Feb 9 Daily Rhythm

We are starting a sermon series on Sunday on the book of Ecclesiastes. I hope you will join us and that today’s reading will help prepare your heart for our journey together through this interesting book.

Morning
Ecclesiastes 1:1-7

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.

God, thank you that in your word you give us everything we need. We may need this word from this strange preacher. Give us understanding into how to live our lives under the sun with wisdom and goodness. Give us a hope in the midst of vanity. Give us yourself.

Afternoon
Ecclesiastes 1:8-11

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

Dear Lord, it is true we get weary. Sometimes with all that I do I feel like a dog chasing its tail only to realize that I am a doberman and I will never get it. So weary. God help us to learn what it means to rest. Help us to understand that sometimes rest may follow unfulfillment, but then unfulfillment ultimately follows everything. Help us to rest in you in all circumstances.

Evening
Eccl. 1:12-18

I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Oh God, help us rest tonight. Whether in knowledge, wisdom, vexation or sorrow. We run to you rather than wealth, pleasure satisfaction or status. You are our God, our Lord, Our king, our hero.