September 3

Today's Reading

Part of the challenge (and the enjoyment) of Ecclesiastes is that Solomon keeps going back and forth between words of despair and words of great wisdom for living. We must sift through them and let them speak to us in the right way at the right time.

2 Corinthians. Today, in Chapter 6, Paul warns them against "partnership" with unbelievers. He isn't at all talking against building friendships with unbelievers. Instead, he is warning against a union with unbelievers in which we submit ourselves to their unbelief. The most common interpretation of this is marriage, but it can be more. In Chapter 7, he recalls the instruction found in 1 Corinthians 5 and rejoices that they followed what he had said.

Psalms. "5 God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring." I never noticed that verse before. God "ascended". I tend to think of God "descending", but the picture is of God, the God of Israel, ascending to His rightful throne: Lord of all the earth (and everything else).

Proverbs. I have seen (even among Christians) people who underpay their employees to keep more for themselves. I have heard the justifications. I don't think the "reasons" stand up before God.

What have you noticed?