strength.? But our focus is and should be on the marvellous library of books called the Bible.? It speaks for itself.? Through it, many believe that God speaks, saying what He means and meaning what He says.? By it, many learn about what He wants His Creation to know.? In it, many find comfort. Whilst enjoying the holiday, I look forward to seeing you all again online.? In the meantime, please keep the emails coming.  Blessings, Ray NOTE: * The USA may be facing the final meaningful "election" in its 240+ year existence as a representative republic.? One party has concluded that it can't win fairly and is pulling out all stops to use election mechanisms, lawyers, lies and extortion to seize power.? Nothing is off the table.? Midway into Term 4, we'll know if they have succeeded.? We're lucky to live in Australia.
On Tuesday, 29 September 2020, 01:50:07 pm AEST, Mandy <mandyflynn01@...> wrote:
Hi everyone interesting comments thank you. Just a thought do you think that if today someone saw all that gloom they? would be treated for depression and given medication,? many people for various reasons feel like that, not me but family members.
Enjoy the rest of you holidays. ?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------
From: "Ray via groups.io" <ray.sarlin@...>
Date: 28/9/20 5:33 pm (GMT+10:00)
Subject: Re: [b4uc] Ecclesiastes - Quotes from GOOD NEWS BIBLE
Hi Merlene,
At least Solomon saw that there was more to life than just what was under the sun.
Your detailed treatise reminds me of the words of Socrates in his comment to Plato around 500 B.C., "It may be that the Deity can forgive sins, but I do not see how."? The wisdom of the so-called "wisest man who ever lived" wasn't even close
to a match for Godly wisdom.?
Thank God for the New Testament, which is just another way to say thank God for Jesus!
Daniel Webster suggested that the greatest thought that ever entered the mind of Man was "My responsibility to my Maker."? As you so excellently point out, Solomon's thoughts centred on himself.
Fortunately for Solomon, and for us, the Maker sets a low bar for our salvation, our acceptance of the gift of His Son.
Thanks, Merlene.? Hopefully we'll hear from some others.
Blessings,
Ray
On Monday, 28 September 2020, 05:05:19 pm AEST, Merlene <merlene@...> wrote:
Hi Ray and fellow Students,
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Last Thursday you, Ray, asked the Group whether or not it believed King Solomon (The Preacher) will make it to Heaven or not.? I was one of those who believe he did not repent, nor did he find peace, nor find God (or The Lord) and died a bitter, albeit
very knowledgeable and rich man.? My reasons:
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I didn’t hear anything said that the Preacher gave thanks to God, or thanks to anyone for that matter.? Nor did I hear that he received joy in giving – his only happiness was through “living the high life”.? In fact, in giving Advice to Young People starting
in Chapter 11 at verse 9:? Enjoy your youth.? Be happy while you are still young.? Do
what you want to do, and follow your heart’s desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do.? ...... you aren’t going to be young very long.? So “remember” your Creator while you are still young, before those dismal
days and years come when you will say “I don’t enjoy life”.
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He then proceeds to go on and on about the dismal reality of Old Age quoting that “..... and all desire will have gone”.? Not a word here about being glad in the Lord, or finding joy in loving God.? ALL the way through Ecclesiastes His God is portrayed
as a God of judgement, righteous, keen to give us our “just deserts” so as to speak.? Nothing about He is preparing a Place for us, etc. etc. after mortal death – no hope promised here.
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He repeatedly advises to continue to eat, drink and enjoy yourselves, i.e. MATERIAL, bodily happiness.? Even to the extent in Chapter 11 to Invest your money wisely.? Although God made everything, it is not given to us to know Him nor how He works or even
whether or not He helps us, especially when the Preacher says – you never know whether or it it will grow well
etc. – intimating it is all a matter of chance.? No matter how long you live, remember that you will be dead much longer – there is nothing AT ALL to look forward to ever.
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In Chapter 9 verse 7:? Go ahead – eat your food and be happy;? drink your wine and be cheerful.? It’s alright with God. Enjoy life with the woman you love, as long as you live the useless life that God has given you in this world.? Enjoy every useless
day of it!!?? Nothing here about God also giving us another richer SPIRITUAL LIFE.
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What!! Have I misread it.? No, I don’t think so.? The Preacher is intimating that there is NO life after death, except that God is going to judge us – see his final words in verse 13:
there is only one thing to say: have reverence for God and obey His commands, because this is ALL THAT MAN WAS CREATED for.
Finally, verse 14:? God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.
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I believe that Solomon didn’t search for God in a personal way, even at the end.? What he felt was
regret and sorrow that all his good times of dining, wining, excesses, doing as he pleased, indulging himself, etc. and so on, were going to end, and he didn’t want that AT ALL.? He wanted it to continue forever, but without his aging body which I believe
he resented.? The whole tone of Ecclesiastes is one of despair, not regret, but despair that the life he lived on earth was going to end and that was THE END – nothing more for mankind.?
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Not a mention that God is a God of love and a rewarder of those who do give Him reverence and obey His commands –
but didn’t say? “love and honour Him, Praise Him” – didn’t see those words anywhere!
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All of Solomon’s wealth, wisdom and physical attraction didn’t help him at the End – he believed he returned to dust!??
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Over to the rest of you for your comments -
I hope I can be convinced that I am wrong – but I don’t think so – and I’ll need some convincing on this one!
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Sincerely to you All,
Merlene
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Ray