Daily Readings (April 17-23)
Mon. Ecclesiastes 1:1–11 Nothing New Under the Sun
Tue. Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 The Futility of Seeking Wisdom
Wed. Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 The Futility of Self-indulgence
Thu. Ecclesiastes 2:12–17 All Is Vanity
Fri. Ecclesiastes 2:18–26 Of What Good is Our Toil?
Sat. Luke 24:36–48 Jesus sends His Disciples
Sun. John 20:19–23 Receive the Holy Spirit
The Peace of God
April 23, 2006
Lesson: Ecclesiastes 1:1-9; John 20:19-23
Key Verse: John 20:19
Introduction
The Preacher (Solomon, the son of David), says, "vanity of vanities; all
is vanities." Breath of breath all is breath or all is nothing but
"blowing in the wind." Or it could be put this way, "all is
emptiness." This is the world without God. The atheist sees the world
without God and establishes an evolutionary view of the earth and an inhuman
morality upon which to live. However, Ecclesiastes is not such a book. It may
begin with words that express the emptiness of man, but it does so that we may
be led to the Creator who has all things in His providential care. Delitzsch, in
his commentary on Ecclesiastes, writes that "the name of God occurs in
Ecclesiastes no fewer than thirty-seven times, and that in such a way that the
naming of Him is at the same time the confession of Him as the True God, the
Exalted above the world, the Governor and the Ruler over all."
All of creation rests upon the Creator. Without Him there is only emptiness.
The Preacher gives this testimony, "And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and
to know madness and folly; I perceived that this is also vexation of spirit. For
in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth
sorrow" (1:17-18). However, it is God who has "made everything
beautiful in his time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man
can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. And also
that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is
the gift of God" (3:10-13).
All is Vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:1-9
"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is
vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the
Sun?" Vanity signifies "Breath, as the contrast of that which is firm
and enduring, is the figure of that which has no support, no continuance"
(D). The world finds themselves face with such vanities as they seek to be
authorities as to what is right or wrong, or what is moral answer to wars and
rumors of wars. All is vain without that righteousness which is of God alone.
Man’s labor is without profit without the Creator. Matthew Henry understands
the emptiness of the atheist and "some things which men of corrupt minds wrest
to their own destruction, for want of distinguishing between Solomon's
arguments and the objections of atheists and epicures; but there is enough easy
and plain to convince us (if we will admit the conviction) of the vanity of the
world, and its utter insufficiency to make us happy, the vileness of sin, and
its certain tendency to make us miserable, and of the wisdom of being religious,
and the solid comfort and satisfaction that are to be had in doing our duty both
to God and man."
The Preacher uses God’s Creation to reveal the changing of things and the
stability of things, "One generation passeth away, and another generation
cometh; but the earth abideth forever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth
down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south,
and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind
returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet
the sea is not full; unto the place whence the rivers come, thither hey return
again." Therefore, "All things are full of labour; man cannot utter
it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The
thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done; and
there is no new thing under the sun." This should draw us to the conclusion
that God the Creator alone providentially cares for and moves His creation. Our
assurance that all things are working together for our good is dependent upon
the Lord. That which seems like vanity is to the Christian an assurance of the
majestic presence of God.
Discussion: When is our labor seen most profitable?
Christ in our Midst (John 20:19-23)
All is not vanity. Christ is in the midst of His people. We are assured of
our Savior’s presence because of His resurrection. For our peace before our
Creator and Lord was obtained by way of the death and resurrection of Christ. In
Christ we have peace with our Father in heaven.
It was the first day of the week, the day of our Lord’s resurrection from
the tomb. The doors were shut as the disciples assembled in fear of the Jews.
Suddenly Jesus stood in their midst, saying, "Peace be unto you." As
with Mary Magdalene, so with His disciples, the voice of the Lord fills the
heart with peace and not fear. Christ then shows His disciples His hands and
side, and it is recorded that they were glad "when they saw the Lord."
Whether we are with the fellowship of believers, or in our private devotions
in His Word, we know, by the Spirit who witnesses to our spirit, that Christ is
near. His words are melodic to our ears when we hear Him speaking, "Peace I
leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John
14:27). Jesus gives assurance of His presence, which brings peace, which is that
peace between the redeemed sinner and God: "Peace be unto you; as the
Father hath sent me, even so send I you." The peace which Christ gives
enables His followers to be messengers of His wonderful Gospel. As Christ came
by the authority of the Father, His disciples receive authority from Him. This
authority, given to His apostles, is seen in the giving of the Holy Spirit, by
the very breath of Christ; for "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but
by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:3). As Jesus began His ministry with the
blessing of the Father (This is My Beloved Son), as the Holy Spirit descended
upon Him; so also must those who have been called to serve Him and His Gospel,
be appointed by Christ and enlivened by the Holy Spirit.
Christ sets His apostles and ministers to the task of doing His work on
earth. Christ is still the Head of His church, and the Great Shepherd of His
flock. The work of the apostles is illustrated in the words of verse 23, of
remitting and retaining sins. To remit means to send away, to dismiss; i.e.,
that through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel, as revealed in God’s
Holy Scripture, that in Christ, His death and resurrection, has brought about
reconciliation and forgiveness of sins, "having acquitted us from all sins,
adopts us to be his children by free grace" (Calvin). As to the word ‘retain,’
the meaning is clear, those who hold on to sin, so do the wages of sin hold on
them.
Discussion: What does it mean for us to have peace with God in Christ Jesus?
