Wise Sayings of Solomon

Sunday- I am finishing up Ecclesiastes today using Eugene Peterson's The Message...its been an interesting week as I am hearing Solomon in a brand new way...I was always told he was old at this time and because of his wives who worshipped other Gods he had drifted from the truth...that's not what I was hearing as I read it this time. What I am hearing is the wisdom of a man that has lived life as fully as he possibly could. He poses honest responses to things that most of us have questioned ourselves. Its odd to me how we have so selectively quoted Solomon from this book...why don't we do that with the other books? Check this out. These passages are only a few verses apart...one will be familiar to you...I betting you have never heard the other one...

"The race is not always to the swift
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor satisfaction to the wise, Nor riches to the smart,
Nor grace to the learned,
Sooner or later bad luck hits us all." Ecc 9:11ff


This second one actually came right before the one you just read.
"Seize Life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes-God takes pleasure in your pleasure!Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is a gift. Its all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! this is your last and only chance at it,..." Ecc 9:7ff

I can sure see some folks I know picking and choosing what they take out of that passage.

I've listed a few other things Solomon suggest...look them up and read them in context. There is a lot to consider here. I have come to realize that so much of what I believe is not even in the Bible. Much of my life has been based on what I was told the Bible was saying...not what the Bible was saying.

"The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can" Ecc 2:24

"I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift." Ecc 3:9