The Cutting Edge
Indeed, he does not know what is to happen; even when it is on the point of happening, who can tell him. Ecclesiastes 8:7 NJPS
On the point of – Do you know what’s happening? Now, really, do you actually know? Anyone who claims to actually know what’s happening is either a complete fool or beyond arrogance. That’s Qohelet’s point. Human beings simply do not know what’s happening, even at the very moment that things occur. Literally, the Hebrew text says, “for when it will be, who can tell him?” We have no idea what is to come nor even how the events in our lives will shape us or the future. We are people rowing backwards. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Ben Sira echoes the same thought: “when he says, ‘I have found rest, and now I shall feast on my goods!’ he does not know how long it will be until he leaves them to others and dies” (Sira 11:19). Bigger barns do not provide any security in this life.
Michael Fox draws attention to the comment of Rabbi Levi, a comment that expresses the complete lack of control that human beings have over the really big issues of life and death. “Rabbi Levi observes that David is called ‘King David’ fifty-two times, but in 1 Kings 2:1, when David’s life is drawing to a close, he is simply called ‘David,’ for on that day he has no more authority.”[1]
Musing like this paralyzed Qohelet. His pessimism about life forced him into temporary hedonism (enjoy it while you can) and Stoicism (grit your teeth and bear the rest). Those are two very popular options today. When I finally confront the fact that life isn’t mine to direct and control, I might choose to just take what I can get or I might choose to doggedly press on. Neither is the biblical answer.
Most scholars believe that the final few verses of Ecclesiastes, those few lines that attempt to redeem Qohelet’s dark attitude by injecting worship and obedience, were added by someone else. They were added because readers of the Bible want positive and upbeat endings. But Qohelet’s analysis is critically important. It strips us of our false belief in human ability. It destroys ego, pride and the myth of control. We need the unexpurgated Qohelet in order to understand who we really are – dependent creatures under God’s design and purpose. Qohelet is absolutely right. Even at the very moment of an event, we don’t really know what it all means. We are not gods!
But we can trust the One who is God. We are not paralyzed because of our finitude. We can still act with hesed because God, who does know what it all means, has given us instructions about living. We might not understand what those instructions are really all about, but that doesn’t mean we can’t follow them. It is useless to demand a full explanation of God’s point of view before we decide to follow His directions. Once again, Qohelet reminds us that we are not gods. God speaks. We listen. We do. That is the simple formula of life. Of course, we still ask “Why?” That’s part of who we are. But when the “Why?” prevents us from acting, we join Qohelet in hedonism and stoicism, and even then, we don’t know what is happening.
The only real question in life is this one: Do you trust Him?
Topical Index: trust, hedonism, Stoicism, Ecclesiastes 8:7
Come, every soul by sin oppressed,
there’s mercy with the LORD;
and He will surely give you rest,
by trusting in His Word.
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
only trust Him now.
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.
For our LORD shed His precious blood
rich blessings to bestow;
plunge now into the crimson flood
that washes white as snow.
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
only trust Him now.
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.
Yes, our LORD is the truth the way
who leads you into rest;
believe in Him without delay,
and you are fully blest.
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
only trust Him now.
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.
Come then and join this holy band,
and on to glory go,
to dwell in that celestial land
where joys immortal flow.
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
only trust Him now.
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.
“And this is His commandment: that we believe in The Name of His Son, Yeshua HaMashiach, and we should love one another, as He commanded us.” (1 John 3.23)
Therefore, if you have any encouragement for me from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship with me in the Ruach HaKodesh, or any compassion and sympathy, then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind. Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves – look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own. Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua: Though He was in the form of G-d, He did not regard equality with G-d something to be possessed by force. On the contrary, He emptied Himself, in that He took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when He appeared as a human being, He humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death – death on a stake as a criminal! Therefore G-d raised Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name above every name; that in honor of the Name given Yeshua, every knee will bow – in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is ADONAI – to the glory of G-d the Father. Baruch Hashem ADONAI- amein!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YqHGFtnMOI
The only real question in life is this one…”Do you trust Him?”
Hey…what about “What does God demand of me?” I thought that was numero uno! 🙂 🙂
“Do you know what’s happening? Now, really, do you actually know?”
Allow me to introduce the world’s version on this perspective. LOVING WHAT IS by Byron Katie actually does ask 4 questions that contribute to a healthy position in life:
1) Is it true?
2) Can I absolutely know that it’s true?
3) How do I react when I think that thought?
4) Who would I be without the thought?
I am glad I have found all the answers in YHWH, for He is the author and perfecter of my faith. My hope is in Him and in Him I will/do/am trusting. Praise His Name forevermore!
“But when the “Why?” prevents us from acting, we join Qohelet in hedonism and stoicism, and even then, we don’t know what is happening”
“Qohelet is absolutely right. Even at the very moment of an event, we don’t really know what it all means.”
Makes me think of the following narrative poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson:
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
‘Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns’ he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
‘Forward, the Light Brigade!’
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldiers knew
Some one had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley’d and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
Flash’d all their sabres bare,
Flash’d as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder’d:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro’ the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel’d from the sabre-stroke
Shatter’d and sunder’d.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley’d and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro’ the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder’d.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson
zeman- “for such a time as this!” http://bible.org/seriespage/such-time-this%E2%80%94i-story-ahasuerus-and-estheri
“Providence occurs” -always. His eye is (also) upon the sparrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo1A3sOvHyo
Hi Carl,
Thanks for sharing the beautiful video, I was the 30,047th person to watch it
It seems a lot of Mormons are watching this video
Are you a Mormon?
I’ve never understood why Christians think Mormons are different, when Christians are also different
now Michael – how do you know a lot of mormons are watching that video – i watched & i’m not mormon – did it give some sort of % of mormons opposed to nonmormons watching the video – you just made an assumption & it may be correct & it may not be…
i don’t ever want to be nor am i a mormon – feel the same way as never being a catholic…
not goin do it – said the church lady… ♥ j
“now Michael – how do you know a lot of mormons are watching that video”
Hi Jan,
Well it was produced by the Mormon Channel and all the associated videos are “Mormon Messages’s” 🙂
Carl sent it out so I asked him if he were a Mormon, which is okay with me 🙂
Michael,
it is getting late so this might sound a little testy – but if it is okay with you that Carl is a mormon – what difference does it make – so why ask??? so what he is a mormom or the pope if it is okay with you??? so i guess also that 30,047 mormons watched that video – buy hey, i wondered why he posted a mormon video also but i didn’t ask him but i sure have been waiting for him to answer you… 🙂 😉 jano
“what difference does it make – so why ask???”
Hi jan,
Well I grew up with Mormons and Catholics in the hood and they weren’ like Carl 🙂
Well duh Michael, perhaps that is your answer – the very answer to your question… and by the way – that combination (caths & mors) should have been very very interesting to say the least – was there any discourse of their “religion(s)” while you commensurated (is that even a word?) with them in the hood days… ?
maybe Carl changed (4 the good of or in spite of the hood)… was Carl in the hood too??? with the caths & the mors???
it is a very cold, rainy, dreary day here in OKC & i need to go to the grocery store to get some ingredients to make beef stew & am dreading it – so a little frisky myself this morning… ♥
jan
“was there any discourse of their “religion(s)””
Hi Jan,
Growing up in the hood, the mors and the caths had two things in common
Lots of brothers in every family and never talked much about religion
Jews had smaller families and lived in better areas
But they never said anything about religion
And it was a sort of “unspoken code”
That one would never say bad things about another person’s beliefs
Unless they were crazy or stupid 🙂