The Yin and the Yang of It

The Bible book of Ecclesiastes is a dark one.  My study Bible says it "emphasizes that life from the human perspective - without the grace of God - is empty and futile."  And the words that come to mind when I think of this chapter are "meaningless, meaningless!" for that is a phrase the author writes over and over again."

While looking for inspiration for today I decided to use a date verse, and so I googled Bible 9:7.  This is the first verse that popped up: "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do." - Ecclesiastes 9:7

NICE!  

Especially nice on a day when I am FINALLY heading out to spend some time with Jim, who I feel like I haven't seen much of this summer.  We are traveling north for a celebration at Grand Hotel where I know we will be enjoying good food and great wine.

But I never like to quote a verse without first looking at the context, so I opened my Bible to see what surrounded that verse.

The ones before it said: "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.  Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun." (Ecc. 9:5-6)

Wow - depressing.

And the ones after: "Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.  Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun - all your meaningless days.  For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun." (Ecc. 9:8-9)

Yep - my study Bible was right...this feels pretty horrible.  It is as if the author is saying nothing we do here matters, so we might as well enjoy ourselves - because in the end we're all dead...

But there was one other google result for "Bible 9:7" and it was in Isaiah: "Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord almighty will accomplish this."

Well, this sounds good - Great government.  Unending peace.  Everlasting justice and righteousness...

But - just like before - in order to get the full picture of what this verse means, you have to look at the ones around it.  Since Isaiah 9:7 marks the end of a segment - I look at Isaiah 9:6 and read this:  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

Now Isaiah was a prophet who lived about 700 years before Jesus, but Isaiah 9:6 prophesizes Him - the son from the line of David, who has been called each of those names.

This makes me smile.  Like a Yin and Yang, the two "Bible 9:7" verses show two very different perspectives.  The first, in Ecclesiastes, concludes there is no hope beyond this world, so you might as well enjoy yourself - because this is it.  The second, in Isaiah, introduces Jesus into the mix, and when it does, worlds like "unending" and "everlasting" get added to the story.

Jesus takes MEANINGLESS and gives MEANING.

He takes HOPELESSNESS and give HOPE.

He takes DARKNESS and gives LIGHT.

And He takes DEATH and gives LIFE.

What a great message!