ECCLESIASTES, SONG OF SOLOMON, & ISAIAH

It's Sunday!  I'm so looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us today.  I know many have worked so hard and what a blessing it has been to see.  I pray that God moves in a miracle way and that God's house is full and people are responsive to the Holy Spirit speaking through the Word of God! I have one chapter in Eccl. and then the Song of Solomon, and then I end up in Isaiah.  Here are a few thoughts: 1) WORDS OF TRUTH- Interesting comment in Eccl. 12:10,11.  They read:  "The preacher (Solomon) sought to find out acceptable words:  and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. (11) The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd."   Solomon sought out wisdom from books.  But books that had acceptable words in them.  Words of truth.  He says that these "words of truth" that are also "words of the wise" are like two things:  Goads- They prick us and motivate us!  They challenge our complacency to move forward.  and Nails- That fasten us to the truth and make us stick it out when others quit!.  Nails that are sure and essential to construction, for they hold.  Words of wisdom do both of these in us.  Now notice one more thing:  "which are given from one shepherd"..  All wisdom comes from God wherever and whenever you find it.  God imparts wisdom to men who ask for it and they record wisdom in books.  Now these books are not inspired, but they do contain acceptable wisdom and truth and God is the source of it all!  This is why sometimes a lost man can have some wisdom in his books because God gives wisdom to men!  We must be discerning though to seek out "acceptable words".  I like this! 2) PHRASES THAT EXPRESS RELATIONSHIP- In Song of Solomon, we see the relationship of love expressed all throughout the eight chapters of the book.  Some connecting phrases tells us more about what kind of relationship our marriages should become:  5:1 "my sister, my spouse"  There is the love and protection for ones sisters that should carry forward to the love one has for his spouse.  5:16 "my beloved, and this is my friend"  Here a woman has the love for her beloved husband, but also, her husband is her best friend.  She shares everything with him and treats him like the best friend ever.  These phrases show us a depth of love. 3) LOVE- Eccl. 8:7 says:  "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it:  if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."  This verse shows us the immense value of love that God gives us for our mates.  This is the love every Christian couple should possess.  4) ARE YOU ESTABLISHED?  II Chron. 20:20, says:  ".... Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."  And, Isaiah 7:9 says:  "... If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established."  They have the same truth, but are hitting it from different angles.  Truth establishes us!  Are you given to believe the LORD and His truth?  Let us be a people of faith, who believe! Well, so much for today.... It's Sunday!  I'm excited and looking forward to preaching this morning and evening, and teaching Sunday School.  May God bless you friend.   Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor