Ecclesiastes 9: Meeting Your Last Enemy

Ecclesiastes 9: Meeting Your Last Enemy

●      Overview.

○      In his poem, “Graveyards”, the Poet Laureate of England - John Betjeman writes: “Oh, why do people waste their breath inventing dainty names for death?”   The Sociologist, Ernest Becker, also writes in his writing: “Denial of Death”, “that of all things that move man, one of his principal ones is his terror of death.

○      How often in our lives have we seen bereaving people who avoid such words or phrases as: “death”, “left us”, “went to sleep”, or “passed on”.   We as Christians know that upon death we “go to sleep” or “go home to our Savior”.   This reassurance should not let us make death any less real in our way of thinking or feeling.   The person who thinks lightly of death may fear death the most.   We should take life seriously, which means we should also take death seriously.

○      Solomon addresses death many times in Ecclesiastes.   Since death is a fact of life, we should be both prepared to live and die.   Solomon has examined many areas of life so that we might understand God’s way to living a satisfied life.   Until Jesus Christ returns and takes us to heaven, we must face this battlefield of life and be ready for a better land ahead.   (Ecclesiastes 1:4, 2:14-17, 3:18-20, 4:8, 5:15-16, 6:6, 8:8, 12:1-7, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8)

○      Solomon draws 2 conclusions in this chapter: (1) - death is unavoidable and (2) - Life is predictable.   Based upon Solomon’s findings, we should trust God, live by faith, and enjoy the blessings God has given us.

●      Verses.

○      Verses 9:1-10      Death is Unavoidable.

■      The reality of life is that death cannot be escaped when your time comes.   Death is not an appointment made by us, but an appointment set by God.    It is a destiny that nobody but God can change.   (Hebrews 9:27)

■      (Verse 1) -  Our lives are in the hands of God.   God knows our future whether it is blessings (“Love”) or sorrows (“Death”).   Solomon is not suggesting that we are passive actors in a cosmic script, that we are acting out an unchangeable script, and that we have an uncaring director.   As we have seen so far, Solomon has emphasized our freedom of discernment and decision.   Only God knows what the future holds for us and what will happen to us tomorrow based upon our decisions we make today.

■      (Verse 2) - “All share a common destiny.” means that all shall die.

●      After looking at this verse, one may ask the question, “If so, why bother to live a godly life?   After all we will die the same, whether we disobey or not, make or break promises, or make sacrifices or break them.”   We all share the same common destiny on this earth - death and the grave.   The one thing we do not share in common is our eternal destiny, for Christians who have trusted in Jesus Christ, so the last enemy has been defeated.   Unbelievers are not prepared and they cannot have the same confidence as we share.   (I Corinthians 15:26, Romans 6:23, John 11:25-26, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, I Corinthians 15:51-58)

■      How people deal with life reveals how they deal with death.   Solomon shows 3 possible responses that people may have towards the fear of death.

●      (1) - Escape - Verse 3 - The fact of death and the fear of death can bring out the best or worst in a person.   Most often it is the worst.   When death comes upon a family it often reveals problems instead of creating them.   When facing the death of others, we can be faced with our own death, something we may not be able to handle well.

○      People will often do almost anything to escape the reality of death rather than repent.   They will turn to addictions, spend money on useless things, or fight with relatives in order to keep at an arm's length away from the grim reaper.   They do not end the battle as the last enemy is still there.

○      We should have a positive attitude about death.   That confidence does not come from running away from the reality of death.   That confidence comes from turning away from our sin and trusting Jesus Christ to save us.

●      (2) - Endurance - (Verses 4 through 6) - When confronted with death, many people will shout out, “Let’s eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we will die.”   Most people will endure while they grit their teeth and square their shoulders, as they say, “Where’s there is life, there is hope.”

○      The Greek poet Theocritus wrote: “Console yourself, dear Battos.   Things may be better tomorrow.   While there’s life, there’s hope.   Only the dead have none.”

○      During Solomon’s days, dogs were despised.   Solomon does not want to discourage anyone from having hope, “Better to be a living dog than a dead lion.”   Here he is asking us to have some common sense along with our hope, unless we find it too late before we find ourselves grasping at false hope.

○      We need to keep in mind that one day we shall die.   As a Christian we have a living hope, not a dead hope.   We know that our Savior and Redeemer is alive and he has conquered death.   A hope that can be destroyed by death is a false hope.   (I Peter 1:3-5, 2 Timothy 1:10).

○      What Solomon wrote about the dead, can be reversed and applied to life.   The dead do not know what is happening on earth, but the living do know and they can respond to it.  The dead cannot do anything about their reputation, where the living can.   The dead cannot display emotions of love, hate, or envy, but the living can.

○      Solomon writes about the importance of seizing opportunities while we are alive rather than searching blindly for something better in the future, since death will end our opportunities here on earth.

○      The human body can provide a powerful drive for hope.   It has been said that “Hope is a physician's secret weapon and the hidden ingredient in prescriptions.  

○      We can endure in this life because of our hope.    When we live in “hope of hope”, it is a stumbling block to facing life honestly.   This kind of hope is hopeless, just like the patient who builds false hope from being optimistic, something that would prevent him from preparing for death.

○      Life is not always easy.   There is more to life than enduring.   There is the fact of death which we respond to.   The response is different for a Christian who trusts Jesus Christ as his Savior.

●      (3) - Enjoyment - (Verses 7 through 10) - Solomon writes: “Go thy way.”   This can be translated to say, “Don’t sit around and brood.   Get up and live.”   Death is coming, but God gives us good gifts to enjoy, so we should enjoy them.   (Ecclesiastes 2:21, 3:12-15, 3:22, 5:18-20, 8:15)

○      Solomon is not telling us to seek exotic pleasure in faraway places.   Here he lists some of the common experiences of home life: happy and leisurely meals, joyful family celebrations, a faithful and loving marriage, and hard work.   This is in contrast to our current cultures formula for happiness: addictive pursuit of everything new, a “live-in” relationship, taking shortcuts to help you avoid hard work but to help you get rich quickly.

○      In our current life, there are voices which are calling us to return to the traditional values of life.   Some people are getting tired of emptiness which is a result of living on substitutes.   They want something more than the right labels, the right names to use at the right places.   Like the Prodigal Son, we are learning that everything is important in life is back home.   (Luke 15:11-21)

■      In verses 5 and 10, Solomon states the dead know nothing and that there is no work, planning, or wisdom in death.    He is not contrasting life with the afterlife, but life with death after you die as you cannot change what you have done in this life.   Resurrection to a new life after death was a vague concept for Old Testament believers.   It was only made clear after Jesus rose from the dead.

■      In Verses 7 through 10, considering the uncertainties of the future and the certainty of death, Solomon recommends enjoying life as God’s gift.   Solomon may have been criticizing those who put off all present pleasures in order to accumulate wealth, much like those who get caught up in today’s rat race.   Solomon asks, “What is your wealth really worth anyway?”   Because the future is so uncertain, we should enjoy God’s gift while we are able.

●      Enjoying your meals - (Verse 7) - In Jewish times, the average family would begin the day with a light lunch (Brunch) between 10:00 am and Noon.   They didn’t eat together again until after sunset.   When their work was done for the day, they gathered together as a family for the main meal.   Their meals consisted of bread and wine, perhaps milk and cheese, a few fruits and vegetables that would be in season, and sometimes fish.   Meat was expensive and served on special occasions.   Meals were simple and something that provided nourishment for both the body and the soul.   Eating together for the breaking of the bread was a communal act of friendship and commitment.

○      King Solomon would sit down daily to a feast, but evidence does shows that he did not always enjoy it.   The most important part of any menu is family love.   Love can turn an ordinary meal into a banquet.   When a child would rather eat at a friend’s house instead of bringing a friend home to enjoy his mother’s cooking, it is a time to take notice of what is happening around the table.   (I Kings 4:22-23, Proverbs 15:17, Proverbs 17:1)

●      Enjoying every occasion - (Verse 8) - Life was difficult around the average home, but every family would know how to enjoy a wedding or a feast.   They would wear their white garments (a symbol of joy) and they would anoint themselves with expensive perfumes instead of olive oil.   Since these occasions were few, they would make the most of them.

○      Solomon’s advice in his writings, by using the word “always” was not meant to be taken literally.   Instead he wants us to make every occasion a special occasion, even if it is routine.   We should express our joy and happiness for not only celebrating a special occasion, but on all occasions.   (Philippians 4:4)

■      Jesus refers to this same thought when he mentions his disciples should be like little children.   (Mark 18:1-6)   A child who is not spoiled enjoys the simple activities in life, even the routine activities.   A pampered child must be entertained, in most cases by a variety of expensive amusements.   We can find enjoyment by making everyday things special, instead of searching for special things.

●      Enjoying your marriage - (Verse 9) - Solomon was not familiar with our “live-in relationships” or “trial marriages”.   He saw a wife as a gift from God.    He saw marriage as a commitment that lasts a lifetime.   No matter how hard life may be, great joy can be found in the home of a man and a woman who love each other and are faithful to their marriage vows.   Commitment is the foundation and bedrock of any genuine relationship.     (Proverbs 18:22, 19:14)

○      It is too bad Solomon did not live what he preached.   He forsook God’s design for marriage and he allowed his many wives to seduce him away from God.   Verse 9 could be Solomon’s confession, “Now I know better.”   (I Kings 11:1-8)

○      Solomon states how sad it would be to be married and not appreciate the enjoyment and companionship God has given you.

●      Enjoy your work - (Verse 10) - The Jewish look at work as stewardship to God, not as a curse.   Even the Rabbis learned a trade, even Paul was a Tentmaker.   (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

○      Solomon suggests we should do our best and to do so while we still have strength.   The day may come when you have to lay down your tools of the trade and leave them for someone younger and stronger.   (Colossians 3:17)

○      The things that make up Employment will not be present in the grave, so make the best of our opportunities now.   One day our works will be judged.   (I Corinthians 3:10, Colossians 3:23-25)

○      It is not difficult to think of cases where the swiftest or the strongest don’t always win, the wise go hungry, and the intelligent are not rewarded with wealth or honor.   Some people see such examples and they call life unfair and they are right.   The world is finite and sin has twisted life, making it what God did not intend.   Solomon is trying to seduce our expectations.   The Book of Proverbs emphasizes how life would go if everyone acted fairly; Ecclesiastes explains what usually happens in our sinful and imperfect world.   We must keep our perspective.   Don’t let the iniquities of life keep you from earnest dedicated work.   We serve God and not people.   (Colossians 3:23)

○      If we fear God, we will not try to escape or endure life.   We will live happily and receive it as a gift from God.

○      Verses 9:11-18      Life is Unpredictable.

■      In this section, Solomon changes his discussion from death and he begins to discuss life.   If death is unavoidable, the next best thing that we can do is focus on our strengths and concentrate on life.   Once death approaches, we can have the satisfaction of knowing we worked hard and accomplished some success.

■      Solomon poses the question that what happens in life can be unpredictable.

■      Our Abilities are no guarantee for success - (Verses 11 and 12) - Even though the fastest runner will run the race, the strongest soldiers will win the battles, and the smarter and more skillful workers will win the best jobs; it is also true that some of these people can fail due to factors that are out of their control.   The successful person knows how to use his time efficiently, but only God controls “time and chance”.

●      Solomon wrote earlier that God has a time for “everything has a purpose to be fulfilled in that time, and something beautiful will come out at the end.”   (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 8:6, 3:11)

●      The word “chance” means an occurrence or event.   It has nothing to do with gambling.   We might say, “I just happen to be in the right place at the right time.”   The ability had very little to do with it.

●      Christians do not depend upon “luck” or “chance” because their confidence comes from the loving providence of God.   Christians trust that God will guide them in making decisions.   Christians believe that God’s will is the best,

●      W

■      Our opportunities are no guarantee of success - (Verses 13 - 18) - In these verses, it is not clear how the wise man reacted: did he actually deliver the city or was he asked to save the city, but he declined to do so.   It is more likely that it was the second option as the Hebrew word used here can be translated to “could have”.   The small city was besieged because nobody paid attention to what the wise man said.   Verse 17 leads one to believe that an outspoken ruler got all of the attention as he led all the people to defeat.   The wise man spoke quietly and he was ignored.   The wise man had the opportunity for greatness, but he was frustrated by one loud and ignorant man.

●      In verses 13 through 18, we see our society honors wealth, attractiveness, and success above wisdom.   Yet wisdom is a greater asset than strength, although it is often unrecognized by the masses.   Even though it is more effective, wisdom is not always heard and wise people often go unheeded.   From this parable we can learn to be receptive to wisdom, no matter who it comes from.

●      One sinner destroys much good is a prevalent truth throughout the Bible.   It started with Adam, Achan sinned and he brought defeat to Israel’s army, David’s sin brought sin to Israel, and the revolt of David’s son - Absalom led the nation Israel into a civil war.

○      Conclusion.

■      Since death is unavoidable and life is unpredictable, the only course we can safely travel is yielding ourselves into God’s hand and walk by faith in his word.   We live by promises instead of expectations.   We don’t depend on luck, we trust in God’s divine providence in our lives, and we trust and obey God’s will.

■      Since Jesus Christ has conquered death, we need not live in the fear of the “last enemy” we should face.   Because Jesus Christ is alive, we live in him and life is no longer a “Vanity of vanities”.   (Revelation 1:17-18, I Corinthians 15:57-58)

■      Who knows when trouble will arrive and ruin our plans?   Just when you least expect it, we are like fish caught in a net or a bird caught in a trap.   Men can be snared in evil times by sudden events that they can’t control.   That is one reason why we should not boast.   (James 4:13-17)

Ecclesiastes 8: What About the Wicked.

Ecclesiastes 8: What About the Wicked.

●     Overview.

○      As Solomon continues to look at the value of wisdom, he encounters the problem of evil in the world, something that no thinking man can avoid.   Unbelief does not create the problem, but faith.   If there is no God, we can blame ourselves for what happens in the world.   But if we believe in God, we must face the question of why there is so much suffering in this world.   Does God know about it and yet care?   Or, does God know and care, but lack the power to do anything about it.

○      When people ponder this question, they end up becoming either agnostic (a person who does claim faith or a disbelief in God) or atheist.   But in doing so, they create a new problem, “Where does all the good come from in this world?”   It is difficult to believe that matter alone produced the beautiful and enjoyable things in this world, even in the midst of evil.

○      Other people see evil as an illusion and we should not worry about it.   Some say God is in the process of evolution and he can’t do much about life’s craziness.   They assure us that God will get stronger and things will improve as the process of evolution goes on.

○      Solomon does not deny the existence of God, the reality of evil, nor does he limit the God’s power.   Solomon solves the problem of evil by affirming these factors and seeing them in their perspective.   The major source of evil in this world is “fallen man” and his many devices that have helped him create the problems of one kind or another.

○      In this chapter, Solomon looks at 3 key areas of life that led to the problems and evils of this world.

●     Verses.

○      Verses 8:1-9      Authority

■      Millions of people have been oppressed in one way or another by bad rulers through the centuries.

●     Nimrod, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, the Caesars, Hitler, Saddam Hussein

●     The Jews often suffered at the hands of foreign oppressors.

●     Even King Solomon placed a heavy yoke upon his people.   (I Kings 4:7-28, I Kings 12:1)

■       The Kings in early days had the power of life and death in their hands.   Some Kings would abuse this power for their own advantage.   In most cases the King was not elected by the people nor did they have to answer to them.   Some leaders have ruled as dictators.   Some leaders were tyrannical despots who permitted nothing to stand in their way to fulfill their desires.

■      In Verse 1, Solomon writes that wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective and then to know the best course of action to take.   Most people would agree that wisdom is a valuable asset, but how can we acquire it?   Proverbs 9:10 teaches that the fear (respect and honor) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.   Wisdom comes from knowing and trusting God; it is not merely the way to find God.   Knowing God will lead to understanding and then to sharing this knowledge with others.

■      Solomon describes an officer who serves in the royal court.   This man was asked to do something for the King in obedience.   We see this officer also had wisdom.   (Ecclesiastes 8:1, Nehemiah 2:1, Proverbs 15:13)

●     If this King demanded this man to do something evil, what should he do?   This man's wisdom told him he had 4 different approaches to his problem.

■      (1) Disobedience (verse 2)

●     Solomon writes, “Keep the King’s commands.”   Why?   The officer must be true to the King, since he made his oath of allegiance to both the King and God.   We must not also forget, that God is the source of all authority in this world.   (Romans 13:1-7)   To disobey the King’s orders would mean breaking his promise to the ruler and God.   This could result in serious consequences.

●     The King’s word carried more power than his officer’s word.   The King’s word would prevail, even if he had to eliminate his opposition.   There were no laws written to find the King wrong, nobody could question the King’s decision since “the King can do no wrong.”

●     The officer should avoid punishment by obeying the King.   His disobedience could lead to death.   (Esther 4:15-16, Daniel 4:4-7, Daniel 4:19, Romans 13:3-4)

●     Since no one knows the future, we are uncertain to how the King will react to our decisions.

■      (2) Desertion (verse 3a)

●     In this verse, we can visualize the officer giving up as he leaves the King’s presence in disgust.   This could also upset the King and bring punishment to the officer for offending the King.

○      How many people are willing to suffer a loss in order to maintain integrity?

■      (3) Defiance (verse 3b)

●     Solomon writes, “Do not stand up for a bad cause.”   This can be interpreted to say, “Don’t get involved in a plan to overthrow the King.”

○      The officer could rush from the King’s presence and find others to oppose the King’s plan.   They could plot together against the King, something King Solomon did not approve of.

●     Is there a place for civil disobedience in the life of a law-abiding Christian?   Does a Christian have the right to resist authority when they feel the law is not just?

○      Thomas Jefferson: “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.”   Is this statement right?

○      When it comes to the matter of conscience and the law, believers can turn to what the word of God says (Acts 5:29).   Christian prisoners and martyrs through history testify to the courage of their conscience and the importance for standing up for what is right.   This does not mean that resist the law for any minor incident that may disturb us.   We do have the obligation to obey our conscience instead.   How we express our disagreement with the authorities requires wisdom and grace.

■      (4) Discernment (verse 5b-6)

●     The wise servant understands that time and judgment must be considered in everything we do.   Since it takes discernment to know the right procedure for the right time.   The impulsive person who reacts quickly is probably making the problem worse.   Wisdom helps us to understand people and the situation to figure out what the right thing to do and at the right time.

○      Joseph did not impulsively reveal himself to his brothers because he wanted to be sure their hearts were right to Jacob and their God.   Once he heard them confess their sin, Joseph knew the time was right to identify himself.   (Genesis 43 through Genesis 45)

○      Nehemiah was burdened to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.   He was also not sure the King would release him for this task.   He prayed waited, and watched; knowing God would one day open the way for him.   When the opportune time came, Nehemiah was ready to approach the King and had his request granted.   (Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah 2:1-6)

○      Daniel was a prisoner of war being held hostage in Babylon, a pagan city.   Daniel refused to eat the unclean food that was given to him.   Daniel realized he did not want to make a scene, so he showed gentleness and wisdom by suggesting to the guard to allow him and his 3 friends to experiment with a different diet.   Not only did Daniel and his friends get promoted by the King, they remained ceremonially clean.   (Daniel 1:8-14, Daniel 1:18-20)

○      The Apostles showed spiritual discernment when they were arrested and persecuted.   They showed respect to those in authority even though the religious leaders were prejudiced and acted illegally.   The Apostles were willing to suffer for the truth.

○      Verses 8:10-14      Inequity

■      In spite of good laws and fine people who seek to enforce them, there is a prevalent injustice in this world, probably more than we care to admit.

●     A Spanish proverb says: “Laws are like spider webs, they catch the fly and let the hawks go free.”

●     F. Lee Bailey wrote: “In America, and acquittal doesn’t mean you are innocent; it means you beat the rap.”

●     Robert Frost defined a jury as: “12 chosen people to decide who has the better lawyer.”

■      Verse 10 probably refers to how we quickly forget the evil done by some people after they have died.   Returning from the cemetery, we praise them in the very city where they did their evil deeds.

●     In this verse, Solomon describes a funeral of a deceased man who frequently visited the Temple.  This man received praise from the people.   This same man had not lived a godly life outside of the temple.   He was given a magnificent funeral and an eloquent eulogy, while the truly godly people were ignored and forgotten.

●     Solomon reflects upon this man and comes to the conclusion that the man continued to sin because he thought he got away with it.   God’s is long suffering towards sinners and he always does not judge sin immediately.   God’s mercy must not be used as an excuse for man’s rebellion.   (2 Peter 3:1-12)

■      In verse 11, if God doesn’t punish us immediately, we must not assume that he doesn’t care or that sin has no consequences even though it is easy to sin when we don’t feel the consequences right away.   When a young child does something wrong and the wrong is discovered, it will be much easier for the child to repeat the act.   But God does know every wrong we commit, and one day we will have to answer for all that we have done.   (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

■       Solomon concludes that the wicked will be eventually judged and the righteous will be rewarded.   (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13)   It is better to fear the Lord and live a godly life.   The evil man may live longer than the godly man; he may appear to get away with sin after sin.   But the day of judgement will come, a day which the wicked man cannot escape.   Wisdom is what points the way to the Lord.   (Proverbs 9:10)

■      No matter how long or full the wicked man’s life may seem to be, it is only prolonged like a shadow and has no substance.   It is a fact that the shadow gets longer as the sun is setting.   Solomon is possibly suggesting that the long life of a wicked man is but a prelude to eternal darkness.   (Jude 13)

■      How can the wise person respond to the inequities and injustices of this world?   We can encourage and support the passing of good laws.   We can vote for people who are capable of enforcing these laws.   There is no guarantee that this will solve the problem completely, but we have a promise that until Jesus Christ sets up his righteous kingdom at his coming, there will be injustices in this world.   It is one of the “vanities” of life and we are to accept it without becoming pessimistic or cynical.

○      Verses 8:15-17      Mystery

■      In verse 15, Solomon recalls the remedy for life’s unsolved mysteries.   He recommends joy and contentment as encouragement for us along life’s journey.   We must accept each day with its daily measure of work, food, and pleasure.   Let us learn to enjoy what God has given us to refresh and strengthen us to continue his work.

■      In verses 16 and 17, Solomon teaches, even if a wise person had access to all the world’s wisdom, the wisest man would know very little.   No one can fully comprehend God and all that he has done, and there are always more questions than answers.   But the unknown should not cast a shadow over our joy, faith, or work because we know that someone greater is in control and that we can put our faith and trust in him.   Don’t let what you don’t know about the future destroy the joy God wants to give you today.

■      Disappointment is destined for those who seem to know everything or those who have to know it all.   Solomon spent many sleepless nights and difficult days as he pondered the mysteries of life.   He comes to the conclusion that “man cannot find out the work that is under the sun.”   (Ecclesiastes 8:17, 3:11, 7:14, 7:24, 7:27-28)   We may be able to solve a puzzle here and there, but person can comprehend the totality of things or explain all that God is doing.

■      God does not expect us to know the unknowable, but he does expect us to learn all that we can and obey what he teaches us.   In fact, the more we obey, the more he teaches us.   (John 7:17)

■      A confession of ignorance is the first step to true knowledge.   (I Corinthians 8:2)   The person who wants to learn God’s truth must possess honesty and humility.  

■      French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote in his famous “Pensees”: “If there were no obscurity, man would not feel his corruption; if there was no light, man could not hope for a cure.   Thus it is not only right but useful for us that God should be partly concealed and partly revealed, since it is equally dangerous for man to know God without knowing his own wretchedness as to know his wretchedness without knowing God”

■      This is the 4th time that Solomon tells us to enjoy life and delight in the fruits of its labor.   (Ecclesiastes 8:15, 2:24, 3:12-15, 5:18-20)   This does not refer to us to be foolish in our “Eat, drink, and be merry” way of thinking, something practiced by unbelievers.   Rather, it is a positive faith outlook of God’s children who accept life as a special gift from God and knowing that he gives “all things richly to enjoy”.   (I Timothy 6:17)   Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, we give thanks for what we do have and enjoy it.

●     Conclusion.

○      This chapter ends Solomon’s re-examination of the “vanities of wisdom”.   Solomon concludes that wisdom is important to the person who wants to get the most out of life, instead of rejecting wisdom.   While wisdom can’t explain every mystery or problem, it can help us with discernment in our decisions.   (Ecclesiastes 8:6)

○      Some may ask, “Why didn’t God stop World War II?”   The true answer to that question is “Because God did not start it.”

○      We all have misery in our lives, do we add to them?

○      One day all the wickedness of the world will be judges, even the wicked Kings shall not escape it.   Nobody can prevent the day of their death just as we are unable to control the wind.   On this same thought, no one is exempt from obeying God’s laws.   (Galatians 67, Numbers 32:23)

We have the options of disobeying, running away, defying orders, and even fighting back.   Before we act, we need to exercise wisdom and to seek discern the right time and procedure.   In this current culture, it is not easy being a consistent Christian.   We can ask for the wisdom of God and