DAILY BIBLE READING

 Jun 14: 2Chron 6-7; Ps 136
Jun 15: Ps 134/146-150
Jun 16: 1King 9; 2Chron 8
Jun 17: Prov 25-26
Jun 18: Prov 27-29
Jun 19: Ecc 1-6
Jun 20: Ecc 7-12
Jun 21: 1King 10-11; 2Chron 9

NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S READINGS

·         We continue reading in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles about Solomon’s early reign, particularly the completion and dedication of the temple.   Solomon’s prayer and God’s response in 2 Chronicles 6-7 are particularly moving.

·         I’m not sure about putting Psalms 146-150 and Proverbs 25-29 here in the “chronological reading plan.”  Scholars debate the timing of certain biblical writings, of course, but these seem to be “post-exilic” additions to the books of Psalms and Proverbs, at least according to the English Standard Version (ESV) study Bible.  This would be about 400-500 years after the time of Solomon.

·         Nevertheless, Psalms 146-150 are “Hallelujah Psalms,” certainly appropriate for temple worship.  “Hallelujah” is translated “Praise Yahweh (the LORD),” and these psalms of pure worship and praise are a fitting doxology at the end of the psalter.

·         Proverbs 25-29 may have been written by Solomon, but they were apparently added to the other proverbs after the Jews’ return from exile.

·         Ecclesiastes proves to be challenging for some readers of the Bible, but I love the book’s honest struggle with the meaning of life.  Again, scholars debate the time of writing, but Solomon seems to be a fairly good guess as the author.  He lives out what most people think is their dream – a life of wealth, fame, pleasure, education, and accomplishment.  Along the way you’ll find some great gems of wisdom (see devotions below), but his greatest contribution may be to give a simple conclusion after a complicated reflection – “Fear God and keep his commandments.”  Whatever your questions, live life in accountability to your Creator and do what he says – that’s all you need to know.

DEVOTIONS

(This week’s devotional thought is written by Josh Moore, our pastoral intern for the summer.  Josh is a student at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte)

It is not hard to see the connection between foolishness and pleasure.  But what does “the house of mourning” have to do with being wise?

Ecclesiastes 7 is filled with pithy statements contrasting wisdom and folly.  The key to understanding the connection between wisdom and mourning therefore is to look at the parallel: fools are to pleasure as mourning is to wisdom.

The contrast is striking and obvious, but the meaning is somewhat subtle.  The writer’s point is not that only fools desire pleasure.  Instead, the Teacher knows every reader will intuitively grasp a man goes to a house of pleasure for himself and to a house of mourning for others. 

The wise person’s heart is concerned about others’ pain and finds joy in empathy – entering into their problems and helping them carry their pain.  Their model is the One who “for the joy set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2).  Christ, The Wise Man, entered into our world of mourning and misery because his joy was found in bringing us joy.  He bore our pain as a necessary part of securing the pleasure he desperately longed for us to have in him.

The foolish man, according to God, is foolish, ultimately, not because he pursued pleasure, but because he pursued it by way of himself and not through the good of others.