The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, October 27, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, October 27, 2022
Thursday, October 27, 2022
TOPIC: GOD, THE LEVELLER!
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Ecclesiastes 4:16
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, October 27, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
In today's passage, the 'Preacher' goes on to explain that power (which men are so ambitious of) and life itself, (which men are so fond and jealous Of), are all nothing without the fear of God. He points out the reality of the place of God as the ultimate and perfect judge for both the wicked and the righteous (vv. 16-17). He further discusses the status of all flesh, both humans and animals (w. 18-22). This comparison he made implies that it is only the religious consciousness in man that elevates him a little above other animal, else, man and animals are alike in fate. "For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals...they all have one breath" (v.19). In Chapter 4, he sadly recognises the prevalence of oppression on earth. He however sustains that even the oppressed and the oppressor are altogether equal, being subject to One Master, God, The Leveller. The succeeding verses further unveil that our earthly existence is full of endless toils, and at the end, everyone passes on, leaving the efforts and achievements behind.
Here is the vanity of man as mighty he is even in his best estate. There is really nothing any human should glory for or brag about in this life since all flesh are subject to one fate (death) and one Master (God The Leveller). We are hereby encouraged to imbibe attitudes of absolute humility, maintain a sober conscience towards God, lead a simple and selfless lifestyle, work together in unity with others in forbearance and tolerance while bearing one another's burdens, for two are better than one (Eccl. 4:9-16). Everything shall level up before God eventually.
Thought: When we shall all turn to skeletons; no one can identify which skeleton is the rich or that of the poor!