The rebellious heart of Lucifer declared: “I will.” The obedient heart of Jesus prayed: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Satan was cast down from heaven because of his rebellious heart. He tempted Eve with the same attitude, saying that if she would eat of the forbidden fruit, she would be “like God” (Gen. 3:5). The heart of sin is an attitude that says, “I will” rather than saying “Thy will be done.” It desires to take God’s place, rather than submitting to Him.
More than a motto to put on our money, this is a declaration of faith. Trust in God above all others. Written by the one who slew Goliath, it is not hyperbole, but a tested conclusion, i.e. “since God is greater than man (even giant ones), I will not fear man, because I trust in God.” Wherever there is fear, especially fear of man, there is lack of faith.
I can’t read this verse without singing it as Handel imagined in his oratorio, Messiah. He put Isaiah’s words to music in 1741 AD, 17 centuries after Christ’s coming. Isaiah wrote the words of this prophecy around 740 BC, nearly 8 centuries before Christ’s coming. Not many song-writing duos have lived so far apart, in time that is. Yet time has little meaning to the “Everlasting” one. Isaiah prophesied a Son to be born to the house of David whose names would be “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Which of these names means most to you today?
The Corinthians had fallen prey to false teachers who claimed greater authority than Paul. In response to this, Paul found himself in the awkward position of establishing his own credentials. Paul didn’t like to boast, unless it was to boast of Christ. So instead, he boasted of his “infirmity,” his weakness. He listed the number of times he had been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, naked, and left for dead. Paul chose to see what others might call a record of disgrace as his resume of suffering for Christ. He was fulfilling the calling that Christ had given him on the road to Damascus, namely: “he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). Most boast of their successes to elevate their position, but Paul boasted of his sufferings, that Christ might be the One elevated in status.
The gospel is simple. So simple that people nearly always want to complicate it. Just as the law of the garden was simple– “don’t eat,” so the gospel is simple– “take and eat.” The apostle Paul had preached the simple gospel to the Corinthians, yet false teachers were trying to add to his message. He warned them not to be deceived as Eve was in the garden. When you hear someone ask, “Did God really say?” You should be on alert. Anyone who questions the reliability of the Word of God is speaking with the serpent’s tongue. The gospel calls us to a faith of purity and simplicity. Believe and receive. No more, no less.
The Lord gave Isaiah a vision of the latter days when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship, a day when the Lord Himself will judge and bring peace. In that day there will be no need for weapons of war. The wealth and works of the nations will no longer be wasted on mutual destruction, but on worship of God and mutual welfare. Even the study of war will be lost, so that mankind forgets the art. Such a day Isaiah saw and we still await its arrival.
Paul encouraged the Corinthians in their giving by reminding them of how others would “glorify God” for their obedience to the gospel. Those who have received the gospel have received God’s greatest gift. Receiving, their hearts have been changed, so that they have become conduits of God’s grace. As Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). Do others give glory to God for the way you “freely give” so that your gospel confession is given credibility?
Also called the “Song of Songs” because as part of Solomon’s wisdom literature it pursued the personified lady “wisdom” with a lover’s poetic passion, making it the pinnacle of his wisdom writings. When read through the lens of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he describes marriage as a “mystery” that points to Christ and His Church, it takes on a new meaning. Read the above passage viewing Christ as the “beloved” and the Church as the one being addressed. There is a Day coming when the Bride will hear Him say, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past…”
Take time to sharpen your saw. One of Solomon’s habits long before Covey’s seven. My mother’s father, my Papaw, knew this habit. Before the invention of weed-eaters, he used a large hand scythe to clear the creek bank. He always kept a sharpening stone in his pocket and would pause from time to time to keep an edge on his blade. He also had a mesmerizing method to his motion, using his strength to lift the long blade and then allow its weight to drop and fall through the weeds. I never mastered this, hacking away at the brush, often with a dull blade, I would spend my young man’s energy in under an hour, while Papaw could continue all day even in his 70s. Papaw would say, “Son, you’re just beating yourself to death. Let the weight of the blade do the work. And stop to sharpen it once in a while.” He had the wisdom that I lacked. You can actually get more done by taking a break to sharpen your saw. Slow down to speed up. Retreat to advance. Take a sabbath one day out of seven to sharpen your edge.
Solomon’s study of life “under the sun” was limited to the physical world, and therefore, did not include observations of life “beyond the sun.” So, the idea of an afterlife with eternal reward and judgment are not topics considered by him. Yet, there is a wisdom here for those still on this side of the “grave:” Work with all of your might, while there is still light. As Jesus taught his disciples, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). I want to finish this earthly life serving the Lord with all of my might. How about you?