Wisdom and Praise

May Your Season In Life Be Blessed. A thought crossed the author's mind yesterday evening as he read Ecclesiastes. It is amazing that Solomon, recorded as the wisest man in the Old Testament, arrived at the conclusions which he did in the first chapter of this book:

[Ecc 1:1-9 KJV]

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things [are] full of labour; man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.

It is remarkable that he would consider that life lacks purpose and is a mere meaningless vanity. Is not the most fundamental purpose of man the continual praise of the Father?

Is not the profit of a man's labour the continued activity of his limbs? Surely, the Lord is worthy of praise for this. Men who have been bed-ridden and weathered that storm well can find solace in the motion off a hand or foot. For those who have experienced paralysis, the lifting of a finger or the curling of a toe is a triumph worth much rejoicing.

Concerning  verse four, from the perspective of one who will never see another generation, the glee of a child can be an unforgettable memory, although troublesome teenage years might bring sorrow, disappointment, and heartache. At least, someone might say in future generation, "You have grandfather eyes! I can see his smile when they twinkle." Or, someone might pass on that classic toe-game, "This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none. And, this little piggy cried, "Wee! Wee! Wee!" all the way home.

Verse five produces a deeper conundrum for me. Is not it a wonderful blessing when one can see the Sun? One should never grow weary of its rising and falling.

With verse six the convolutions of the confusion grows ever worse. Is not the sensation of a breeze on a persons skin just wonderful? It can be a blizzarding polar or blistering desert blast. But, are not these extremes rare for most of us.

The seventh verse leaves me speechless. Experiencing the beautiful flow which is so fundamental in the Lord's Creation. Should not he be praise for this seemingly never-ending process. It is a marvel how a drop of water which rose as Moses planting his staff on the shore of the Red Sea might travel the depths of the oceans, reach the innermost parts of polar ice sheets, and gently pelt your shoulder when you find yourself caught in a downpour.

As for the eighth verse, the author praises Him that his eyes can see something since this world has tried shutting them before, and is quite thankful that he can hear birds chirping as they enjoy the sounds of CeCe Winan's Throne Room slipping over his window sill.

So, nothing new exists. It has all been done in some shape or form before. Did Solomon's love wane? Has the newness of that first sense of life lost its miraculousness? Is that child-like awe felt at the sight of a hovering hummingbird or floating bee lost?

Well, a Son of David many years later said a man can start again.

One's perspective on life can effect how one sees a verse. Scripture is much like  a diadem which reflects its beautiful hues of light in differing shades and blends depending upon vantage point. Many times passed, the author has read this passage and not considered that, in this portion of God-breathed scripture, the Lord might have said, "Solomon speak from your heart racked with disappointment and disillusionment. It will help someone along the way who is experiencing the same emotions. If one who has some much, has counseled the Queen of the South, gathered the Proverbs of Jacob's tribes, including those arising from the times of bondage in Egypt, and is considered exceedingly wise, develops such disenchantment, would not someone who lacks such blessings?"
 Under current circumstances, the author viewpoint is different. He says, "Surely, most honorable, noble, and wise King Solomon purpose in life must exist!".

It seems that Solomon might have been approaching his "limit of blessing" based upon:

[Pro 30:9 NIV]

9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Or, he might simply feel the gloom which comes from have such wealth and seeing other lack so. Any person which has a Godly heart would ponder, "Why have I been granted so much?" He might have had a heavy burden for Jacob' s children, especially the widows and orphans. He might have been concerned for their allies. He might have been experiencing the remorse and regret of remembrances of rarely relieving his right hand of riches in the form alms of which the alternate hand knew naught.

With this said, The author does not claim or suppose a wisdom greater than Solomon's. It most likely the unique nature of this Godly Wisdom which he held that resulted in a text which contains layers of messages and meanings.

Exceedingly long-story short, the simplest of wisdoms says we must praise through disappointment, trepidation, and the many burdensome spiritual states in life.


 In the author's own life, as he made the transition between youth and young adulthood as a freshman college student, he learned that he could not rest firmly or reliably upon anyone for solid support in life issues. He had read and can testify that:

[Psa 118:8 KJV]

8 [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

[Jer 17:5-9 KJV]

5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, [in] a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

And, mostly sadly,

[Mic 7:5 KJV]

5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

Is finding "what is good" in this modern era a fruitless pursuit for a man?

Although the personal heartache was exceedingly minor, the abundance of hate from peers and family in the light of a seemingly bright future was very real. Ever so slightly derailed, the efforts of family, friends, and, of course, foes was the production of complete "train wreck".

And, the author should add that this is not a "pity party" as some call it. The above was said so he might relay the following. The most encouraging and remarkable experience from this period was the receipt of a special gift. It was a music cassette. This was in the earliest days of compact disc.

The title of the album was Decisions by the Winans. The song that really took hold of his thought pattern was, "Give Me You". The hook was what caught his attention at first. He thought that it was a romantic love ballet, and it is. But, it is of a Pure Love. Unfortunately, it brought back memories of a person who he was sincerely hoping that he could forget along with a series of Soft Cell Tainted Love experiences. Because, such memories were an incredibly disruptive distraction in his personal game plan. But then, he heard the words:

Listen for yourself

And, he noticed an amazing adjustment in his thoughts. It was almost as if he was tuning the circuitry in his mind so it resonated on the I AM band. He played it regularly and felt much better. But, he set his prescription from his specialist J Rapha. It was not that his supply of this Balm of Gilead needed a refill at an pharmacy; he simply started playing those old sad songs again: James Taylor Sunny Skies, plus Otis Redding's Sitting by the Dock of the Bay. He was California dreaming and that one song was tied with a happy childhood memories of hearing the LP and daydreaming of resting on the edge of a small dock while kicking his legs over the edge. At three or four, "sitting on the dock of the bay watching the tied roll away..sitting by the dock of the bay wasting time...." Sounded like immense fun. He never did quite hear the lyrics until he was much older and learned that Mr Redding took his own life when worries mounted beyond what he could bear.

As Paul the Apostle said:

[Phl 4:6-9 KJV]
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Sin can be subtly deceptive. The fun had by many can be very costly for some. the author always enjoyed a catchy hook. And, a very sinister song which had a seductively simple catch phrase of, "going out like a blister in the sun...." was not his favorite genre of music by any means, but a classmate of his which lived a few house north of him loaned him the cassette for a listen. Interestingly enough, as he played this cassette, he became steeped in confusion.

[1Co 14:33 KJV]

33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Another interesting coincidence which has unfolded over the years is that this classmate and he both experienced a number of extraordinary difficulties over the next decade. For the author, it was not until he read through the scriptures which he was given as a child, the Protestant Bible, in this late twenties that these problems lessened. It was the immersion in Gospel music that first broke satan's yoke which was upon him. It was a simple song learned that became his   "mantra" or war-chant if you will. It is sung by many artist, one being Vicki Yohe:

Give it a listen  

It was how I would sing myself asleep and keep my mind focused during the day.
God has given His children some common gifts:

[Psa 40:3 KJV]

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

[Psa 42:8 KJV]

8 [Yet] the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me, [and] my prayer unto the God of my life.

[Psa 69:30 KJV]

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

[Psa 77:6 KJV]

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

[Psa 96:1 KJV] 1

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

[Psa 118:14 KJV] 14 The LORD [is] my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

  We often do not understand those experiences which other recount that seem strange, unfamiliar, or somewhat superstitious. But, the author has learned in life that he should sometimes take account which seem rather unbelievable as credible. And, remarkably the very compact disc player which he had used extensively for a myriad of music genres would skip, stall, and sputter when he spun Gospel on the spindle. It never seemed that it was an issue for the person whom he gave the player. And, he never had such a problem after buying a new "untainted" vessel for playing music.

Did not the Apostle Paul also say:

[Eph 6:12 KJV]

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].


Wherever you find yourself on this life's journey, you can start again, again, and again. You are only a hair's breath an "Hallelujah!" and real deliverance.

Finally, here is a song which can get you started on this longest end of the short-side of a ever-so long story....

Hear a song from a woman who has fallen in a way which many others have. This often happens in the life of those which are idolized. He will have none above him.

Enjoy Your Season Whether It Be Arid or Abundant, The Lord Will Reign Within It.

Please Pardon The Typos and Grammar. This Was Hastily Written Before Preparing For An Early Morning.