Ecc. 9: Destiny

Ecclesiastes 9:9 "Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun— all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun."

I had this verse read as the scripture for my wedding. I know. It's a little out there. But I wanted something personal, more intensely pointed than 1 Corinthians' love chapter. (I know, that's intensely pointed too, but cliche at weddings). But the challenge is to forget about all the mindless striving and live my little life, enjoy my wife, and my time under the sun. Realize and own the idea that this isn't all there is, and that the pursuit of treasures under the sun is vanity. Loving my wife is not.

The grander point is that we all have a common destiny, and that is to return to the ground from which we came. Whether we were righteous or wicked, wise or fools. Death awaits us all, and then the unknown beyond. The difference in the righteous is that they have a certainty in the unknown. Which seems like a paradox, huh?

Man can strive and train and prepare and boast, but when it all comes down, God controls the outcome.

As for words, wisdom outruns volume, and it's not even close.

Pr. 31: A Good Wife

Proverbs 31:10 "A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!"

Here's some stuff King Lemuel's mother taught him. I don't know who King Lemuel is. He doesn't show up in the list of kings back in Kings and Chronicles. Maybe he is a king of some other country. I don't know. Israel/Judah had allies. Anyway, should I get bogged down in who he was? On to the Proverbs.

It is no place for kings, rulers...people of high esteem to crave drink, and allow themselves to get wasted. For the poor, and those at the end of their lives, I suppose that's understandable. Alcohol gets people crazy, and a person who makes laws doesn't want to drunk-legislate. Bad idea. But these people in poverty, its not good just to forget about them and let them get drunk. Lemuel's mom tells him to stick up for them, to speak for them when they have no voice.

Then, Lemuel's mom offers advice on the right type of woman. The common view of what the bible says about women is that they should shut up, don't make waves, and generally just spit out an army of babies.

Lets take a look. Her noble character is worth more than rubies. Which, I guess are pretty valuable.

Not as valuable as a wife of noble character.

She's basically good at everything she does, she uplifts her husband, she brings him good. She fears the LORD, which is important, because the other things we value, charm and beauty, are deceptive and fleeting. This is no wimpy little housewife. She is smart, wise, careful, and attentive to detail. Diligent and hardworking, generous and giving. I wonder how many women with these characteristics are promoted on TV and in movies. I don't know. I don't see many movies.

But that sounds like my kinda woman.

Pr. 21: Motives

Proverbs 21:30 "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. "

The wording is "the king" in verse one. I wonder if that refers to David. If it were any king, wouldn't it say "a king?" Not all kings allow themselves to be guided by God. Of course.

Don't think your plans through? Poverty. (v. 5)

Bernie Madoff. (v. 6-8)

You don't want to be anywhere near a quarrelsome wife. Probably not because she is angry with you, but because she reflects on her husband. (v. 9, 19)

You need wisdom before you can get knowledge. (v. 11)

Does justice bring you joy or terror? (v. 15)

Wise people save, while the foolish don't have the foresight to do so. (v. 20)

God's ways are ineffable. (v. 30)

You can make all the plans you want, but God directs the outcome. (v. 31)

Ps. 45: The Bride and Groom

Psalm 45:7 "You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

This chapter is a pretty massive departure. The 45th Psalm appears (at least on the surface) to be a tribute to a bridegroom and his bride. Perhaps this is about David, and a bride he took from Tyre. Tyre is mentioned in this Psalm, and Both David and Solomon had close ties with that nation. The first half is addressed to the bridegroom, describing his characteristics, while the second half is more about the bride.

Consider the deep respect and reverence for the bridegroom. The most excellent man. One most excellent man. Lips anointed with grace. While the third verse talks about the sword, it is interesting that instead of military conquest and on behalf of violence, the fourth verse talks about the conquering doing so on behalf of truth, humility and righteousness. Not exactly something that strikes fear in the hearts of enemies. Especially considering David's militaristic reign and reputation. But then I see the section about the arrows piercing the heart. Is that the physical heart though?

The bride is called upon to leave behind her way of life to join and become one with her groom. And that would be sad for me, tough for me to do. How could I leave behind what I love, what I know? The king is enthralled by the beauty he sees in the bride. This bride is someone the king very much wants to be with, very much wants to love. And it's a joyous wedding! Two people will become one, and they will love each other.

Ne. 13: Nehemiah's High Horse

Nehemiah 13:14 "Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services."

I don't know the timeline of when chapter 13 occured in relation to chapter 12, but I imagine it could be a huge holy buzzkill. Just as the people are celebrating and thinking pretty highly of themselves, Nehemiah comes along and points out all their faults. In a way, I love his direct approach, including but not limited to pulling the hair out of men who married foreign chicks. You have to get attention somehow. And these things the people did were expressly forbidden. Dozens (probably) of times in scripture alone. Never mind the examples of what happened to revered forefathers of Israel when they hooked up with foreign broads (Solomon?). 

But another way to react, as I did, was to bristle at how Nehemiah treated the people. He didn't sugarcoat his judgment on the people. He didn't try to reason with them. Straight up he was with the people he knew were blowing it. This was no milquetoast believer. I don't respond so well to direct hostility. Chances are, I know when I'm a screwup, and personally, I'd need someone to show me how to change.

And I don't mean to suggest that these violations were minor. Eliashib allowing Tobiah (yeah, that Tobiah who aided in spreading rumors and impeding wall construction) to use a room in the temple was pretty out of line. In fact, the whole temple situation was in disarray, with people not at their posts (out farming, because people weren't giving the priestly portions with their offerings) and people working on the Sabbath. Lets not forget how important rest is to the LORD.

So Nehemiah does a lot of purificatin', and does his best to implant reforms that will get things right again. These are the things Nehemiah wants to be remembered for, and I think he is.

Dt. 22: Laws and Laws of Laws

Deuteronomy 22:8 "When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof."

Some more laws for Israel to keep track of. Laws. Not suggestions or guidelines. Basically it seems like Israel was being commanded to look out for one another. They were family...brothers. You were to be helpful to your brother.

Help an ox or donkey to its feet if it stumbles, don't you walk on by.

Cross-dressing. Detestable to the LORD God. But why? A man appearing to look like a woman?

Hmm...if you find a nest on the ground, the eggs are yours, but let the bird go...a parapet roof prevents fall off. Why someone else would be on your roof is beyond me...

Two kinds of seed in one field, two species of animal in one yoke, two types of cloth woven into one garment - not allowed. Makes sense, I guess.

I don't get the deal with the tassels on the four corners of the cloak. I assume there is some symbolism there over practicality.

Then we have marriage violations, which just seems like a big embarrassing debacle for all parties. The only physical proof of virginity is blood in the sheets. Bloody sheets are a legal document in times of claiming virginity. The elders of the town had to get involved in the literal dirty laundry of two families, even to life and death.

A man sleeps with a married woman. Stone them both. Purge the evil.

A man sleeps with an engaged virgin in town. Stone them both. He's a rapist, she's promiscuous.

A man sleeps with an engaged virgin out in the countryside. Stone him. He's a rapist. She had no rescuer.

A man sleeps with an unengaged virgin, he has to pay 50 shekels to her dad and marry her and NEVER divorce her. Its nice to have options.

And, it's too bad this had to come up, don't sleep with your father's wife. I said, DON'T.