4-24-11
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10, says, "That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us." The principle of the statement is forever showing itself to be true. No matter how "new" something may be to the "modern man" it is just due to a lack of knowledge or misapplication of the principle. An individual may reason that automobiles are new and didn’t exist when the writer penned the letter. Though the specific mode is different transportation is not "new." But it is not the trifles of life that the writer shines light on. The specifics of this truth resides in the passages before it: "What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun? One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again. All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us" (vs. 3-10). Within the text the writer identifies one principle worthy of contemplation. He wrote, "that which hath been done is that which shall be done" (vs. 9).
Being reared in an atmosphere where an individuals responsibility was equal to that of Ezra’s, "For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances" (Ezra 7:10), it generates a sense of wonder when information about how "religious services" are conducted today. Time and again statements are made that indicate that "some," not to indict the whole, have very little if any of God’s word being proclaimed. Though the situation may gender wonderment it is by no means new. The circumstances, which generate such, may be twofold in nature. It may come from the speaker or from the people. A few years before the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, God revealed through the prophet Jeremiah, "Then Jehovah said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake I unto them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart" (Jeremiah 14:14). And again, "I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart? that think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers forgat my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? saith Jehovah. Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith Jehovah, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, saith Jehovah" (Jeremiah 23:25-32). The difference between the words of Jehovah and the words of men is compared to straw and wheat. Men will often attempt to dazzle in an effort to "draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). This type of preaching is called making merchandise of the unsuspecting: "And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you"(2 Peter 2:3), or making "spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit" (Colossians 2:8). However, in many cases the fault lies with the people. Paul warned, the young preacher Timothy, "preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:2-4). This also, was not new. During the period of Israel’s history, when Ahab was king of the northern tribes and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoshaphat requested inquiry be made of Micah, a prophet of God. To this request, Ahab said, "I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (1 Kings 22:8).
In today’s religious community, when the sermon is over and the handshakes and howdys are made, does the praise go to man for his eloquence? When the preaching is over, is the preacher regarded as a masterful speaker, or is the word of God seen as "living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12?
Ross Triplett