Steve Webb 0:00 I've discovered that this is a good place to be. Steve Webb 0:04 It's the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. My name is Steve Webb and I'm your OG Godcaster. It's poetry Thursday, and our reading today is Ecclesiastes nine and 10. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. and I'll have contact information at the end of the show. Before we read, let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word, because in your Word, we find wisdom. As we read today, I pray that you would teach us I pray this in Jesus name, Amen. All right, are you ready? Let's get started. Steve Webb 0:42 Ecclesiastes, chapter nine. For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hands of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. All things come to light to all. One event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good, the clean and the unclean. To him who sacrifices and Him who does not sacrifice, as is the good, so is the center. He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. This is an evil, then all that is done under the sun, that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil. Madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that, they go to the dead. But for him who is joined to the living, there is hope for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward for the memory of them has forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished. Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. Go eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart. For God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil. live joyfully with a wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which he has given you under the sun and all your days of vanity. For that as your portion in life and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your mind. For there is no work or device or knowledge, your wisdom in the grave where you're going. I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the Swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise nor riches to men of understanding nor favor to men of skill, but time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time, like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in the snare. So the sons of man are snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them. This was dumb I have also seen under the sun and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no one remembered that same poor man. Then I said, wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. words of the wise spoken quietly should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good Steve Webb 3:36 Ecclesiastes chapter 10. dead flies putrefy the perfumers ointment and causes it to give off a foul odor. So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fools heart at his left. Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool. If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post for conciliation. pacifies great offenses. There is an evil I've seen under the sun as an error proceeding from the ruler. Folly is sat in great dignity while the rich sit in a lowly place. I've seen servants on horses while princes walk on the ground like servants. He who digs a pit will fall into it and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. He who quarry stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits wood may be endangered by it. If the axe is dull and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength. But wisdom brings success. A serpent may bite when it is not charmed. The babbler is no different. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up. The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is Ray Think madness. The fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be, who can tell him what will be after him. The labor of fools wears them, for they do not even know how to go to the city. Woe to you oh land when your king is a child and your apprentices feast in the morning. Bless it are you will land when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength and not for drunkenness. Because of laziness, the building decays, and through idleness of hands, the house leaks. A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry. But money answers everything. and do not curse the king. Even in your thought, Do not curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your voice and a bird in flight may tell the matter. Steve Webb 5:54 Last week when we were last in Ecclesiastes, at the end of chapter eight, Solomon had said that after setting his mind on understanding wisdom, after watching what happens here on earth, he concluded that it's impossible for a man to understand at all, and this is coming from the wisest man that ever lived. and the beginning of our reading today began with the words. So I considered all of this carefully examining all of it, the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in God's hand. Well, beloved, I've discovered that this is a good place to be. Before Jesus left this world, he said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, I give you not as the world gives, don't be troubled or afraid. If we try to make sense out of the world, as Solomon did, will become just like him will become cynical and jaded. Solomon spent many years in pursuit of the things the world tells us will bring happiness and near the end, he threw in the towel, and he said, it's too much I can't understand. When I was a few years, well, okay, when I was many years younger, during the Jesus free days, we've talked about this before. In the late 60s and early 70s, there was a popular bumper sticker around that said, let go and let God well, of course, like most bumper stickers, that's overly simplistic, but it fits in our discussion here. When we're willing to admit that we're not in control, that it's all in God's hands, it becomes easier to let go and let God one of the reasons Jesus came was to give us peace, which is good, since all the things that the world says will give His peace fall sadly short. It's a good thing to remember that I'm not God, which is good because I don't want that job. About You, who would you want that job? I don't think so. If you have thoughts or questions, let me hear from you. Send a Boostagram or call the Lifespring family hotline or go to the comments page or write an email. I'll tell you how, in just a few moments, tomorrow will be prophecy Friday, and our reading will be Zechariah eight through 14 Jingle 8:07 Lifespringmedia.com slash support Steve Webb 8:11 Here's how to contact me, call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus 1951732 at 511. Or go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com if you have a prayer request or a phrase that you'd like to share with the Lifespring family. If you have a comment or if you have a question, go to comment.lifespringmedia.com or send an email to me at steve@lifespringmedia.com. You can also send a Boostagram using a modern podcast app from podcast apps.com. Steve Webb 8:50 Thanks to Sister Denise who does the transcripts Michael Haner who does the chapters in Scott Snider and Jason Paschall who do the show art Jason did it today and SR Brittaney Who does the newsletter. and thank you, beloved for inviting me to join you today. Lord willing I will be back with another episode tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Announcer 9:16 The Lifespring media family of programs are made possible by the generous support of listeners like you. Thank you Transcribed by https://otter.ai