Does it seem like you're chasing the wind? Then you need to read this! Faithlife.com Ecclesiastes 1 (NIV) 1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” 3 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. 7 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. 8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; There is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. 11 No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them. 12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 6 Q. Did God create people so wicked and perverse? A. No. God created them good and in his own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love him with all their heart, and live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory. Summary In many ways, Ecclesiastes is the Bible's forgotten book of wisdom. Every Friday here in this space we read a Psalm (and many of our churches sing them often), and the book of Proverbs is well known for its sage advice even to those who aren't very familiar with the Bible as a whole. But this book of Ecclesiastes often flies under the radar escaping notice - yet it has so much to say to our society. The name Ecclesiastes refers to the book's primary character: the preacher, or in the case of the NIV translation we'll be using this week, Teacher. It's unlikely that Solomon wrote this book, but there can be little doubt that this character was developed with him in mind. The Teacher says of himself, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me. We know from Biblical narratives that King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. Ecclesiastes introduces one of the Bible's most awesome words: hěʹ·věl. This is one of those great words that looks different in every Bible translation because there's not really one English word that fully captures its meaning. I think the NIV did well using the word meaningless, but the words vanity and futility work well too. Hěʹ·věl, most literally translated, refers to the fog that appears when you exhale on a cold day. It's there for an instant, but quickly disappears. It's real and substantial, but you can't feel it. You can see it hanging in the air almost motionless, but it instantly shifts the moment you try to grab it. Dig Deeper Everything, says the Teacher, is utterly meaningless. Everything in life that you see is hěʹ·věl - right in front of you one moment, gone the next. It's real and substantial, but you can't really ever fully experience it. Every time you think you can get a grip on on what you've been chasing after, it suddenly eludes you once again. If this sounds anything like your experience in life, you have lots in common with King Solomon. That's the fascinating yet frustrating reality we live in - that although none of us have Solomon's wealth or power, our experience is so similar. Even though so many aspects of your life differ from Solomon's - language, culture, technology, family (I don't think any of our readers have hundreds of wives...), human nature has not changed one bit from what it was thousands of years ago when Solomon lived. Generations come and generations go. The sun rises and the sun sets and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows - round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. Yet for all of the labors at which we toil under the sun, people have been asking the same exact question from the moment Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden: What do we gain? Ecclesiastes has a reputation for being dour and pessimistic, since it so clearly points out the seeming vanity, futility and meaninglessness of life. If all you had to hang on to was the hěʹ·věl of this world, life would indeed be the pessimistic mess that the Teacher unpacks for us. But all week long, we're going to be reminded of a fundamental difference for those of us who belong to Christ. The Teacher's pessimism is aimed at life under the sun, but as Christians we are people who live on an entirely different plane: we have been raised with Christ, and so we can find life's elusive meaning and true fulfillment. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who's laid a heavy burden on mankind to study and explore all that is done under the heavens; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that having been raised with Christ, that you would set your mind on Him as you study and explore life under the sun; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Why does it seem like the wicked prosper so much more than you? BOOK 3 PSALM 73 A Psalm of Asaph. 1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat. 5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 7 Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. 8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. 9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are drunk by them. 11 They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; 14 For I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. 16 When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight 17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form. 21 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, 22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. 28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 95 Q. What is idolatry? A. Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in his Word. Summary Asaph begins Psalm 73 by reassuring himself of what he certainly knows to be true, that surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Yet it doesn't take long for a but to slip in. Asaph is stumbling, losing his foothold as he enviously looks at the prosperity [shalom] of the wicked. He notices that they have no pains; they are not in trouble as other men. And the wicked have no desire to glorify God with their 'blessings.' They're full of pride, and are clothed with a garment of violence. Their imaginations of their heart run riot. Not only do they not thank God, but they set their mouth against the heavens, mocking that the Most High doesn't know anything. Asaph knows that this isn't the way things are supposed to be. He knows the psalm at the beginning of the Psalter - the one that sets the tone for the rest. Psalm 1 indicates that the man who delights in the law of the LORD is the one who should be prospering, while the chaff filled lives of the wicked are supposed to be driven away by the wind. You've likely felt - or maybe even feel - just like Asaph. You've worked hard to keep your heart pure and keep your hands innocent, yet as you look out over the fence surrounding your life, the grass seems quite a bit greener on the other side in the yards of the wicked. It all makes God's Word so hard to swallow when the reality that surrounds you seems so incongruous with it. Dig Deeper But Asaph comes to his senses - or maybe it's better to understand that he got hold of his senses. And don't miss where this happens! Everything he saw and thought was troublesome in his sight... Until he came into the sanctuary of God! This is why it's so important for you to physically get yourself surrounded by God's people in a place that's separated from the world's allurements and distractions on a regular basis. Responding to God's call to worship on the Lord's Day helps break the spell of enviousness that the world seeks to ensare you with. It was in the sanctuary of God that Asaph perceived the end of the arrogant. He begins to notice that although their lives look secure, God has set them in slippery places. The moment things turn against them, they're utterly swept away by sudden terrors. It was time in the LORD's sanctuary that set Asaph free from embittered senseless ignorance. It's there he realized that God's counsel will guide him through the transitory troubles of this world, and that afterwards, God will receive him to glory. Having been released from his envy, Asaph realizes he desires nothing on earth besides God. You've once again made it to Friday, but if you're like Asaph (and most of us are), this past week has filled you with envy and bitterness. But even though your flesh and heart may fail, remember that God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever. Join with His people this coming Lord's Day to bask in the good nearness of God as you make the Lord GOD your refuge, so that in this coming week you may tell of all His works. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who takes hold of our right hands; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for inviting you to his sanctuary, and pray that God will prepare your heart to experience His nearness on the Lord's Day; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

You're continually bombarded with choices in life, but only one really matters. Proverbs 9 (NASB95) 1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; 2 She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table; 3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city: 4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says, 5 “Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 “Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.” 7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it. 13 The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city, 15 Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight: 16 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Canons of Dordt Point II, Article 6: Unbelief Man’s Responsibility The fact that many who have been called through the gospel do not repent or believe in Christ but perish in unbelief is not because the sacrifice of Christ offered on the cross is deficient or insufficient, but because they themselves are at fault. Point III/IV, Article 8: The Serious Call of the Gospel All who are called through the gospel are called seriously. For seriously and most genuinely God makes known in his Word what is pleasing to him: that those who are called should come to him. Seriously he also promises rest for their souls and eternal life to all who come to him and believe. Summary Imagine yourself coming into an unfamiliar city for the first time, lacking understanding of where you need to go to find food and rest. You are met by two women beckoning you with the exact same invitation: Whoever is naive, let him turn in here! But both of these women, who initially appear equally attractive, point you in opposite directions. Lady Wisdom is the first to call out. She's worked hard to prepare for her guests, having built her house, prepared food, mixed wine, set her table, and sent out her maidens with invitations. Just to make sure nobody gets missed, she broadcasts her invite from the tops of the heights of the city. The woman of folly takes a different tact. Unlike her industrious competitor, she's boisterous. Rather than sending out servants with invitations for all the confused to come, she simply sits at the doorway of her house calling to those who pass by. But she's only interested in a certain demographic: those who are making their path straight. In other words, she seeks to derail those who are generally headed in the right direction in life, attempting to throw a few curves into their seemingly boring straight path by beckoning them with stolen water and bread (she doesn't even bother preparing her own food - she simply takes what's good from Wisdom and corrupts it). It's all fake... she has nothing of her own to offer the naive and those who lack understanding, because she herself is naive and knows nothing. Still, the crowds throng to her superficially sumptuous spread. But what they don't realize is they've just arrived at the Hotel California, and once they've checked in, they can't check out. The dead are there; all of the guests are in the depths of Sheol (the grave). Dig Deeper As you stand in the middle of this hypothetical street, being instinctually pulled toward Folly, you feel a firm hand upon your shoulder pulling you back to your senses. That's what the middle section of today's chapter is all about. The first six verses described Lady Wisdom, and the final six verses expose the woman of folly. But those middle five verses help illustrate why you must choose wisdom even though folly seems so much more fun. Those verses begin by explaining that the scoffers following folly hate correction and reproof. It's not so much that they can't check out, but rather that they dishonor and insult those trying to help them escape. Conversely, the wise and righteous want more and more of what Wisdom offers; they love those who bring them reproof and instruction which increases their learning. Instead of a slow march to the depths of Sheol for those in the house of folly, those who pursue Wisdom have their days multiplied and years of life added. It's easy to check into the house of folly. Just show up, and they'll quickly and boisterously usher you right into what seems like never ending entertainment. But the check-in process at Wisdom's house is more complicated. You can't take all of your baggage inside. A large sign over the check-in counter reads: FORSAKE YOUR FOLLY AND LIVE. Proceed in the way of understanding. This is exactly what Jesus means when He calls all those who follow Him to repent and believe. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the knowledge of whom is understanding; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will, by the power of the Holy Spirit who continually reminds you of wisdom's value, continue to forsake folly and proceed in the way of understanding; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Getting and holding on to wisdom will cost you, but it's worth every penny. Faithlife.com Proverbs 4 (NASB95) 1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, 2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. 3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, 4 Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; 5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. 7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. 8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. 9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.” 10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. 11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 113 Q. What is God’s will for you in the tenth commandment? A. That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one of God’s commandments should ever arise in my heart. Rather, with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in whatever is right. Summary Today's teaching comes in the form that so many of the Proverbs do - especially in these opening chapters: a father conveying sound teaching and instruction to his sons. It doesn't take much imagination to see the larger picture lying behind the original context of Solomon teaching his own sons (his actual experience doing so was not nearly as elegant as his written advice here is). Although these words come through Solomon's inspired pen, they are your Father's loving counsel to you, as those who've been made His royal 'sons' in Jesus Christ. Wisdom is personified in the Proverbs, and our Father refers to Wisdom with feminine pronouns: Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom, who along with an unruly woman named Folly (Proverbs 9:13), is one of two ladies continually beckoning for your attention. And once again, it doesn't take much imagination to understand why Folly gets followed much more often in a world filled with mind-numbed people controlled only by their appetites. But this is the crux of our Father's advice here today: Although our Folly-filled society seems to offer you so much, do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. Instead of squandering every dime futilely trying to find fulfillment in Folly, acquire wisdom... though it cost all that you have, get understanding (NIV). Dig Deeper It's so easy to slip into a 'let go and let God' mentality as Christians - especially for Reformed Christians like us who highly value God's sovereignty. After all, He has called us to Himself, renewed our hearts and minds so that we recognize Truth, and given us faith. Nothing can ever pry us from His hands. All of that, of course, is absolutely true. Many of us spent all of last year being reminded of this as we worked our way through the Doctrines of Grace in the Canons of Dordt. But don't miss the absolute concentration and devotion that your Father calls you to as you navigate life: Do not abandon my instruction; Let your heart hold fast my words; Take hold of instruction; do not let go; Give attention to my words... Do not let them depart from your sight; Watch over your heart with all diligence; Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you; Watch the path of your feet; Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. The narrow road that Christ called you to walk is not easy. Every step is difficult and fraught with danger, with steep, slippery slopes of temptation on both sides. Yes, your Father holds you tightly and will not let go, but just as He explains here in Proverbs 4, He expects you to make every effort to live a holy life (2 Peter 1:5). But this sounds all so exhaustingly impossible! It doesn't just sound this way, on your own it is this way! This is exactly why the author of the book of Hebrews - himself no stranger to the Doctrines of Grace - admonishes you to fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3). AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who directs us in the way of wisdom; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the concentration and devotion necessary to walk the narrow road that your Father guides you down; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Keeping the LORD's commands leads to living in His blessings. Proverbs 3:1–12 (NASB95) 3 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of life And peace (šā·lôm) they will add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. 11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. Belgic Confession Article 24: The Sanctification of Sinners We believe that this true faith, produced in man by the hearing of God’s Word and by the work of the Holy Spirit, regenerates him and makes him a “new man,” causing him to live the “new life” and freeing him from the slavery of sin. -- So then, we do good works, but nor for merit— for what would we merit? Rather, we are indebted to God for the good works we do, and not he to us, since it is he who “works in us both to will and do according to his good pleasure” -- Yet we do not wish to deny that God rewards good works— but it is by his grace that he crowns his gifts. Summary So many of the proverbs are formatted like today's - a father imparting wisdom upon his son. Certainly this sets the ideal relationship between a parent and child - one in which teaching God's Word finds top priority. But remember that these words are more than just King Solomon's wisdom being imparted to his sons (which as we read a few months ago, didn't go so well); these words are God's words, being imparted directly to you by His Spirit through Solomon's pen. Did you feel the rhythm of these words as you read the text? So much Hebrew poetry takes the form of today's passage, set in parallel couplets in which the second line poetically restates the first. Verse seven is a good example: Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. This structure does more than just form aesthetically pleasing poetry. It enables a couple of simple, elegant lines to deliver a heavy theological load: wisdom as we define it - that is, in your own eyes - is evil and must be turned away from, whereas true wisdom comes through fearing the LORD, which is the primary theme of the Proverbs that we learned yesterday. This poetic parallalism also adds value to the proverbs' imperatives. Our Father certainly could demand that we do not forget His teaching simply because they are His commandments, and it's His way or the highway. But in His love for us He defines how it is that keeping them benefits us: IMPERATIVE / COMMAND BENEFIT Do not forget teaching / keep my commandments Add years of life and peace (shalom) Do not let kindness & truth leave you you will find favor and good repute Trust in the LORD / lean not on your own understanding / in all your ways acknowledge Him He will make your paths straight Don't be wise in your own eyes / fear the LORD & turn away from evil It will bring healing and refreshment Honor the LORD with your wealth Your barns will be filled with plenty Do not reject the LORD's discipline The LORD's reproof is evidence of His love Dig Deeper We read the word heart so often in the Bible, but we rarely understand what the word means, especially here in the Old Testament. Today's passage has three instances of it: Let your heart keep my commandments... ...Write them on the tablet of your heart. Trust in the LORD with all your heart... When our western ears hear heart language, it's easy to think of sappy Hallmark movies or greeting cards, dripping with contrived emotion. We tend to distinguish between our heads and hearts - the former being rigid, disciplined, organized and intellectual, while the latter is raw and impulsive feeling that resists all attempts to be categorized or controlled. Some people are all head, and others are all heart. Somehow our goal needs to be to hang on to both. But the ancient Hebrews had no such distinctions between their emotion and intellect - their heart and head. Here's how one Hebrew dictionary defines their word often translated as heart. It includes your: inner self; disposition, inclination; determination, courage; will, intention; attention, consideration, reason In other words, when the Bible speaks of your heart, it's referring to every portion of your being - who you are at your very core; not just your emotions or feelings, but all of your intellect and volition as well. This is important to understand because a couple of weeks ago we read about what the Holy Spirit has done for you: replaced your heart of stone with a heart of flesh. In other words, you've been transformed from being completely repulsed by Proverb's wisdom to one who in Christ can not just keep the LORD's commands, but experience the blessings and benefits that come with having a heart that is all in on trusting the LORD rather than leaning on your own understanding. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who will make our paths straight when His commandments are written on the tablet of our hearts; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your heart will fear the LORD and turn away from evil; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

The Spirit has enabled you to begin eternity here and now! Proverbs 1:1–7 (NASB95) 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 94 Q. What does the Lord require in the first commandment? A. That I, not wanting to endanger my very salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry, magic, superstitious rites, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. That I sincerely acknowledge the only true God, trust him alone, look to him for every good thing humbly and patiently, love him, fear him, and honor him with all my heart. In short, that I give up anything rather than go against his will in any way Summary We're taking a step back chronologically this week as we read through the Bible together. For the past month and a half, we've been reading through some of the darkest days God's people faced as the Israelites fell away from God and into exile. We read the prophecy that both warned them of it and comforted them through it and narratives from Daniel and later Ezra and Nehemiah that showed that the LORD always kept them in His hand. This week we're going back to the Bible's books of poetry (of course we've already been taking a slice of the Psalms each Friday). But this poetry isn't just abstract verbal art - it has a very important purpose, which is made clear in today's opening words. These proverbs of Solomon are given that we might know wisdom and instruction - the elements that are always lacking when God's people wander away from truth in pursuit of the world's lies - the very wisdom that Adam and Eve forfeited when they ate from the tree of knowledge, and the actual instruction that the Israelites abandoned that resulted in their exile. So the Bible's poetry does much more than just hit you in the feels. As you receive its instruction in wise behavior, then generally righteousness, justice and equity will follow. You'll gain the exact attributes that so much of this broken world is missing! The Bible's poetry is immensely practical! And the wisdom that Biblical poetry provides is for all ages. It makes sense that our naive kids need to hear and read it, for the youth need knowledge and discretion. But even a wise man - people who've been around the block a time or two and who have lots of life experience - even they need to continually hear and increase their learning and seek out the Bible's wise counsel. Dig Deeper Right off the bat, the Bible's wisdom makes a very important distinction. While knowledge certainly depends on instruction and understanding, it can't be learned didactically, the way you came to know the alphabet, multiplication tables, basic Bible stories or other tidbits of data. Rather, true knowledge is rooted in attitude. It's a product of fear: The fear of the LORD is the beginning [root] of knowledge... Nineteenth century commenter Albert Barnes explains well how fear is the starting point of all true wisdom, writing, "The beginning of wisdom is found in the temper of reverence and awe - the fear of the finite in the presence of the Infinite, of the sinful in the presence of the Holy." Allen Ross adds, "Such fear is not a trembling dread that paralyzes action, but neither is it a polite reverence. The fear of the LORD ultimately expresses reverential submission to the LORD’s will and thus characterizes a true worshiper. In this context it is the first and controlling principle of knowledge (beginning can refer to the first thing, the chief thing, or the principal thing)." In other words, before you can truly know or understand anything, you must truly know the LORD; for to know Him is to fear Him. And the only way to truly know the LORD is for His Spirit to free your mind from its slavery to sin, for: Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Your desire to truly know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness justice and equity is evidence of the Holy Spirit's breathing new life into your once foolish soul. This is why Jesus' primary command to those who follow Him is to repent - a word that literally means to change your thinking. In other words, as a Christian, you can truly begin to learn true, eternal knowledge. And according to Jesus, this is what you'll spend the rest of eternity adding to! So start (or keep going) today! AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who through His Spirit has enabled the wise to fear Him; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that, having had your mind freed from sin, that your eternal purpose - starting now - will be to grow in the knowledge, wisdom and instruction of the LORD; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Anchor your prayers in the promises of God’s Kingdom! Psalm 72 Of Solomon. 1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. 4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. 5 May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. 6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. 7 In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. 8 May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. 11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. 14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. 16 May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field. 17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. 18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 123 Q. What does the second request of the Lord's Prayer mean? A. Your kingdom come means, Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you. Keep your church strong, and add to it. Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your Word. Do this until your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it you are all in all. Summary Psalm 72 gives us insight into two of the greatest kings in Israel’s history and the sweeping vision for God’s king and kingdom, moving back and forth between how God has blessed His king and how He has blessed His people through the king. Verse 1 begins with how the king is blessed with justice and righteousness. From the get-go, we learn the king is not interested in what benefits himself, but is concerned with the well-being of his people—even the lowly who normally get overlooked and can give him nothing in return. This psalm also sings of the king’s long life and prosperity, which becomes the people’s share as the land and crops are fruitful under his reign. Finally, his kingship extends far beyond the regular boundaries of Israel. It is a picture of the promise to Abraham to be a blessing to all nations in Genesis 12, coming to fulfillment in verse 17: "All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed." This entire psalm can be read as a prayer for God to fulfill the promise to mankind to exercise righteous dominion over God’s good earth (Gen. 1:28), to be a great nation that blesses others (Gen. 12:2–3), and to establish David’s throne forever (2 Sam 7:13). This psalm is Old Testament hope soaring high through a glorious vision of a righteous and prosperous reign of God’s king. Yet what Psalm 72 describes is something beyond even King David or Solomon's reign—a future hope that stirs anticipation and longing for God's perfect, everlasting rule, as prophesied by Zechariah: "See, your king comes to you... His rule will extend from sea to sea" (Zech. 9:9–10) Dig Deeper The king in Zechariah’s vision is the same king in Psalm 72: David’s greater son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who fulfills these promises perfectly. He is the one who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to bring true and lasting peace for His people and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight—a fulfillment of the psalm's hope, as Jesus shed His own precious blood for ours, demonstrating the ultimate fulfillment of God's righteous kingdom. The vision of this psalm may seem too good to be true, especially in a world marked by corrupt leaders and injustice. But it is not mere idealism because it is prophetic. We are called to pray these words not just as a hope for the future but as a means of spiritual growth and active participation in God's kingdom. As the Heidelberg Catechism teaches us to pray 'Thy Kingdom Come,' we are asking God to destroy the works of the devil and all forces opposed to God, and to rule us by His Word and Spirit so that we submit to Him more and more. We sing Psalm 72 because we belong to the only King who is bringing this heavenly kingdom to pass, and our prayers call out for His reign in our lives and world. Let this psalm be your prayer and praise today for God’s sovereign, righteous, and gracious rule to take root in your life and to spread to the ends of the earth: Now blessed be the Lord our God, the God of Israel, for he alone does wondrous works: his glorious deeds excel. And blessed be his glorious name through all eternity; the whole earth let his glory fill: Amen! So shall it be. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The everlasting King who rules in justice and righteousness and blesses all who submit to His reign. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray “Thy Kingdom Come” and that this is also reflected in the way you are ruled by God’s Word and Spirit. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Find true hope beyond the ash heaps in life. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Job has been given many unhelpful lectures from his so-called friends, and Job 19 records one of his responses that deals with how he sees his dire situation, but gives one of the most beautiful visions of hope in the middle of this book. Job 19:23–29 (NIV) 23 “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! 28 “If you say, ‘How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him,’ 29 you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment.” Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 45 Q. How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us? A. First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he might make us share in the righteousness he won for us by his death. Second, by his power we too are already now resurrected to a new life. Third, Christ’s resurrection is a guarantee of our glorious resurrection. Summary In Job 19, we find Job at his absolute all-time low. In chapter 19, he describes a total social, physical, and spiritual bankruptcy: his friends "crush him with words," (v. 2) his brothers have been "alienated," (v. 13), his wife is offended by his stinking breath (v. 17), and even his own body is "nothing but skin and bones” (v. 20). He feels trapped in a "net" (v. 6), and to top it off, feels God himself is angry with him and out to get him. But in this darkness, a "beam of light" breaks through. Job moves from asking why he is suffering to declaring who will save him. He calls for a Redeemer. In ancient Israel, the Redeemer was the next of kin responsible for defending a family member’s honor, buying them out of slavery, or avenging their blood. Job realizes that no human friend will play this role, and he has recounted how he has no one left to defend him. But God mercifully helps him look past his current agony, past his crumbling skin, and even past death itself and Job makes a staggering confession of faith: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (v. 25). He isn’t just looking to justify himself before his friends, but before God. He knows there is still someone left who has not forsaken him and can personally restore him. He is certain that despite all the current earthly evidence, he will see God with his own eyes—not as an enemy, but as his Friend. Dig Deeper Job 19 teaches us that while suffering can isolate us from everyone else, it cannot isolate us from our Savior. When you are "unpitied" by the world—or even when your own friends’ words crush you, or your body fails you—remember the ascended and glorified Christ who lives and intercedes your case in heaven and is acquainted with your griefs and sorrows. In Job’s “dim hope” within chapter 19, we can see the brightness of our “living hope.” Jesus Christ is our true and living Redeemer. He took to himself our flesh and blood to stand on the earth and to pay our debt and release us from the slavery of sin and the curse of death. He bought this freedom not with gold, but with His precious blood. And because He lives and is in heaven in human flesh, we can know that our bodies will be made new and fit for everlasting glory just like his. When we prepare for the when of suffering, we don’t just rely on tidy philosophies or cliched platitudes like “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” We endure with the power of a Savior who has defeated what ails us. Because Jesus Christ lives and entered glory after the valley of death, we can face the trials of life knowing that our Good Shepherd will lead us through. In the courtroom-like scenes that take place in the book of Job, Job is not only vindicated against the accusations of the devil, but is promised a more glorious future with God. As one author wrote, “Christianity is not a way to cut a deal with God for an easier life now. Christianity is what renews us to live for our real payoff in the future that God has promised.” AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The God who is on your side and gives us a Redeemer in Jesus Christ our Lord; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Engrave in your heart the words and vision Job describes of our living Redeemer; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

The book of Job is not a manual for if you suffer, but for when. Job 1:1–12 (NIV) 1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1 Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. Summary Job 1 introduces a man who is blameless and upright, yet his world is about to be completely dismantled. While the story unfolds on earth, we are given an unsettling peek into the heavenly court. God Himself initiates the conversation by heralding Job’s piety, but Satan—the Accuser—counters with a cynical question: Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan argues that Job’s faith is merely based on his personal gains. He claims Job only loves God because of the hedge of protection and the abundance of blessings surrounding him. Satan bets that if the gifts are removed, the worship will turn to cursing. God allows the test, though He limits Satan’s reach. In what Job experiences as a “no good, very bad day,” to say the least, four messengers arrive in rapid succession, reporting the total loss of his wealth, his servants, and finally, all ten of his children. Job is left with nothing but his life and his grief. Yet, in a stunning reversal of Satan's prediction, Job does not curse God. He tears his robe and shaves his head in genuine mourning, but then he falls to the ground in worship. His unwavering integrity amid suffering inspires believers to trust in God’s sovereignty and love: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (v. 21). Job proves that he loves the Giver more than the gifts. Dig Deeper I have heard another say that the book of Job is not a manual for if you suffer, but for when. Surprise attacks are most likely to leave us off balance, but Job prepares us by pulling back the curtain on the spiritual reality of our trials. Our response to suffering is never just a private matter; it is a witness to the spiritual realm and to our neighbors that God is enough. We need to ask ourselves often: Is our relationship with God grounded in His good gifts to us, or in who He is? If we love God for His hedge of protection, our faith will fail when the hedge is breached. Job teaches us that the blessings of health, family, wealth, and possessions are but temporary gifts from God to steward for His glory — not to cling onto for our security. Recognizing God's sovereignty helps us trust that even in adversity, He remains in control. Moving from a “retribution” mindset like Job’s friends—where we expect blessings for being good—to a “sovereignty” mindset, where we trust that even “the devil is God’s devil,” strengthens our faith (Martin Luther). Our great enemy is still limited by the same Father’s hand who can turn to our good whatever adversity he sends in this sad world (Rom. 8:28; HC Q&A 26). Most of all, we need to see Jesus in Job. Jesus was the more righteous Sufferer who deserved none of His agony, yet voluntarily laid down His life to silence the Accuser forever. Because our Savior transformed His ultimate suffering into our ultimate good, we can trust Him on our own ash heaps and lowest points in life. Knowing we belong to Him provides the comfort that sustains us through anything, reminding believers that God's plan is ultimately for our good and His glory. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Almighty Heavenly Father who even watches over us in such a way not a hair can fall from my head apart from His will and works all things together for my salvation; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to help you recognize where you are trusting in the blessings from God more than the blessing of knowing and belonging to God in Christ? ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God’s justice demands the downfall of evil. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... the tension has escalated. Esther has maneuvered her way into the king’s favor, and through a striking act of providence, the king has been reminded of Mordecai’s earlier life-saving service. While Haman has prepared gallows to hang Mordecai, he remains unaware that the tide is turning against him. We pick up at a banquet where the truth will finally be laid bare before King Xerxes. Esther 7 (NIV) 7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” 5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?” 6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Impale him on it!” 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. Belgic Confession Article 20: The Justice and Mercy of God in Christ We believe that God— who is perfectly merciful and also very just— sent his Son to assume the nature in which the disobedience had been committed, in order to bear in it the punishment of sin by his most bitter passion and death. So God made known his justice toward his Son, who was charged with our sin, and he poured out his goodness and mercy on us, who are guilty and worthy of damnation, giving to us his Son to die, by a most perfect love, and raising him to life for our justification, in order that by him we might have immortality and eternal life. Summary In Esther 7, the narrative's tension finally breaks. At her second banquet, Esther reveals her identity, linking her own life to the fate of her people. She shrewdly frames Haman’s plot not merely as a personal grudge, but as a treasonous annihilation that threatens the king’s own interests. When the king demands to know who would dare such a thing, Esther bursts the scheme open: "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman!" (v. 6). The reversal is immediate and absolute. Haman, who arrived expecting further exaltation, finds himself terrified and begging for mercy from the very woman he sought to destroy. In a moment of supreme irony, Haman "falls" onto Esther’s couch just as the king returns, sealing his fate with the appearance of being the king’s adversary. The chapter concludes with the powerful image of poetic justice: Haman is hanged on the seventy-five-foot gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The instrument of pride and execution intended for the righteous became the means of judgment for the wicked. As Psalm 7:15–16 declares, He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. Dig Deeper As God’s image bearers, we are hard-wired for justice. From a child’s cry of "That’s not fair!" to our elation when a movie villain is conquered, we long to see wrongs made right. Esther 7 reminds us that evil is self-deceptive and ultimately doomed, inspiring hope that God's justice prevails. While human evil often seems clever and untouchable, it carries the seeds of its own destruction. Haman reminds us that God is the Sovereign King who has the last word; no plot against His people can succeed in the end. This “great reversal” points us to a much larger story. In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, we see that all world systems opposed to God (symbolized by Babylon and the Beast) have an expiration date. For God’s people who are oppressed, abused, and persecuted, Esther 7 is a message of hope: God sees, God judges, and God holds the final victory, reassuring believers that God's sovereignty is certain. The ultimate reversal, however, took place at the Cross of Christ. The devil and his powers of darkness thought they had secured a great victory by hanging the Son of God on a tree of shame. Yet, God took that very instrument of death and used it to destroy the power of death itself. Just as Haman’s gallows were turned against him, the Cross was the trap that crushed the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). Because our Judge is also our Savior, we can live as citizens of a righteous kingdom, working for what is right today while resting in the promise that one day, every wrong will be made right by Him, filling us with awe at His divine power. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, a Sovereign God who is righteous and just; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will know the good God has shown you, act justly and love mercy, walking humbly with your God (Micah 6:8); ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: