In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “there is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-six of his book Solomon said, “God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy”, where we read,
For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
The verse reads, “For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy:” Solomon began with the words, “for God gives to a man” or “because, since and on account that the Supreme Deity grants, bestows, designates and assigns to a person whether male or female” “that is good in his sight” which means “who exists as pleasant, agreeable and excellent within his, the Supreme Deity’s, face, person and presence” “wisdom” or “skill, prudence and understanding”, “and knowledge” which means “cunning, perception and discernment”, “and joy” or “and mirth, gladness, gaiety and pleasure”. Solomon shared how the Supreme Deity Jehovah God grants and bestows skill, prudence, understanding, perception, discernment, gladness and pleasure upon people who are pleasant and agreeable within His presence.
The verse goes on to say, “but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Daniel continued with the words, “but to the sinner” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover to the one who misses the mark, goes wrong, incurs guilt and is unclean” “he gives travail” which means “he, the Supreme Deity, grants, bestows, designates and assigns bad business, occupation and tasks”, “to gather” or “to receive, collect and assemble” “and to heap up” which means “and to wrap together and enfold”, “that he may give to him” or “so he, the sinner, might grant, bestow, designate and assign to the person” “that is good before God” which means “who is pleasant, agreeable and excellent within the person and presence of the Supreme Deity”. “This also is vanity” or “the sinner gathering for the one who is pleasant in the sight of God, exists as vapor, breath and transitory dissatisfaction” “and vexation” which means “and longing, striving and grasping” “of spirit” or “for the wind, breath or air”. Solomon shared how the person who misses the mark in the presence of the Supreme Deity is granted troublesome business to collect, assemble and wrap together things that will be granted to the person who is pleasant and agreeable to Him, and he concluded that this was also transitory dissatisfaction and grasping for the wind.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn according to Solomon how the person who is pleasant and agreeable before God is blessed with skill, prudence, understanding and discernment, however, the person who is in error and wicked is assigned a troublesome occupation that gathers for the person who is pleasant to God. Solomon thought this was also transitory dissatisfaction and grasping for the wind. Of course, this is the way people see things “under the sun”. God determines who is blessed with His attributes and riches, and there are people who possess more and there are people who possess less. God decides, but we must always remember that every person is offered God’s greatest gift of salvation from their sins because He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him, regardless of what we do or do not possess, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who lead lead and guide us into all truth and empower us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him all the days of our lives.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Solomon say, “to everything there is a season”, 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".
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