Tag: God

Jehu is Different

2 Kings 9-11

In Second Kings chapters 9-11 we read largely about the obedience of King Jehu in attempting to remove idolatry from Israel.  In the midst of that content there is an interesting concept that rings fairly true to today.  In Second Kings 9:22 Joram asks Jehu if he has come in peace.  Jehu responds, “How can there be peace as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”  Jehu is clearly communicating that peace does not come between God and evil.  Our application should be a bit cautious, but clear.

Some would take a verse like this to somehow support a Christian committing an act of violence against an unbeliever.  This is not a proper application of this concept and should not be condoned.  Rather, it is important to recognize that there is a difference between the ways of God and the ways of evil, and those who support the ways of God will be different than those who support the ways of evil.  King Jehu recognized that the ways of Joram were opposed to the ways of God so there would be no peace between them.

In the New Testament we find language that concurs with this concept.  Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”.  First Peter 1:1 says in part, “To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered through Pontus…”  Once we become a believer, we align ourselves with God and His plan and ways.  This causes us to become strangers in the world, as we are different than the world.  Our citizenship is no longer of the world, but rather we become citizens of heaven.  Our eternity will be on the earth, after Jesus restores it through the millennial kingdom.  This is why Paul says at the end of Philippians 3:20, “And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”.  However, our hearts and lives belong to God, who currently resides in heaven.  Our citizenship is with God in heaven, not of this earth.

Therefore, there is not peace between us and the world.  We are different.  Our lives should look different and we should be different than the world.  I believe this is the connection we can make to King Jehu’s response of clearly communicating that peace does not come between God and evil.

How should we respond then?  We should recognize that our lives are different from the world.  Sometimes that will cause awkwardness in our lives.  I attempt to hold pretty clear boundaries for the movies, shows, videos, or even reels I will watch.  If someone sends me a link of a video to watch I will ask about what it is and the content of it.  I sometimes ask if it includes any of the things I attempt to not visually consume.  This causes tension or awkwardness socially.  But I know it is best for me to be different in this way.


However, even though there is not peace between God and the world, we should still strive to live at peace with others.  Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  My response to King Jehu’s question should not lead me to go against God’s call to peace found here.  I live a different life than the world, but I also strive for peace with others, that I might show them the love of God each day of my life.  In doing this, I may win one for Christ!

-Michael Cisler


Reflection Questions

What are ways in which you can live more for God, and therefore not be at peace with the world?

How can you show others around you that you are intentional about living at peace with all people?

In what ways can we cope with the tension that sometimes is created by living at peace, but being different?

SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload

God Provides Miracles

2 Kings 1-4

In Second Kings chapter 4 we find the account of four miracles.  These miracles impacted people in big ways and in small ways.  The first miracle is of replenishing oil that a woman used to sell and pay off debts and live on the remainder.  The second miracle is the healing of the Shunammite’s son.  The third miracle is the poison removal from a bad stew.  The fourth miracle is the feeding of a hundred people with an amount of food that does not seem sufficient.  Where each of these miracles is different from the others, I see from the four miracles combined how God provides for His people in their times of need and typically in ways that seem unexpected.

Some of these miracles may sound familiar to other miraculous events.  The replenishing oil reminds me of the widow of Zarephath in First Kings 17, whose oil and flour did not run out throughout an extended famine.  The healing of the Shunammite son reminds me of the healing of the son of the widow of Nain in Luke 7.  The feeding of the hundred reminds me of the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14.  Each of these miracles is similar to other times in the Bible in which God provided miraculously.  However, I’m stumped to find another account quite like the poisonous stew.  The closest I can come up with is the water to wine from John 2.  However, that miracle does not change the undrinkable to the drinkable.

Therefore, I’d love to consider this miracle of the poisonous stew for a moment and consider a couple things we can learn from it.  One that may go without saying is the public service announcement to not eat unfamiliar items we scavenge from outside.  There are many healthy food products in nature, but there are some that are inedible or even poisonous.  Unless we are certain of their edibility, we should stay away from mushrooms, berries, seeds, and plants.

A spiritual lesson to consider is the lesson of dependence on God and His provision in ways we might not expect.  Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”.  There are times God provides a miracle that would seem to align with what we are most hoping.  I think of a mass or tumor found which miraculously shrinks in size.  However, there are also times in which God provides the miraculous when things do not align with what we are most hoping.  I think of a person who dies, but their spouse, in their mourning, responds with honor and dignity, pointing people to the God who gives strength, peace, and salvation.  This can be truly miraculous.  It is God providing far beyond the strength or understanding of a person.  God’s provision is so personal and so specific.  He meets our needs in ways that go beyond our understanding, even when it is not the outcome we want or expect.  This is why our proactive approach to life ought to be to trust in the LORD with all our hearts!

It is a blessing that God reveals in the Bible how He consistently works personally in the lives of His people.  He even uses the often-forgotten miracles like restored poisonous stew to show His graciousness to us personally.  He is a God we can trust!

-Michael Cisler

Reflection Questions

What are some of the ways you have seen God work in your life?

What is a way in which you have experienced a miracle?

How are you trusting God today?

What is something you can trust God with today?

SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload

Hearing What We Don’t Want to Hear

1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18

In First Kings 22 and in Second Chronicles 18 we find the same account of evil King Ahab considering going to war against Ramoth Gilead.  He asked about 400 prophets what he should do and they all said to go victoriously to war.  When encouraged by King Jehoshaphat of Judah to ask a prophet closer to the matter about this, King Ahab’s response is found in First Kings 22:8.  He says, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.  He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”  Now remember, it is said of evil King Ahab from First Kings 21:25-26, “There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.  He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.”  It is no wonder the true prophet of God never had anything good to prophesy, but always bad!

It is noteworthy that King Ahab avoided the truth because he deemed it as bad.  Instead, he listened to the 400 voices that told him what he wanted to hear.  King Rehoboam did the same thing in First Kings chapter 12.  Instead of listening to the advice of the elders, who gave advice he did not want to hear, he followed the advice of his peers.  He followed what he wanted rather than what was best for him.

It would be easy to look at these kings and heap ridicule upon them in judgment.  However, it might be beneficial to consider our own ways.  How often do we gravitate toward people who affirm our immorality, rather than seeking the truth of God?  How often do we lean into confirmation bias, rather than seeking godly ways of thinking about a matter?  The book of Proverbs consistently supports the idea of seeking wise counsel.  Consider Proverbs 1:5, “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance”.  Also, Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”  Clearly, God desires that we would listen to the voices that speak His wisdom into our lives, even if we don’t want to hear it.

One more thing to consider today.  Sometimes we are the ones who need to hear something from God, even when we don’t want to hear it.  However, sometimes we are the Micaiah’s who have something to say that someone else may not want to hear.  Progress in these situations slowly, discerning God’s wisdom to speak in love.  Ephesians 4:15 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”  The words we speak must be spoken in love.  Our goal of speaking should be for us to grow into Christ together.  

Listen to God’s Word, especially if you don’t want to hear it.  Speak to others in love, especially when they might not want to hear God’s Word.

-Michael Cisler

Reflection Questions

How can you actively seek godly voices in your life?

What does it mean to speak the truth in love?  What does each element (truth and love) entail?

When is the right time to speak and when is the right time to be quiet?

SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload

The Weight of Waiting

2 Chronicles 17
1 Kings 15:25-16:34

I was rushed out of the room, carrying a kid in each arm, and taken to the recovery room to wait for the return of my wife. The twins were here, and I had no idea what to do. There was a bassinet nearby, but I honestly couldn’t figure out the logistics of laying down one newborn without compromising my grip on the other. “That’s okay,” I thought. “My wife will be here soon, and she’ll help me sort it all out.”  So I waited. I nervously held onto them in a football hold as the minutes crept by. But then the minutes became longer than expected, and my confidence started to fray. I waited with my little ones—without information, without control, and without a clue. In that intermission, I did the only thing I could think to do: I sang. Out of praise, to stave off fear, and to quiet the echoing newborn cries, I sang:

“From my mother’s womb, you have chosen me, love has called my name,”

and “You’re perfect in all of your ways… perfect in all of your ways to us.”

Waiting isn’t for the faint of heart. To be patient is to fight our innate desire for safety and certainty. It reminds us that we are not in control—that our desires are only a small variable in any given situation. If we’re looking for holy ground—a place where our striving ends and God’s sovereignty begins—look no further than the weight of waiting.

As the northern kingdom of Israel spiraled under a succession of corrupt kings, Jehoshaphat began his reign in Judah. He watched the pendulum swing wildly in the wrong direction. But instead of rushing to react, Jehoshaphat paused. He sought the Lord. He devoted his heart to God’s way first, building his faith and fortifying the kingdom—not through conquest or alliances, but by spreading the Word and Law of the Lord and strengthening what already belonged to Judah.

There were no flashy political plays. No dramatic battles or self-promoting power grabs—all of which might have benefited a new king eager for approval. In contrast to war-beaten, idol-chasing, anxious Israel, Judah found peace—politically and spiritually—by halting, reflecting, focusing, and waiting on the Lord to move.

“The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah…”

(2 Chronicles 17:10)

Waiting made Israel restless. But it made Judah rooted.  Israel scrambled. Judah stood still.

So how do we wait in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord when life is beyond our control—when answers are delayed or the enemy seems to be advancing?  We fortify what’s already been entrusted to us. We hold our families, will continue using our gifts in ministry, and give consistently with our tithes. We don’t chase what we don’t yet have—we deepen what God has already given.  We also choose worship over worry. Worry imagines every possible outcome.

Worship reminds us who holds them all.  Even if God is silent, He is moving.  Commit to the wait.  Trust in the Lord.  He will act.

– Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. How well do you wait? How much do you worry? Can you think of a time where your waiting increased your peace?
  2. What is wise to do while waiting? What is foolish to do while waiting?
  3. What do you appreciate from Aaron’s list of waiting activity – halting, reflecting, focusing, and waiting on the Lord to move?

SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload

Affirming Voices

2 Chronicles 10-12

You may be familiar with the book The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman, which gained some notoriety around the turn of the millennium. The premise is that each of us feels and expresses love primarily through one of five ways, and it benefits us not only to understand ourselves but also to learn how our spouse, family, and coworkers prefer to receive love and encouragement.

My love language happens to be “words of affirmation,” meaning I feel loved when people offer praise, encouragement, or a thoughtful compliment. While offering this kind of edification should be part of how we love others at some level, our attraction to affirmation can sometimes replace truth with feeling. When that happens, we may reject godly wisdom in favor of voices that echo our pride.

In 2 Chronicles 10–12, we revisit the story of the rhyming rulers: Jeroboam and Rehoboam. In yesterday’s account from Kings, we focused on Jeroboam’s role in rebelling against Solomon’s successor. Today, we focus on the critical crossroads of the kingdom, seen in Rehoboam’s response to the people’s request: “Please, lighten the load” (10:4).

At first, it appeared Rehoboam had inherited his father Solomon’s wisdom—he asked for time and consulted seasoned advisers. These elders urged compassion and mercy, suggesting he serve the people in order to win their loyalty. But Rehoboam rejected their counsel (10:8), choosing instead to listen to his inexperienced peers—yes-men and blowhards who flattered him for their own gain. He sought affirming voices, not truthful ones, and chose pride over prudence.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the voices we allow into our ears.  When we struggle in our Christian walk, do we welcome critique from a brother or sister in Christ who lovingly holds us accountable? Or do we prefer the reassuring voice of a coworker who says, “You’re doing fine—no one can live like that all the time”? When God’s Word convicts us, are we willing to change? Or do we search for justifications that let us edit the commands of our Heavenly Father? Are we allowing ourselves to be sharpened by iron, or do we dull the blade with confirmation bias?

Spiritual maturity means knowing the voice of the Shepherd and following only Him. His voice convicts us through the Living Word, speaks to us through the faithful message of a pastor or prophet, and often appears in a candid conversation with a friend. Ready yourself to listen to the voices that challenge your sin, confront your plans, and redirect you toward obedience. God will be there in the battle to meet you, as he did a humbled Jeroboam, with a greater grace and divine deliverance.

“In the end, when Rehoboam and the leaders of Israel humbled themselves, they declared, ‘The Lord is just’ And the Lord, seeing their humility, relented: ‘Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance’” 2 Chronicles 12:6, 7

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. From above “…do we welcome critique from a brother or sister in Christ who lovingly holds us accountable?”
  2. “When God’s Word convicts us, are we willing to change? Or do we search for justifications that let us edit the commands of our Heavenly Father?”
  3. “Are we allowing ourselves to be sharpened by iron, or do we dull the blade with confirmation bias?”
  4. What roles do pride and humility play in today’s passage? What roles do they play in your life today? What will it look like and sound like and feel like for you to humble yourself before God today?
SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload
SGL.2025.CalendarBookletDownload

The Error of Innovation

1 Kings 12-14

If you’re like me, you’ve purchased an “assembly required” item and unpacked the contents without thumbing through the instructions. “How hard could it be to turn a few screws and boards into a bookshelf?” Halfway through the build, you realize you used the wrong board in one section, another is fitted upside down, and in your haste, you’re now down at least one screw. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but sometimes innovation comes from darker places—with consequences far greater than a shoddy IKEA build. Pride and fear can quickly lead us into folly as we try to adjust and adapt without seeking counsel. Likewise, our spiritual life was never meant to be self-driven, self-led, or self-defined. To build our relationship with God, we are called to be faithful to His instructions and selfless in their pursuit.

In today’s reading, King Jeroboam is appointed as the new leader of Israel. As he takes the reins, he surveys the political pieces of a recently split kingdom. His people had long worshiped in Jerusalem, which remained part of the rival kingdom of Judah. Jeroboam feared that his people’s loyalty would ultimately shift back to Rehoboam, king of Judah, from the anointed house of David. Instead of consulting the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or one of His prophets, Jeroboam devises his own solution to keep the people close to home.

“Jeroboam thought to himself, ‘The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David…'” So the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, ‘It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'” (1 Kings 12:26, 28)

Jeroboam took up his place as both the political and spiritual leader of Israel, but motivated by fear and a desire for control, he led God’s people astray. He created false idols, counterfeit altars, and bogus festivals—all in an attempt to keep his people from returning to the holy city of Jerusalem. Leaving behind the moral clarity of God’s commands, it became easier and more accessible to engage in a made-up religion that appeared similar on the surface to what they knew to be true. They were working with the same pieces, but some were flipped upside down, some placed in the wrong spot, and others lost along the way. As their worship moved farther from Jerusalem, the distance between Israel and God grew greater.

There is a stark warning here for the adjustments and innovations we see in the Church today. We must be careful that our worship, ministry, and evangelism do not favor convenience over obedience or comfort over conviction. If we fail to heed this warning, we may end up with well-developed systems that contain many of the same pieces—but are no longer building the Kingdom of God. Instead, we risk creating idols and events that offer no eternal hope. Granted, we may not be fashioning golden calves, but when we prioritize comfort over truth, we risk building spiritual lives rooted in fear, insecurity, and pride—lives that are void of God’s instruction.

It has never been about innovating what works for us or embracing a “you do you” mentality. God demands surrender and faithfulness in our daily worship, which means we will likely find ourselves worshiping in the city of our enemies from time to time. Resist the urge to craft a god who fits us. Instead, let us be molded to fit His purpose and to build His Kingdom according to His Gospel instructions.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What problems do you think God saw in Jeroboam? Do you think God ever sees these same problems in you?
  2. What does God desire from us – in our worship and in the way we live our lives?
  3. What are your thoughts about the following: “If we fail to heed this warning, we may end up with well-developed systems that contain many of the same pieces—but are no longer building the Kingdom of God” ? Have you seen this occur? How can we better heed this warning for our lives and for our church and for the Kingdom of God?
SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload

Living Beyond Contentment

Proverbs 30-31

When eating, it takes our bodies roughly twenty minutes to register that we are full. During this window, it’s still easy to overindulge—residual hunger hormones convince our brains that we aren’t yet satisfied. Giving in to a few extra bites can become a few extra pounds, and even small overindulgences, even in the short-term, can harm our well-being.

In many ways, we are wired to live beyond contentment. We accumulate extra clothes, extra cars, and extra rooms. While I have certainly faced seasons where I have battled with “not enough,” more often, I’ve wrestled with “too much.” And the more I feed desire, the more ravenous it becomes. When indulgence becomes a habit, our appetite grows louder while our awareness of God’s provision grows quieter under the noise of stuff-shifting.

To be content at the dinner table is to put the silverware down and wait. It requires restraint—a virtue that feels increasingly radical in every facet of living. As we saw with Solomon’s story yesterday, prosperity can easily deceive us into thinking we are self-sufficient. In today’s reading, Agur’s prayer in Proverbs 30 echoes a more familiar prayer taught by Jesus to His disciples. Daily bread is the quiet miracle of enough. [1 Kings 17:13-16; Matt 6:9,10]

“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7–9)

Wisdom is a gift that Solomon received, and God still gives generously to those who expectantly ask (Jam 1:5-8). Contentment, too, is a gift from the Heavenly Father—who provided manna in the wilderness, the Bread of Life in Christ, and continues to meet our daily needs. Contentment stretches far beyond finances or hunger. It reaches into our identity, our roles, our relationships, even our location and life stage. Paul’s famous declaration—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:11:13)”—wasn’t about achievement , but learning contentment even within prison walls, fully surrendering the perks of his previous identity.

We do not live to satisfy our cravings. To live beyond contentment is to collect moldy manna, an untrusting load that serves no purpose. Instead, we are invited to live as shrewd and savvy worshipers: disciplined with our efforts, generous with our resources, and joyful in simplicity (Proverbs 31). In this way, we show ourselves devoted and dependent—not on what we can store up, but on the One who supplies.  If we are to live in excess, let it be in the goodness of a Father who meets every need and has satisfied our debt with the death of His Son and whose grace is sufficient for every demand.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. Are there instances/areas when you have lived, or are living, beyond contentment? Do you have a collection of moldy manna?
  2. What do you think the secret of contentment is?
  3. How does Proverbs 30:7-9 differ from “worldly wisdom”?
SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload

Gifts, God and Glory

1 Kings 10-11
2 Chronicles 9

There are simply some things you have to see with your own eyes to understand what all the hype is about. To stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon or to gaze from the helm of a ship in the middle of the ocean are images that have been perpetuated as pinnacle experiences through pop culture. While it’s possible to be in awe while reading a description or gazing at a photo, the real deal—being present in these places—has left me in wonder at the work of the Almighty.

In a similar manner, the stories of Solomon’s wisdom had spread like wildfire, reaching as far as the Horn of Africa—which, in ancient historical terms, was viral. The tale of a singularly wise leader whose work had led Israel into a time of ultimate prosperity made all the hype seem too good to be true. The Queen of Sheba, having received these reports, had to hear and see for herself. What she found was that the blessings were abundant and beyond even what was reported. The sights and sounds of Israel were breathtaking, but none more than the wisdom of King Solomon. After taking it all in, the Queen acknowledged that the sovereign God of Israel had placed Solomon on the throne to rule at such a time.

“Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”
—1 Kings 10:9

In contrast, in the very next chapter of 1 Kings, we watch the eyes of Solomon shift—from service of the Most High to service of his own flesh. From my own speculations, taken from the perspective in Ecclesiastes, it seems that for a season Solomon focused more on the gifts of God than on his relationship with Him. Israel began looking more like the king and less like its God under Solomon’s direction. He established altars for the gods of his wives and concubines, reshaping not only the physical locations but also the worship of the people. The evidence was in: the splendor of this kingdom, which once pointed to the protection of an undefeated Most High God, was now showing signs of the waning wisdom of a compromised king calling his own shots.

As we read these contrasting moments in Solomon’s life, we should turn and reflect on our own. We may not have the accolade of being the “-est” of anything, but there are tales that could be reaching far and wide about us. When we are visited, our “place settings inspected,” and people look at our sacrifice, what does all our effort and show point to? Are we encouraged—or offended—by those who look at the catalogue of our life’s work and give God the credit?

When God has His hand upon us, it can be recognized and sought by strangers from a distant land who hunger or thirst for answers to their questions. The truth is, sometimes from the outside looking in, the beauty of God’s hand in our lives is more clearly seen. Conversely, from the inside looking out, we may gaze upon the gifts of the Lord and mistakenly see them as our own handiwork, when it is by God’s glory that we are richly blessed. The warning given to us by Job is that the One who gives and multiplies can also take away and divide.

The hype of God has been—and will continue to be—acknowledged by those who look at it from afar in awe. However, the goodness of God is best experienced firsthand, through encountering Him with every thought and action. Let us not forget that He is the provider of grace and the bestower of the fruits of His Spirit; we could never attain these through our own effort. Don’t be so entangled in the blessing that you forget the intention with which it was given: to demonstrate the glory of our Heavenly Father.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What thoughts, feelings, desires, or motives do you think led Solomon astray? Which of these same thoughts, feelings, desires, or motives do you see in yourself?
  2. In what ways would you like to be like Solomon? In what ways will you work at not being like Solomon?
  3. Are there gifts God has given you that you have mistakenly viewed as your own handiwork? What happens when we focus on the gifts rather than the Gifter? How can we better see what God has given and in return give to Him the credit, thanks and glory for all His wonderful gifts.
SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload
SGL.2025.CalendarBookletDownload

The Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 7-12

Yesterday we searched Ecclesiastes for the wisdom that Solomon put there for us to find.  Today we continue our search for the eternal truth that God has set for us to find.  Remember that the human mind wants to have the certainty of knowledge and wisdom, but that the only true wisdom is from God and not human thought. 

Ecclesiastes 7:8-13(NLT) Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
9 Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
10 Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.
11 Wisdom is even better when you have money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.  Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?

It is interesting that wisdom and money can go hand in hand.  When we are part of God’s family we have the resources of the head of our Household to help us. 

Does God give us the financial resources that we have for us alone?  Or are the resources for the work of His church and kingdom?

Ecclesiastes 7:29(NLT) But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

Maybe Artificial Intelligence will be able to find all knowledge? 

Will it find that God’s Word is ultimate truth or will it decide that the Word is not correct? 

Is there ultimate true wisdom in any human endeavor?

I think these verses give us the truth that God alone has ultimate wisdom and we will find it when we search for Him, and not for the knowledge that comes from the world.  All else is “vanity” trying to breath into a bottle.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14(NLT) The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.
12 But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

How does the conclusion of Ecclesiastes compare with the proverb that Jesus gives us in Matthew?

Matthew 10:16(NKJV) Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves

May you have a great day being shrewd in the world’s ways, but with God’s love and truth as the foundation of the way to live.

-Tom Siderius

See Reflection Questions above in bold

SGL.2025.JuneFullPageDownload

The Words of the Preacher

Ecclesiastes 1-6

Ecclesiastes 1:1-5(NKJV)  The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
And hastens to the place where it arose.

“Ecclesiastes” comes from the Greek “Ekklesiastes” which is from the word “ekklesia” which in the NT is translated into “assembly” or “church”.  Solomon is the writer, and the book is the “Speaker to the Assembly”.  Or we could say “Preacher”.  These are words that the church needs to hear.

Ecclesiastes 1:14-17(NKJV)  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Our readings for today and tomorrow are wisdom from Solomon about the meaning of life.  He explores wisdom, wealth, work, art, and faith throughout the book.  The word “vanity” used in many versions of the Bible is the Hebrew word “hebel”.  It is translated in different versions as vanity, meaningless, or futility.  It is a word which is not easily translated directly to English.  The meaning comes from the idea of “breath” or “vapor” like the breath of steam from your mouth on a cold day.  It cannot be grasped with your hands or put into a bottle or jar.  Meaning in our lives without God being involved is like trying to grab ahold of that breath or vapor.   People desire for their lives to have meaning and purpose.  We also want to be remembered as doing things that are useful and lasting.  Solomon certainly did all that a man could do in his life and had God given wisdom to work from.  Yet he says that all is meaningless without the purpose of serving God.  Even our Christian religious activity doesn’t have meaning without true godliness at its base.  This fallen world needs to find Christ in order to find meaning.  Only God in His wisdom knows what we need and has provided it for us.

Reflection Questions

Do you feel like you are grasping the wind or vapor when trying to understand life?

How does the Word of God change that?

Are you sometimes frustrated by your study of the Bible?

How does the perspective of Ecclesiastes change your thinking?

 Enjoy reading Ecclesiastes today and tomorrow and try to look for the purpose of your life in the reading. 

God Bless!  Tom Siderius