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Instead of Houses

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by memoirandremains in Ecclesiastes

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Commentary Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes, glory, Happiness, Jesus, Loyal Young, profit, Solomon

Solomon tells us what will not give happiness:—Jesus, the “greater than Solomon,” tells us what will. Solomon could show nothing on earth that would give rest.—Jesus says, “I will give you rest.” Both ask “What profit?” Solomon asks, “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” Jesus asks, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” His gifts contrast gloriously with those named in this book. Instead of sinful mirth and wine, he gives the joys of communion with himself,—joys that the world knows not of. And he has in reserve unbounded delight. “In thy presence is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Instead of houses, vineyards, gardens, and orchards of rare and delicious fruits, Jesus has in reserve, mansions of glory, a paradise of joy, and the “twelve manner of fruits” upon the trees of life. Instead of pools—“broken cisterns that hold no water,” he has in reserve, “the river of the water of life” flowing “from the throne of God and the Lamb.” Instead of men-servants and maidservants, he even now sends his angels as ministering spirits, to wait upon the heirs of salvation. Gabriel is not too great and too noble to watch over their path and their pillow. Instead of the silver and gold that are corruptible, he counsels us to buy of him gold tried in the fire that we may be rich. Instead of men-singers, women-singers, and musical instruments, he will cause us to join the choir of “harpers harping with their harps.” Instead of worldly wisdom, greatness, and distinction, he gives us the true wisdom. He makes us kings and priests, and we shall reign for ever. Instead of worship formal and heartless, he causes his people to worship in spirit and in truth, and will exalt them to the glorious worship of those who sing and praise with the angels. Instead of a long life of earthly care, he gives those who love him immortal youth, which, when ages or cycles are ended, shall only just be reaching forth to the immortality before it.

A Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, 147-148
Rev. Loyal Young
1865

Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies, Device 1, Remedy 2

16 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Ecclesiastes, Mark, Mortification

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Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Ecclesiastes, Mark, Mark 8:34-38, Mortification, Precious Remedies, profit, Sin, soul, temptation, Thomas Brooks, Transitory, Vanity

Every temptation must be a thing offered: a pleasure, an escape, a revenge: such as thing as were born in Babylon:

11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore,12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble,13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls

Revelation 18.

How can we turn down such things? Temptations are always pretty, always perfect, always fit to the occasion. But, as Brooks explains, such things are always vain. They are transitory:

2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3. What if I should gain everything, would I keep it?

18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:18-21. Who could contend with this thought? Even the most certain atheist must look to his work and know that he will leave it behind. I walked Getty’s museum, bought with his money — and yet built after he died. I did not toil for his wealth, and yet I enjoyed it in a manner he never could.

But for the Christian, the matter is worse. I know better. I know that such things are illusory in their offer. But the false certainty of sense overcomes truth at times. I must know what things are in truth, not bare immediate appearance:

Such men will sell Christ, heaven, and their souls for a trifle, that call these things vanity, but do not cordially believe them to be vanity, but set their hearts upon them as if they were their crown, the top of all their royalty and glory. Oh let your souls dwell upon the vanity of all things here below, till your hearts be so throughly convinced and persuaded of the vanity of them, as to trample upon them, and make them a footstool for Christ to get up, and ride in a holy triumph in your hearts.

How do I remember this? First, consider the matter plainly: Scripture and experience both prove that my own life is transitory, how then could I believer otherwise about the things of this life. Think of how foolishly I cared for the opinion of a man or woman whom I have not seen in 40 years.

Second, consider the particular matter at issue: How permanent is this particular thing?

Third, meditate upon Scripture plainly says about such things. Roll the truth about in your heart, your mind, your mouth until you do not doubt it. Memorize that which is applicable and appropriate from Scripture. For example:

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:34-36

Fourth, pray to be settled in the truth of the matter. Pray to see things for what they are.

Fifth, stay away from vanities. To give one’s attention fully to vanities and yet to think that I shall stay away when temptation comes is foolishness. Guard the heart. For that which goes in will come out.

Ecclesiastes Comparison and Contrast.8

04 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Ecclesiastes, Mark

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Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 1:3, judgment, Mark, Mark 8:36, profit

Ecclesiastes 1:3:

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

Mark 8:36-37:

36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

Translation of Ecclesiastes 1:3

10 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by memoirandremains in Ecclesiastes

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Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiates 1:3, profit, toil, Translation, trouble

 

Ecclesiastes 1:3 (BHS)

3 מַה־יִּתְרוֹן לָאָדָם בְּכָל־עֲמָלוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲמֹל תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃

What is left for the man for all his trouble in which he toils under the sun?

Alternative:

What good is there for man in all his cark and care beneath the sun?

What good is therefore man in all his toil and moil beneath the sun?

Notes:

יִּתְרוֹן

This noun appears only in Ecclesiastes. The verb ytr which forms the basis of the noun, refers to what is left over. By abstraction of the thought, it is what is left after work, hence a “profit”.

עֲמָלוֹ

His trouble/toil: the lemma appears 54 times in the OT and is translated various as toil, trouble, mischief, wearisome task. The archaic English word “cark” seems to come closest in meaning.

The related verb appears in the next phrase “in which he toils”. The Hebrew pun is difficult to bring out in English without emphasizing the similar sounds. The verb is used 11 times and always refers to labor with exertion.

The question of “What is the profit/gain? What is left over?” occurs three times in Ecclesiastes: 1:3, 3:9 & 5:16. 

The noun yithron appears in the book as follows:

Eccles 1:3

 

מַה־יִּתְר֖וֹן לָֽאָדָ֑ם בְּכָל־עֲמָל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

 

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

 

Eccles 2:11

 

וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי אֲנִ֗י בְּכָל־מַעֲשַׂי֙ שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ יָדַ֔י וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֙בֶל֙ וּרְע֣וּת ר֔וּחַ וְאֵ֥ין יִתְר֖וֹן תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

 

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

 

Eccles 2:13

 

וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן־הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן־הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

 

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

 

Eccles 3:9

 

מַה־יִּתְרוֹן֙ הָֽעוֹשֶׂ֔ה בַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר ה֥וּא עָמֵֽל׃

 

What gain has the worker from his toil?

 

Eccles 5:8

 

וְיִתְר֥וֹן אֶ֖רֶץ בַּכֹּ֣ל ה֑יּ֯א מֶ֥לֶךְ לְשָׂדֶ֖ה נֶעֱבָֽד׃

 

But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.

 

Eccles 5:15

 

וְגַם־זֹה֙ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה כָּל־עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁבָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּמַה־יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָרֽוּחַ׃

 

This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?

 

Eccles 7:12

 

כִּ֛י בְּצֵ֥ל הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה בְּצֵ֣ל הַכָּ֑סֶף וְיִתְר֣וֹן דַּ֔עַת הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה תְּחַיֶּ֥ה בְעָלֶֽיהָ׃

 

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

 

Eccles 10:10

 

אִם־קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהוּא֙ לֹא־פָנִ֣ים קִלְקַ֔ל וַחֲיָלִ֖ים יְגַבֵּ֑ר וְיִתְר֥וֹן הַכְשֵׁ֖יר חָכְמָֽה׃

 

If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.

 

Eccles 10:11

 

אִם־יִשֹּׁ֥ךְ הַנָּחָ֖שׁ בְּלוֹא־לָ֑חַשׁ וְאֵ֣ין יִתְר֔וֹן לְבַ֖עַל הַלָּשֽׁוֹן׃

 

If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

 

 

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