Excursions in Ecclesiastes

Ecc 4:6  Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 

Curious as to the cross reference of the above verse - Proverbs 15:16, 17; 16:8, meandering through cross references.

Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

• Psa 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 
• Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
• Pro 16:8  Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. 

• Pro 17:1  Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
• Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. 

Pro 16:8  Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

• Psa 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 
• Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
• Pro 16:8  Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

It's hard to be solo, Scripture bears this out:

Ecc 4:9-12 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Found this verse perplexing:

Ecc 4:15  I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. (KJV)

Ecc 4:15  I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place; (YLT)

I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. (ESV)

What does second child mean?  Perused commentaries, one related this to Solomon's son Rehoboam.  Others commented on how change from an old monarch to another can be troublesome.

I wondered if it meant 'second child' in the sense of Christ Jesus - none of the commentaries took that tack.

I've meditated on this, and our pastor has touched on the topic, more than once.

Ecc 5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 

Ecc 5:3  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 

Keeping one's thoughts and words in check.  Aptly applied before the next verse:

Ecc 5:4  When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 

Which takes me back to a post I had on vows.

Do we really reflect as God would have us to?

Ecc 7:2  It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 

Do those who attend funerals, memorials, etc. really think "that could be me?"  Do you?

Ecc 7:7  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 

The center column notes adds:

mad = a fool

gift = bribe

destroyeth = corrupts

Isn't that the truth?  Those who take gifts pervert judgment.

And why this comparison between a living dog versus a dead lion?

Ecc 9:4  For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

For — rather, “Nevertheless.” English Version rightly reads as the Margin, Hebrew, “that is joined,” instead of the text, “who is to be chosen?”

hope — not of mere temporal good (Job_14:7); but of yet repenting and being saved.

dog — metaphor for the vilest persons (1Sa_24:14).

lion — the noblest of animals (Pro_30:30).

better — as to hope of salvation; the noblest who die unconverted have no hope; the vilest, so long as they have life, have hope.

Ecc 10:1  Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. 

What is folly?

H5531 - From H5528; silliness.

• H5528 - For H3688; to be silly.
• H3688 - A primitive root; properly to be fat, that is, (figuratively) silly.

I can remember using the word 'silly' with my children versus calling them stupid. I thought it meant being goofy or horsing around.

When I went and looked at the definition for the word silly, I decided that wasn't the proper word to use!

Definition: having or showing a lack of common sense or judgment; absurd and foolish.

Obviously not a compliment!

As my posts on Keeping the Kastle:

Ecc 10:18  By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

It's a work in progress, but thank you LORD!  He has gotten me through to almost (gasp, choke, wheeze) FINALLY being done!

So no daydreaming!

Ecc 11:4  He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 

And the final verse which jumped out at me?

Ecc 12:3  In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

Which phrase do you think caught my attention?

keepers of the house - which is probably not talking about a housewife or a woman who keeps the home.  :-)

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

keepers of the house — namely, the hands and arms which protected the body, as guards do a palace (Gen_49:24; Job_4:19; 2Co_5:1), are now palsied.

So whether we're 'keeping house' in the physical sense of making a home, are we being as diligent, if not more so, about 'keeping' our spiritual house from decaying or rotting?  How or what are we using to 'build up' or 'maintain' the inward man?

I'm falling really short in this area, not taking the God given time to really spend time with Him as I ought, opting instead to escape and play, versus being diligently about my Father's business.  I'd appreciate prayer for me (and all of His children) to be about His business with fervency, warning those who need it, speaking His words in due season.

April Reading Through

April's read through....may He bless each of us as we seek to spend time in His word.

Journeying Through Job

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

I don't know who first said it, and extremely glad I'm not going there! No matter how inconsistent I may be! I'd made notes while reading through Job and thought I'll post...later. Now that I'm done with the book. :-D

I'll at least try to be sequential with my review.

Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

I made a note - he's (Satan) not idle. We know that right? Satan is mentioned 14 times in the book of Job!

Satan - H7854 - From H7853; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch enemy of good.

• H7853 - A primitive root; to attack, (figuratively) accuse.

We know he's the accuser of the brethren...right? Do we also remember he masquerades as an angel of light? Quotes scripture?

1Pe_5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2Co_11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co_2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

G4567 - Of Chaldee origin corresponding to G4566 (with the definite article affixed); the accuser, that is, the devil.

• G4566 - Of Hebrew origin [H7854]; Satan, that is, the devil.

Eph_4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Eph_6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

It is imperative beloved of the Lord that we be diligent, on guard, ready warriors against the wiles of the enemy and accuser of the brethren...nor that we be used as a flaming arrow in thought, word or deed.

My next note was about Job's wife and her apparent distress over the loss of her children, their livlihood and what must have appeared to her, the impending death of her husband.

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Some take a negative view of her little faith - yet, how many of us would or could withstand such an onslaught and not be distraught? Careful how thou judges! (Yes we are to judge - another post for another time!). Job rebukes and covers his wife:

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Yet, at a certain juncture he's cursing the day of his birth - it is extremely difficult sometimes to look at how someone else is handling adversity and think ill of how they are standing (or falling) in the trial. Perhaps our best mode would be more prayer and fasting for them and the situation?

I can see this post might get lengthy...my next note is in chapter 5.

Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Which reminded me of this passage:

Heb_12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

My Bible cross referenced:

Psa 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

I thought I had more notes, especially as I remember cross referencing some of the 'admonishments' given by Job's three friends...they actually said some Biblical stuff...but obviously not with the right heart motive. Which makes me wonder, how often has something been said which 'lined up Biblically' yet wasn't what God REALLY wanted said at the moment? How much do we reflect the spirit of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar versus Elihu? Whom did God say Job needed to make a sacrifice?

Job 31:33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

That's saying a lot isn't it? Before conversion and even now don't we sometimes do the same thing as Adam? Can we say ouch?

Speaking of Elihu:

Job 32:2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

I was curious about his family linage - and got off on a rabbit trail. I perused several sites and found things to like and question on several. I especially liked this one from the Biblical Evangelist:

"He understood what God was doing (36:4). Job thought God was pouring His wrath out upon him, and his friends presumed God was punishing some sin in Job’s life. Elihu, on the other hand, suggested to Job that the Lord was simply trying to teach some important truths to him in a very special way (33:14). He proposed to Job the three ways God speaks to us: through dreams and visions, through pain and suffering, and through messengers or intermediaries (33:14-28). He told Job that God’s purpose was disciplinary, not punitive (36:5-10), and God was perfecting Job through his affliction (36:15)."

Liked this comment from Quill and Nail:

" A quick note is that it is possible to confront someone in a way that is not helpful to them, and that this doesn’t serve God."

Some interesting 'discussions' on Bible Hermeneutics Stack Exchange. NOTE: I browse many sites, some I agree with and some I don't, sometimes both! I particularly am NOT a fan of John Piper (mentioned or compared in one article). Be diligent when reading any site or article or blog - be a Berean!

The next note...maybe I should break this into parts? LOL!

Job 32:22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

Which made me think of all the titles and alphabet soup man gives and demands as a sign of accomplishment - even in the 'visible' church. Thinking specifically of the hierarchy within the Roman Catholic (false) Church...pope, bishops, etc.

God doesn't want us to elevate ourselves, rather to glorify Him, regardless of the situations, circumstances or people in our lives. Is it difficult yet, can we rise above it by ourselves, no. Does He give us grace to endure while He's heating the 'hell' out of us? Yes.

How encouraging (or discouraging) are we to friends, family, co-workers, strangers even with our counsel or advice? Are we speaking His words in HIS timing? Lord help us to be more like Elihu, giving You glory and honor. Speaking not in our time, but in Yours. Help us Lord to lovingly admonish one another in ways that bring glory to You and draw others nearer and more intimate with You.

Pop Quiz

As my granny used to say, I'll give you three (3) guesses and the first two (2) don't count.  What's missing from the March read through?

Someone (clears throat) left off a few books of the Bible!  Oops!

I'm sure those who were reading through and looking at the outline caught the error.  Just add Job 41 and 42 to today's reading...or shift Eccl around!

Thanks to those who caught it and notified me!

As the river of waters...

Pro_21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 

Beach walking last year...reflecting on the passage above as I browsed through photos.

The Lord has been extremely good to me, life has not been perfect, or without pain, yet His goodness endures, His mercies are new every morning.

Just as surely as He causes the sun to rise...

...and for it to set.

So He guides and directs the steps of His people.  He crafts by His mighty hand, for purposes known only to Him, the life of each individual.  Sometimes the ways are smooth.

Sometimes turbulant...

But always controlled by the great I AM.  May the goodness and mercy of our Lord and Savior be ever praised by His people.

Reflecting

I've been pondering (I do that a lot you know) on the title of this blog and the Scripture verse used.

The irony of me, a divorced woman, with no husband and grown children, who works outside the home as a Kastle Keeper is somewhat of a misnomer, eh?

Today marks 15 years since my ex-husband left me and our two young sons.  I don't normally remember this date, but for whatever reason this 15th milestone stood out.  I was given a book years ago 'Biblical Mathematics' by Ed F. Vallowe - it has not only the common numbers - 5 = grace, 8 = new beginnings, etc. 15 = Rest.

I remember when my ex first left, thinking, "How can you walk away from your family?"  Surely God will not allow this to happen.  I had made up my mind long before I married I was NEVER going to get divorced.  NEVER.  Wouldn't happen.

Of course, you have to figure in 2 people making the same commitment.  :-)  Had I been asked at that juncture on a scale of 1 to 10, where did I rate as a wife, I would have said 8.  As the years went by and God 'grew me up,' I realized my placement on the number line was slipping.  I'd rank myself somewhere in the minus (-) area right now.

Does this mean I was a bad wife?  I wasn't the best, however there were expectations from both that were not realistic.  The culture and society in which we were raised fostered the idea of ease, comfort and selfishness.  The culture says if you don't like someone, you can find a better model.

It makes one think, from a very early age, that relationships are about getting, not giving.  About being happy (and yes there are happy times) and the other person meeting your needs (all or some).  Relationships are hard work and messy!  And not just marriage relationships!  People say or do things without thinking, or don't and you think they should!

I've had times where I 'felt' like such a failure because I couldn't keep the marriage together, had children who weren't walking with the Lord, etc. etc. I'm comforted by the Word which shows me again and again to keep my focus on HIM.  He has a purpose in everything He allows in our lives.

I don't know what the Lord has in store for me as I approach this 'bend' in the road...15 years a divorcee, approaching 50 (Jubilee), but He's carried me through and given me strength for the journey.  He's blessed me with friends and spiritual family which have laughed and cried with me, booted me in the behind when needed and exhorted me to stay the course and loved me even when I am (or wasn't) very lovable.

I'm hopeful as an older woman, even if I don't 'match' what I think would make a perfect 'Kastle Keeper', whose had some refining and (ouch!!) dross removal, to be an encouragement to other women, married or single, widowed or divorced, with children or without.  God didn't design us to be solitary, rather to be in relationships and community with one another.  May HE grant each of us to touch the lives of others in a way which shows HIM.

Voice of the Lord

Today's reading was Psalms 28, 29 and 30, with Proverbs 9.

The voice of the Lord was used seven (7) times in Psalm 29 and His voice is:

Upon the waters, thunder;
Powerful;
Majesty;
Breaks Cedars;
Divides Flames of Fire;
Shakes the Wilderness;
Makes Animals Bear; and
Discovers the Forests

When I queried the phrase, it's used 50 times in 48 verses.  The first usage is in Genesis:

Gen_3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

And they hid from Him.

Deu_5:25  Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.

And the people were afraid of His voice.

Deu_30:10  If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

The admonition to hear, heed and obey the voice of the Lord.

1Sa_15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Obedience is what the Lord wants versus sacrifice.

1Ki_20:36  Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

The prophet didn't obey - and suffered the consequence of death.

Interesting - I didn't go back and count the number of times the phrase was used with someone NOT obeying, but numerous occasions as I perused the list.

Ah...that we ALL might say this:

Isa_6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Time Change

This is the verse I think of EVERY time we're scheduled to set clocks forward or backward.

Dan_7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

I don't know if this is specifically referring to clock manipulation or not, but changing the clocks is wearing out this saint

I've researched this topic previously - but alas, when it rears it's ugly head...here I go again.





The picture above states it well, eh? So what benefits do you derive from 'saving time'?

I find it illogical, changing a clock does not add or subtract the amount of sunlight from a day. Spring and Summer naturally provide more light, while Fall/Winter provide less.

People don't use less artificial light or heating/cooling just because the clocks change. In fact they might even use more. If someone comes home in the summer and the house is baking, the sun's not setting for 2 more hours, typically what will they do? Jack up the A/C, cool the house. Is that saving energy?

This is so me (take from the article Daylight Saving Time Is Bad For Your Health:

For some, it can take up to three weeks to recover from the sleep schedule changes, according to a 2009 study in the journal Sleep Medicine.

They bring up several items which impact us y changing the clocks:

heart attacks
car accidents
work accidents

"Just like how jet lag makes you feel all out of whack, daylight saving time is similar to scooting one time zone over for a few months."

There's a petition (or two) out there requesting our elected officials to stop the time change. Sign it, pass it around.

Frankly I don't care which way it goes - DST or CT - just make it one or the other and then leave it alone!

Petition

End Daylight Saving Time - if you visit - take the quiz...really. They've posturing a radical time combination - two time zones in the US. They have a petition too.

Another proponent of a two time zone country (US). The author supports her 2 time zone in this article (showing Alaska and other countries as large as the US with 1 time zone).

2014 - Day 61

Today was Psalms 25-27 and Proverbs 2.

Psa 25:16-18  Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.  Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 

I can identify with those feelings!  I appreciate the psalmists candid heart.  We all experience trial and tribulation, happiness and sadness, dashed dreams and elapsed expectations.

The psalmist verbalizes his feelings as:

desolate - H3173 - From H3161; properly united, that is, sole; by implication beloved; also lonely; (feminine) the life (as not to be replace).

• H3161 - A primitive root; to be (or become) one.

My Bible has a note next to desolate, lonely.  This word is used 12 times in 12 verses.  The first one is when God tells Abraham to take his son, his only son to Mount Moria.  Another usage is Jephthah's rash vow which resulted in the death of his only child.  A few other examples:

Psa 22:20  Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Psa 68:6  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

afflicted - H6041 - From H6031; depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically the same as H6035 subjectively and H6041 objectively).

• H6031 - A primitive root (possibly rather identical with H6030 through the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively (in various applications). (sing is by mistake for H6030.).

Used 75 times in 75 verses, its translated most of the time as poor.

troubles - H6869 - Feminine of H6862; tightness (that is, figuratively trouble); transitively a female rival.

• H6862 - From H6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, that is, trouble); also a pebble (as in H6864); (transitively) an opponent (as crowding).
• H6887 - A primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively.

Used 73 times in 73 verses - this word is used twice in Genesis 42:21 when Joseph's brother are discussing their ill treatment of him - his anguish and distress.

distresses - H4691 - Feminine of H4690; narrowness, that is, (figuratively) trouble.

• H4690 - From H6693; something narrow, that is, a column or hill top.
• H6693 - A primitive root; to compress, that is, (figuratively) oppress, distress.

Used 7 times in 7 verses.  Once in Job (15:24), 5 times in Psalms and once in Zephaniah.

pain - H5999 - From H5998; toil, that is, wearing effort; hence worry, whether of body or mind.

• H5998 - A primitive root; to toil, that is, work severely and with irksomeness.

Used 55 times in 54 verses, used the first time of Joseph naming his firstborn.

I'll close with these verses from Psalms, based upon the word distresses (H4691):

Psa 107:6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. 

Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 

Psa 107:19  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 

Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

I'm seeking comfort from the cries of those past saints and God's delivering, saving and bringing them out of their distresses.  It's hard to be in a difficult place or situation, or having to deal with unpleasant people, or rocky relationships.  Where ever we are, as saints, we can cry out to God and He will move.  It may not always be in a way that we want, but He is always with His children, bringing them through (and purging us along the way) of dross.

O' Lord, You know the hearts and minds of Your people, are individual hurts and cares, our loneliness and pains, help us Lord to stand firm and keep our eyes focused upon you.