Welcome to a year in the Bible with daily grace. The Bible tells one big story of

redemption and we want to spend five minutes every day journeying through the Bible from start to finish, and exploring how all of it

points to Jesus.

Hello, friends. Welcome to a year in the Bible with daily grace. My name is

Katie. Let's continue in the book of Ecclesiasties. Today we're studying chapters 7 through 9. We begin in chapter 7 with a poem that offers advice on grief and the pursuit of wisdom. In the first four verses, Solomon reminds us of the importance of numbering our days.

He says, better is the house of mourning than a house of feasting.

Why?

Well, grief puts life into perspective. We are reminded that our days are few and

they make them matter as we inch closer and closer to meeting our God. Solomon makes a point here that laughter and pleasure is sweet

momentarily but the wise fixed their eyes on eternity. Solomon continues musing on

wisdom and folly. He warns us against extortion, emphasizes the importance of

patience, and reminds us not to dwell in the past. These practical nuggets of wisdom, he says, are better than the wealth of silver.

He says something interesting to you.

Don't be excessively righteous and don't be excessively foolish.

He seems to emphasize living a life in a middle ground. Both ends of the spectrum

can distract a person from their need for a savior. Too much knowledge can lead us to

pride and too much foolishness can lead us to worldly indulgence.

And so Solomon reflects again in Chapter 7 that full righteousness, full wisdom, cannot be obtained by man but belongs to God alone.

And it especially can't be found in relationships on Earth.

King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

And he's telling us that he wasn't fulfilled

by any of these women.

...