Page 886 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_08_MacArthur_Bible_Aug.qxd 8/8/03 16:21 Page 867

AUGUST 30
15
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I the communion of the body of Christ? For
17
speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves we, though many, are one bread and one body;
what I say. The cup of blessing which we for we all partake of that one bread.
16
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of 18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those
Christ? The bread which we break, is it not who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
DAY 29:When Ecclesiastes encourages readers to “enjoy life,”is that unconditional?

Solomon balanced his enjoyment theme with repeated reminders of divine judgment. Even
the best moments in life ought not to cut a person off from awareness of God as Provider to whom
all will give an account. Solomon declared that the possibility of enjoyment was based on faith
(Eccl. 2:24–26).
Part of Ecclesiastes reports the king’s experiment in trying to enjoy life without regard for the
fear of God’s judgment. Solomon discovered that such an effort was in vain. In the end, he came to
grasp the importance of obedience.
The tragic results of Solomon’s personal experience,coupled with the insight of extraordinary
wisdom, make Ecclesiastes a book from which all believers can receive warnings and lessons in
their faith (2:1–26).This book demonstrates that a person who sees each day of existence,labor,and
basic provision as a gift from God, and accepts whatever God gives, will actually live an abundant
life. However, anyone who seeks to be satisfied apart from God will live with futility regardless of
personal successes.

And no one has power in the day of
death.
AUGUST 30 There is no release from that war,
And wickedness will not deliver those
who are given to it.
Ecclesiastes 8:1–10:20 9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to
8 Who is like a wise man? every work that is done under the sun: There is
a time in which one man rules over another to
And who knows the interpretation of
a thing? his own hurt.
A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, 10 Then I saw the wicked buried, who had
And the sternness of his face is come and gone from the place of holiness, and
changed. they were forgotten in the city where they had
so done. This also is vanity. Because the sen-
11
2 I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for
3
the sake of your oath to God. Do not be hasty tence against an evil work is not executed
speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of
to go from his presence. Do not take your men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a
12
stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days
pleases him.”
are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be
4 Where the word of a king is, there is well with those who fear God, who fear before
power; Him. But it will not be well with the wicked;
13
And who may say to him, “What are nor will he prolong his days, which are as a
you doing?” shadow, because he does not fear before God.
5 He who keeps his command will 14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth,
experience nothing harmful; that there are just men to whom it happens
And a wise man’s heart discerns both according to the work of the wicked; again,
time and judgment, there are wicked men to whom it happens
6 Because for every matter there is a according to the work of the righteous. I said
time and judgment, that this also is vanity.
Though the misery of man increases 15 So I commended enjoyment, because a
greatly. man has nothing better under the sun than to
7 For he does not know what will happen; eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain
So who can tell him when it will occur? with him in his labor all the days of his life
8 No one has power over the spirit to which God gives him under the sun.
retain the spirit, 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom

867