September 24
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ECCLESIASTES 8
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God. – Ecclesiastes 8:10-13
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ECCLESIASTES 8 ALL IS WELL WITH THOSE WHO FEAR GOD
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
In this corrupt world, we will experience all kinds of evil
There will be oppression being done to the poor and helpless
Discrimination of all kinds based on wealth and race are rampant
The wicked hate those who love the Lord and suppress them.
All those who love the Lord and fear him, be encouraged
For God promised the crown of life to all those who love him
Your suffering may seem hopeless, but take heed, God sees all things
He will never allow his children to be defeated by all of Satan’s schemes.
You may wonder why the wicked prevail in their unrighteousness
Or why the good deeds of the righteous are hardly recognized
The deceivers and religious may seem to be honored and respected
But in God’s eyes, their deceptions will not be unnoticed but be punished.
All is well with those who fear God for they are assured of eternal life
But all those who create havoc and evil on others will be in Sheol
Do not be distressed all who fear the Lord; Jesus died to save you
Let your trust rest in all his promises and always have your minds renewed.
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REFLECTION
• What did Solomon mean in verses 12-13 when he presents the difference between those who fear the Lord and the wicked?
Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO
ECCLESIASTES 8 WHEN YOU OBEY AUTHORITY
September 23
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ECCLESIASTES 8
Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. 2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt. – Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
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ECCLESIASTES 8 WHEN YOU OBEY AUTHORITY
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When God created humans, he made him stewards of his creation
Men were given authority over the other creatures that he fashioned
But because of disobedience, that authority was displaced and twisted
No longer can man automatically obey, he follows his own nature instead
God is a God of order while Satan is the author of confusion
The Lord designed mankind to follow his commandments.
These laws protect humans so we can live in peace and harmony
Without obedience there’ll be much chaos, conflict and anarchy
It is wise to obey God’s commands so his promises can be fulfilled
If you love the Lord your God, you will also obey those in command
All of God’s appointed leaders were chosen by our Lord who is All-knowing
When we don’t obey those in authority over us, we are defying God himself.
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REFLECTION
• In John 14:15, God commands us to obey him as proof of our love for him and in Romans 13:1, he also says that everyone must submit himself to all governing authority for God himself established such authority. How come some people
twists obedience to authority according to their own perceptions?
ECCLESIASTES 7 PLEASING GOD BREAKS BONDAGES & SNARES
September 22
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ECCLESIASTES 7
21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.23 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? 25 I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. 26 And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. 27 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— 28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. 29 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
– Ecclesiastes 7:21-29
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ECCLESIASTES 7 PLEASING GOD BREAKS BONDAGES & SNARES
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When God made mankind, he designed them to be upright like him
Man was created to be in relationship with God and bring him glory
But evil came into the picture that enticed man to be wicked instead
Since the fall, our uprightness was compromised and we easily rebelled.
Human nature became evil that we broke off our relationship with the Lord
This broken relationship brought forth God’s wrath to the world
But God loved us so much that he solved man’s unrighteousness
He sent his own Son for the appeasement of his anger over our wickedness.
Man tends to follow his nature but in Christ, he can once again please God
To fear the Lord instead of giving in to our sinful nature is the way out
Stop pleasing yourself. Instead, please the Lord and hell’s door will be shut down
It will break all bondages to rebel and be sinful if you cling to Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• In verse 29, Solomon reminds us of the original design of humans by God, why does mankind desperately want to change that design?
ECCLESIASTES 7 WISE ARE THOSE WHO ADMIT THEIR SINFULNESS
September 21
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ECCLESIASTES 7
15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
– Ecclesiastes 7:15-20
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ECCLESIASTES 7 WISE ARE THOSE WHO ADMIT THEIR SINFULNESS
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
This life isn’t always fair; the righteous perishes and the wicked continues
Some become so consumed with being righteous not knowing it can destroy
The world says moderation is good, yet true love knows no bounds
Can we love someone and continue to be careful to show our love?
Should we have moderation when we give glory and praise to our Lord?
Didn’t he want us to love him with all our hearts, our minds and our souls?
When we consider ourselves good in our own eyes, isn’t that “sinfulness?”
Isn’t craving for others to view us as “nice and good” an exercise of vanity?
When all we think about is pleasuring our “selves”, will we have time to praise God?
It is wise for humans to admit their sinfulness; this way will lead to righteousness
But those who deny their selfish nature will be on the path to wickedness
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, without it, we will dishonor him
When we love God, we will also hate what he hates which is “sin.”
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REFLECTION
• Is moderation always good? Why or why not?
• What did Solomon mean in verse 20 when he says that there isn’t a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins?
• Why is it folly to forget our sinful nature as we live a life for Jesus? What happens when we think that we are good and righteous?
ECCLESIASTES 7 WHO CAN ALTER WHAT GOD HAS MADE
September 20
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ECCLESIASTES 7
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. – Ecclesiastes 7:7-14
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ECCLESIASTES 7 WHO CAN ALTER WHAT GOD HAS MADE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
It is valuable to remember that God is in control in all things
He allows circumstances that are beyond us in this world for a reason
He is the designer of this universe and we cannot fathom it always
If you regret and resent what goes on in life, you will miss his promises.
Who can alter what God has made and what he allows man to go through?
No human can take control of his life or whatever is happening around
We are all part of the big plan and that he can do whatever he pleases with us
Because we serve an Almighty God who sees and knows all, let’s give him our trust.
It is folly to follow our sinful nature and be angry when things don’t go our way
The wise person looks at the perspective that God has in store for humans
Who can fix what God has made crooked? It is beyond our make to do so
Let us then allow the process of change to sink in our hearts so we can grow.
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REFLECTION
• Why do humans automatically react to change in a negative way?
ECCLESIASTES 7 THE BETTER THINGS IN LIFE
September 19
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ECCLESIASTES 7
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity. – Ecclesiastes 7:1-6
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ECCLESIASTES 7 THE BETTER THINGS IN LIFE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
What does it truly mean to have a better life?
Is it to be wealthy, famous, powerful or be emulated?
A life of integrity and honesty is much better than prosperity
It makes one have less conflicts, live in peace and have less anxiety.
Many people fear death because they don’t know Jesus Christ
But if you believe in the Lord, even if you die, you will have life
For those who do not know him, they will easily cling to life on earth
They wouldn’t want to let go of all their wealth and good health.
The laughter of the wicked is not better than those who are mourning
If you serve Jesus, you will know that he comforts those who are grieving
He didn’t die for us to have happy lives, he died so we can be reconciled with God
The better things in life are those that lead us to our Maker, it is not what feels good.
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REFLECTION
• What’s the difference between happiness and joy? Is joy better or not?
ECCLESIASTES 6 THE FUTILITY OF INSATIABLE DESIRES OF MAN
September 18
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ECCLESIASTES 6
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun? – Ecclesiastes 6:7-12
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ECCLESIASTES 6 THE FUTILITY OF INSATIABLE DESIRES OF MAN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Most of our lives are spent to work so we can eat and be satisfied
Yet when we have consumed our foods, we still desire something else
We buy things that we think will give us happiness and pleasure
But all that we acquire end up being set aside later and unused.
We study hard so we can reach a level of knowledge that we can be esteemed
But the more we know, the more we aim more and the bigger our egos become
We speak more words so we can project a bigger image of ourselves
Not knowing that fools talk a lot more and wise people speak less words.
We like to be in control of things and of the lives of those whom we love
When we do not understand, we panic and do our best to make sense of it
We try to figure things out and pretend that we can control what’s happening
All the insatiable desires of man to be in control are all futile and pointless.
Without the fear of the Lord, no knowledge is beneficial to man
It is revering the Lord that eventually leads us to discover wisdom
All of man’s cravings for pleasure, knowledge and control are all futile
All these insatiable desires are the beginnings of sin that leads to death.
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REFLECTION
• How are human desires useless and considered a striving after wind?
ECCLESIASTES 6 THE MEANINGLESSNESS OF A DISSATISFIED LIFE
September 16
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ECCLESIASTES 5
13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. – Ecclesiastes 5: 13-20
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ECCLESIASTES 5 THE UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
There are people who chase after money, riches and wealth
They lose sleep just thinking of it and compromise their health
They are preoccupied with holding on to their possessions
Such that these objects almost have a life of their own.
They gather and hoard these things for their selfish reasons
They isolate themselves and live with these belongings
Some of them die alone and buried in their hoarded things
What vanity it is to live with objects rather than human beings.
Every good gift comes from the Lord who is our only provision
He gave us abilities, talents and blessings so we can use it for his vision
The riches in this world are meaningless if we don’t have God
There is no point in gathering since we can’t bring them when we die.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it meaningless to hoard things and to chase after material wealth and riches?
• Share an experience that shows the vanity of clinging to riches and things.
ECCLESIASTES 5 ON INJUSTICE & LOVERS OF MONEY
September 15
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ECCLESIASTES 5
8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. – Ecclesiastes 5:8-12
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ECCLESIASTES 5 ON INJUSTICE & LOVERS OF MONEY
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
In this world, we will experience oppression of the poor and injustice
Because corruption is rampant in our world system, there’ll be prejudices
The poor gets poorer each day while the rich gain more wealth and power
It is unspeakable and unbearable to witness what injustice does to the vulnerable.
What good is it if God’s people do not care about such injustice in our world today?
Do we truly have faith if we don’t even do something about alleviating their pain?
The Lord hates abuse and partiality, what can we do so we help those discriminated
Let us show love and compassion to the unjustly treated and marginalized.
Lovers of money are insatiable and are never satisfied with their possessions
When they get a chance, they will want more and never get satisfaction
These money lovers will never part with their riches and wealth
They are obsessed to have more money at the expense of their health.
Though the rich have enough food to eat and have all life’s comforts
The poor laborers who toil hard and eat little are still able to sleep good
These lovers of money clearly cannot serve the Lord because of their master
Their lives are meaningless because it is all about gathering earthly riches.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it impossible to serve God if one loves money as Matthew 6:24 says?
• Why is dissatisfaction prevalent in people who love money?