Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Solomon Project: Ecclesiastes 8:1-4
For the rationale for this blog please see previous blogs. We begin today in chapter 8. While this chapter begins a new theme the author is still discussing wisdom. This chapter presents a contrast to the end of chapter 7. chapter 8 gives an example of how wisdom can save a man from the king's wrath. This is a contrast to the last section in that Solomon lamented the fact that a wise person could not be found. Once again he tempers his cynicism with positive examples.
Verse 1 says: "Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance." (Eccle 8:1 NIV) This sets up the following example of how wisdom can help avert the wrath of rulers. This is a central proverb to the section. Solomon uses a picturesque metaphor to convey the feeling of wisdom. Wisdom can take the rough edges of knowledge off the intellect.
Verse 2 states: "Obey the king's command, I say, because you took an oath before God." (Eccle 8:2 NIV) There are certain persons ordained by God to have authority. They may be quite good at it or not. The history of Israel's kings shows us that.
Verse 3 continues: "Do not be in a hurry to leave the king's presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases." (Eccle 8:3NIV) Attempting to escape the king's unilateral decisions prematurely may not be wise. By the same token allying oneself with a cause ill thought of by the king will be disastrous. The wise man will know how to conduct himself in these precarious circumstances. The thought here is not that the king will do what he pleases but that he can--because he has the authority. The wise man in this example is taking part in human justice and legislation "under the sun"
Verse 4 states: "Since a king's word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?" (Eccle 8:4 NIV) The rhetorical question demands the answer no one and nothing. To do otherwise would be disastrous.
Applications to the addictive and compulsive person? Dealing with resentments are a significant part of recovery. Sometimes as addicts we want to have the last word. This becomes disatrous in the face of legal authorities and leaders and managers in the workplace. Sometimes as addicts and compulsive people we become so fixated on our point of view we lose sight of the fact that we may win some suppoosed battle but lose the war. Anger becomes a major piece of the addicts thinking in these encounters. The wise person learns how to temper himself and see reality as it really is. There is someone in greater power than himself. As people in recovery we continue to treat authority with respect. We find our place in the world "under the sun" knowing that sometimes we are in positions of authority and sometimes others are in that position over us. Our time is up for today. So until next week keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it.
Verse 1 says: "Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance." (Eccle 8:1 NIV) This sets up the following example of how wisdom can help avert the wrath of rulers. This is a central proverb to the section. Solomon uses a picturesque metaphor to convey the feeling of wisdom. Wisdom can take the rough edges of knowledge off the intellect.
Verse 2 states: "Obey the king's command, I say, because you took an oath before God." (Eccle 8:2 NIV) There are certain persons ordained by God to have authority. They may be quite good at it or not. The history of Israel's kings shows us that.
Verse 3 continues: "Do not be in a hurry to leave the king's presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases." (Eccle 8:3NIV) Attempting to escape the king's unilateral decisions prematurely may not be wise. By the same token allying oneself with a cause ill thought of by the king will be disastrous. The wise man will know how to conduct himself in these precarious circumstances. The thought here is not that the king will do what he pleases but that he can--because he has the authority. The wise man in this example is taking part in human justice and legislation "under the sun"
Verse 4 states: "Since a king's word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?" (Eccle 8:4 NIV) The rhetorical question demands the answer no one and nothing. To do otherwise would be disastrous.
Applications to the addictive and compulsive person? Dealing with resentments are a significant part of recovery. Sometimes as addicts we want to have the last word. This becomes disatrous in the face of legal authorities and leaders and managers in the workplace. Sometimes as addicts and compulsive people we become so fixated on our point of view we lose sight of the fact that we may win some suppoosed battle but lose the war. Anger becomes a major piece of the addicts thinking in these encounters. The wise person learns how to temper himself and see reality as it really is. There is someone in greater power than himself. As people in recovery we continue to treat authority with respect. We find our place in the world "under the sun" knowing that sometimes we are in positions of authority and sometimes others are in that position over us. Our time is up for today. So until next week keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Solomon Project: Ecclesiastes 7:25-29
Please see earlier blogs for the rationale behind these posts. Solomon continues on in the search for wisdom and finding its limitations. This section deals with the human component of wisdom.
Have you ever wondered how it is that some people can be so intelligent in factual and logical data but seemingly devoid of any logic or reason when it comes to living life emotionally appropriate and strategically executed. The limitations of wisdom here are seen to be humans themselves.
Verse 7:25 says: "So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly." (Eccle 7:25). The author was going to devote himself to "understand," to "investigate," to "search." and come full circle to "understanding" again. He is going to explore both the positive and negative aspects of wisdom. Solomon has admitted the limitations of wisdom (23-24) but is going to pursue it any way.
Verse 26 says: "I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare." (Eccle 7:26) In his search he tells us what he has found. The first thing is a woman who is a snare. Lord knows that if anyone knew about women being snares Solomon would. He tells us he had a harem in 2:8. Other sources tell us that he had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines (2 Ki 11:3-4). It also tells us that they had a negative influence upon his spiritual life. On the outset it would appear that Solomon has turned into a misogynist. However 9:9 commands those under the sun to enjoy their wife (conversely husband as well). Thus Solomon has a particular kind of woman in mind here. This woman who is a snare here epitomizes folly, stupidity and wickedness. She is an embodiment of foolishness. Solomon has in mind here the way of wisdom and the way of foolishness. Those who please God, following his commands will comprehend the folly of falling prey to this woman. The book of Proverbs is replete with commands and illustrations concerning falling prey to seductive women.
Verse 27 says: ""Look," says the Teacher, "This is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the schemes of things--" (Eccle 7:27) Solomon tells us how he went about arriving at his conclusions by adding observations together.
Verse 28 goes on: "While I was searching but not finding--I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all." (Eccle 7:28) However this verse is understood it has rather misogynistic implications. Solomon is reflecting his culture at this point and the fact that he is viewing this phenomenon as "under the sun." This was a partiarchal culture in which he wrote.
He found this truth as he was searching for wisdom. I think it is important to recognize that his search was for wisdom from the standpoint of wisdom (23). He would never have been able to reach these conclusions about human nature if he did not approach the folly of sinners through the wisdom framework. Solomon's observations are in the context of wisdom. the term "upright" is added for clarity in the NIV. The context must supply the necessary term here.
Verse 29 states: "This only have I found: God made man upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes." (Eccle 7:29) Man here should be taken as mankind. This verse hearkens back to the beginnings of Genesis and the creation of mankind. The account of mankind is that they fell into sin and as a result were irrevocably marred and separated from God. The conclusion is that mankind has gone in search of many schemes. "Calculations" is another term that could suffice here.
And for those who suffer from addiction and compulsivity? This passage certainly has implications for those who suffer from sexual addiction. Fearing God will keep one from the seductive woman. the sinner falls prey to her. There is an air of finality about this. Seduction, acting out, out of control behavior all carry a flavor of foolishness and violation of God's laws. Those who are sexually addicted are deluded by a perception that they are strong, almost omnipotent, beyond the rules and consequences. Living close to the edge only heightens the adrenaline rush. In reality they are deluded. sinners, and on the path of the foolish.
We are the problem. searching for wisdom, while inexhaustible, will show us the true nature of humanity. We are a sinful lot, corrupt and scheming, whether it be 0 in a thousand or 1 in a thousand. We are desperately in need of the help of our higher power to restore us to sanity. I end with this quote from Jean Paul Sartre: "It disturbs me no more to find men base, unjust, or selfish then to see apes mischievous, wolves savage, or the vulture ravenous." Sobriety and recovery strike at the heart of the problem. This is a spiritual journey. We turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. Step four involves determining the scheming that has gone on in our lives, both by ourselves and others. We started out upright but have gone in search of many schemes. We pray for clarity as we move through recovery seeking guidance from our higher power.
Our time is up for today. Keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it!
Have you ever wondered how it is that some people can be so intelligent in factual and logical data but seemingly devoid of any logic or reason when it comes to living life emotionally appropriate and strategically executed. The limitations of wisdom here are seen to be humans themselves.
Verse 7:25 says: "So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly." (Eccle 7:25). The author was going to devote himself to "understand," to "investigate," to "search." and come full circle to "understanding" again. He is going to explore both the positive and negative aspects of wisdom. Solomon has admitted the limitations of wisdom (23-24) but is going to pursue it any way.
Verse 26 says: "I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare." (Eccle 7:26) In his search he tells us what he has found. The first thing is a woman who is a snare. Lord knows that if anyone knew about women being snares Solomon would. He tells us he had a harem in 2:8. Other sources tell us that he had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines (2 Ki 11:3-4). It also tells us that they had a negative influence upon his spiritual life. On the outset it would appear that Solomon has turned into a misogynist. However 9:9 commands those under the sun to enjoy their wife (conversely husband as well). Thus Solomon has a particular kind of woman in mind here. This woman who is a snare here epitomizes folly, stupidity and wickedness. She is an embodiment of foolishness. Solomon has in mind here the way of wisdom and the way of foolishness. Those who please God, following his commands will comprehend the folly of falling prey to this woman. The book of Proverbs is replete with commands and illustrations concerning falling prey to seductive women.
Verse 27 says: ""Look," says the Teacher, "This is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the schemes of things--" (Eccle 7:27) Solomon tells us how he went about arriving at his conclusions by adding observations together.
Verse 28 goes on: "While I was searching but not finding--I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all." (Eccle 7:28) However this verse is understood it has rather misogynistic implications. Solomon is reflecting his culture at this point and the fact that he is viewing this phenomenon as "under the sun." This was a partiarchal culture in which he wrote.
He found this truth as he was searching for wisdom. I think it is important to recognize that his search was for wisdom from the standpoint of wisdom (23). He would never have been able to reach these conclusions about human nature if he did not approach the folly of sinners through the wisdom framework. Solomon's observations are in the context of wisdom. the term "upright" is added for clarity in the NIV. The context must supply the necessary term here.
Verse 29 states: "This only have I found: God made man upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes." (Eccle 7:29) Man here should be taken as mankind. This verse hearkens back to the beginnings of Genesis and the creation of mankind. The account of mankind is that they fell into sin and as a result were irrevocably marred and separated from God. The conclusion is that mankind has gone in search of many schemes. "Calculations" is another term that could suffice here.
And for those who suffer from addiction and compulsivity? This passage certainly has implications for those who suffer from sexual addiction. Fearing God will keep one from the seductive woman. the sinner falls prey to her. There is an air of finality about this. Seduction, acting out, out of control behavior all carry a flavor of foolishness and violation of God's laws. Those who are sexually addicted are deluded by a perception that they are strong, almost omnipotent, beyond the rules and consequences. Living close to the edge only heightens the adrenaline rush. In reality they are deluded. sinners, and on the path of the foolish.
We are the problem. searching for wisdom, while inexhaustible, will show us the true nature of humanity. We are a sinful lot, corrupt and scheming, whether it be 0 in a thousand or 1 in a thousand. We are desperately in need of the help of our higher power to restore us to sanity. I end with this quote from Jean Paul Sartre: "It disturbs me no more to find men base, unjust, or selfish then to see apes mischievous, wolves savage, or the vulture ravenous." Sobriety and recovery strike at the heart of the problem. This is a spiritual journey. We turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. Step four involves determining the scheming that has gone on in our lives, both by ourselves and others. We started out upright but have gone in search of many schemes. We pray for clarity as we move through recovery seeking guidance from our higher power.
Our time is up for today. Keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The Solomon Project: Ecclesiastes 7:19-24
The purpose of this blog is to reflect upon the biblical book of Ecclesiastes as it relates to addiction and compulsivity. While I come at this exercise from an orthodox evangelical viewpoint it should not and hopefully does not deter the reader who holds a differing point of view religiously. Those who struggle with addictive and compulsive behaviors all share a common illness regardless of their religious belief. This blog attempts to see in what ways this ancient book can help us reflect on life in such a way as to change our outlook on life and thus enable a change in behavior as we seek to life successfully in recovery or make our way into that way of life.
The context of these verses especially through verse 22 have to do with the limitations of wisdom and righteousness. Verse 19 says: "Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city." (Eccle 7:19) Pretty heady stuff huh? Wisdom has its advantages. Perhaps wisdom will work where righteousness won't. Strategic living certainly can provide the self counsel that can outthink ten rulers. Probably a hyperbole here. the number ten is used to make a point not be a direct numerical reference.
However verse 20 states: " There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." (Eccle 7:20) Wisdom is needed because righteousness is never perfect. No one attains to perfection. This hearkens back to verses 16-17. Here the context will talk about the lack of righteousness in speech. Compare James 3:2 here. Interestingly enough he still calls him a righteous man even though he sins. The balancing of truth here where he presents a strong statement in the form of a Proverb and comes back in the following line and presents an alternate perspective is characteristic of the writer in this book.
Verse 21-22 says: "Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you--for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others" (Eccle 7:21-22) This is the application of the observation that the righteous never sin. Solomon is very penetrating here. He touches each one of us with this revealing statement. We tend to be judge and jury sometimes when people take a different point of view of do things that don't fit our viewpoint. I like the perspective caught in this quotation: "Seek to understand then be understood." Our words many times reveal who we are and what we think: Of ourselves of others and the world around us.
Verse 23 states: "All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"--but this was beyond me." (Eccle 7:23) The "quest" motif arises here again. Solomon says that he has gone about gaining wisdom from wisdom's point of view, strategic living so to speak. This verse speaks of a focused decidedly determined search. But in the "atmosphere" of the book it evaporated just like life--elusive and fleeting.
Verse 24 says: "Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound--who can discover it?" (Eccle 7:24) These last two verses are a hinge between the preceding and following sections. The "all this" of verse 23 probably refers to the preceding sections hearkening all the way back to 1:12-18. Verse 24 is in some ways a parallelism with verse 23. The answer to the rhetorical question is given in verse 23 He can't find it and no one else will either.
These verses certainly present for us who struggle with addiction and compulsivity a tempered, and balanced frame of reference. Righteousness is never sure to bring prosperity or just treatment. Wisdom is not sufficient to ward off the inequities of life, even though it can be very powerful. The search for wisdom is never ending. In the midst of this fleeting, vaporous life it would be easy to suspend the search. The ramifications for recovery are great here. When dealing with addiction one must understand that we don't live life like other people. Rather than being omniscient and omnipotent, capable of wielding the world to our desires we understand that we are deficient in seeing the world as it is. Thus we of all people need what the author says he has searched out "with wisdom" and it is a never-ending search. Obtaining the all-important ability to live "strategically." We do not live in addiction and compulsivity but in recovery.
His points here concerning speech and cursing others is to the point. As addicts and compulsive people we can find almost anything and everything that we can disagree with to keep the walls impenetrable. We may have made statements such as "I don't see anyone here working on their stuff." Or perhaps, "They are all a bunch of hypocrites." Or how about "I'm not that bad!" These are all statements that reflect more on us than on those we are critiquing.
The recovery process will look different for each one who sets his mind and will to the task. Each one will have different things that must be assailed and conquered as he goes through it. Let us embrace their journey without judging.
Our time is up for today. I enjoy writing this blog. I hope that those who read it will benefit in some way. So until next week: "keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it!
The context of these verses especially through verse 22 have to do with the limitations of wisdom and righteousness. Verse 19 says: "Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city." (Eccle 7:19) Pretty heady stuff huh? Wisdom has its advantages. Perhaps wisdom will work where righteousness won't. Strategic living certainly can provide the self counsel that can outthink ten rulers. Probably a hyperbole here. the number ten is used to make a point not be a direct numerical reference.
However verse 20 states: " There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." (Eccle 7:20) Wisdom is needed because righteousness is never perfect. No one attains to perfection. This hearkens back to verses 16-17. Here the context will talk about the lack of righteousness in speech. Compare James 3:2 here. Interestingly enough he still calls him a righteous man even though he sins. The balancing of truth here where he presents a strong statement in the form of a Proverb and comes back in the following line and presents an alternate perspective is characteristic of the writer in this book.
Verse 21-22 says: "Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you--for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others" (Eccle 7:21-22) This is the application of the observation that the righteous never sin. Solomon is very penetrating here. He touches each one of us with this revealing statement. We tend to be judge and jury sometimes when people take a different point of view of do things that don't fit our viewpoint. I like the perspective caught in this quotation: "Seek to understand then be understood." Our words many times reveal who we are and what we think: Of ourselves of others and the world around us.
Verse 23 states: "All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"--but this was beyond me." (Eccle 7:23) The "quest" motif arises here again. Solomon says that he has gone about gaining wisdom from wisdom's point of view, strategic living so to speak. This verse speaks of a focused decidedly determined search. But in the "atmosphere" of the book it evaporated just like life--elusive and fleeting.
Verse 24 says: "Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound--who can discover it?" (Eccle 7:24) These last two verses are a hinge between the preceding and following sections. The "all this" of verse 23 probably refers to the preceding sections hearkening all the way back to 1:12-18. Verse 24 is in some ways a parallelism with verse 23. The answer to the rhetorical question is given in verse 23 He can't find it and no one else will either.
These verses certainly present for us who struggle with addiction and compulsivity a tempered, and balanced frame of reference. Righteousness is never sure to bring prosperity or just treatment. Wisdom is not sufficient to ward off the inequities of life, even though it can be very powerful. The search for wisdom is never ending. In the midst of this fleeting, vaporous life it would be easy to suspend the search. The ramifications for recovery are great here. When dealing with addiction one must understand that we don't live life like other people. Rather than being omniscient and omnipotent, capable of wielding the world to our desires we understand that we are deficient in seeing the world as it is. Thus we of all people need what the author says he has searched out "with wisdom" and it is a never-ending search. Obtaining the all-important ability to live "strategically." We do not live in addiction and compulsivity but in recovery.
His points here concerning speech and cursing others is to the point. As addicts and compulsive people we can find almost anything and everything that we can disagree with to keep the walls impenetrable. We may have made statements such as "I don't see anyone here working on their stuff." Or perhaps, "They are all a bunch of hypocrites." Or how about "I'm not that bad!" These are all statements that reflect more on us than on those we are critiquing.
The recovery process will look different for each one who sets his mind and will to the task. Each one will have different things that must be assailed and conquered as he goes through it. Let us embrace their journey without judging.
Our time is up for today. I enjoy writing this blog. I hope that those who read it will benefit in some way. So until next week: "keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it!
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