The book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 2
1. I said to myself, "Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself." But again, this also was vanity. 2. I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" 3. I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine-my mind still guiding me with wisdom-and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 1 to 3)
Oh God, my Father, this experiment is very interesting, however, the pleasures of the world are not long lived, for they are only momentarily and their effects soon wear off. If the sources of pleasure are illegal they might even get us into trouble, moreover, they might even cause harm to both the body and the soul.
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 also had 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 of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh and many concubines.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 4 to 8)
How many times we say it my God and Father, the terrible "I" that focuses on the self and excludes all attribution to You my God and Father. The more the 'I' increases the more You and Your role decrease. I pray my God and Father, that the 'I' is humbled so that the self-be humbled to You, my God and Father and then our declarations will become 'We' or 'with the help of God'. Amen
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 also had 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 of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh and many concubines.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 4 to 8)
How many times we say it my God and Father, the terrible "I" that focuses on the self and excludes all attribution to You my God and Father. The more the 'I' increases the more You and Your role decrease. I pray my God and Father, that the 'I' is humbled so that the self-be humbled to You, my God and Father and then our declarations will become 'We' or 'with the help of God'. Amen
9. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. 10. 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 spent doing it, and again all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 9 to 11)
Oh God, this is the story of the successful person, who although had reached the optimum level in life with full grades and total success. Although he achieved all that there was to achieve, life was vanity, boring, useless, because there was not You in it. Only You my God and Father can satisfy our souls and not worldly pleasures Amen.
12. So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the one do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. 13. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 12 to 13)
Oh, heavenly God of love and wonder, Your wisdom is the true wisdom. It surpasses that of the world and it gives us hope and a reason to live Amen.
14. The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness, Yet I perceived that the same fate befalls all of them. 15. Then I said to myself, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also; why then have I been so very wise?" And I said to myself that this is also is vanity.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 14 to 15)
Oh God, my Father, those who seek the wisdom of the world are never fully satisfied because when it comes to the reality of death all have the same end. On dying all our Masters die with us, however for those who have invested in the wisdom and reality of God, their death is one of hope, praise and thanksgiving and not one of despair and negativity Amen.
16. For there is no enduring remembrance of the wise or of fools, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How can the wise die just like fools?
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 16)
Oh God, my Father death has no positive or negative discrimination. It is there for all both the wise and powerful and even for the meek and uneducated. However not all welcome or experience it in the same way. Those who trust in You need not be afraid of death because we know who is waiting for us on the other side, but for those who do not believe in You, death is a trauma and a big surprise. I pray oh God that when my time comes I will be ready to meet You Amen.
17. So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 17)
Oh God my Father throughout the course of my life You taught me that my pleasure consolations and satisfaction is to be found only in You and not in the ways of the world Amen.
18. I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me. 19- and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 18 to 19)
Oh God my Father at times the same thing comes to mind about this blog. At times I stop and think, about what is going to become of this blog upon my death. Will You send me a follower, will You give me an old age to finish it in time, will my daughter be stimulated by You to continue in my absence. Will it be deleted from blogspot.? Although many people tell me again and again that it is not of value, I give these moments of prayer and sharing online immense value. I am more than satisfied because, during such moments of prayer, I am sharing Your message with others who may also benefit. This is something that I had long wished to be done, however when the time was right, You permitted me to start this blog way back in December of 2003. Thank You, Jesus God my Father Amen.
20. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21. because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 20 to 21)
Oh God, my Father, how nice it is to be others centred instead of self-centred. It is more rewarding for me to do something for others, that others can benefit from, than simply doing something for myself, which may probably also end with myself. I pray for a spirit of generosity to be shed on the world so that we are healed of selfish traits and ambitions and learn to start thinking and considering the welfare of others before simply that of ourselves Amen.
22. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? 23. For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 22 to 23)
Oh God, my Father, it is not easy to earn a living. This requires a lot of time invested in work and stress which is almost never equal to the effort involved in carrying out the work. Many times I find myself thinking about my work which robs me of my hours of rest. However, there are moments when work is rewarding, especially when I dedicate my work to You and consider You as my boss which makes my work more rewarding Amen.
24. There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw is from the hand of God; 25. for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26. For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verses 24 to 26)
Oh God my Father many try to find fulfillment in eating and drinking and having fun and jollity which if done in a spirit of thanksgiving is very healthy, however when done simply for its own carnal pleasure it loses its value, for to over-satisfy the cravings of the body simply to say that one has had fun or a good weekend of merriment and end up with a hangover is also vanity and unhealthy.
Oh God my Father I would like to end this second chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes with the following prayer:-
Oh God my Father hallowed be Your glorious Name both in Heaven and on earth. May all creation give You praise and worship in abundance. May our lives be lived according to Your will and for the sake of living. May we find our meaning, joy and satisfaction in doing what is according to Your will Amen. May Your divine presence always reign in us Amen. Love You, my God and Father.
