My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.


6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Meditation
God’s Word is remarkably beautiful and seeing the structure of Psalm 22 will deepen your gratefulness for both the work of Jesus and the word of God.

Psalm 22 is rightfully noted as the Psalm proclaimed by Jesus while He was suffering on the cross when he screamed, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (22:1; Matthew 27:46) The structure of Psalm 22 is a “V” following the trajectory of Christ’s work and it will resurrect hearts for praise.

The “V” structure descends rapidly from the suffering of verse one to crying in the night, (2) noting the absence of God in the present, (4-8) feeling abandoned in times of trouble, (9-11) and the presence of wild beasts contrasted with the question of the presence of God. (12-19) 

The depth of despair, the bottom of the “V” structure, is the silence of God to the questions of 20-21. Will the Lord save? Will the Lord deliver? Has God abandoned us in our moment of greatest need?

God is working redemption through suffering. The “V” structure ascends rapidly from the depth of verses 20-21 to the crying of praise from God’s people and congregation, (22-25) praise from the afflicted, suffering, and poor, (25-26) praise covering all the earth, (27-29) and praise from all generations (even those unborn! 30-31).

The victory of God is birthed from the depth of suffering and struggle, through death comes light. The response of God’s Victory is praise and resurrected hope. Will we believe?

Richly Dwelling
-Do you see the “V”? Suffering and struggle descending to death will rise in hope, resurrection, and praise! Do you have resurrection hope in the Lord?

-Jesus uses the lyrics of this Psalm for His suffering. How can you use the lyrics of this Psalm (and others) for your life? They will empower hope.

-Meditate on the cross. Meditate on the empty tomb. God brings life from death, He births praise from the pain of suffering. Meditate on this reality allowing the truth to move from your head to heart. Your sovereign God loves you and He is working all things for your good and His glory.

Key Verse
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

The oracle concerning the valley of vision.
What do you mean that you have gone up, all of you, to the housetops, 2 you who are full of shoutings, tumultuous city, exultant town? Your slain are not slain with the sword or dead in battle. 3 All your leaders have fled together; without the bow they were captured. All of you who were found were captured, though they had fled far away. 4 Therefore I said: “Look away from me; let me weep bitter tears; do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.” 5 For the Lord God of hosts has a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the valley of vision, a battering down of walls and a shouting to the mountains.

6 And Elam bore the quiver with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. 7 Your choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen took their stand at the gates. 8 He has taken away the covering of Judah. In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest, 9 and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool, 10 and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall.11 You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago.

12 In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth; 13 and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
14 The Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: “Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die,” says the Lord God of hosts.

15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: 16 What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock? 17 Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you 18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be your glorious chariots, you shame of your master's house. 19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station. 

20 In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. 24 And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. 25 In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken.”

Meditation
I battle spiritual pride, often thinking of myself more highly than I ought. This sin births self-justification and self-righteousness as it moves my heart away from realizing the depth of God’s love and the power of His gospel in my life. Today’s passage is a Divine rebuke of a hardhearted and prideful people. 

Isaiah’s message is entitled the “Valley of Vision.” (1, 5) Judah was called to be a mountain, high and lifted up for all nations to stream to, (2:2) but they had lost their purpose and were a valley filled with hopelessness. Judah lost sight of the victory of God (Paul uses Isaiah 22:13 to illustrate the futility of faith if Jesus has not raised from the dead- 1 Corinthians 15:32). Judah had Divine revelation, the ability to truly see, but their eyes could not see because they did not believe. (Isaiah 6:9) 

Paul directs the Church to think of ourselves with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given (Romans 12:3). None of us have embodied the life God has called us to live and we have all lose sight of the victory of God. With Judah, we receive the Lord’s loving rebuke. 

Jesus Christ came in humility to save us from our pride. We are in and out of the cesspool of our sin but God’s covenant faithfulness will give us hearts to receive and eyes to see. God loves us in the valley to move us to the mountain of His love. God’s grace restores our vision.

Richly Dwelling
-Valley of Vision is the opposite of how Judah was living. What would be the Divine sarcasm used to describe you right now, diagnosing your sin?

-The heart of the rebuke is the loss of sight in the victory of God (22:13, 1 Corinthians 15:32). Why does losing sight of God’s victory lead to personal pride, arrogance, and sin?

-The relentless love of God offers us to return to the Lord. How can you kill your pride and take up the invitation of the love of God? Jesus is offering, “Come to me.”

Key Verse
12 In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth; 13 and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

Saul Kills the Priests at Nob
6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. 7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8 that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over[c] your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15 Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” 16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.” 17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”


Meditation
Do you feel disqualified or too destitute to come to the King? Is your debt too great or distress too deep for Him to welcome you? Today’s passage is a gospel preview offering radical hope for the most destitute among us.

David was anointed King (16:13) and finds himself on the run. (2) Saul holds the position of king and enjoys the prestige of his position holding court. (6) Saul is seeking powerful men to protect him from decenters and to do his dirty work, even killing the priest Ahimelech and his family. David provides protection and security for his family, those running from the threat of Saul’s men, (23) and the disillusioned, destitute, debtors, and those in distress (2).

David points to his greater son, the true King Jesus Christ. Jesus did not have a home (Luke 9:58) and welcomed the socially distant of His day, even tax collectors and sinners. (Mark 2:15) Jesus does not look for powerful people to protect Him from decenters but offers the sufficiency of His grace, promising His power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

 Jesus, the true anointed King, welcomes all who come to Him. No one is too sick, too sinful, or too far-gone. God’s grace is sufficient and in love He invites you to come to Him for security, strength, and steadfast love.

Richly Dwelling
-Which portion of contrast between David and Saul stands out to you the most?

-Do you ever feel disqualified by your debt, distress, or dis-obedience? How does David’s warm welcome to family (1), those on the run (23), and the disillusioned offer you hope by pointing you to the true King, Jesus Christ?

-Discover the depth of Jesus’ love for you. He welcomes you and wants to be with you. You are not disqualified or too distant. Come to Him.

Key Verse
23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
 
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Meditation
Dis-oriented disciples longing to see the Kingdom of God listen to Jesus for Divine direction. Today’s post-resurrection narrative empowers disciples to find direction in the person, power, and promises of God. 

Resurrected Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples, teaching about the Kingdom. (3) Jesus had risen from the grave! Wasn’t now the time to inaugurate the Kingdom? The disciples were eager (6) but Jesus commanded them to wait in Jerusalem. (4-5)

The Father has a plan, in His sovereignty, fixing every hour of every day. (7) His timing is good for those He loves (Matthew 10:29-31), and disciples of Jesus wait for the power of God to experience the promises of God (Joel 2:28-32), to be sent to participate in the purposes of God. (8)

The purposes of God extend to the ends of the earth but the first step for the disciple is to wait and believe, knowing they are a part of a bigger story. Jesus will ascend to Heaven and return in the authority of the Son of Man. (9-10; Daniel 7:13-14)

Dis-oriented disciples demonstrate faith through obedience. They wait in Jerusalem to discern who would replace Judas. Their worshipful posture in waiting would prove to be fertile ground to receive the Spirit. (2:1)

The Kingdom of God is unveiled in the Father’s time, through the power of the Spirit, and under the authority of King Jesus. The history of God working flows from disciples waiting, believing, and obeying.  We are invited to participate. 
Lord, Your Kingdom come! Your will be done! 

Richly Dwelling
-Do you feel dis-oriented in your desire to see the Kingdom of God when contrasted with what we see and the headlines we read in our world today?

-The disciples were told to Wait. Receive. Go. Which of these Divine directives would have been toughest for you?

-The whole person of God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, engages the disciple longing to see the Kingdom of God. How does the plan and power from the whole person of God encourage your participation in the Divine desire for you to participate in taking the gospel to your family, your neighborhood, and the nations?

Key Verse
 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

20 Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.


Meditation
Our temptation during the uncertainty of crisis is to live by what we see, what makes sense from a human perspective. But what if God is calling us to step out in faith through use of our time, treasure, or talents? How can we obey when we do not see a way God can provide? 

God tested Abraham. God told Abraham to sacrifice the son he loved, his only son from Sarah, the promised one. Would Abraham’s faith be in the promised child or the One who made the promise? Would Abraham live by what was seen or would He trust the unseen promises of the Lord? 

God tests, or refines, the hearts of His people as a goldsmith refines gold. (Proverbs 17:3) James says to not be surprised at the testing of our faith. (James 1:2-4, 12) Peter gives us the goal of God’s refining our faith, the glory and praise of Jesus. (1 Peter 1:7) How do we endure the test, trusting God is faithful to provide?

We must see with eyes of faith. Faith is being sure, certain, God will provide. Hebrews 11:19 reveals Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the grave, providing life beyond death.  Abraham had resurrection hope and believed God could do with Isaac what He had done with Sarah’s dead womb.

Where God guides, He will provide. With eyes of faith, see beyond the current struggle and boldly obey the Lord. The One who calls you is faithful.


Richly Dwelling
-Faith is being sure of what we hope for, certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1). Why is it difficult to have faith in the Lord and His promises?

-How is God testing or refining your faith during this season? What is it revealing about your heart?

-How can you live with resurrection hope, radically obeying Jesus, believing He can bring life from death, fullness from emptiness, and hope from despair?

Key Verse
14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 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 had also 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 provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And 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 expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

The Vanity of Living Wisely
12 So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. 13 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. 14 The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. 15 Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.16 For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! 17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

The Vanity of Toil
18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his 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 has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Meditation
Last week I spoke to a discouraged man who recently lost the majority of his retirement portfolio. He was in despair. The economic casualties of the COVID19 crisis will be indiscriminate, affecting everyone. (14) Where do we anchor our hope in hard times?

The preacher of Ecclesiastes predicts despair for people who anchor their hope horizontally. (20) The author’s testimony reveals how he looked for purpose and profit in countless pleasures of the world- work, wild living, wine, works (building), workers, wealth, women, and whatever his heart wanted. (1-24) All was a breath, no substance, a chasing after wind. 

There is no profit, all is vanity, when we look to good things in the world to get from them more than they are designed to provide.  When good things become a destination our hope is misdirected. Your 401k is good but never designed to give security for your future. Savings are good but are never able to be your sanctuary in the storm. Focusing your hope on fallen creation is folly, living with an under the sun perspective. We must realign our hope.

God is Creator, the headwaters of goodness. God is the right direction and destination of every good thing in creation. In God alone are true wisdom, knowledge, and joy. (26) Futility and folly are found in gathering what we cannot keep and hoping for security in what will be blown away. 

Wisdom compels us to anchor our hope in Heaven, fully trusting God and His word for an above the sun perspective.

Richly Dwelling
-Where are you experiencing despair during this season of COVID19 crisis?

-Does your despair reveal where you are looking for hope horizontally, misdirecting God’s good creation as a destination and therefore misdirecting hope?

-God is the Creator and in Him alone is wisdom, knowledge, and joy. How can you remember your Creator, redirecting the good things of this world towards Him and realigning your hope?

Key Verse
25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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