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Day 9 Ecclesiastes 9 Ecclesiastes 9:1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that swears, as he that fears an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun. 7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepts thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou love all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou take under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou go. 11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all. 12 For man also knows not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that rules among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroys much good. It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter where you live. It does not matter whether you are rich or poor. Everyone everywhere will experience the same thing – death. Solomon turned his thoughts from the vanities of this life and all that he experienced in trying to find its meaning to verifying that everything comes from God. He saw that everything you have in this life is from the hand of God. He also said that since God gave man everything, there was just one thing you should do – enjoy the life God gave you. There will always be someone who will come against you, as the king against the small town, and there will always be a voice of wisdom that will take down a mighty king to bring peace once again. If you are a Christian, you are the small town and Satan is the king who wants to come against you to destroy you. However, the voice of wisdom, is the Word of God who will always defeat Satan. 1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Satan seeks to ensnare you with material wealth. Yet God gave you everything you have for your enjoyment. Jesus showed that life would not be easy, but it would be worth it. Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Satan seeks to destroy, God gives generously. Satan will persecute. God gives eternal life to all those who persevere for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let the king come against your town. The voice of wisdom will defeat him and you will enjoy the life God gave you. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for the voice of wisdom that defeats Satan and all he comes against me to destroy. Help me to give you praise for all you have done in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. Copyright © 9 August 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay