Verse of the Day 8/29

Verse of the Day 8/29

Ecclesiastes 11:10-12:1Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain^[a] from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

12:1  Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";    English Standard Version (ESV)

Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes later in life and was writing to give advice to those who still had time in life to change course to focus on better things than to be vexed by the challenges and frustrations in life.    The word vexation was one that caught my attention when reading and preparing for a Bible study on this passage.  My first thoughts were that "vexation" had to do with being bothered or aggravated by something, but I decided to look up the definition which reads "the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried."  Think about that for a minute.

Notice that the it begins with describing a "state of being", it gives the picture of an attitude towards life and its circumstances, being annoyed frustrated or worried about life.  Does that describe us or at least can we say that we've been there?  What good does it do and what good comes out of it?

When the Bible was written it didn't contain verses and chapters.  This is one of those times that it is good to move right on into the next verse, 12:1 which begins with "remember your Creator in the days of your youth".  Most of us reading this are well beyond our youth, but if vexation has been our state of being we can still change it and it starts with "remembering".  Our Pastor Bob shared a quote from Charles Spurgeon in his sermon on Sunday and it seemed to me that it fit with this verse and the thought of remembering.    Spurgeon writes, "God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart."  Good advice for us to remember when we are "vexed" by something.

We should remember our Creator every day, live our lives with a purpose, His purpose, before the day comes when we can no longer do the things He'd have us do.  Read the passage below, may it encourage us to make today count while our bodies can still serve us and serve God well.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Ecclesiastes 11:10-12:5The Message (MSG)

¹⁰ Live footloose and fancy-free—
You won't be young forever.
Youth lasts about as long as smoke.

12 ^1-2 Honor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young,
Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes,
Before your vision dims and the world blurs
And the winter years keep you close to the fire.

^3-5 In old age, your body no longer serves you so well.
Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen.
The shades are pulled down on the world.
You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt.
The hum of the household fades away.
You are wakened now by bird-song.
Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past.
Even a stroll down the road has its terrors.
Your hair turns apple-blossom white,
Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body.
Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest,
While your friends make plans for your funeral.