The Word for Today with Ray

Monday, March 30, 2026

Good to Take Hold of This - Ecclesiastes 7:18

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why shouldest you destroy yourself? Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before your time?”, and in chapter seven and verse eighteen of his book Solomon said, “it is good that you should take hold of this” where we read,

It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand:

for he that fears God shall come forth of them all.

The verse reads, “It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand:” Solomon began with the words, “it is good” or “the following exists as pleasant, agreeable and excellent” “that you should take hold” which means “that you, Solomon’s readers, ought to seize, take possession and grasp” “of this” or “pertaining to this, the following”; “yes, also from this” which means “even so and indeed separate and apart from the following” “withdraw not your hand” or “do not leave of, put down or withhold your physical hand of power, might, strength and ability”. Solomon said it was pleasant and agreeable to grasp the idea of not withholding his readers’ physical hands of strength and ability from the following.

The verse continues, “for he that fears God shall come forth of them all.” Solomon added the words, “for he that fears God” or “because, since and on account that he, the person whether male or female, who reveres, is in awe of and admires the Supreme Deity Jehovah God” “shall come forth” which means “will exit, go forward and proceed” “of them all” or “pertaining to each, every and the whole of the extremes mentioned above”. Solomon said the person who is in awe and reverence of the Supreme Deity will proceed forward from every one of the extremes mentioned above.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon told his readers that it is pleasant and agreeable to grasp the ideas of not involving themselves in destructive activities and thinking. He said the person who holds Jehovah God in awe and respect not only removes themselves from the effects of these activities, but also helps them to keep their distance from them. God loves us, and His desire is to have an intimate personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield ourselves to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us to have respect to God and to keep us from the wicked things in the world that cause ruin and a shortening of our lives.

Next time Solomon says, “wisdom strengthens the wise”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Not Wicked or Foolish - Ecclesiastes 7:17

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why shouldest you destroy yourself?”, and in chapter seven and verse seventeen of his book Solomon said, “be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish” where we read,

Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before your time?

The verse reads, “Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish:” Solomon began with the words, “be not over much wicked” or “do not exist in an increased, numerous and an overly measured state of guilt, evil, condemnation, vexation and violation”, “neither be you foolish” which means “no and not in any way exist you, Solomon’s readers, as silly and sottish”. Solomon instructed his readers not to exist in an overly guilty, evil and silly manner.

The verse goes on to say, “why should you die before your time?” Solomon continued with the words, “why should you” or “for what reason and cause ought you, Solomon’s readers, to” “die before your time” which means “to be killed, executed, slain and put to death in advance and prior to your, Solomon’s readers’, occurrence, occasion, fortune and season”? Solomon asked for what reason his readers ought to expire and be put to death in advance of their occasion.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how Solomon instructed his readers not to extend themselves in violations and evil, and they were not to act silly and sottish. He questioned the reason they would shorten their time of living on the earth by their “wicked and foolish” ways. God knows our needs, and our greatest need is to be saved from our sins which leads to death. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) When we yield ourselves to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and keep us from “wickedness and evil” that may shorten our lives and the time we have to live.

Next time Solomon says, “it is good that you should take hold of this”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Not Righteous Over Much or Wise - Ecclesiastes 7:16

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness”, and in chapter seven and verse sixteen of his book Solomon said, “be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise” where we read,

Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise:

why shouldest you destroy yourself?

The verse reads, “Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise:” Solomon began with the words, “be not righteous” or “do not exist as just, lawful and correct” “over much” which means “to an increased, numerous and an overly measured state”; “neither make yourself” or “no and not in any way cause and fashion your own self” “over wise” which means “in superior, advantaged, better than and excess skill, shrewdness and prudence”. Solomon instructed his readers not to exist as overly just and correct, nor were they to exist in an excessive shrewdness or prudence.

The verse continues, “why should you destroy yourself?” Solomon added the words, “why should you” or “for what reason and cause should you, Solomon’s readers” “destroy yourself” which means “stun, stupefy, desolate and cause horror to your own self”? Solomon asked for the reason people reading his words ought to ruin and cause horror to their own selves.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon instructed his readers not to be overly just and lawful while also telling them not to be too skilled and prudent. He asked for what reason they were to ruin themselves, and the same question might as well come from Jehovah God. God loves us, and for this reason He gave us His commandments. His commandments protect us from ruin and destruction, and when we obey Him, our lives are the better for it. However, we have violated His law, and this is sin. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (See Romans 6:23), and for this reason He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and resurrected Him from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us how to be “righteous, wise and without destruction” as we live before His eyes.

Next time Solomon says, “be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Seen in the Days of My Vanity - Ecclesiastes 7:15

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him”, and in chapter seven and verse fifteen of his book Solomon said, “all things have I seen in the days of my vanity” where we read,

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness.

The verse reads, “All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, …” Solomon began with the words, “all things have I seen” or “each, every and the whole acts, deeds and speeches have I, Solomon, perceived, noticed and observed” “in the days of my vanity” which means “within the time periods and seasons belonging to my, Solomon’s, vapor, breath and transitory dissatisfaction”: “there is a just man” or “there exists a just, lawful and righteous person whether male or female” “that perishes in his righteousness” which means “who vanishes, goes astray, is destroyed and exterminated within his, the person’s, justice, rightness and victory”. Solomon said that he observed everything within the time periods pertaining to his transitory dissatisfaction, and he noted how there exists a righteous person who vanishes within his rightness and just ways.

The verse goes on to say, “and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness.” Solomon continued with the words, “and there is a wicked man” or “and there exists a criminal, ungodly and unrighteous person whether male or female” “that prolongs his life” which means “who makes long, continues and lengthens his, the person’s, active living” “in his wickedness” or “within his, the person’s, criminal, ungodly, evil and unrighteous behavior”. Solomon referred to an unrighteousness and ungodly person who lengthens their active living within their unrighteousness ways.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how he observed within his transitory time how there were righteous people who were destroyed early in their lives, and there were evil people who lengthened their time in their evil ways. God knows the time for all of us, and whether we prosper or not does not guarantee us a greater or lesser amount of days. Jesus Himself was only thirty-three when He died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the grave after three days, and no one is more righteous than He. God will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit when we yield to Him, and we shall be guided by Him in keeping with His righteous ways.

Next time Solomon says, “be not righteous over much”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

In the Day of Prosperity and Adversity - Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?”, and in chapter seven and verse fourteen of his book Solomon said, “in the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider” where we read,

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider:

God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

The verse reads, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider:” Solomon began with the words, “in the day of prosperity” or “in the time period and season pertaining to good, pleasantness, agreeableness and excellence” “be joyful” which means “exist as good, pleasant, agreeable and excellent”, “but in the day of adversity” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover within the time period or season pertaining to bad, disagreeableness, malignancy and wickedness” “consider” which means “look, inspect, perceive, regard and discern”. Solomon encouraged his reader to exist in a good and pleasant manner when good and pleasant times come, however, when bad and evil times arise, inspect, regard and discern.

The verse continues, “God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” Solomon added the words, “God also” or “the Supreme Deity even so and indeed” “has set the one” which means “has fashioned, accomplished and produced the one manner” “over against the other” or “juxtaposed, alongside and corresponding to the the other manner”, “to the end” which means “toward the conclusion and finality” “that man should find nothing after him” or “that man, people both male and female, ought to secure, acquire, get and encounter not one thing following him, that person”. Solomon said Jehovah God even so and indeed juxtaposed prosperity alongside adversity so a person ought not discover one thing following that person.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how God is ultimately responsible for the “prosperity and adversity” that comes into a person’s life, and we are able to choose how we will respond to each of them. Good things happen, and bad things happen, but God Almighty will be with us when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we submit ourselves to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us the way we are to be when “prosperity” or “adversity” appears.

Next time Solomon says, “all things have I seen in the days of my vanity”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Consider the Work of God - Ecclesiastes 7:13

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it”, and in chapter seven and verse thirteen of his book Solomon said, “consider the work of God” where we read,

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?

The verse reads, “Consider the work of God:” Solomon began with the words, “consider the work” or “see, look at, perceive and have vision of the deeds, acts and labor” “of God” which means “belonging to the Supreme Deity”. Solomon instructed his readers to look at and perceive the acts and deeds belonging to the Supreme Deity Jehovah God.

The verse goes on to say, “for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?” Solomon continued with the words, “for who can make that straight” or “because, since and on account that what person is able to set in order, equalize and arrange what exists as equalized, set in order and arranged”, “which he has made crooked” which means “that he, the Supreme Deity, has caused to be bent, subverted and perverse”? Solomon questioned what person is able to set in order and arrange what the Supreme Deity has bent and subverted.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Solomon gave instructions to his readers concerning the acts as deeds belonging to Jehovah God, and he asked what person was able to set in order and arrange what God Himself has bent. God is sovereign, and He does as He pleases. We have an opportunity to think deeply about God’s creation, and when we take the time to do so, we realize He is in control of everything that is “straight or crooked”. He is able to do as He pleases, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth, help us to “consider” His “works” and trust Him to straighten and bend whatever He desires according to His perfect plan and will.

Next time Solomon says, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The Defense of Wisdom and Money - Ecclesiastes 7:12

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun”, and in chapter seven and verse twelve of his book Solomon said, “wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense” where we read,

For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense:

but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it.

The verse reads, “For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense:” Solomon began with the words, “for wisdom” or “because, since and on account that skill, shrewdness and prudence” “is a defense” which means “exists as a shade and shadow”, “and money” or “and silver metal, shekels or talents” “is a defense” which means “exists as a shade and shadow”. Solomon shared how skill and prudence as well as silver have a protective element to them.

The verse continues, “but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it.” Solomon added the words, “but the excellency of knowledge is” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the advantage, gain and profit pertaining to perception, skill, discernment and understanding”, “that wisdom gives life” which means “that skill, shrewdness and prudence grants, bestows and assigns sustained living, quickening and preservation” “to them that have it” or “to the people whether male or female who possess and own it, wisdom”. Solomon said the advantage belonging to people who have discernment and understanding reveals that skill and prudence grant sustained living to the people who possess them.

When we consider Solomon’s words in this verse, we see how he valued “wisdom, money and knowledge” in a person’s life. Even though “wisdom and money” have their advantages, Solomon said “wisdom” or the use of knowledge puts a person in an advantageous condition. God wants to be in a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will provide “wisdom and money” to us as well as the “knowledge” of how to employ “wisdom” in an advantageous manner in keeping with His purpose and will for ou.

Next time Solomon says, “consider the work of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…