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".