Eccl. 12 - Short-Term Memory

A good quarterback has short-term memory. After throwing an interception, they need to forget that they did it and move on. If they can’t get it out of their mind, they’ll be too cautious or even hesitate. Since throwing a football is so much about timing, even the slightest hesitation can cause more mistakes.

We naturally have short-term memory in faith. That may be good for when we fall short, confess, and need to receive forgiveness avoiding a life of condemnation. But at times, our short-term memory hurts us; when we forget about God’s faithfulness and his goodness.

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them" – Ecclesiastes 12:1

I read a book a few years ago called, “Dangerous Wonder”. It was about the time as a kid that our imagination ran wild. A time when we daydreamed more than we worried. A day when we really thought superman could fly.

Then we grew up. And learned that he couldn’t.

I think Solomon is calling us to remember the early days of our faith, a day when we did not doubt our Creator like sifting sand. A day when all we felt was hope in what could be, instead of doubt that it might not. A day when superman could still fly, and we just happened to know superman.

As we wrap up Ecclesiastes, I’m thinking about this pleasure and joy that Solomon speaks of, the fact that most (if not all) of us are chasing after it, yet many have not found it. I’m also thinking about the “knowledge” he refers to throughout the book. And that we typically have much less of it than we think as well.

What captures my mind is this relationship between knowledge and joy. It seems that knowledge almost tortures joy. It seems they have a love/hate relationship and simply coexist in a world separate one from another. Some of the smartest people I know are also the most tortured people I know. In the same way, some of the most joyful people I know... well.. aren't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. I’ve heard it said, and at times agreed, that “ignorance is bliss”. Yet I think we’d all agree that it’s a different kind of bliss… the kind that most grownups would not be content with.

So where does wisdom come into the picture? It may indeed be the missing link between knowledge and joy. I think Charles Spurgeon said it right:

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” CS

Father, teach us to apply what we know. Don’t allow us to find contentment in just knowing. In the same way, don’t let us find contentment in bliss alone. It seems you’re already busy at doing both. So I guess I’m asking for this continued journey that each of us are on. Help us to see the intentional refining, the shaping, and the “becoming” in our adventure as Christ followers. Help us to find true joy and pleasure knowing that we’re on this path as a part of You making us who we need to be. Amen.

Eccl. 10 – Mixing Words

My 11 year old is getting into a little bit of trouble at school right now. He’s a good kid, first born, who typically avoids breaking the rules at all costs (so it's a bit funny that he's even in trouble). He’s not really in major trouble… he’s just getting a little sassy with his teachers. And he’s just smart enough to think he’s getting away with it. I don’t know where he gets it. (wink, wink). Although the indicators are obvious, he claims he doesn’t know when he’s doing it… so I told him to listen to himself when he’s talking. When he catches himself talking too much, he’s usually a little full of “it”.

“Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness-and the fool multiplies words.” – Eccl. 10:12-14

Our words are important.

There’s also a pretty blatant progression found in these verses that can serve as evidence for when we are speaking foolishly. Especially in regards to other people: First, (1) our accusations or thoughts about whatever we are talking of are unfounded or possibly based on “folly”, (2) our words in themselves seem to rile ourselves up causing us to spiral into more and more madness and (3) we find ourselves constantly reeling in our words trying to convince others to agree.

No good can come from it. And the advice continues:

“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” – Ecclesiastes 10:20

This whole chapter is about staying calm and choosing our words wisely. We’ve all struggled to do so. I think that this not only helps us maintain the right posture… but it also gives us an opportunity to evaluate our thoughts and validate them before acting on them.

This is a good reminder, one that we probably all need.

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29

God, Help us to control our tongue. Your word says it's like a rudder that turns the whole ship... so this is important. More than anything, change our hearts... that our words may just be an overflow of the transformation happening from within. Amen.

Eccl. 9 – Lucky Dog

I was intrigued by these verses today:

“The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. Anyone who is among the living has hope - even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!” – Ecclesiastes 9:3-4

These words remind me of a thought I had this past week while preparing my sermon. I was thinking about how we apply our understanding of God when he is correcting or disciplining us. If we think that God is just a mean puppet master who messes with us for His own sport, we probably won’t respond appropriately. But if we think of God as the righteous, worthy, God of love that He is, we’ll see that His correction is not for sport, but for restoration.

However... regardless of what we believe or think, it does not change truth.

Scripture tells us that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. This is because one day God will reveal himself in a way that no one will be able to deny it. Whether we thought of Him as Lord or not, it won’t change the reality that He is.

As Solomon wrote, “The same destiny overtakes all”… whether we want to believe it or not… “Anyone who is among the living has hope” and as He said, “even a live dog is better off than a dead lion.”

Esther 10 – Hero

Chapter ten caught me off guard today. At first with how short it was. Then second in how inappropriate it seemed that the closing chapter doesn’t even mention the true hero of the story – Esther. But then I thought, wow, who was the one who offered wisdom and great counsel to Esther? Who was the one who raised her as his own child? And who was the one who stood against Haman knowing the inherent harm that would come with it? It was Mordecai. There was more than one hero in this story.

“Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.” – Esther 10:3

This book was not named Mordecai. Yet his effort and faithfulness was not only noticed, it was credited. We like getting credit. Our nature is to desire our name to be on the title line. Especially when we do something notable. Yet that rarely happens. There is always someone doing more, a seemingly greater task, a more noteworthy effort, and on a larger scale. That can easily become discouraging. But I’m reminded today that while some of the greatest things we do, we may do in secret and may remain unnoticed, that there is a King far greater than Xerxes who is most certainly taking note.

Our greatest battle may be to realign our pursuits to please only the King. Not ourselves. Not our contemporaries. Not our adversaries. But God alone. And trust that all else will fall in line. We don't have the ability to do this on our own. It is only possible through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Just one more reason to abide in Christ.

God, give us this passion. Amen

Psalm 12 - Success

I had a great conversation with two contemporaries (and friends) today; one is a church planter here in Austin, the other the founder of a non-profit focusing on the fight to help end local poverty. Our conversation somehow made it to a discussion about how as believers we should measure success, and how when measured properly, is often accompanied with a peace that might not typically make sense.

While obviously, we should measure success by the standards in which we think God measures success, our nature is to measure it by the things that typically bring us honor in the minds of our contemporaries. Wanting to be honored among men is an amazingly powerful temptation and thus shape a majority of our lives. Made me think how important it is that we choose wisely those we allow to influence our pursuits. It also made this final thought from Psalm 12 come alive for me today:

“The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.” – Psalm 12:8

1 Sam 27 - Back to Gath

Apparently this is a highly debated chapter in scripture. Many believe David had given up and made a bad (or at least selfish) decision here to head back to Gath. And that he was giving up. I just don’t see evidence of that. And it seems like weird timing to do that after such a cool scene and seemingly victorious effort in chapter 26. Instead I see some great insight to the heart and mind of David… and even more so, the fruit of a journey of faith.

“But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand." (1 Sam 27:1)

It didn’t say God led him or told him. It simply tells us David “thought to himself” (more closely translated ‘said in his heart’). And he was right, Saul stopped his pursuit. Verse four says, “When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.”

Typically when I hear that inner voice, especially when it turns out to be right, I attribute it directly to hearing God. I wonder if in this scripture we don’t see the result of David being so close to God, so used to hearing His leading, and knowing His heart so well, that he began to think and in this moment choose His way without even hearing it. Maybe that’s the journey. Maybe it’s ours too.

Weird thought that is not a theological claim, simply a weird thought: It makes me wonder that if we don’t make the right decisions or have the right faith attitudes, if God doesn’t always take us the way of some form of trial until we eventually learn the right things that increase our decision making ability and/or faith attitudes. Each time David waited on God, it left him inches from Saul, which was a part of His refining plan. Once his faith was at a place in which he intuitively made the right decision, he found peace. If we remember, Gath was the place God led David in the first place. But then, instead of acting civil and being the man God he was, he acted insane.

He had now come full circle. Physically and Spiritually.

This time, David was armed with a greater level of God’s wisdom. And his faith was stronger. Immediately he took a humble posture before Achich. He let him know he was no threat to him and his intentions were pure.

“Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” vs. 5

And Achish gave David what he requested. Once at a place and under an authority in which David felt he must act crazy. Now, under a different strategy, he lives as a welcomed citizen. I’m not going to take this so far as to wonder if he’d of acted this way the first time if all the following experiences were unnecessary, but it most certainly makes me think about God’s refining through our experiences.

I’m so encouraged today to see God’s leading and David’s maturing as he literally learned to “flee” eminent danger in the Lord, take major risks in the Lord, remain faithful under any circumstance in the Lord, and eventually find a season of peace through it.

David went through it all. He experienced it all. God took him there. He didn’t become bitter or negative, never expressed (to our knowledge) confusion instead he held the banner high and led others through his trial. Oh yeah, and eventually he would become King of Israel and his lineage would be that of Jesus.

Lord, I say often that I know your plan is bigger than mine. I’m reminded this morning how true that really is. I know that it’s not about me. Literally nothing is. Nothing corporate and nothing personal. If our pursuits are right, it’s always about you and your Glory, not ours. You are amazing. Your ways are divine. Thank you for your greatness. Amen.