Solomon observes that “there is no new thing under the sun,” for history repeats itself and “there is no remembrance of former things.” Life under the sun offers no lasting progress, no lasting satisfaction, and no lasting remembrance. But the Christian sees history moving toward God’s intended end, and knows that while men may forget, God never forgets the work done for Him. True meaning is found not under the sun, but under the Son, Jesus Christ.
Solomon observes that “labour is futile,” asking, “What profit hath a man of all his labours under the sun?” He shows that life is an endless cycle—the sun rising and setting, the wind returning to its circuits, the rivers running yet never filling the sea. All things are wearisome; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing. Under the sun, life becomes monotonous, tiring, and without lasting satisfaction.
“What is the meaning of life and is life worth living?” Ecclesiastes begins by asking what profit a man has from all his labour under the sun. Many measure life by its quality, possessions, work, pleasure, or relationships, but the preacher shows that apart from God such pursuits become labouring and gaining nothing.
Isaiah 40 is one of the most comforting chapters in the Bible. God’s people, weary and uncertain, are reminded that “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.” Even the young shall faint and fall, but “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” To wait upon the Lord is to trust, to hope, and to pray. In doing so, He strengthens us to walk and not faint, to soar above our weakness, and to magnify Christ in us.
Based on a series of sermons preached in PCC Prayer Meetings in 2020 27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator […]
By Rev Samuel Rutherforda Preparation Sermon, before the communion, at [Church]mabreck, 19 July 1634published by Rev. Andrew A Bonar, Glasgow, 1876 (reproduced in https://archive.org/stream/fourtcomm00ruth);minimally modernised, edited and footnoted by JJ LimPart 3 of 3: Christ’s Complaint & Confidence Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from […]
And why you should join such a church Part 3 of 3: Eighth to Tenth Reasons [This is the third tranche of a three part series of articles to commemorate the Protestant Reformation. We are considering ten reasons why a church should be Reformed and reforming and why we should be part of such a […]
And why you should join such a church Part 2 of 3: Fourth to Seventh Reasons [This is the second tranche of a three part series of articles to commemorate the Protestant Reformation. We are considering ten reasons why a church should be Reformed and reforming and why we should be part of such a […]
And why you should join such a churchPart 1 of 3: First Three Reasons On 31 October 1517, Martin Luther nailed the famed Ninety Five Theses on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg in Germany. That action is popularly regarded as the catalyst for the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Although many more […]
We saw previously how God is incomparable and unportrayable. Any attempts to compare God with anything in creation or to portray him with images will not only fail but result in the direct opposite of what is intended.
