Year: 2022

25/02/2022

引言:

一位菊弟兄的见证，平安稳妥的时候不爱聚会，一个逼迫来临时不是所有的人都可以聚会，只有少部分工人可以秘密聚会，这位弟兄心中产生特别的渴望想聚会，每天跪在雪地祷告2-3个小时，教会领袖知道了他的真诚，最后允许他聚会，他也成为了教会讲道工人。

一、渴想神的居所（V1-4）

1.渴想你的院宇（V2）

2.渴想你的祭坛（V3）

二、归回者的福分（V5-9）

1.经患难见神面（V5-6）

2.患难中的盾牌（V9）

三、服侍者的价值（V10-12）

1.得住神的院宇（V10）

2.得享神的荣耀（V11）

总结：

神说饥渴慕义的人有福了，在现今丰富安逸的社会，还有那些是你渴想的呢？
神要加力量给心中想往锡安大道的，这人便为有福。我们今天属灵的目标是什么？

24/02/2022

信息大纲

引言：

信息大纲

引言：什么是人生最重要的事？

一、把握时机趁年少（传12:1-4）

1.把握机会认识主（V1-2）

2.万物都有衰竭时（V3-4）

二、盖棺定论归永处（传12:5-8）

1.担心害怕生之难（V5-6）

2.灵魂面对创造主（V7-8）

三、正直言语敬畏神（传12:9-14）

1.口出恩言真理话（V9-11）

2.人之本分遵从神（V12-14）

总结：人生最重要的是敬畏神

离了神，人生只有空白。就是虚空的虚空！

Ecclesiastes 12: Remembering the Lord who made you
GK611 Morning Devotion
24/02/2022
Speaker: Rev David Tan

Sermon Outline

Introduction: What is the most important thing in life?

1.Seize the opportunity while you are young (V1-4)

(1) Seize the opportunity to know the Lord (V1-2)

(2) All things have a time to prostrate (V3-4)

2.Eternal Definitive Conclusion of a Person

(1) Worry and Fear of the Difficulties of Life (V5-6)

(2) The soul faces the Creator (V7-8)

3. Fear God with Upright Speech (V9-14)

(1) Words of blessings, words of truth

(2) Man’s duty is to obey God (V12-14)

Conclusion: The most important thing in life is the fear of God

Apart from God, life is only vanity. It is the emptiness of emptiness!

23/02/2022

信息大纲

引言：

在这章经文，传道者指出要如何面对虚空之下的日子，过智慧的人生!

一、乐善好施 终有回报 (V1-2)

二、及时行事 凡事交托 (V3-6)

三、快乐生活 居安思危 (V7-8)

四、享受人生 对付生命 (V9-10)

总结：

智慧的人生是常存敬畏神的心，常存敬畏神的心，待人乐善好施对，对神及时回应，活出神美好的旨意，享受神所赐的人生和永恒的盼望!

Ecclesiastes 11: A Life Of Wisdom

GK611 Morning Devotion

23/02/2022

Speaker: IP Daniel Kew + Rev David Tan

Sermon Outline

Introduction:

In this chapter of Scripture, the preacher points out how to face the days under the void and live a wise life!

1. Goodness is rewarded in the end (V1-2)

2. Act promptly and entrust all things (V3-6)

3. Live a happy life and be alert of danger (V7-8)

4. Enjoy life and deal with life (V9-10)

Conclusion:

A wise life is one that always has the fear of God, always has the fear of God, treats people with kindness and goodness, responds to God in time, lives God’s good will, and enjoys the life and eternal hope that God gives!

22/02/2022

引言：

在之前传道书的内容里面我们看到，智慧人和愚昧人都会有人生类似的遭遇。甚至所罗门还表达，智慧人也好，愚昧人也好，都难逃死亡的结局。读了之前的经文，是不是真的就是说就算有智慧也没有什么益处呢？其实不是，有智慧还是好的，而且我们都要做脱离愚昧的智慧人。

一、选择智慧(V1-3)

智慧还是好的，使人蒙福的，所以人还是要选择智慧，而不是选择愚昧。

二、谦卑柔和(V4)

面对权柄发怒的时刻，无论这是否是因为我们做错了什么事而导致权柄者生气，我们都当选择去用谦卑柔和的生命去面对。不要因为一时被冒犯就起来与权柄者冲突，甚至就是离开本位，最后其实这是得不偿失的。反过来，如果我们能够冷静沉着地去面对，好好地和权柄沟通，让权柄消除怒气，有错误的话就立即承认，而不要因为一时冲动就离开自己的岗位。这才是对的选择。相处时间长了，权柄者必会因我们成熟的生命而奖赏和提升我们。基督徒尤其需要把这份智慧应用在职场中。

三、摆对位置(V5-7)

权柄者把人放错位置，就如经文所提到的例子：愚昧人和仆人在高位，富足人和王子在低位，这些位置都是与他们的身份不相宜的。人有智慧还是很好的，因为能够帮助懂得把人放在对的位置，从而发挥人在对的位置上那对的功用。

四、不要害人(V8-9)

这里我们无法完全了解当时一些的社会背景，但总体意思就是不要去害人。属世的智慧教导我们透过一些手段去侵占别人的东西，但是属神的智慧告诫我们不要去害人，要公平公义地去对待别人。

五、不用蛮力(V10)

磨刀不误砍柴工，但是很常我们人做东西习惯了，自然也就按着原来的方式一直做，甚至刀已经钝了，也不自知，结果就做得很辛苦。所以我们需要智慧，懂得要去常常磨刀，再去处理我们人生中大大小小的事务。

六、管理风险(V11)

行法术的人是应该控制好蛇的，但是如果还没行法术之前就被蛇所咬，那认就中毒了，甚至会给他带来生命的危险。古代所流传下来的这种用法术玩弄蛇的把戏，通常都会用毒蛇，来显明法术的高明。当然这里的经文不是告诉我们基督徒可以去操练用巫术来控制蛇的伎俩，而是告诉我们要管理风险，这是我们人应该去管理的职责，我们不可以把许多人自己当尽的责任说都交托给神，就不去管理。当然另一方面，面对许多人生不可控的因素，我们要学会交托给神，不要自己去担那些担子。

七、口出恩言(V12-14)

我们的话语是带着能力的，所以我们要求神帮助我们说出恩言，说出智慧的话语。很常愚昧人多言，甚至有一些还自以为有智慧，就常常给别人出主意，以为自己对许多事情都了如指掌，但其实他连自己今后的发展会怎样都不知道的，他死后会怎样他更是无从得知。所以我们应该学习智慧人，多听少说，口出恩言。

八、先思后行(V15)

上面我们看到愚昧人一味地盲干，这里讲到愚昧人因为劳碌盲干而困乏，而这也是因为愚昧人不去做准备而盲干所导致的。这里提醒我们要虚心地向别人来请教，不要不懂装懂，导致自己走许多的歪路，才到达本来可以更快速到达的目的地。

九、不要荒宴(V16-17)

对于一个国家也好，一个组织也好，如果里面的领袖像孩童那样无知，导致他下一线的领袖一味地追求享乐和荒宴，甚至他们就是在本来最应该辛勤做工的早晨这样去放纵享乐，那么这个国，这个组织就有祸了。反过来，如果一个国家或者组织的领袖是个有智慧的贵胄之子，他带领着下一线的领袖只是在适当的时间才有所享乐，为的是让团队在辛苦的工作后能够重新得力，那么这个懂得劳逸结合的国家或者组织就是有福的。

十、不要懒惰(V18)

懒惰导致人生会面对许多的破口，因为破口发生了以后并没有及时地修补。

十一、抓对目的(V19)

宴席的摆设是为了让出席的人都一起享受主人家的快乐，喝酒是为了让人快活，用钱也是为了能够去处理许多的事务。抓住许多事情的根本目的是重要的。否则的话，人会因为搞不清楚事情的根本目的而做出错误的反应。就如经文的例子：人容易因为宴席上的一些问题，而失去快乐；人会因为酗酒、醉酒而带来麻烦；人会因为错误管理金钱，而带来许多的愁苦。

十二、不要论断(V20)

不要论断有财有势的人，尤其不要因为嫉妒而去咒诅他们。因为论断咒诅的话，终会传到当事人的耳中。所以我们要先从心出发，除去我们心中一切的嫉妒和不平，然后我们才能够保守我们口中所说的话。

总结：

智慧还是好的，因为智慧能保守我们脱离人生许多不必要的麻烦，从而得着神所要应许给我们的福分。

尤其选择智慧，能够保守我们说对的话，做对的事，使得我们有良好的人际关系，与人和睦；选择智慧，也能够让我们懂得如何做好领袖，带领好团队和整个的组织；还有选择智慧，更是能够让我们更高效地处理我们人生中的大小事，也懂得如何去规避风险，未雨绸缪，并从中明白事情的本质和目的。

Ecclesiastes 10: Be a Wise Person Who is Free from Foolishness

GK611 Morning Devotion

22/2/2022

Speaker: IP Moses Ou + Rev David Tan

Introduction:

In the previous book of Ecclesiastes we saw that both the wise and the foolish will have similar encounters in life. Solomon even expressed that both the wise and the foolish will not escape the end of death. After reading the previous verses, does it really mean that there is no benefit even if one is wise? No, it is good to have wisdom, and we all need to be wise people who are free from foolishness.

1. Choose Wisdom (V1-3)

Wisdom is still good and blessed, so one must still choose wisdom rather than foolishness.

2. Humility and Gentleness (V4)

When we face the moment of anger of the authority, whether it is because we have done something wrong that the authority is angry, we should choose to face it with a life of humility and gentleness. Don’t get up in conflict with the authority just because you are offended, or even leave your position, which in the end is not worth the loss. On the contrary, if we can face it calmly and composedly, communicate with the authority well, let the authority remove the anger, and admit the mistake immediately, rather than leaving our position just because of the impulse. This is the right choice. As we spend time together, the authority will reward and promote us for our mature lives. Christians especially need to apply this wisdom in the workplace.

3. Placing People in the Right Position (V5-7)

Those in authority put people in the wrong position, as in the examples mentioned in the scriptures: fools and servants in high places, and rich people and princes in low places, which are inappropriate to their status. It is still good for people to have wisdom, because it helps to know how to put people in the right position, so that they can perform that right function of being in the right position.

4. Do not Harm People (V8-9)

Here we cannot fully understand some of the social context of the time, but the general meaning is not to do harm to others. Worldly wisdom teaches us to take what others have by some means, but Godly wisdom admonishes us not to harm others, but to treat them fairly and righteously.

5. Without Brute Force (V10)

Sharpening the knife is not a mistake, but very often we are used to doing things, and naturally we keep doing them in the original way, even if the knife has been blunt, but also do not know, the result is very hard to do. So we need wisdom to know how to sharpen the knife often, and then to deal with the small and large matters in our life.

6. Managing Risks (V11)

The person who performs the spell is supposed to control the snake, but if he is bitten by the snake before he performs the spell, then the recognition will be poisoned, and it will even bring him a risk to his life. In the ancient times, the trick of playing with snakes by magic is usually done with poisonous snakes to show the skill of magic. Of course the scripture here is not telling us that Christians can practice sorcery to control snakes, but rather that we are to manage risks, which is our duty as human beings to manage, and we are not to leave many of our own responsibilities that we say we should do to God, and not to manage them. On the other hand, of course, in the face of the many uncontrollable factors of life, we must learn to entrust them to God and not to take on those burdens ourselves.

7. The Mouth Speaks Graciously (V12-14)

Our words come with power, so we ask God to help us speak words of blessings, words of wisdom. Very often foolish people talk a lot, and some even think they are wise, so they often give ideas to others, thinking they know everything about many things, but in fact he does not even know what will happen to him in the future, and he has no way to know what will happen after he dies. So we should learn from wise people, listen more and speak less, and speak with grace.

8. Think before you act (V15)

We saw above that the foolish people work blindly, and here it is said that the foolish people are tired because they toil and work blindly, and this is also caused by the foolish people who do not prepare but work blindly. Here we are reminded to humbly ask others for advice and not to pretend to understand, which leads us to take many wrong paths before we reach the destination that could have been reached more quickly.

9. Do not feast in desolation (V16-17)

If the leader of a nation or an organization is as ignorant as a child and leads the leaders of the next line to pursue pleasure and feasting, even in the morning when they should be working hard, then woe to the nation and the organization. On the contrary, if the leader of a nation or organization is a wise and noble son, who leads the leaders of the next line to enjoy themselves only at the right time, so that the team can regain its strength after hard work, then the nation or organization that knows how to combine work and rest is blessed.

10. Do Not be Lazy (V18)

Laziness leads to life will face a lot of breaks, because after the break occurred and did not repair in time.

11. Catching the Right Purpose (V19)

The feast is set up so that those who attend can all enjoy the joy of the host family together, the drinking is for pleasure, and the money is used to be able to go about many affairs. It is important to grasp the fundamental purpose of many things. Otherwise, people will react wrongly because they are confused about the fundamental purpose of things. As in the example of the scripture: people are prone to lose their happiness because of some problems at the banquet; people will bring trouble because of alcoholism and drunkenness; people will bring many sorrows because of wrong management of money.

12. Do not judge (V20)

Do not judge those who are rich and powerful, and especially do not curse them out of envy. For the words of judgment and curse will eventually reach the ears of the person concerned. Therefore, we must first remove all jealousy and injustice from our hearts, and then we will be able to keep the words that come out of our mouths.

Conclusion:

Wisdom is still good because it can keep us out of many unnecessary troubles in life, so that we can receive the blessings that God has promised us.

In particular, choosing wisdom can keep us from saying the right things and doing the right things, so that we can have good interpersonal relationships and be in harmony with others; choosing wisdom can also help us know how to be good leaders and lead our team and the whole organization; and choosing wisdom can help us handle the big and small things in our life more efficiently, and know how to avoid risks, plan ahead, and understand the nature and purpose of things from it.

18/02/2022

引言：

传道书第9章指出义人和智慧人的作为，都在神的手中,神依然掌权。我们就是把握时机，回应神行有永恒意义的事。

一、遭遇顺逆，知神作为（v1-3）

其实顺境、逆境在神看来都是一样的。分别只是我们对这些事的回应。因此，倘若神让我们遭遇困境，是为叫我们谦卑，我们要感谢神; 若给我们经历顺境，我们也不用太高兴。因为有时候顺境的考验更大，所以我们不用羡慕那些生活在安逸或处在顺境中的人。

二、短暂人生，珍惜生命（v4-6）

「活着的人知道必死；死了的人毫无所知」，「知道必死」的人比「毫无所知」的人更有指望，人若不「知道必死」，就和死人无异。「他们的爱，他们的恨，他们的嫉妒」（6a），他们在日光之下所热衷的，其实只是死人的事，结果就是「都消灭了」（6a）。

所以，人只要活着就还有指望，死了的人完全没有指望。因此，我们要成为有智慧的人，更珍惜神赐给我们的生命，存感恩的心，活在神的面前，享受神赐给人的年日。

三、善用虚空，充实享受（v7-10）

传道者想到人人都有一死，将来又不确定，就劝人当珍惜和享受神所赐的生命。他可能是在批评那些为了积聚钱财，而不肯享受今生快乐的人。这是乎也是在描述现今正陷于激烈竞争中的现代人，“你们所赚取的财富究竟有什么价值呢？”

所以，现在我们应当懂得在神得恩典下过日子，享受神的一切赏赐。

四、时机均在，神的手中（v11-12）

从这里我们也会发现，无论是祷告、圣洁、争战等都不一定能使我们得胜，因为在我们所面对的世界中，变数非常多，并没有一个绝对的关键，也显出惟有神决定胜败，所以时机非常重要。因此，我们应当抓紧时机快活度日、尽力去做，知足喜乐地做成神在我们身上所命定的旨意。

五、顺从智慧，搭救全城（v13-18）

人的悲剧不是缺乏智慧，而是不肯顺从智慧，结果成事不足、败事有余。虽然人在理论上都知道「宁可在安静之中听智慧人的言语，不听掌权者在愚昧人中的喊声」（17节），也知道「智慧胜过打仗的兵器」（18a），但实际上却是「一个罪人」（18b）就可以「败坏许多善事」（18b），摧毁智慧所经营的成果。因此，智慧在日光之下不但能力有限，而且非常的脆弱。

总结：

人的一生很短暂，但人几乎没有花过任何时间去照顾那永存不朽坏的灵魂! 圣经记载摩西的一个祈祷：神啊！求你指教我们怎样数算自己的日子，好叫我们得着智慧的心。这智慧的心，也是帮助我们把握时机，去做有永恒价值的事。

Ecclesiastes 9: God Is Still In Charge, Seize The Moment

GK611 Morning Devotion
18/2/2022
Speaker: IP Stella Ling + Rev David Tan

Introduction:

Ecclesiastes 9 states that the works of the righteous and the wise are in God’s hands and that God is still in control. We are the ones who seize the moment and respond to God to do what has eternal significance.

1. Encountering Good Times and Bad Times, Knowing God’s Action (v1-3)

In fact, good times and bad times are all the same to God. The difference is only our response to these things. Therefore, if God allows us to experience adversity in order to humble us, we should give thanks to Him; if He gives us good times, we should not be too happy. Because sometimes the good times are more testing, we do not need to envy those who live in comfort or in the good times.

2. Cherish the Short Life (v4-6)

“For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing,”, he who “know that they will die” has more hope than he who “knows nothing”; if he does not “know that they will die”, he is no different from the dead. “Also their love, their hatred, and their envy” (6a), which they are passionate about under the sun, are in fact only the things of the dead, and the result is that they “have now perished” (6a).

Therefore, there is hope for man as long as he lives, and there is no hope at all for those who are dead. Therefore, we need to become people with wisdom, cherish even more the life God has given us, live with gratitude, live before God and enjoy the years God has given to man.

3. Make the Best Use of Vanity and Enjoy It to the Fullest (v7-10)

The preacher, thinking that all people will die once, and that the future is uncertain, exhorts people to cherish and enjoy the life God has given them. He may be criticizing those who refuse to enjoy the pleasures of this life in order to accumulate money. This is almost as much a description of modern people who are caught in fierce competition nowadays as, “What is the value of the wealth you have earned?”

Therefore, now we should know how to live our lives under God’s grace and enjoy all of God’s rewards.

4. The Timing is All in God’s Hands (v11-12)

From here we also find that neither prayer, holiness, nor warfare will necessarily lead us to victory, because in the world we face, there are so many variables, and there is no absolute key, and it also shows that only God decides victory or defeat, so timing is very important. Therefore, we should seize the opportunity to live our lives, do our best, and do God’s will in us with contentment and joy.

5. Obeying Wisdom and Saving the Whole City (v13-18)

The tragedy of man is not a lack of wisdom, but a refusal to obey wisdom, and as a result, he is not good enough to do anything, but bad enough to do everything. Although people know in theory that “Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.” (v17) and that “wisdom is better than weapons of war” (18a), but in fact “one sinner” (18b) can “destroy much good” (18b) and destroy the fruits of wisdom’s work. Thus, wisdom is not only limited in its power under the sun, but also very weak.

Conclusion：

Man’s life is short, but man hardly ever spends any time taking care of the spirit that lives forever and never breaks! The Bible records a prayer of Moses: So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. This heart of wisdom is the same heart that helps us seize the time to do things of eternal value.

17/02/2022

引言：人生多变，不如人愿！世事变幻，出人意料！

一、智慧人的转化（V1-5）

人若靠神、敬畏神，有神的智慧，我们就可以不断经历转化，以致活出不一样的人生。

1.容貌气色会变好（V1）

8:1 谁如智慧人呢？谁知道事情的解释呢？人的智慧使他的脸发光，并使他脸上的暴气改变。

智慧人是指敬畏神且有神真理的人。这人最大的特点就是‘知道事情的解释’。脸能发光就是有神的真理光照，有神的法则和眼光看事情，所以最终就会容光焕发不是吗？脸上有暴怒的气色当然是因为被刺激到、被人中伤了？但是有真理的智慧人就可以有正向变化！

现实人生的每时每刻不都是在做这事吗？他人做错令自己生气；以牙还牙引发反击。一来一往两败俱伤，怎么解释自己的遭遇呢？“因为对方先错，才惹我犯错，我的犯错又惹对方更错。”再不然就是另一种解释：“我都没错，对方还无理取闹，我是忍无可忍才还以颜色。”最终又是神儿女惨败，魔鬼得胜。因为错误解释所遭遇的事！

2.遵守掌权者命令（V2-5）

8:2 我劝你遵守王的命令，既指　神起誓，理当如此。（曾经立誓表明效忠，或像婚姻立誓表明钟爱一生）
8:3 不要急躁离开王的面前，不要固执行恶，因为他凡事都随自己的心意而行。
8:4 王的话本有权力，谁敢问他说：你作什么呢？
8:5 凡遵守命令的，必不经历祸患，智慧人的心，能辨明时候和定理（原文作“审判”。下节同）。（能明白时机和判断）

王有权柄，不但是因为他是众人的王，更因为他是神的受膏者。他有主权，可以凭己意做事。人要怎么与王互动呢？既然我们是活在神所设立的权柄之下，服从权柄当然就是服从神的真理原则。按着真理的原则做事，最终必能免于祸患，得蒙保护与祝福。

遵命是一种选择，是智慧人的蒙福的生活态度。当人了解人在世上的身份与定位，且愿意按照合乎真理的原则做事时，最终必蒙神赐福。在婚姻、家庭、职场、社会等关系上都是一样的原则。

智慧人的转化，其实就是懂得怎么用神的眼光和真理去解读事情，以致用神的智慧去回应所遭遇的事。

二、是谁掌控万事（V6-10）

1.祸患重压也有定时（V6-7）
8:6 各样事务成就，都有时候和定理，因为人的苦难重压在他身上。
（新译本：各样事务成就，都有合宜的时机和定局，尽管人的灾祸重压在自己身上。）
8:7 他不知道将来的事，因为将来如何，谁能告诉他呢？

原来神允许苦难、灾祸、重担压在一个人身上都有其合宜的时机与目的。换句话说，不是偶然的受苦，无辜和无故的被欺压，遭灾难原来也有神在冥冥之中的目的。为了在人生的历练中成就神的最终目的。

【炼我愈精】这首诗歌就是苦难与熬炼的最佳注解：
祢若不压橄榄成渣，它就不能成油；
祢若不投葡萄入醡，它就不能变成酒；
祢若不炼哪哒成膏，它就不流芬芳；
主，我这人是否也要受祢许可的创伤？

每次的打击，都是真利益；如果祢收去的东西，祢以自己来代替。

2.生死有时人能怎样（V8-10）

8:8 无人有权力掌管生命，将生命留住，也无人有权力掌管死期。这场争战，无人能免，邪恶也不能救那好行邪恶的人。
8:9 这一切我都见过，也专心查考日光之下所作的一切事。有时这人管辖那人，令人受害。
8:10 我见恶人埋葬，归入坟墓；又见行正直事的离开圣地，在城中被人忘记。这也是虚空。

人常说，我的生命我自己管；这话表面上是没有错，但事实上那也只是局部的掌管。因为世事变幻无常，生命的高低起伏，朝夕万变，变幻无常，岂是人所能盘算计划的吗？正如《雅各书 4:13-14》 你们说：“今天或明天，我们要到某城去，在那里住一年，作生意赚钱。”其实明天怎样，你们并不知道。你们的生命是甚么呢？你们本来是过眼云烟，转瞬之间就消逝了。

日光之下所见结局好像大同小异，好人坏人都会死，而且死后不是剩下一瓶骨灰，也顶多就是一个棺材的空间，木材好一点、差一点又怎样呢？价值一千块或一万块，焚烧或埋葬的结果看来都是一样的。到底谁才是真正掌管灵魂生命的主宰呢？有神的人才有答案，无神之人只能面对沉沦。

到底是谁掌管明天？我知谁掌管明天！

三、终极审判在神（V11-17）

1.恶人能逍遥法外？（V11-12a）

8:11 因为断定罪名，不立刻施刑，所以世人满心作恶。
8:12a 罪人虽然作恶百次，倒享长久的年日。

为什么已经定罪的犯人却迟迟都没有给予刑罚，以致世人的心见后越发充满作恶的意图。而且现实人生常会看到恶人作恶多端，但是却长命百岁？似乎神没有看见吗？绝对不是，而是神的怜悯在等候人向他传福音，在等他悔改，否则他的痛苦将是永远沉沦。因为神是终极审判的神！

2.敬畏神终究得福！（V12b-17）

8:12b 然而我准知道，敬畏　神的，就是在他面前敬畏的人，终久必得福乐。
8:13 恶人却不得福乐，也不得长久的年日；这年日好像影儿，因他不敬畏　神。
8:14 世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人所遭遇的，反照恶人所行的；又有恶人所遭遇的，反照义人所行的。我说，这也是虚空。
8:15 我就称赞快乐，原来人在日光之下，莫强如吃喝快乐，因为他在日光之下，　神赐他一生的年日，要从劳碌中时常享受所得的。
8:16 我专心求智慧，要看世上所作的事。（有昼夜不睡觉，不合眼的。）
8:17 我就看明　神一切的作为，知道人查不出日光之下所作的事；任凭他费多少力寻查，都查不出来，就是智慧人虽想知道，也是查不出来。

敬畏神的人最终必享福乐，这正是所谓“苦尽甘来”。V14说到义人反而面对恶人的遭遇，而恶人反而得到好结果？怎么会是这样呢？其实看戏不都是这样吗？恶人想尽荣华富贵、奢华宴乐，义人却被诬告陷害，受苦连连。电影总是到了最后关头才反败为胜，含冤得血。现实人生可能这样，也可能不是。因为大结局不在地上，大结局是在人死之后；这就是昨天的经文所说的信息。（昨天晨祷我没时间补充第7章的领受，就让我以上一章的看见作为今天的总结：）

总结：后事比现实更现实！

《传 7:1 》名誉强如美好的膏油；人死的日子胜过人生的日子。
《传7:8》说：“ 事情的终局强如事情的起头…。”
《传 6:12》 “…谁能告诉人他死后在日光之下会发生甚么事呢？” （新译本）

基督徒对谈论死亡的事情无需避忌，毕竟那是人生最荣耀和期待的美事。所以传道者说“死的日子胜过生的日子。”因为人生中总有许多心酸流泪的日子、辛辣难受的日子、苦不堪言的日子、偶尔尝到一点甜头却转眼过去了。人生的酸甜苦辣不正是如此吗？对于得着永生应许的基督徒而言，最大的盼望就是得享与神同在的永生。那是永无止境的无比福乐，远非地上的快乐所能相比。因此，经历过人生一切享受的所罗门得了如此结论：人生的终局比起头更强、更好。

上星期是师母的五哥去世一周年的纪念日，从前与五哥同住的六哥把五哥的档案照片制作成一个福音短片，让家人深深反省人生。五哥留下来的手机，还有一切属于他的私人物品通通毫无隐藏的被仔细翻查过。人的后事比人生现实中的事更现实，没有任何秘密是藏得住的，都得任由他人彻底搜查。感谢主，明人不做暗事，有主的光明人生就得尊荣，否则就丑态毕露。面对现实原来不是眼前的一口气或面子问题，原来是在神面前的本相是什么才最重要。

Ecclesiastes 8: Seeing Life in the Light of God’s Wisdom
GK611 Morning Devotion
17/02/2022
Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction: Life is fickle and unpredictable! The world changes in unexpected ways!

1. Changes in the wise man (V1-5)

(1) The appearance will become better (V1)

A wise man is a man who fears God and has His truth. The greatest characteristic of this person is that he ‘knows the explanation of things’. A face that shines is one that has the light of God’s truth, and has God’s law and vision to see things, so eventually it will look radiant, won’t it? Surely the face has an angry look on it because it has been irritated and vilified? But a wise person with the truth can have positive changes!

Isn’t that what we do every moment of our lives? Others do wrong to make you angry; an eye for an eye triggers a counterattack. How can one explain what happens to oneself when one loses both ways? “Because the other person was wrong first, it made me wrong, and my mistake made the other person more wrong.” Or else there is another explanation: “I was right, but the other side was unreasonable, and I could not stand it any longer before I returned the favor.” Again, in the end, the child of God fails miserably and the devil wins. What happened because of the wrong interpretation!

(2) Obey the orders of those in power (V2-5)

The king has authority, not only because he is the king of all people, but also because he is the anointed one of God. He is sovereign and can do things of his own accord. How are people to interact with the king? Since we live under the authority established by God, obedience to authority is, of course, obedience to the principles of God’s truth. By working according to the principles of truth, we will ultimately be protected and blessed from evil.

2. Who is in Control of All Things (V6-10)

(1) There is a time for the weight of trouble (V6-7)

It turns out that God allows suffering, calamities, and burdens to be pressed upon a person at the right time and for the right purpose. In other words, it is not accidental suffering, innocent and unwarranted oppression, or calamity that has a purpose from God in the dark. In order to fulfill God’s ultimate purpose in the experience of life.

(2) What happens to people in life and death (V8-10)

People often say, “I am in charge of my own life. For the world is unpredictable, and the highs and lows of life are unpredictable, and there are many changes, and the vagaries of life are unpredictable, and it is not for man to plan? As you say in James 4:13-14, “Today or tomorrow we will go to a certain city and live there for a year, doing business and making money.” But you do not know what tomorrow will be. What is your life? You were just a passing cloud, fading away in a moment.

What you see in the light of day seems to be the same, good people and bad people will die, and after death is not left with a bottle of ashes, or at most a coffin space, the wood is better or worse, so what? A thousand pieces or ten thousand pieces, burned or buried seems to be the same result. Who is the real master of the soul’s life? Only those who have God have the answer; those who have no God can only face sinking.

3. The ultimate judgment is with God (V11-17)

(1) Can the wicked get away with it? (V11-12a)

Why is it that the condemned are not punished with delay, so that the hearts of the world become more and more full of evil intentions when they see it? Moreover, in reality, we often see wicked people who do a lot of evil, but live a long life? Does it seem that God does not see them? Absolutely not, but the mercy of God is waiting for man to preach the gospel to him, waiting for him to repent, otherwise his suffering would be eternal sinking. For God is the God of ultimate judgment!

(2) The fear of God is blessed in the end! (V12b-17)

V14 says that the righteous face what happens to the wicked, but the wicked get good results? How can this be so? Isn’t that how it is in a play? The wicked want to have all the glory and luxury, feasting, but the righteous are falsely accused and framed, suffering a lot. The movie always comes to the last moment to turn defeat into victory and get blood for injustice. This may or may not be the case in real life. For the great end is not on earth, but after death; and this is the message of yesterday’s scripture.

Conclusion: The afterlife is more realistic than the reality!

Eccles. 7:1 ” Reputation is as strong as good anointing; the day of a man’s death is better than the day of his life.

Eccles. 7:8 says: ” The end of things is as strong as the beginning of things…”

Eccles. 6:12 “…who can tell what will happen to a man after his death in the daylight?” (NIV)

Christians need not shy away from talking about death, for it is, after all, the most glorious and anticipated beauty of life.

That’s why the preacher said, “The day of death is better than the day of life.” For in life there are many days of sorrow and tears, days of suffering, days of pain, and days when a little sweetness is occasionally tasted but passes away. Isn’t that what the sweet and sour of life is all about? For Christians who have received the promise of eternal life, the greatest hope is to enjoy eternal life with God. It is a never-ending and incomparable bliss, far beyond the pleasures of earth.

Therefore, Solomon, who had experienced all the pleasures of life, concluded that the end of life is stronger and better than the beginning.