MAY 31

Life's True Meaning _:

PURPOSE AND BALANCE IN LIFE. Eccl. 3:1-17

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a rime to kill and a time to heal, .

a time to tear down and a time to build.

a time to weep and a rime to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,.

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Whatever is has already been,

and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.''

And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

I thought in my heart,

"God will bring to judgment

both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed."

ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE. Eccl.11:7-12:8 .

Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years a man may live,

let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness,

for they will be many.

Everything to come is meaningless.

Be happy, young man, while you are young,

and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart

and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things

God will bring you to judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come

and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"— before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights ,'r

and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags himself along

and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home

and mourners go about the streets.

Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,^;

or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.' "Everything is meaningless!"

WHERE LIFE FINDS ITS MEANING. Eccl. 12:13,14

Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole _duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

End of Solomon's Reign

With that parting advice to those who would follow him in these "days 'under the sun," Solomon himself falls prey to the "same destiny which overtakes all men." After a rather obscure reference to other historical

records pertaining to Solomon (perhaps the record of Samuel and the Kings),

the end of Solomon's life is given only brief mention.

OTHER RECORDS OF SOLOMON. 2 Chron,9:29 [1 kings. 11:41]

As for the other events of Solomon's reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?

SOLOMON'S DEATH. 2 Chron,9:30,31a [1 kings. 11:42,43]

Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father.

SOLOMON'S SUCCESSOR 2 Chron,9:21b

And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king