For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Lev. 18
I don’t claim to understand anything beyond the obvious – a list of sexual perversions – in this chapter. Except for one thing. Do things differently. That is how we are to live when we belong to God. Not for the reason listed here, so that we can live, but because He has given us the life we can’t earn and don’t deserve.
Ps. 22
When I read this prophetic Psalm, I tend to focus on the prophecies of Jesus’ suffering and death. The last part of the Psalm, however, is a victorious praise, and it, too, prophecies of Jesus. David declared praise and awe for God. “For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him. But when He cried to him for help, He heard.” (Ps. 22:24). David went on to say, “Those who seek [the afflicted] will praise the LORD.” (Ps. 22:26b). He then said, “All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive.” (Ps. 22:29b-c).
This all speaks of Jesus’ victory over the grave. The Psalm moved from, “You lay me in the dust of death” (Ps. 22:15c) to, “Let your heart live forever!” (Ps. 22:26c). Jesus died, but now He lives. And because He lives, those who seek Him live. And every living thing will one day bow before Him as Lord of lords and King of kings. God told us, generations before it happened, that Jesus would die and come to life again to bring salvation to all who fear Him. And, “It will be told of the Lord…To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.” (From Ps 22:30-31).
Ecc. 1
Life is cyclical, and the more we live it, the more wearisome it becomes. The futility of all earthly endeavors and their inability to satisfy become more and more apparent. Our insignificance in it also becomes more apparent. “There is no remembrance of earlier things; and also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still.” (Ecc. 1:11). Life happened before us and will continue after we’re gone. Even those who go down in history don’t matter as much as some might think.
Ecclesiastes can be a depressing book because life can be depressing. Yet I don’t think its true purpose is lament. I actually think the intent behind the book is to encourage. I think that, by showing us the lack of substance in everything we can possibly pursue in this life, it points us to the truth that we find our only real substance and satisfaction in fearing and serving God. How much heartache and devastation we could avoid in life if we could simply understand that truth early on! We would avoid so much pain and frustration if we didn’t waste so much time and effort chasing after gods that aren’t gods instead of serving the real thing. So instead of getting depressed with life and the truth about it expressed in this book, let’s embrace its meaninglessness and throw ourselves fully on God.