In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “there is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity”, and in chapter eight and verse fifteen of his book Solomon said, “I commended mirth” where we read,
Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun.
The verse reads, “Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry” Solomon began with the words, “then I commended mirth” or “at that time I, Solomon, lauded, praised and congratulated joy, gladness and rejoicing”, “because a man” which means “since and on account that a person whether male or female” “has no better thing” or “owns and possesses not any greater good, pleasantness, agreeableness or excellence” “under the sun” which means “beneath the sun in the sky”, “than to eat” or “compared to being able to consume and devour”, “and to drink” which means “and to imbibe”, “and to be merry” or “and to be glad, joyful and to rejoice”. Solomon praised joy and gladness because he concluded that a person has nothing greater beneath the sun compared to consuming food, imbibing drink and existing in a glad and joyful state.
The verse goes on to say, “for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun.” Solomon continued with the words, “for that shall abide with him” or “because, since and on account that, eating, drinking and being merry, shall be joined, attend to, remain, accompany and be alongside of him, the person” “of his labor” which means “pertaining to his, the person’s, toil, trouble and wearisome, grievous travail” “the days of his life” or “the sunrises, sunsets, time periods and season pertaining to his, the person’s, active living”, “which God gives him” which means “that the Supreme Deity grants, bestows, permits, assigns and consecrates to him, the person” “under the sun” or “beneath the sun in the sky”. Solomon said joy, gladness and rejoicing from the person’s wearisome toil will remain with them throughout the time period of their active living that the Supreme Deity has granted them while they are beneath the sun in the sky.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon praised being joyful, glad and rejoicing since there existed nothing greater than “eating, drinking and rejoicing” beneath the sun while living on earth. He concluded these traits would not only remain with them throughout their lives, but they were granted by the Supreme Deity Jehovah God to do so. We should remember that this again is life “under the sun”, and because God is sovereign, He chooses what He does with His resources and how He gives them in proportion to His Divine will. God knows we are eternal beings, and we will not always be confined to the space “under the sun”, and His desire is to have us live with Him throughout eternity. When we receive His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross and to be raised from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, we will be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and learn through His Holy Spirit how to live in eternal gladness, joy and rejoicing as He guides us into His everlasting truth.
Next time Solomon says, “I applied my heart to know wisdom”, 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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