I'm new to blurty, and this'll be a sort of mirror journal to
http://www.livejournal.com/users/boomerangaz So here's a first entry of sorts:
December 12, 2003
[ mood | 'weary' i guess... ]
[ music | None again... but my head is playing classical of sorts... ]
Need a break from studying... so i decided to write a bit ;)...
Been thinking a bit about that verse,
Ecclesiastes 12:12 - "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh."
I always knew it was true, but i had never exactly experienced it... When i ran Cross-Country in high school (lol), i got a full dose of being tired... But i've been studying 8 hours each day in the last two days... it's a different sort of tiredness... The difference between 'weariness' and just plain being tired never came to my mind. The implications therefore for the spiritual meaning of the verse are interesting... For context, take a look at the surrounding verses:
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
i wonder... is verse 11 and 12 saying something like this?: Studying God's Law ('the words of the wise') and prescribing behavior on how to not sin 'will become a weariness to the flesh'... because one can never be enough of a Pharisee... in a sense, 'there is no end' to how much one can sin. Deuteronomy 6:5 says: "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Who of us /ever/ has done this? What a grievous sin it must be to refuse to love the God Who "...is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy." (Psalm 145:8)
Who offers salvation to the unthankful and evil...
So then verse 13 and 14 are striking:
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.