{"id":10613,"date":"2021-12-04T20:55:13","date_gmt":"2021-12-05T01:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=10613"},"modified":"2021-12-03T08:11:34","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T13:11:34","slug":"daily-devotional-for-december-5-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=10613","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotional for December 5-11"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday
\nEcclesiastes 9:For I [a<\/a>]<\/sup>considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are<\/i> in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by<\/i> anything they see<\/i> before them. <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>All things come<\/i> alike to all:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

One event happens<\/i> to the righteous and the wicked;<\/span>
\nTo the [b<\/a>]<\/sup>good, the clean, and the unclean;<\/span>
\nTo him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.<\/span>
\nAs is the good, so is<\/i> the sinner;<\/span>
\nHe who takes an oath as he<\/i> who fears an oath.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

3\u00a0<\/sup>This is<\/i> an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens<\/i> to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is<\/i> in their hearts while they live, and after that they go<\/i> to the dead. <\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>For the living know that they will die;<\/span>
\nBut the dead know nothing,<\/span>
\nAnd they have no more reward,<\/span>
\nFor the memory of them is forgotten.<\/span>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;<\/span>
\nNevermore will they have a share<\/span>
\nIn anything done under the sun.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7\u00a0<\/sup>Go, eat your bread with joy,<\/span>
\nAnd drink your wine with a merry heart;<\/span>
\nFor God has already accepted your works.<\/span>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>Let your garments always be white,<\/span>
\nAnd let your head lack no oil.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

9\u00a0<\/sup>[c<\/a>]<\/sup>Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is<\/i> your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.<\/span><\/p>\n

10\u00a0<\/sup>Whatever your hand finds to do, do it<\/i> with your might; for there is<\/i> no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n

9:1 There are two ways to go through life. Those righteous and wise are in the hand of God; unregenerate man is on his own.
\n9:4 The living dog is an image of the Gentile believers (Mt 15:26, 27), and the dead lion images the nation of Israel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
\n*Sub Tuum Praesidium<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday
\nEcclesiastes 9:\u00a0<\/sup>I returned and saw under the sun that\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The race is<\/i> not to the swift,<\/span>
\nNor the battle to the strong,<\/span>
\nNor bread to the wise,<\/span>
\nNor riches to men of understanding,<\/span>
\nNor favor to men of skill;<\/span>
\nBut time and chance happen to them all.<\/span>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>For man also does not know his time:<\/span>
\nLike fish taken in a cruel net,<\/span>
\nLike birds caught in a snare,<\/span>
\nSo the sons of men are<\/i> snared in an evil time,<\/span>
\nWhen it falls suddenly upon them.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

13\u00a0<\/sup>This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed<\/i> great to me: <\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>There was<\/i> a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great [d<\/a>]<\/sup>snares around it. <\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.<\/span><\/p>\n

16\u00a0<\/sup>Then I said:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWisdom is<\/i> better than strength.<\/span>
\nNevertheless the poor man\u2019s wisdom is<\/i> despised,<\/span>
\nAnd his words are not heard.<\/span>
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>Words of the wise, spoken<\/i> quietly, should be<\/i> heard<\/span>
\nRather than the shout of a ruler of fools.<\/span>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>Wisdom is<\/i> better than weapons of war;<\/span>
\nBut one sinner destroys much good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n

9:11 The victory in both race and battle belongs to the faithful.
\n9:14 The little city is the world, and the great king is the devil who besieged it.<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tuesday
\nEcclesiastes 10:Dead[a<\/a>]<\/sup> flies [b<\/a>]<\/sup>putrefy the perfumer\u2019s ointment,<\/p>\n

\n

And cause it to give off a foul odor;<\/span>
\nSo does<\/i> a little folly to one respected for wisdom and<\/i> honor.<\/span>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>A wise man\u2019s heart is<\/i> at his right hand,<\/span>
\nBut a fool\u2019s heart at his left.<\/span>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>Even when a fool walks along the way,<\/span>
\nHe lacks wisdom,<\/span>
\nAnd he shows everyone that<\/i> he is<\/i> a fool.<\/span>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>If the spirit of the ruler rises against you,<\/span>
\nDo not leave your post;<\/span>
\nFor conciliation[c<\/a>]<\/sup> pacifies great offenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>There is an evil I have seen under the sun,<\/span>
\nAs an error proceeding from the ruler:<\/span>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>Folly is set in [d<\/a>]<\/sup>great dignity,<\/span>
\nWhile the rich sit in a lowly place.<\/span>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>I have seen servants on horses,<\/span>
\nWhile princes walk on the ground like servants.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8\u00a0<\/sup>He who digs a pit will fall into it,<\/span>
\nAnd whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.<\/span>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,<\/span>
\nAnd<\/i> he who splits wood may be endangered by it.<\/span>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>If the ax is dull,<\/span>
\nAnd one does not sharpen the edge,<\/span>
\nThen he must use more strength;<\/span>
\nBut wisdom [e<\/a>]<\/sup>brings success.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

11\u00a0<\/sup>A serpent may bite when it is<\/i> not charmed;<\/span>
\nThe [f<\/a>]<\/sup>babbler is no different.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n

10:1 When we say, \u201cThere\u2019s a fly in the ointment,\u201d the saying comes from this verse (oil can be translated \u201cointment\u201d). This image illustrates how sin affects creation.
\n10:4 Do not leave your place: The wise man must not stray from his determination to glorify God.<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 Holy angel of the Lord by guardian, pray to God for me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wednesday
\nEcclesiastes 10 The words of a wise man\u2019s mouth are<\/i> gracious,<\/p>\n

\n

But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;<\/span>
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,<\/span>
\nAnd the end of his talk is<\/i> raving madness.<\/span>
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>A fool also multiplies words.<\/span>
\nNo man knows what is to be;<\/span>
\nWho can tell him what will be after him?<\/span>
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>The labor of fools wearies them,<\/span>
\nFor they do not even know how to go to the city!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

16\u00a0<\/sup>Woe to you, O land, when your king is<\/i> a child,<\/span>
\nAnd your princes feast in the morning!<\/span>
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>Blessed are<\/i> you, O land, when your king is<\/i> the son of nobles,<\/span>
\nAnd your princes feast at the proper time\u2014<\/span>
\nFor strength and not for drunkenness!<\/span>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>Because of laziness the [g<\/a>]<\/sup>building decays,<\/span>
\nAnd through idleness of hands the house leaks.<\/span>
\n19\u00a0<\/sup>A feast is made for laughter,<\/span>
\nAnd wine makes merry;<\/span>
\nBut money answers everything.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

20\u00a0<\/sup>Do not curse the king, even in your thought;<\/span>
\nDo not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;<\/span>
\nFor a bird of the air may carry your voice,<\/span>
\nAnd a bird in flight may tell the matter.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n

10:15\u201317 The city can be seen as an image of the Kingdom of heaven, ruled by Christ the king and His princes (v. 16), the faithful. Christ calls the scribes and Pharisees fools (v. 15) for being too blind to see the truth (Mt 23:17, 19).<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 Our Father, Who art in \u00a0Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thursday
\nEcclesiastes 11: Cast your bread upon the waters,<\/p>\n

\n

For you will find it after many days.<\/span>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,<\/span>
\nFor you do not know what evil will be on the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3\u00a0<\/sup>If the clouds are full of rain,<\/span>
\nThey empty themselves<\/i> upon the earth;<\/span>
\nAnd if a tree falls to the south or the north,<\/span>
\nIn the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.<\/span>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>He who observes the wind will not sow,<\/span>
\nAnd he who regards the clouds will not reap.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>As you do not know what is<\/i> the way of the [a<\/a>]<\/sup>wind,<\/span>
\nOr<\/i> how the bones grow<\/i> in the womb of her who is with child,<\/span>
\nSo you do not know the works of God who makes everything.<\/span>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>In the morning sow your seed,<\/span>
\nAnd in the evening do not withhold your hand;<\/span>
\nFor you do not know which will prosper,<\/span>
\nEither this or that,<\/span>
\nOr whether both alike will be<\/i> good.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7\u00a0<\/sup>Truly the light is sweet,<\/span>
\nAnd it is<\/i> pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;<\/span>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>But if a man lives many years<\/span>
\nAnd<\/i> rejoices in them all,<\/span>
\nYet let him remember the days of darkness,<\/span>
\nFor they will be many.<\/span>
\nAll that is coming is<\/i> vanity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

9\u00a0<\/sup>Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,<\/span>
\nAnd let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;<\/span>
\nWalk in the [b<\/a>]<\/sup>ways of your heart,<\/span>
\nAnd [c<\/a>]<\/sup>in the sight of your eyes;<\/span>
\nBut know that for all these<\/span>
\nGod will bring you into judgment.<\/span>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore remove [d<\/a>]<\/sup>sorrow from your heart,<\/span>
\nAnd put away evil from your flesh,<\/span>
\nFor childhood and [e<\/a>]<\/sup>youth are<\/i> vanity.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n

11:1\u201310 This chapter teaches we are not to hold onto that which we have been given, but give it away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friday
\nEcclesiastes\u00a0 12: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,<\/p>\n

\n

Before the [a<\/a>]<\/sup>difficult days come,<\/span>
\nAnd the years draw near when you say,<\/span>
\n\u201cI have no pleasure in them\u201d:<\/span>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>While the sun and the light,<\/span>
\nThe moon and the stars,<\/span>
\nAre not darkened,<\/span>
\nAnd the clouds do not return after the rain;<\/span>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,<\/span>
\nAnd the strong men bow down;<\/span>
\nWhen the grinders cease because they are few,<\/span>
\nAnd those that look through the windows grow dim;<\/span>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>When the doors are shut in the streets,<\/span>
\nAnd the sound of grinding is low;<\/span>
\nWhen one rises up at the sound of a bird,<\/span>
\nAnd all the daughters of music are brought low.<\/span>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>Also they are afraid of height,<\/span>
\nAnd of terrors in the way;<\/span>
\nWhen the almond tree blossoms,<\/span>
\nThe grasshopper is a burden,<\/span>
\nAnd desire fails.<\/span>
\nFor man goes to his eternal home,<\/span>
\nAnd the mourners go about the streets.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>Remember your Creator<\/i> before the silver cord is [b<\/a>]<\/sup>loosed,<\/span>
\nOr the golden bowl is broken,<\/span>
\nOr the pitcher shattered at the fountain,<\/span>
\nOr the wheel broken at the well.<\/span>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,<\/span>
\nAnd the spirit will return to God who gave it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cVanity of vanities,\u201d says the Preacher,<\/span>
\n\u201cAll is<\/i> vanity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n

12:1 The days of your youth reminds us to follow the Lord from the earliest years of our lives. 12:5 The caper plant grows on rocky cliffs, stone walls, and in cracks and crevices of rocks in the Middle East. 12:8 Though the Preacher ends on a negative note, with all is vanity, the positive message of this book is contained in 12:6: \u201cRemember your Creator.\u201d Or as Proverbs teaches us, \u201cThe fear of God is the beginning of wisdom\u201d (Pr 1:7).<\/p>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3X)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Saturday
\nEcclesiastes 12:\u00a09\u00a0<\/sup>And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and<\/i> set[c<\/a>]<\/sup> in order many proverbs. <\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>The Preacher sought to find [d<\/a>]<\/sup>acceptable words; and what was<\/i> written was<\/i> upright\u2014words of truth. <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of [e<\/a>]<\/sup>scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. <\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is<\/i> no end, and much study is<\/i> wearisome to the flesh.<\/span><\/p>\n

13\u00a0<\/sup>Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fear God and keep His commandments,<\/span><\/strong>
\nFor this is man\u2019s all.<\/span><\/strong>
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>For God will bring every work into judgment,<\/span>
\nIncluding every secret thing,<\/span>
\nWhether good or evil.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Prayer:\u00a0 Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. \u00a0Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday Ecclesiastes 9:For I [a]considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-orthodox-daily-devotional","has_no_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10613"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10614,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10613\/revisions\/10614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}