Since students were arriving from other islands early this morning, the starting time was set for 1:00pm. After some preliminary announcements, we got started with an introduction to the book and its place in the collection of divinely inspired Scripture (canon) intended to fully equip us to know God’s will, live rightly and have an eternal home with our Lord. (The charts for our introduction to the book and the text covered are posted below the report on the blog linked above.)
After a short break, we began our study by examining the first chapter of Ecclesiastes. We emphasized the fact that Solomon, the author of the book, had been uniquely provided by God with wisdom above that possessed by any other, but that wisdom in itself did not assure his life would be lived properly before God. Wisdom causes one to understand and be able to apply knowledge, but it does not provide one with the will to do what is right. Solomon’s problem that caused him to depart from God was not a lack of wisdom (for God had given it to him abundantly), but his departure came as a result of his heart or will being turned away from God. I have never known an alcoholic who did not understand he would be better off without alcohol in his life. Yet, many never leave its toxic and deadly effect because they lack the heart and will to do the hard work of leaving the addiction because the alcohol has so dulled their senses.
We also dealt at length with Solomon’s purpose of showing the hopelessness and emptiness of an attempt to understand life’s purpose and our place in this life “under the sun” if we leave God out of that picture. Much of the first chapter of Ecclesiastes is spent making that point from different angles. The portion of the text covered today is also posted on the blog at the end of the report.
Thanks again for your interest in this work. If you are reading this report of Facebook or by connecting to the blog, but would rather just have the written report by email, please write me an email at harryrosborne@live.com with “Philippine Update” in the subject line and I will gladly add you name to that list. I had to start over with my mailing list on this trip because my list was somehow deleted. Yes, I’m quite aware it was “operator error,” but I’m not smart enough to figure out what I did wrong! If you want to stop receiving the report, I will be glad to delete you from the list as well. God bless!
Brotherly, Harry
Introduction to Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 1:
