In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me”, and in chapter two and verse ten of his book Solomon said, “whatsoever my eyes desired I kept not from them”, where we read,
And whatsoever my eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy;
for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.
The verse reads, “And whatsoever my eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy;” Solomon began with the words, “and whatsoever my eyes desired” or “and anything my, Solomon’s, physical eyes used for vision and sight inquired of, consulted, sought and begged for” “I kept not from them” which means “I, Solomon, did not reserve, set apart or refuse separate and apart from them, Solomon’s eyes”, “I withheld not” or “I, Solomon, did not hold back, refrain or deny” “my heart” which means “my, Solomon’s, soul and mind” “from any joy” or “separate and apart from every mirth, gladness, gaiety and pleasure”. Solomon shared how he did not deny his physical eyes from anything they wanted, and he did not hold back any gladness and pleasure from his soul and mind.
The verse continues, “for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.” Daniel added the words, “for my heart rejoiced” or “because, since and on account that my, Solomon’s, soul and mind showed joy, merriment and gladness” “in all my labor” which means “within each, every, the whole and everyone of my, Solomon’s, toil, trouble and grievance”: “and this was my portion” or “and this, Solomon’s heart showing merriment, existed as my, Solomon’s, lot, part and share” “of all my labor” which means “pertaining to each, every, the whole and everyone of my, Solomon’s, toil, trouble and grievance”. Solomon said his soul and mind was filled with joy and merriment over every portion of his toil, and that became his lot for the total of work he performed.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how he did not refrain himself from anything he saw, and when something would make his soul and mind glad, he did not keep it from himself. He also found that he became filled with joy and gladness over his work, and that became his share within his toil. Solomon once again was attempting to find fulfillment and satisfaction, and this time he did not restrain his “eyes” from anything they saw, nor did he hold back his soul and mind from anything that made him happy. He found joy in his work, however, that was his reward for his efforts. This also turned into vanity. God knows there is no true satisfaction unless a person yields themselves to 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 to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth so we find satisfaction in a relationship with Him rather than what our eyes see, our souls and minds desire or in the labor that the world has to offer.
Next time Solomon says, “there was no profit under the sun”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment