The activity of God who makes everything

Ecclesiastes 11-12 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. ² Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. ³ If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. ⁴ One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. ⁵ Just as you do not know the path of the wind, and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes everything.

⁶ Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

⁷ The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. ⁸ Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

⁹ Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. ¹⁰ So remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

12 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; ² before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; ³ on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim; ⁴ and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly. ⁵ Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while the mourners move around in the street. ⁶ Remember your Creator before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; ⁷ then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ⁸ “Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”

⁹ In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. ¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. ¹² But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body.

¹³ The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. ¹⁴ For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Solomon, son of David is thought to be the writer of Ecclesiastes. He was renowned throughout the world for his wisdom, which was given from God. Today’s text says: Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. Just as you do not know the path of the wind, and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes everything. Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.  We may have a greater understanding of many things than the writer of Ecclesiastes, but we still cannot change the natural order God has created and put in place. If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth. Wherever a tree falls, there it lies. We still do not fully understand, nor can we change the forces of wind and weather. If we would truly contemplate the miracle that takes place in the womb of a pregnant woman, there would be no debate about whose life it is. It is the activity of God who makes everything.

We may have more knowledge now than then, but we have not gained more wisdom than that which comes from God. The text says: “Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!” What is futile is for us to prioritize the things of this temporal existence over what is eternal. In Matthew 6:19-21;27;33 Jesus says: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?…But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”  In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body. Unlike the Preacher, who sought to write words of truth correctly, many books today are written with little regard to truth, focused instead on promoting a human agenda. They are not like goads to keep us on the right path, but rather lures to lead us astray.   

The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.  In Revelation 22:12-13;20 the Lord says: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end… Yes, I am coming quickly.” 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.