Wisdom-Trek ‪©‬ H. Guthrie Chamberlain, III

Welcome to Day 2367 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Wisdom Nuggets – Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 Daily Wisdom
Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2367

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2367 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. Today, we’re diving into Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 from the New Living Translation.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 (NLT):

7 I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.

8 This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Meaninglessness of Solitude:

Solomon begins by observing yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. He describes the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother. Despite working hard to amass wealth, he finds himself asking, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It all seems so meaningless and depressing.

Strength in Unity:

Solomon then contrasts the solitude of the individual with the strength found in companionship. He declares that two people are better off than one because they can help each other succeed.

Support in Times of Trouble:

He illustrates this by saying that if one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Warmth in Companionship:

Solomon further emphasizes the benefits of companionship by noting that two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

Protection in Numbers:

Finally, Solomon highlights the protection found in numbers. He notes that a person standing alone can be easily attacked and defeated. But two can stand back-to-back and conquer. And he goes even further, saying that three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Key Takeaways:

As we reflect on Solomon’s words, there are several key takeaways we can glean:

Meaninglessness of Solitude: Solomon observes that working alone and amassing wealth without companionship can lead to a sense of meaninglessness and depression.
Strength in Unity: He extols the benefits of companionship, noting that two people are better off than one because they can help each other succeed.
Support in Times of Trouble:...

Welcome to Day 2366 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Walk Like an Israelite – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible
Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2366

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2366 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

 

Today is the second lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Bible scholar and professor Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church.

The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God’s redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it’s also a book that seems strange to us. While God’s Word was written for us, it wasn’t written to us. Today, our lesson is Walk Like an Israelite.

Dr. Heiser said that cuneiform tablets changed my life. He wasn’t kidding. As he looked back on his 15 years of graduate school in biblical studies, the turning point in how he viewed the Bible was his course in Ugaritic, a cuneiform language very similar to biblical Hebrew. This class compelled him to transform “read the Bible in context” from a naïve platitude to an issue of spiritual integrity.

A Bible Study Epiphany

Most of us have the impression that interpreting the Bible in context meant learning about a piece of pottery here, an odd custom there, or having a factual acquaintance with who was alive, and what those people were doing at the time of the biblical events.

But in his Ugaritic course, he learned that all of that can divorce the Bible from the ancient world in one critical way: It can exclude religious or theological ideas from all the “context talk.” It’s easy to presume that most of the Bible’s theological content was unique to Israel. Most of us learned that Israel shared some cultural customs with pagan Gentiles—like diet, dress, marriage, and family structure. But we thought Israel’s religious worldview was handed down from heaven, having no common links with paganism. That is not true, and the content of the tablets that have been translated since they were discovered in the past centuries changes the previous mindset.

For starters, the people of Ugarit, a city-state in ancient Syria, described their gods with words and phrases that are in the Old Testament—in many cases, word for word. Their chief deity shared the same name (El) as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (But the El of Ugarit could hardly be called holy by biblical standards.) The honorary titles and other descriptions of the Ugarit El and his primary assistant, Baal, are applied to the God of Israel in many passages in the Old Testament.

There are other examples. The behavior of prophets and the use of divination (casting lots, consulting the ephod) have clear ancient Near Eastern parallels. The design and purpose of the Ark of the Covenant align well with the use of sacred boxes known as palanquins in ancient Egypt. Trial by ordeal—such as that found in Numbers 5, where a woman accused of adultery must drink a potion to test her fidelity—occurred in surrounding cultures. Terms for Israelite sacrifices are found in ancient Gentile...

Welcome to Day 2365 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Wisdom Nuggets – Ecclesiastes 4:1-6 Daily Wisdom
Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2365

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2365 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. Today, we’re diving into Ecclesiastes 4:1-6 from the New Living Translation, where Solomon shares some profound insights on the vanity of life under the sun.

Let’s jump right in.

1 Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.

2 So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.

3 But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.

Observing Oppression:

Solomon begins by painting a vivid picture of the oppression he witnessed under the sun. He saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors held great power, leaving their victims utterly helpless. He describes it as a bleak and stark reality.

The Better State of the Dead:

Faced with this harsh reality, Solomon comes to a startling conclusion. He believes that the dead are actually better off than the living. In death, they are free from the oppression and suffering that plague the living.

Fortune of the Unborn:

But Solomon doesn’t stop there. He goes a step further, declaring that the most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. Why? Because they have not yet seen the evil that is done under the sun. They are spared from experiencing the pain and suffering of this world.

Continuation of Vanity:

4 Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

5 “Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.”

6 And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.”

Motivation by Envy:

Solomon’s observations don’t stop with the oppression he sees. He also notices that many people are driven by envy. They’re motivated to succeed because they envy what their neighbors have. But Solomon sees this pursuit as futile, as meaningless as chasing the wind.

Folly of Idleness:

On the flip side, Solomon also observes the folly of idleness. He says that fools fold their idle hands, which leads them to ruin. There’s a danger in laziness and inactivity.

Contentment over Wealth:

In contrast, Solomon advocates for contentment. He says it’s better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and the constant pursuit of more.

Key Takeaways:

As we reflect on Solomon’s words, there are some key takeaways we can glean:

Recognition of Oppression: Solomon doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the oppression and...

Welcome to Day 2364 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Day 2364 – OUR LIVING HOPE – STAYING CLEAN IN A CORRUPT SOCIETY 1 PETER 1:22-2:3 – Daily Wisdom
Putnam Church Message – 04/21/2024

Our Living Hope – Reasons for Pulling Together

1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Last week, we asked, and hopefully answered, “How can I stay clean in a corrupt society?” This is crucial to have a Biblical impact on society as ambassadors for God's Kingdom.

This week, we will investigate the Reasons for Pulling Together as Christians within a church setting and throughout our lives.

Let me start today with a short story. Before Andrew Jackson became the seventh president of the United States, he served as commander of the Tennessee militia. During the War of 1812, his troops reached an all-time low in their morale. A critical spirit spread among them. They argued, bickered, and fought amongst themselves. Reportedly, Jackson called them all together on one occasion when tensions reached a breaking point and said, “Gentlemen! Let's remember, the enemy is not here; it is over there!" Our politicians today would do well to remember these words.

What a sobering reminder for the church today! As we explore the next section in 1 Peter, we will learn “Reasons for Pulling Together.”

 In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  This verse is the basis for our closing hymn. To our shame, the world sometimes looks on Bible-believing Christians as self-seeking and factious, even unloving and argumentative. We aren't always known for our love and support for one another. Instead of being loyal and fiercely committed to each other, in some churches, they tend to look for ways to pick at each other, to put down rather than build up. How strange! Fortunately, this is not the spirit that we have here at Putnam. The frequent occurrences of brother bashing and sister smashing indicate that we need to remind ourselves of the reasons for pulling together.

Let’s begin our study by reading 1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3 on page 1887 in your Pew Bibles.

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[c]

And this is the word that was preached to you.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn...

Welcome to Day 2363 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Wisdom Nuggets – Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 Daily Wisdom
Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2363

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2363 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. Today, we’re exploring Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 from the New Living Translation.

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 (NLT):

16 I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt!

17 I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”

18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals.

19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless!

20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust.

21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.

Corruption in the Courtroom:

Solomon starts by addressing the corruption he sees even in the courtroom. He observes that, under the sun, there is evil in the justice system. Even the courts of law are not immune to corruption.

Divine Judgment:

But Solomon doesn’t lose hope. He reminds himself that, in due season, God will judge everyone, both the good and the bad, for all their deeds.

Human Condition:

Solomon then reflects on the human condition. He ponders how God proves to people that they are no different from animals. Both humans and animals share the same fate—they both breathe, and they both must die. Solomon finds this reality to be meaningless.

Equality in Death:

In death, Solomon sees equality. Both humans and animals go to the same place—they come from dust, and they return to dust. There’s no real advantage that humans have over animals.

Uncertainty of the Afterlife:

Solomon wrestles with the question of what happens after death. He asks, who can prove that the human spirit goes up while the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? It’s a question that remains unanswered.

Finding Happiness in Work:

Despite these existential questions, Solomon finds a glimmer of hope. He sees that there is nothing better for people than to find happiness in their work. That, he concludes, is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.

Key Takeaways:

As we reflect on Solomon’s words, there are a few key takeaways we can glean:

Corruption Exists: Solomon acknowledges the presence of evil and corruption even in places meant for justice.
Divine Judgment: He finds hope in the idea that God...

Welcome to Day 2362 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Wisdom Nuggets – Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 Daily Wisdom
Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2362

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2362 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

 

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I will guide you through the vast landscapes of biblical wisdom. Today, we’ll be delving into Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 from the New Living Translation.

In these verses, the Teacher continues to reflect on the cyclical nature of life and the appointed times for various activities. He acknowledges the beauty and purpose of God’s timing, emphasizing the importance of embracing each season of life.

Let’s uncover the profound insights found in Ecclesiastes 3:9-15.

Verses 9-10:

“What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.”

The Teacher reflects on the futility of human labor and the burden that God has placed on all people. He acknowledges the reality that despite our efforts, we cannot control the outcome of our labor.

What insights can we glean from the Teacher’s reflections on the futility of human labor?

The Teacher acknowledges the futility of human labor and the burden that God has placed on all people. He recognizes that despite our efforts, we cannot control the outcome of our labor.

Now, let’s explore verses 11-13.

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.”

The Teacher acknowledges the beauty and purpose of God’s timing, recognizing that God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He acknowledges the eternal nature of human existence, with God planting eternity in the human heart. Despite our inability to see the whole scope of God’s work, the Teacher concludes that there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. He emphasizes the importance of eating, drinking, and enjoying the fruits of our labor, recognizing that these are gifts from God.

What insights can we glean from the Teacher’s reflections on the beauty and purpose of God’s timing?

The Teacher acknowledges the beauty and purpose of God’s timing, recognizing that God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He emphasizes the eternal nature of human existence, with God planting eternity in the human heart. Despite our inability to see the whole scope of God’s work, the Teacher encourages us to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can, recognizing that these are gifts from God.

Now, let’s examine verses 14-15.

“And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.”

The Teacher...