SEPTEMBER 18, 2025: ECCLESIASTES 7, ACTS 9, PSALM 100                                             ECCLESIASTES 7 Remember that the last three words of chapter 6 were “under the sun.” Apparently, that is the view Solomon is still presenting: only the physical world we see with no existence after death. Thus, given that premise, what are the best choices we can make in this world? Verses 1-5 are his choices in this very hopeless world:   

In trying to sum up the life view of the choices listed above, perhaps Solomon is saying the above choices represent both an honest appraisal of life in a material, non-supernatural world and is the best way to live in such a reality. It is not the view of a Christian but there are points of overlap—especially the first and last examples. This might be thought of as a summation of the bulk of Ecclesiastes.

Verses 6-12 also exist in this space of overlap. Good advice for the Christian and the best ways to live in this limited, fallen world, even without faith in Jesus. Verses 13-14 assume that God gives both prosperity and adversity. This has been a point of debate within Christian thinkers for centuries, but all Christians believe Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” So, whether He created the adversity or not, He will make it turn out well for those who trust in Him. Life under the sun says we cannot know that, thus it is futility. 

Verse 15 says there are righteous people who die young and wicked ones who see live long. So, verses 16-18 suggest not to worry about it by going to the extreme in either direction. Solomon advocates for wisdom over power but then says no one does good all the time, which is true in our unredeemed state. Verses 21-22 makes sense about not taking everything said too seriously if the sources of those comments are not wise Christian friends. So often, people say things to us without knowing the whole picture and from motives we cannot discern. Being too easily offended in those cases can be debilitating or can escalate into conflict that is destructive. A bit of advice that Solomon says he is giving from personal experience is to avoid relations with women who are not of good character. He ends the chapter stating even if people were once good, almost all are presently flawed and untrustworthy. This is true “under the sun” or apart from God’s grace given to those who put their faith in Jesus. 

ACTS 9 Saul, in an excess of zeal to harm Christians, decided to go to Damascus to expand his terror against them. As he neared the city, Jesus intervened. May He do so today against those who seek to stop the 

READING FOR SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 CONTINUED: ACTS 9, PSALM 100                                          Gospel from bearing fruit. In this case, a bright light from heaven put Saul on the ground, either in fear or humility. Then Jesus’s voice asked Saul why he was persecuting Him. Remember when others try to stop our ministry, they are in awful position of persecuting God the Son—not a good place to be. The blinded Saul, to his credit, immediately acknowledged this voice as the Lord’s and relinquished his effort to harm Christians. 

Ananias, a believer in Damascus, becomes the first of several individuals to help move Saul from his confused and blinded state to eventually becoming God’s bullhorn to the Mediterranean world. Ananias obeyed, some- what warily, God’s guidance to go to the appropriately named Straight Street to lay his hands on Saul. Already God had chosen Paul to share the Gospel widely. (Lord, choose some of us in Yorktown to share this good news with family and friends.)  Paul regained his sight, was filled with the Spirit, and was baptized. 

Paul was a newborn babe in Christ. What does the text say about the years of seminary training he needed for evangelizing? It says he immediately began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Maybe it’s Satan’s trick to delay us through our perceived lack of preparedness. Better to listen to Nike than Satan: Just Do It. It says he got better at it as he went along and confounded the skeptics. As with Jesus, his very effectiveness prompted the Jewish opposition to conspire to stop him.  Once again, other believers assisted Paul by learning of the plot and sneaking him over the wall to safety. 

Paul left Jerusalem as a terrorist against Christians and now returned saying he was a Christian brother. The disciples at first didn’t buy it. Once again, a believer, Barnabus, was strategically used to vouch for Paul and bring him into the body. This led to an effective ministry with the Greek Jews, which once again placed Paul in danger. Now it was the Jerusalem Christians’ turn to save Paul and send him to Tarsus. We need each other. 

Meanwhile, Peter wasn’t inactive. He traveled around the growing Christians groups throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. He healed a paralyzed man in Lydda. As a result, all who lived there and in Sharon (Lousie Luke’s and Marilyn Jones’s hometown in Pennsylvania) were saved. In Joppa, Peter met with the good friends of Dorcas, who had just died. She apparently was a member of the Joppa chapter of “Threads of Love;” Peter was shown garments she had made. Taking a page from Jesus (“Talitha, kum!”  Mark 5:41), Peter sent others out of the room and told Dorcas to arise. She did. 

PSALM 100 This is a Psalm primarily about God and secondarily about how we relate to Him. Four times “Yahweh,” translated as LORD, meaning the God of Israel, is used. One time “Elohim,” translated as and meaning God is used. Personal pronouns referring to one of these words are used ten times. That’s 15 references in five verses. Do we refer to God that many times in a week? What happens when the Psalmist does this? He is really joyful (vs.1-2). He understands who he is in relation to God and eagerly follows Him (vs. 3). He doesn’t consider worship as drudgery or routine but thankfully and eagerly goes to God’s house. He knows God is good now and will be so forever, to him and to those of his children/grandchildren who love God. Let’s keep God top of mind and see how it affects our outlook, priorities, and children.