There are planned careers, and then there are ones like mine. My life could indeed be a case study of "time and chance" (v11) as the guiding principles of human life. I wonder, though, whether this fatalistic interpretation recognizes two other observations:
(a) God created me as a cognitive being with the freedom of choice; and
(b) There may be more of God's design in my life than I can currently see.
This week we study Solomon's observations on causality. The great difficulty with which Solomon contends in his search for God and meaning in his life was the little difference that is made between those that are good and bad in the distribution of comforts and burdens, and in life outcomes. This has perplexed the honest minds of many wise and contemplative people -- Job (Job 24), Jeremiah (Jer 12), Habakkuk (Hab 1), and Asaph (Psalm 73). Interestingly, each of these men begin their analysis from a position of of God's righteousness, holiness, and goodness. They are battling with the tension between their own experience of their Heavenly Father's goodness, and the empirical evidence that they often appear to receive stones for bread, serpents for fish, and scorpions for eggs (Luke 11:11,12).
Interestingly, Ecclesiastes recognizes no power in this world other than God. Perhaps we should add a third observation to the above two:
(c) Satan appears to be the prince of the planet on which we reside (Job 1:6).
It is amazing that God's inspired revelation of Himself devotes as many lines as it does to this question of God's goodness. If I was to guide others in writing a definitive text that revealed my character, I would strongly suggest that it omit discourses on how the empirical evidence appears to be at odds with the proposition that Alister Hunt is "a good bloke". God appears not to have placed Himself above questioning regarding the justice and goodness inherent in the observed causality between human action and outcome.
Is Solomon willing to experiment with a relationship with God? Or, is he going to conclude that life is meaningless, that there is little point to this life beyond throwing ourselves into our work and enjoying what little pleasures this life might afford. Is he going to conclude that there is nothing beyond this life? Read on through Ecclesiastes.
What are we going to conclude?
Take time this week to (re)read 1 Kings 9:3-9. It is useful context to Solomon's discourse on causality.
Also, you will enjoy Matthew Henry's commentary on Ecclesiastes 9 this week -- this note draws on Henry's comments.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc3.xxi.x.html
In the week to come, may we enjoy our relationships, our work, our food, and our clothes. But more importantly, I pray that we will grapple with the issue with which Solomon contends -- and be willing to consider conclusions other than that of Ecclesiastes 9.
© Alister L. Hunt Ph.D
(a) God created me as a cognitive being with the freedom of choice; and
(b) There may be more of God's design in my life than I can currently see.
This week we study Solomon's observations on causality. The great difficulty with which Solomon contends in his search for God and meaning in his life was the little difference that is made between those that are good and bad in the distribution of comforts and burdens, and in life outcomes. This has perplexed the honest minds of many wise and contemplative people -- Job (Job 24), Jeremiah (Jer 12), Habakkuk (Hab 1), and Asaph (Psalm 73). Interestingly, each of these men begin their analysis from a position of of God's righteousness, holiness, and goodness. They are battling with the tension between their own experience of their Heavenly Father's goodness, and the empirical evidence that they often appear to receive stones for bread, serpents for fish, and scorpions for eggs (Luke 11:11,12).
Interestingly, Ecclesiastes recognizes no power in this world other than God. Perhaps we should add a third observation to the above two:
(c) Satan appears to be the prince of the planet on which we reside (Job 1:6).
It is amazing that God's inspired revelation of Himself devotes as many lines as it does to this question of God's goodness. If I was to guide others in writing a definitive text that revealed my character, I would strongly suggest that it omit discourses on how the empirical evidence appears to be at odds with the proposition that Alister Hunt is "a good bloke". God appears not to have placed Himself above questioning regarding the justice and goodness inherent in the observed causality between human action and outcome.
Is Solomon willing to experiment with a relationship with God? Or, is he going to conclude that life is meaningless, that there is little point to this life beyond throwing ourselves into our work and enjoying what little pleasures this life might afford. Is he going to conclude that there is nothing beyond this life? Read on through Ecclesiastes.
What are we going to conclude?
Take time this week to (re)read 1 Kings 9:3-9. It is useful context to Solomon's discourse on causality.
Also, you will enjoy Matthew Henry's commentary on Ecclesiastes 9 this week -- this note draws on Henry's comments.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc3.xxi.x.html
In the week to come, may we enjoy our relationships, our work, our food, and our clothes. But more importantly, I pray that we will grapple with the issue with which Solomon contends -- and be willing to consider conclusions other than that of Ecclesiastes 9.
© Alister L. Hunt Ph.D
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