Anthem Hayden

This week’s passage contains the most well-known verses of the entire book. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...” and “He has put eternity into man's heart...” There is undeniable truth and beauty in
the Preacher’s brief moments of lucidity. However, Solomon was not celebrating these things, quite the opposite. Living life “under the sun,” Solomon felt oppressed by the cycles of life. He was frustrated that God’s plans, eternity, and the afterlife were mysteries that his great wisdom alone could not solve. Solomon ends this passage by concluding that humans are of no more consequence than animals, and that everything remains vanity. Ecclesiastes 3 is a wonderful example that the context of scripture matters greatly.

This week we covered Ecclesiastes chapter 2. In the first eleven verses Solomon boasts of his many pursuits, pleasures, and accomplishments. However, his braggadocious attitude does not last for long. In the remaining verses of chapter 2, we hear from a very depressed and disillusioned man. What was the point of all his striving? What did he gain from all his toil? Nothing but a clearer understanding that “life under the sun” cannot satisfy the deep longings within the human soul.

This week we continued to examine Ecclesiastes 1. In this chapter, the “Preacher” rails against the supposed meaninglessness of God’s creation. Solomon’s godless approach soured his perspective; rather than seeing order and beauty in the
cycles and rhythms of our world, all he could perceive was weariness and vanity. Solomon then turned his sights upon wisdom and knowledge. Solomon refused to allow God into the equation, seeking only wisdom “under heaven.” Unsurprisingly, he found even knowledge and wisdom to be unsatisfactory replacements for the Almighty.

This week began our study of the fascinating book of Ecclesiastes. Its author, King Solomon, began his life loving God and walking in His ways. He was famously granted wisdom by the Lord and became a great king of Israel. Sadly, Solomon’s
heart was eventually led astray by the things of this world. Written by King Solomon in the later chapters of his life, this book reveals the desperate state in which he found himself.

The Advent theme this week is Joy! Unlike happiness, which is circumstantial, biblical joy goes much deeper than agreeable circumstances and pleasant emotions. Biblical joy is rooted in who God is and what He does for us. We explored Mary’s joyful song of praise in Luke 1, as well as the surprisingly joyful chapter of Isaiah 35.

During this second week of Advent we celebrate Jesus, our Prince of Peace. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, is derived from the root verb shalam,
meaning "to be complete" or "to be sound." The Hebrew concept of peace is much richer than the mere absence of conflict. It can be translated as completeness, well-being, safety, or prosperity. In contrast to the ever-elusive peace offered by the world, Jesus came so that we might know true and abiding peace.

To begin the 2024 Advent season, we examined the vital role that hope plays in the life of believers. In stark contrast to worldly hope, which is focused on what an individual may be able to accomplish, biblical hope is rooted in the person and power of God, for whom all things are possible.