The Joy of Glory

Ecclesiastes 6 (click here)
Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 6:10-12)

Reflection
Solomon recognizes that God is the one who has “named” all things…in other words…God rules over all things and man cannot argue with the ways of God. To try is to just produce vain words. But, the real question is why do we try to argue with God instead of trusting him?

We can’t even tell what will “be after us under the sun…” meaning that we don’t know what is going to happen in life. All we have is the present moment. We cannot see the whole of time from beginning to end as God can…so of course things often do not make sense to us and seem meaningless. Yet, while we complain about the seeming random edges of the puzzle piece of life we possess…God sees the whole puzzle coming together according to his perfect design.

Our response to the Lord should be trust. After all, it is vanity to argue with the one who is sovereign. The only response that makes sense and the only response that brings comfort by placing us in God’s sovereign care…is…trust. We live by trust…we live by faith.

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.