David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 1 Kings 18-20, Psalm 6.

1 Kings 17:8-16

[At Horeb, the mount of God, Elijah] came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” ¹¹ And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. ¹³ And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁴ He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” ¹⁵ And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. ¹⁶ And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. ¹⁷ And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. ¹⁸ Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

The chapters from today’s readings are on the other end of the favorites list from those with the endless names, sons, wives, daughters, clans, and tribes we navigated in weeks past. I’m reminded of the scene in Star Trek when the young Scotty witnesses the furious intensity of Kirk and Spock. Scotty exclaims, “I like this ship! It’s exciting!”

There are certainly some exciting things in these chapters.

Elijah and the prophets of Baal have a showdown on Mount Carmel. Elijah taunts the prophets of Baal, goading them to cry louder because maybe their god is away, asleep, or even busy (yes – likely a euphemism for using the toilet). Their dancing and self-flagellation accomplish nothing. But when Elijah calls out to the LORD, fire comes down from heaven and consumes the sacrifice – bull, wood, stones, water, and all. Things do not end so well for the prophets of the false god.

Then comes the long-awaited rain – just as Elijah had promised. He had told Ahab it was coming, and on his servant’s seventh trip back from watching the horizon, he reports a small cloud rising from the sea. Before long, “the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain” (18:45).

After all that, you might expect Elijah to be so charged up that he could slay dragons. Instead, he hides in a cave. In despair, he prays that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (19:4).

So God does two things. First, he speaks to Elijah – not in the mighty wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a still small voice. And second, he reminds Elijah that he is not alone. There are still 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed the knee to Baal. And there is Elisha, who will take up Elijah’s mantle and carry on the prophetic work.

These chapters present a striking picture of prophets. These men were warriors of a sort: confronting kings, shaping military strategy, calling down judgment, and standing boldly in the thick of the fray. God used them for his purposes in those days.

Perhaps I find that striking because Jesus is so different. He is the Prince of Peace and mediator of a new covenant. His mission was not to conquer by force but to reconcile by grace. His great showdown looked, for a terrible moment, like defeat itself – abandoned, rejected, crucified. Yet through perfect obedience and complete faithfulness, Jesus won the victory. And his grace and truth are still changing hearts and saving souls.

There may be times when an Elijah is needed. But we will always need the grace and truth of Jesus.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 17, 1 Kings 17, Psalm 5.

1 Kings 17:8-16

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah, ⁹ “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” ¹⁰ So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” ¹¹ And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” ¹² And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” ¹³ And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” ¹⁵ And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶ The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

These Are the Days of Elijah is a contemporary Christian song by Robin Mark. I loved it the first time I heard it – energetic, hopeful, and rooted in the image of Elijah as a prophet who stood courageously against false gods and corrupt rulers.

We are introduced to Elijah in 1 Kings 17 as he confronts King Ahab, one of Israel’s scoundrel kings: “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

That is a breathtaking declaration. Then comes the widow of Zarephath, who is asked to give Elijah bread from the very last of her flour and oil. Once again Elijah speaks boldly: “The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty…”

As I read these chapters, something struck me more clearly. Elijah was not merely brave or unusually confident. This wasn’t a case of a wild dream or an ecstatic experience. He was not speaking for God based on instinct or enthusiasm. Elijah believed that God had spoken – and that God was already at work. God was shutting up the heavens. God would sustain the widow. God would raise her son. Elijah’s confidence rested not in himself, but in the God who acts. I would not make such promises unless I was certain that God was behind it. But so Elijah believes. And so he speaks.

That makes Elijah unique. He boldly confronted kings, called people back to faithfulness, and performed signs that testified to God’s power. Yet even Elijah would later struggle with fear and doubt.

And that turns my attention to Jesus. I’m reminded of the man with leprosy who came saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus stretched out his hand and replied: “I am willing. Be clean.”

Elijah spoke boldly because he was convinced that God had spoken. Jesus, on the other hand, did not merely speak for God. He was God in the flesh – and spoke with the authority of the One who heals, restores, and saves. He calls us to believe – and then commands us to go and tell. Faith listens, and faith also speaks.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 14-16, Psalm 4.

2 Chronicles 14:1-7

When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years. ² Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God. ³ He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. ⁴ He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands. ⁵ Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace. ⁶ During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the LORD was giving him rest from his enemies.

⁷ Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion.

These chapters are 90% relief from yesterday’s readings! No parade of kings here. Just the account of King Asa’s 41 year reign. He is given 10 years of peace during which he determined to remove the foreign altars and the pagan shrines, smashing the sacred pillars and cutting down the Asherah poles. He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands. Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns.

The people of Judah enjoy a period of peace which Asa credits to the fact that they sought the LORD [their] God, and he [had] given us peace on every side.

Sadly, however, seeking the LORD and experiencing his blessing of peace does not prevent others with evil intent from attacking or seeking to disturb the peace of the land. In fact that’s exactly what happens. First an army from Ethiopia of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots attacks. Asa’s response is to turn to God. And with his army of 300,000 men he routs the Ethiopian army sending them away in decisive defeat.

Following this victory Asa not only credited God, but also offered sacrifices to God of 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep. Everything looks so good. Asa is acting so faithfully. He makes a point of seeking God, and the LORD gave them rest from their enemies.

Why is it that even the good kings fail? Asa turns to political alliances rather than seeking the LORD’s help when he is attacked by King Baasha of Israel. And although his alliance is successful in preventing Baasha from defeating Judah, his act of looking to King Ben-hadad of Aram is a sad turn from relying on God. He will end his reign in poor health and plagued by war.

Why is it so hard to remain faithful over the long haul? Even the “good kings” drift. Asa trusted God against an army of a million men but later trusted political alliances more than the LORD. We may not fall into spectacular sin, but we wander too. Pride creeps in. Fear takes over. Trust wavers.

And then I think of the Ethiopian in Acts 8. An enemy from the south becomes a brother in Christ. That is better than military victory, political alliances, or even decades of peace. Jesus does what even good kings never could. He remains faithful where we falter. He forgives us when we stray. And through his Spirit draws wandering people – even enemies – into his kingdom. Asa’s reign ended poorly. Christ’s reign never will.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 12, 1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 13, Psalm 3.

2 Chronicles 12:2-8

In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem ³ with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. ⁴ And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. ⁵ Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” ⁶ Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.” ⁷ When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. ⁸ Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

When I read these chapters from 2 Chronicles and 1 Kings, my eyes glaze over. There are just too many names for me to keep straight. Too many different kings from the northern and southern kingdoms. Some are good. Some are evil. And which is the good kingdom: Israel or Judah? As a friend once said to me, “Don’t confuse me. It’s too easy!”

So if today’s readings left you struggling to keep the kings straight, you’re not alone. The kingdoms are divided, rulers come and go, battles are fought, and some kings are faithful while others are wicked. I have to refer to a chart of the kings and kingdoms to keep them all straight. Even then I get lost in the details.

Because of Solomon’s spiritual drift from the LORD the kingdom was divided. Solomon was the last king to rule a united Israel. Then Solomon’s son Rehoboam responded to weary people by making their life more difficult, leveling higher and higher taxes, a brutish leadership style, with pride rather than wisdom marking his reign.

So now we will have a parade of kings – of Judah and of Israel – reigning for a range of mere days to several decades. But the broad theme is surprisingly consistent: when kings trust the LORD, things go better; when pride, compromise, and idolatry take over, decline follows.

Given this dizzying parade of kings, you might think that God would abandon his people and his promises of deliverance. But he does not leave his people without his word. Prophets appear in the narrative, reminding kings that history is not random. Kingdoms rise and fall, but the LORD still speaks, warns, judges, and shows mercy. And even Rehoboam – twice confronted by the prophet Shemaiah – actually repents and humbles himself before God.

I take two things from these chapters. First of all, the parade of kings may be something that dizzies me, but God is neither dizzied nor at a loss in dealing with these men. He is constantly calling them back to himself whether they will listen to him or not. And second, we have a record of real men with real failures and real triumphs in the Bible. God does not gloss over sin nor ignore faithfulness. Jesus is the only King that perfectly fulfills God’s will – and we don’t follow him as we should.

What is he to do? He will show his steadfast love to thousands of generations and call us to repentance and faith. May we obey his call and follow King Jesus!

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 9, Proverbs 30, Psalm 150.

2 Chronicles 9:1-9

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. ² And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. ³ And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, ⁴ the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

⁵ And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, ⁶ but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard. ⁷ Happy are your men! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! ⁸ Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” ⁹ Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

A colleague, describing the actions of someone who had made a poor decision, said, “He was too clever by half.” I had not heard of that saying before, but it described well the actions of our acquaintance. He had attempted an end-run of sorts, thinking he could outfox his adversary. It was clever, but a bit too much so. And it failed. His adversary saw through it. He had been too clever by half.

I’m wondering whether Solomon had been too clever by half as well. He was wealthy beyond measure. He was more successful than any other king of his day. He had shared his wisdom in the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. But he also decided to share a peek into his treasury with the queen of Sheba. She was impressed no doubt. But I wonder whether Solomon fell prey to believing his wealth made him invincibile. Maybe he thought he could handle it – wealth, women, power, and status – without being tripped up by his own fame and success.

Sadly, it’s clear that he couldn’t. He wasn’t smarter than God (something too many people believe themselves to be today). He couldn’t succeed if he failed to keep God’s commands. The wisdom he shared was not beneath him – though he apparently thought he was above it.

Solomon’s wealth apparently took the queen’s breath away. But his failure to refrain from wives from among the different nations (cf. 1 Kings 11) led to his downfall. The queen was impressed. But God was not impressed. God was displeased and told him his kingdom would be taken from his sons. He was the last king of an undivided Israel.

Some people are gifted beyond what their character can sustain. That is very sad, and often the cause of the ruin of people and even nations. Solomon may be the poster child for such a tragedy.

But the greatest person ever to have lived – the very embodiment of wisdom and grace – did not stumble over wealth, power, praise, or temptation. Jesus did not merely speak wisdom; he lived it perfectly. Though rich beyond measure, he set aside his glory and became poor for our sake, not to impress others with what he possessed, but to ransom and redeem us.

Solomon’s wisdom could not save even Solomon. But Jesus’ wisdom leads to life. Better than being too clever by half is learning to trust the One who is wisdom incarnate and whose grace is enough even for those who do not hold a candle to Solomon’s wisdom or wealth.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Ecclesiastes 11-12, 1 Kings 10, Psalm 149.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; ² before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, ³ in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, ⁴ and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— ⁵ they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— ⁶ before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, ⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Not long ago I visited a Classical Christian School. It was an enlightening experience. The occasion was the “graduation” of a member of our church from kindergarten to first grade. The children recited various Bible passages from memory. These were not one or two verses; they were several verse passages. Who knew that the art of memorization had not passed away!

I was reminded of this by the opening of this passage: Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth. It’s never too early to learn about God. It’s never too early to learn that he is the Creator of the world and everything in it. It’s never too early to begin hiding God’s word in our hearts so that we have a sound footing and a well-formed foundation for our faith.

The rest of that verse has, also, an edge of warning: before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them.”

That makes me think of my mother who died 10 years ago. She was 93 years old and for the last 8 years or so of her life wondered why God had not taken her to heaven. We would tell her that she had a purpose and that God had work for her to do. But her days had grown darker, life was more difficult and her world had grown smaller. She was in skilled nursing for the last year or so of her life. We were happy for her when her time in this veil of tears came to an end. She stepped from darkness into the marvelous light of God’s grace. It was a relief for her and for those who loved her – even though it was a loss.

The Preacher – who has been weaving together all this wisdom throughout Ecclesiastes – tells us in one image after another that time eventually runs out. The silver cord will be snapped. The golden bowl will be broken. The dust will return to the earth. And then comes a glimmer of light: “the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

I suspect we do not think often enough about God in our early years, or about death until it begins to loom larger on the horizon. But those who have been instructed in God’s Word and promises can face those final hours with hope and confidence. For we have a champion who has tasted death for us, conquered the grave for us, and promises that when we return to him, we will discover something far more substantial and enduring than vanity and meaninglessness.

Ours is a hope that lives beyond the grave – a hope fit to be remembered from our earliest days until we breathe our last.

Click on the graphic below for the Bible Project overview of the book of Ecclesiastes.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Ecclesiastes 8-10, Psalm 148.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-15

The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,
    but the lips of a fool consume him.
¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
    and the end of his talk is evil madness.
¹⁴ A fool multiplies words,
    though no man knows what is to be,
    and who can tell him what will be after him?
¹⁵ The toil of a fool wearies him,
    for he does not know the way to the city.

I love to ask questions.

Sometimes I am trying to grasp an idea that needs clarification. Sometimes I want to surface ideas that might otherwise remain hidden. Sometimes I ask the question others seem hesitant to ask. And sometimes I ask questions because I want people to wrestle honestly with a difficult reality and come to a conclusion on their own.

Recently, that last reason motivated some questions I asked with a group of church leaders facing ministry challenges and changing realities. A good question can be a powerful tool in helping people face difficult truths. An excellent question can also help people hold on to hope. This has become something of a motto for me: Face the facts. Hold on to hope.

There have also been times when my questions have not landed well. Years ago, while serving on the board of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund – a ministry that helps congregations with hundreds of millions of dollars in ministry projects – I asked questions I thought might be helpful because others seemed reluctant to ask them. Instead, I suspect I came across as uninformed or unprepared. It reminded me of the old saying often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, or Ben Franklin (take your pick!): “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

Ecclesiastes has something to say about all this: “The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him…” (Ecclesiastes 10:12)

Words matter. Wise words can help, heal, clarify, and encourage. Foolish talk can confuse, inflame, spread rumor, and cause real harm. We live in a world filled with loud opinions, harmful speculation, and people speaking confidently about things they do not really understand.

Thankfully, God’s Word is different. God never speaks carelessly. He asks questions to challenge, enlighten, and encourage us. He has no need to hear himself talk – but we desperately need to hear him speak. And when he does, his purpose is always to lead us to Jesus, the One who is full of grace and truth. Sometimes his questions confront us with hard truth, but always so that we might know the fullness of his grace.

Click on the graphic below for the Bible Project overview of the book of Ecclesiastes.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Ecclesiastes 5-7, Psalm 147.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. ²  Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. ³ For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

When I read these chapters I began to think, Is this guy just jaded and cynical? It seemed to me that the writer is writing off every joy, effort at being a good citizen as a misguided fool’s errand. Why bother? We’re all going to die. And in the end we all go in a grave. He doesn’t even seem to have a view of eternity. There is no mention of the hope of the resurrection, no difference one way or the other whether one is righteous or wicked.

Before all this there is the prelude about going into the House of God. The advice is simple: keep quiet. Don’t open your mouth and prove to everyone that you are a fool. Listen. Learn. God is in heaven – over all – you are on earth – under God. Keep that proper perspective.

Years ago I found insights offered by the Church Growth Movement to be helpful and insightful. The main thing I got from the teachings of C. Peter Wagner, Eddie Gibbs, John Wimber and the like was that God wants his lost children found, and the church ought to align itself with God’s mission. This is a good reminder.

Sadly, however, this can go too far. We can turn mission and evangelism into a human endeavor and make the process of gaining converts into a matter of selling someone on religion. That was never the intent of the movement, but it sometimes had that unintended consequence.

The gravest consequence was that some people began to think they were somehow doing God a favor by coming to church, believing in him, or obeying his ways – as if God owed them salvation in return. Nothing could be further from the truth.

These verses offer a needed corrective for that attitude. We do not come to God as customers evaluating a product, negotiators striking a bargain, or benefactors doing him a favor. We come with nothing to recommend ourselves. God is in heaven and we are on earth. He is holy and we are sinners.

And yet, because of Jesus, we need not stay silent in fear. The Son who came down from heaven has opened the way to the Father. We approach not boasting of our faithfulness, but trusting in his mercy. Sometimes the wisest prayer is not many words, but simply: “Lord, have mercy.” And trusting that in Christ, he gladly does.

Click on the graphic below for the Bible Project overview of the book of Ecclesiastes.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Ecclesiastes 2-4, Psalm 146.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. ² I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” ³ I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. ⁴ I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.⁵ I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. ⁶ I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

⁹ So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.¹⁰ And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. ¹¹ Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

There are those who like to brag about their wealth. And then there is The Millionaire Next Door. That is the title of a highly insightful personal finance book by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. They put forth the idea that many wealthy people do not actually look wealthy. Most millionaires, they argue, live below their means, save consistently, avoid flashy spending, and quietly build wealth over time.

King Solomon would not have made a very good example for that book.

In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon sounds more like The Billionaire in the Palace. He pursues pleasure, builds grand houses, plants vineyards and gardens, acquires servants, wealth, singers, and every luxury available to a king. If something looked like it might bring satisfaction, Solomon tried it. “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them” (Ecclesiastes 2:10).

And he did not seem to feel any need to hide it. In fact, he almost sounds boastful:

“I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man” (Ecclesiastes 2:7–8).

Not exactly low-key!

If ever there were someone capable of finding satisfaction through wealth, pleasure, and every kind of earthly success, it was Solomon. Yet none of it filled the emptiness in his heart. So even after tasting every imaginable success and pleasure, Solomon delivers this sobering verdict: “all was vanity and a striving after wind.”

So you might think the lesson is that wealth, possessions, and pleasure are bad. But that is not Solomon’s point. Ecclesiastes is not anti-joy or anti-stuff. Solomon is warning us against seeking ultimate meaning in stuff.

Meaning, purpose, joy, and fulfillment are found in Jesus. He asked, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” And even more, Jesus – who was rich in every way – became poor for our sake, so that through his poverty we might become rich. That is more than a lesson in wealth management. It is the riches of God’s grace in Christ: true riches, if ever there were any.

Click on the graphic below for the Bible Project overview of the book of Ecclesiastes.