Considering the Living - Ecclesiastes 4:15

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor”, and in chapter four and verse fifteen of his book Solomon said, “I considered all the living which walk under the sun”, where we read,

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, 

with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

The verse reads, “I considered all the living which walk under the sun, …” Solomon began with the words, “I considered all the living” or “I, Solomon, observed, looked at, inspected and regarded each, the whole and every person who is active and alive” “which walk” which means “who amble about and make their way” “under the sun” or “beneath the sun in the sky”. Solomon said he observed and regarded every person who was active and alive while making their way beneath the sun in the sky. 

The verse goes on to say, “… with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.” Solomon continued with the words, “with the second child” or “alongside and accompanying another youth” “that shall stand up” which means “who will rise up, be exalted and succeed” “in his stead” or “within his, the one who rose up to be the royal ruler’s, place”. Solomon said the youth who follows the one who reigns will be exalted to a position of rule.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how he noted the way a younger ruler replaces the one who is in authority at the present time. In other words, the youth who rose to power is replaced by another youth who is exalted to power. People tend to forget their rulers, and the one in authority at the present moment will soon be replaced by another. This is not the case with God. He rules and reigns forever, and because He loves us, He wants to be in a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us positions of authority in His Kingdom by the power of His Holy Spirit who will lead us into an eternal service and ministry that shall never be replaced. 

Next time Solomon says, “there is no end of all the people”, 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".