The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

The Book of Ecclesiastes

 Chapter 4

¹ Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun, Look, the tears of the oppressed-with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power- with no one to comfort them. ² And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive; ³ but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verses 1 to 3) 

Oh God my Father, many times I have heard the expression that one had better not be born at all than to have to suffer such negative experiences, however even though we experience much bitter experiences throughout the course of one's life, for those who believe in You the situation is not that bad for the light always overcomes the darkness and the rainbow always appears after a rainy day to encourage us with its beauty and the promise of God's covenant of love and forgiveness ever since the beginning Amen. Therefore let us be positive and lift our praise and gratitude to God for each second of our life Amen.  


⁴ Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person's envy of another this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verse 4) 



Oh, God my Father as humans we are driven by the created need of having more and more so that we can depend more on ourselves and our own devices than on You. However even though You provide us with enough to cover our basic needs our natural selfish self-continues to urge us to make that step further to have more, to be more powerful, to invest in a better future, as if we are going to remain alive forever! 


While thanking You for Your divine providence, I pray that I am of support to others and not a means of spite and envy Amen.


⁵ Fools fold their hands and consume their own flesh. ⁶ Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after the wind.



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verses 5 and 6) 


Oh God, my blessed Father, I thank You more than ever for the work You have given me, where my hands' eyes and brain and entire body are always at work. I pray that my hands are never folded in protest or due to lack of work or laziness Amen.


⁷Again, I saw vanity under the sun; ⁸ the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. "For whom am I toiling," they ask, "and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.


(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verses 7 and 8) 


Oh God my Father, brothers and sisters if we were to question the reasons of how we spend our time, and how much more profitable it would be if we had a balance between our hours of work and hours of prayer and leisure time. I pray that I always have time for You my God and Father Amen.


⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.


(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verses 9 and 10) 


Oh God, my beloved Father, there was a time when I was married and had a wife. If we both fell one could have supported the other, however, this was not the case, for many times alone I fell and alone I had to wake up. Therefore now that I am physically alone, I pray for Your support so that I will have Your spiritual support Amen.


¹¹ Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? ¹² And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verses 11 to 12)



Oh God my blessed Father, even though I appear to be alone I am not for You are with me, every day of my life. My Father and my saviour, even though I do not physically see You we are four and not one Amen.


¹³ Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.


(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verse 13)


Oh God my Saviour and loving Father I pray for humility and freshness of spirit, in order to always be open to the newness of Your Holy Spirit and never to be old, proud and stubborn and resistant to Your holy will Amen.


¹⁴ One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.


(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verse 14)


Oh God my beloved Father once You redeem us as You did from our spiritual death, we become spiritually alive, and really start living, regardless if we are rich or poor, for those who are labelled as being poor in the world are the richest in the kingdom of God Amen.


¹⁵ I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king; ¹⁶ there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chase after wind.


(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verses 15 to 16)


Oh God my Father, many of us still follow our pride and ambitions that gradually replaces Your presence in their lives, however, You are a kind loving and merciful God, who decided to become human in order to be able to have a better understanding of human nature Amen. I pray that faith in You will continue to grow and that any existing barriers will gradually come to their end Amen.


I would like to end this fourth chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes with the following prayer:-



Oh God my blessed Father, my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus from all nations. Good Evening. Today I offer a prayer for all of us, that we learn where to place our values, and that our decisions are based not only on human inclination and desires and vanity but as based on the promptings of the Holy Spirit Amen.

The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

The Book of Ecclesiastes

 Chapter 3 

¹ For everything there is a reason, and a time for every matter under heaven: ² a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 1 to 2)

Oh God as You said for every action there is a reason, however when walking the path of faith, what the world may consider a reason may not be according to Your will. On the other hand, what one may consider as being, a valid reason may be considered as being a non valid one and this gives rise to discontent. As You know when the time was right You motivated me to change my job. It was evident that the timing was perfect, however. it may be that You only wanted me to make an experience of that something which, I had wished to be my dream in order for me to realise that it was not for me after all. However, You love me so much that You did not deny me the opportunity, even though You were still aware of what the consequences would be even before I had made the decision Amen. If you give me the opportunity to reverse the action, my God, and Father, I promise to consult and wait for Your consent instead of waiting on that of the world Amen. 



³ a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵ a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; ⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war; and a time for peace.




(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 3 to 8) 




Oh God my Father many times I do not understand the reasons for events that take place, however what I do not understand from the eyes of a human has great sense and value in Your eyes. When I stumble upon a situation such as pain and hardship or maybe death, my only conclusion is that "it is time..." and that is sufficient for me Amen. Thank You Jesus.



⁹ What gain have the workers from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. ¹¹ He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 




(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 9 to 11)

Oh God my Father throughout the world today is workers day, and all employers and employees are exempt from work, however, You never stop working on our behalf and for our own good Amen.




¹² I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; ¹³ moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. 



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 12 to 13) 



Oh God my Father there exists no greater joy in You, and nothing and nobody but You can ever satisfy my soul, even though food and drink may give momentary pleasure, it is nothing compared to You. Amen. 



¹⁴ I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him. ¹⁵ That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.  



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 14 to 15)  



Oh God my beloved Father even before we think of doing something either good or not so good You are already aware of what it is and the consequences related to that action. Moreover even in nature, even though we try we cannot create an alternative for life. We try many things, but we can only succeed in what You permit us to succeed, Amen. We can never replace what You have created, and this is why we are to be careful in not harming our environment especially the natural Amen. 



¹⁶ Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well.  



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 16) 



 Oh God, my beloved Father, right now I am also seeing everything negative. All seems to be black and gloomy. I feel sick and depressed. I have made a mess of my marriage, and even my work is at risk. I desperately need Your help, my God and Father, before the situation deteriorates. I thank You for having missed yesterday's appointment with the lawyer, for this could have done more harm than good. I pray that You help me save my self, my brain, my marriage, my family and even my work, for right now all is at risk Amen. Please help me to see Your light amidst the darkness of my life Amen.


¹⁷ I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work.



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 17)



Oh God, my Father I also believe that in time You will bring Your justice to light, and we will experience Your judgement at the time that You proclaim it, which could be on any day of our life. I believe that all is under Your control and that nothing happens without Your knowledge Amen. 



¹⁸ I said to my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 18) 



Oh God, my Father, throughout the years You showed me that each episode, trial and tribulation was a test as I am still being tested by to this very day. However, I know that the examiner loves me dearly and he will keep on giving me the opportunity of a resit every time I fail the test until I pass them all and be worthy to appear before Him in heaven for my graduation. I also know that in a state of crisis You my God and Father will compensate me for the missing marks so that I will be sure to pass the test.



Oh God, You know that I am but skin and bone and soul and that I am prone to sin more than I am motivated to do good. You know my strengths as much as You know my weaknesses. I pray that You have mercy on me now and forever Amen.



¹⁹ For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 19) 



Oh God, my Father, even though we share the same characteristics as animals, You made us in a special way, in order to be able to have relationship and fellowship with You. Unlike animals we can communicate with You or better more, You can communicate with us on a higher level. Moreover, we are more precious so much that You created us in Your form having Your qualities Amen. Thank You, Jesus. 



²⁰ All go to one place, all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. ²¹ Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth.



(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 20 to 21)

Oh God, my beloved Father, I believe that Your breath is found in all creation but human and animal. Even though a bird may die, You are aware that this has happened because this is part of Your beloved creation and Your spirit is in it. I pray that we learn to love and respect nature as we do ourselves and even others because in doing so we are also loving You Amen.

 

²² So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?

(The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 22) 

Oh God, I pray that I am happy in doing what I am presently doing meaning my job, the life of prayer and all that You permit me to do. I thank You for the faith that You have given me that helps me look with courage at the future Amen


.

Oh God, my beloved Father I would like to end this third chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes with the following prayer:

Oh God my Father I thank You for the present, for the past has passed and the future has yet to come. I thank You for all that You have permitted to take place in my life. Even if I do not understand the reason behind it, I know that it has happened for my own good and not by chance Amen.

     

  
 
 
 

 

The book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

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

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.