Daily Bread_April 12, 2013

Title: Lessons Learned in the School of Suffering

Text:

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 (ESV)
¹ A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
² It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.
³ Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Observation:

In this portion of wisdom literature the writer is comparing what is wise with what is foolish. The writer speaks as one who has earned the right to be heard.

Ecclesiastes 1:16 (ESV)
¹⁶ 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."

This wise man makes this appeal; he says think about this.

Ecclesiastes 7:13 (ESV)
¹³ Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

He is saying I want you to think about this; things that are eternal matter most. We are more apt to consider what matter most when we are suffering than we are partying.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 (ESV)
² It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

Would you rather go to a funeral or a party? What is the wise and what is the foolish answer? Ouch, this is tough. Where do we learn more about God, and life above the sun? One commentator I read said he believes that he is talking about going to the funeral of another person.

When we ponder these matters, we come to the conclusion, based of scripture, that God is sovereign in the house of mourning. In fact, He does some of His most effective work in us when we are in the house of mourning rather than in the house of feasting.

C.S. Lewis in his book, "Pain & Suffering" said this.

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Has suffering prompted you? Have you learned something new about God in suffering?

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that I will be a quick and smart learner in the School of Suffering.

Father God, help me to dig deep into your word, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discern more about you so that I may grow in wisdom and maturity when I am faced with pain and suffering. Help me to see that you are sovereign in all things, and over all things. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/