August 4, 2010 Proverbs 31 & Ecclesiastes 1-3:8

Proverbs 31 contain the sayings of King Lemuel, which his mother taught him.
Don't spend your strength on women - they can ruin kings! Rulers have no need of beer or wine - they need to keep their wits about them. Give beer to the dying and wine to those in anguish - let them drink and forget their misery. Stick up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of the destitute, defend them.

The Epilogue describes a wife of noble character. (I must confess when I first read this I felt somewhat overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of this woman's day. Now I feel awe for a woman who can do all this and do it with joy.)
A wife of noble character is rare and worth far more than jewels. Her husband has confidence in her, he knows he can count on her, he knows he is lucky to have her. She makes cloth, quickly and competently. She knows how to handle both wool and flax. She is a wonder and brings amazing things to her family. She begins her day before sunrise and makes breakfast for everyone. After she inspects a field, she decides to buy it, takes her earnings and plants a vineyard. She gets to work on her chores and she is strong for it. She expects new customers for her clothing and sashes, in the meantime, she spins. She helps the poor and needy. She isn't worried when it gets cold, she has made everyone warm clothes. She has made beautiful coverings for her bed and she wears her own works of art. Her husband is respected and takes his place at the city gate. She is strong, confident, dignified and wise. She knows how to teach those who will listen. She knows everything that goes on under her own roof and doesn't waste time. Her children and husband are grateful for her and tell her so. Charm is deceptive, beauty fades, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. She has earned reward and praise.

Ecclesiastes
Solomon laments that nothing matters and that everything humans work for ends up being given to those who come after them. (Well, that is true. I read a bumper sticker today that said "The best things in life aren't things." Which reminded me that what matters most, I can't see, but I can feel!) Solomon determined that wisdom is better than folly as light is better than darkness, but in the end the wise and the fools die just the same. Eventually everything and everyone will be forgotten - on earth. This is an essential pain of life. Solomon reasoned that it is God who gives meaning to life.

Everything under heaven has it's own time and season. A time to...
be born and a time to die
plant and a time to uproot
kill and a time to heal
tear down and a time to build
weep and a time to laugh
mourn and a time to dance
scatter stones and a time to gather them
embrace and a time to refrain from embracing
search and a time to give up
keep and a time to throw away
tear and a time to mend
be silent and a time to speak
love and a time to hate
for war and a time for peace.

Tomorrow read Ecclesiastes 3:9-8:17