Solomon understands the things that come with wisdom

Solomon describes his love for wisdom. He describes wisdom as 'she'. From this chapter it is clear that Solomon loved wisdom more than gold or the precious jewels. He sees the beauty and the power of wisdom in able to teach and to apply knowledge. More importantly, he understood that wisdom is a gift from God.

Not only can wisdom be so beneficial for the person, it is indispensible for kings and rulers. Solomon understood that if only he can have wisdom, then all the other things will follow. The other things include: glory, honour, admiration, fame, feared by enemies, does not have a price such as arguments with others,





Wisdom 8 (NRSVCE)
8 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.

Solomon’s Love for Wisdom
2 I loved her and sought her from my youth;
I desired to take her for my bride,
and became enamored of her beauty.
3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God,
and the Lord of all loves her.
4 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God,
and an associate in his works.
5 If riches are a desirable possession in life,
what is richer than wisdom, the active cause of all things?
6 And if understanding is effective,
who more than she is fashioner of what exists?
7 And if anyone loves righteousness,
her labors are virtues;
for she teaches self-control and prudence,
justice and courage;
nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these.
8 And if anyone longs for wide experience,
she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come;
she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles;
she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders
and of the outcome of seasons and times.

Wisdom Indispensible to Rulers
9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me,
knowing that she would give me good counsel
and encouragement in cares and grief.
10 Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes
and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young.
11 I shall be found keen in judgment,
and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired.
12 When I am silent they will wait for me,
and when I speak they will give heed;
if I speak at greater length,
they will put their hands on their mouths.
13 Because of her I shall have immortality,
and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.
14 I shall govern peoples,
and nations will be subject to me;
15 dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me;
among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war.
16 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her;
for companionship with her has no bitterness,
and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy.
17 When I considered these things inwardly,
and pondered in my heart
that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality,
18 and in friendship with her, pure delight,
and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth,
and in the experience of her company, understanding,
and renown in sharing her words,
I went about seeking how to get her for myself.
19 As a child I was naturally gifted,
and a good soul fell to my lot;
20 or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.
21 But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me—
and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was—
so I appealed to the Lord and implored him,
and with my whole heart I said:

Remember that your brother has something against you

Matthew 5:23
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you.

God is quite serious with this command in Scriptures. The scene is of a person, presumably a committed believer, who comes to offer gifts to God at the altar. However, God's command is that this act of worship does not count much if there is still unforgiveness. The command is to simply stop before reaching the altar, when we remember that someone has something against us. Instead go and be reconcile with that person first, then return to the altar of God.

First be reconciled to your brother

Matthew 5:23-24
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Before we can be of good use to God, we must be in the right state in our spirit. No matter how earnest our intention is for God, and no matter how useful our work will be towards others, God is also interested in our own person. So to work for God, is to go in His name, He requires us to be clean. In one particular aspect of this involves the forgiveness of others. So we cannot truly represent God if we have unforgiveness towards someone no matter how small that is.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

Paul was giving some very casual yet worthwhile encouragement. A few women was named in particular including Euodia and Synthche. Paul's encouragement is to rejoice, treat others kindly, not to be anxious, but use prayer, supplication and thanksgiving to God. The motivation for this is that the Lord is coming.

Paul talks about spending our time on meditating (not the Eastern style) on things which are good, virtuous and praiseworthy. In doing so, it reminds us of the good things and hence the source of all goodness who is God. In doing so, God's peace will be with us.

Paul praises the generosity of the Philippians for their support. He recognized that their provisions is actually sowing into God's work, and not to support him personally. Paul has always been well supplied by God and here he gives the remarkable insight that his God, who is Jehovah Jireh the Provider, will supply not only the needs of the missionary but the needs of the donors and supporters of the mission, according to the riches and glory of Jesus Christ.

Incredibly, Paul finishes the letter with greetings from Caesar's household. This indicates his success, through Christ, in converting the Romans, perhaps even the family of his captors to Christ.




Philippians 4

1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And[a] I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippian Generosity

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ[b] who strengthens me.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.[c] Amen.

The Abundance of the Rich Will Not Permit Him to Sleep

The first part of this chapter sounds more like proverbs than the rest of the Ecclesiastes, pointing to the fact that the Solomon wrote both. It advices us to be prudent in the sight of God and watch what we say. In particular it discourages against making any vows, so that we are not bound to pay if we made an error and cannot fulfill it.
The second part warns against the accumulation of wealth or placing our trust in them. Those who are rich will still be dissatisfied and want to strife to get more wealth. This stronghold can even cause people to lose sleep. But a man is born naked and will also return naked. So the author advise even the rich to eat and drink and enjoy the rewards of his work. He is not suggesting drunkenness and debauchery. Instead the author recognizes that the work and rewards are given by God as a heritage and it is right to rejoice and joy of work.

Ecclesiastes 5
Fear God, Keep Your Vows

1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.
2 Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.
3 For a dream comes through much activity,
And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed—
5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse[a] and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.


The Vanity of Gain and Honor

8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.
9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;
Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.
This also is vanity.
11 When goods increase,
They increase who eat them;
So what profit have the owners
Except to see them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet,
Whether he eats little or much;
But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
13 There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun:
Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
14 But those riches perish through misfortune;
When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return,
To go as he came;
And he shall take nothing from his labor
Which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a severe evil—
Just exactly as he came, so shall he go.
And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
17 All his days he also eats in darkness,
And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

A Time of Everything

The first part of this chapter is the collection of verses about everything having its own time. It declares that things happen according to their predestined time, hinting at the sovereign will of God who decides on when things occur.
The next passage highlights the tasks and labors of man are also divinely appointed. It shows a healthy attitude to work and acknowledges that it is a gift from God. So it urges us to work and enjoy the fruits of our labour.
In the last part, it talks about judgement in the presence of the righteous as well as the wicked. It also asks the perhaps rhetorical question about how we are sure that our spirits go to heaven and those of animals go down the earth. It makes the point that both man and animals die, perhaps challenging the reader to think are we anything more than animals?


Ecclesiastes 3
Everything Has Its Time

1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
    And a time to die;
A time to plant,
    And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
    And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
    And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
    And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
    And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
    And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
    And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
    And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
    And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
    And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
    And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
    And a time to hate;
A time of war,
    And a time of peace.


The God-Given Task
9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
15 That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.


Injustice Seems to Prevail
16 Moreover I saw under the sun:
In the place of judgment,
Wickedness was there;
And in the place of righteousness,
Iniquity was there.
17 I said in my heart,
“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
18 I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” 19 For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?[a] 22 So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?