We'll begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise. We're going to
sing in Psalm 33 in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 33, we're going to sing from verse
6 down to verse 11. Psalm 33, page 245 of the Psalm book, verse 6.
The heavens by the word of God did their beginning take, and by the breathing of
his mouth he all their hosts did make. The waters of the seas he brings to
together as an heap, and in storehouses as it were he layeth up the deep. And we
sing here of God's wondrous creating power and how all belongs to him and how
above all the counsel of the Lord, the word of the Lord as it says in verse 11,
does stand forever sure. So we'll sing from verse 6 to verse 11 to God's praise.
verse 6.
The heavens by the word of God did their beginning take, and by the breathing of his mouth he all their
and how he all said may. The waters of the seas he brings together as an heap, and in storehouses as
as an heap. The waters of the sea he brings together as an heap, and in storehouses as an
as an heap, and in storehouses as an heap, and in storehouses as an heap. The waters of the
Lord, let all the world's inhabitants tread him with one accord. For he did speak the word
modern.
Christopher
hurt and done it was without delay,
and
given
this
it firmly stood
. Whatever
He
did say,
atu
doth the counsel bring to naught
which heathen folk do take,
and what the people do divide
of none effect doth make.
O but the counsel of the Lord
doth stand forever sure,
and of his heart the purposes
from age to age endure.
We'll bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Amen.
Our gracious Father in heaven,
we come anew to worship you this evening.
We come offering up our praise and thanksgiving to you,
that you are our Lord and our God,
the one who made heavens and earth as we see around us,
the one who created all things for your own glory,
the one who made all things through the word of your power.
And we thank you, Lord,
that it is established to remain,
that all that you have done by your word,
it stands and endures all things.
But as we have sung in this psalm together,
we are reminded that there are the counsel of man,
there is the words that we offer up ourselves,
the wisdom that we feel we have,
and as we live in a world that's ever-changing,
as it were,
through the wisdom of mankind,
we recognize,
even as your word says,
that what the people do devise,
of none effect doth make.
And we thank you for that, Lord,
that in a world that so swiftly and so quickly
is discarding your word and your truth,
and in the chaos that it brings,
in the world that we see descending
into more and more chaos.
We thank you, Lord,
that all its effects will do nothing
in the midst of our generation
and generations to come.
There may be a sense of dismay
and misdirection for many people at this time,
but we know, Lord,
that your counsel will stand forever,
that your word will endure forever,
and just as it is today,
it has been in the past.
As we read your word, Lord,
we see such similar days
when you have given your people over
to their own wisdom and their own ways.
And yet, oh Lord,
there have always been that time
when people have returned to you
and recognized and acknowledged
their sins and their faults
and come in repentance, Lord,
acknowledging dependence upon you.
And our prayer at this time
is that it may be so
in our generation,
that it may be so in our day,
as we see, oh Lord,
the failings of our world,
that we would come to the word
and to the one who never changes,
the one who is the same yesterday,
today, and forever.
And so, Lord,
as we live in a world
where there's that search for meaning,
that search for truth,
and where everybody seems to have
their own truth to tell,
we pray, Lord,
that we will hear your truth,
that we will hear your wisdom,
and that even this evening
as we come together,
that we will have ears to hear
what you will see,
that we will have hearts to receive,
that we will have the minds to discern,
and that we will have the eyes,
oh Lord,
to look around us
and to walk by faith
through you.
And we know this is only possible
through your spirit.
It's not of our own wisdom,
it's not of our own mindset,
but Lord,
that you would give us faith
as the gift of grace
that is so precious
and so freely offered by you.
And so help us, Lord,
each one of us,
from the youngest to the oldest,
no matter our situation,
no matter our life's experience,
no matter what we may be feeling
at this time,
that you will calm us
in your presence,
that you will still us
and help to know
that you are God.
So may you minister to us all, Lord,
and to all who need you
in different ways at this time.
We thank you that you are one
who hears and answers prayer.
And we thank you that
as we look back
in our own life's experience
and as we look back
in the experience of our nation
and even the world
in which we live,
that we see the power of prayer
all around us.
We see places and people
who, apart from prayer,
would be lost.
We see even in our own lives
and experience, Lord,
prayer answered by many,
maybe even no longer with us.
But we thank you, Lord,
for every prayer
that is offered up in your name.
Prayers past and present, Lord,
and prayers still to be answered
and answered into the future
and into the days that lie ahead.
But we thank you that in your time
and in your ways,
you answer prayer.
And help us, Lord,
to remember that we always pray
that your will be done.
No matter what is going on
around us, Lord,
we pray your will be done.
And help us to take hold
of the truths of your word.
Help us to lean upon them
and even the ones
that we so often maybe struggle
to understand at different points
in our own experience.
Even great words
as we read in your scripture,
that all things work together for good
for those who love you.
Lord, they are some of the most difficult words
for us to understand at times
when there seems to be little or no good
in our experience at times.
And yet help us, Lord,
to see beyond our experience
and to see your ways
and to see your paths
and to lean upon your wisdom
and your understanding,
not our own.
So, Lord, teach us.
Teach us to apply our hearts to wisdom.
Teach us to know you.
Teach us to walk closely with you.
Remember, Lord, your church
as it continues to witness for you.
Your people far and wide.
We pray, Lord, that you will encourage
and build up your people
near and far.
You call all your people,
those who believe in you,
to be those who will be witnesses for you.
We are all being built up together
in your kingdom.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will strengthen our number,
that you will strengthen our faith,
that you will strengthen our witness
for you as a people.
We pray that for ourselves
as a congregation here,
that you will help us to endeavor
to reach out with the gospel,
to reach out to those
who belong to us as a people,
those who are maybe downcast
and discouraged at this time,
those who are lonely,
those who are afraid,
those who maybe no longer come out
for different reasons.
Help us to come alongside
and to encourage
and to pray with them
and to help them along the way.
We also pray, Lord,
for those of our community
who do not come anywhere near a church
and have no interest in it,
some who are even antagonistic
against the faith
and against religion as a whole.
We pray, Lord,
that you will help us
to be salt and light
among all around us.
Help us to speak
to them lovingly
and graciously,
but also with that challenge
in our words as well.
For we live
in these final days, Lord.
We live in days
when we know
we need the Savior.
But for those
who see no need of him,
Lord,
we pray
that you will give
convicting words
and convincing words
that they might hear.
We pray, Lord,
for every endeavor
we have to reach out
with your word
through the preaching
of your word,
through the prayer meetings
during the week,
to all that is done
with young and old alike
during the week as well,
seeking to come alongside
and to encourage.
We pray your blessing
on all that we seek to do.
We pray your blessing
far and wide
upon your people,
Lord,
those who are mourning this day
as we know
there are many,
even in our own congregation
and in our own town here,
Lord.
We pray for comfort
for those who are
brokenhearted at this time,
even as we heard
about Emma's son
this morning,
Lord,
we continue to remember her,
to pray for her
and that you would uphold her
and all the family
at this time
and their sorrow
and sadness.
And far and wide,
Lord,
throughout our communities
when there are broken hearts,
we pray that you will come
with your healing power
and your power
to bring people,
even in the midst of sorrow,
to be able to say,
blessed be the name
of the Lord.
Lord,
so Lord,
help us
and help all who need you
in different ways.
Remember those
who are unwell,
those who are
in hospital and homes.
Remember our community
and our people
far and wide.
Remember our nation
and those who govern over us.
Again,
as we think of
all that is going on
around us,
Lord,
we pray
for all the needs
we see as a nation
and as nations
of the world.
And we think of
all that is
so much main headlines
in the news
and yet there are
other things
that go unnoticed.
We think of all
that's going on
with people fleeing
from nations
where there is
so much turmoil
and grief
only to meet
with much more turmoil
on their journey
to try and find safety.
We know
so much is being made
of those crossing
the channel
seeking to find
a new life
and to seek
to find new beginnings
only to be met
with such hostility
and resistance.
And we pray
for every soul,
for every person,
for everyone
who feels lost
in this world
with nowhere to turn,
for all who are persecuted,
for all who are
put down upon,
for all who are made
to feel useless
and low
and of no worth.
Lord,
we pray
that they will find
worth in Christ,
that we'll find
worth in this world
to go on
in your strength.
Lord,
give us that heart
of mercy,
that heart
to love our neighbour
as ourself
and to look beyond
our own needs
and to the needs
of others.
So teach us,
Lord,
we pray,
and teach us
by your word,
by your grace
and by your spirit.
May your spirit
move among us
as a nation
and as the world
as a whole,
Lord,
to see your glory,
to acknowledge it,
Lord,
and to be in awe
of the God
that you are,
the one who is able
to do abundantly
more than all
that we ask
or imagine.
So we commit
ourselves into
your hands
and all who we love
and care for
and all who we know
in need at this time.
So, Lord,
bless us,
we pray,
bless your word
to us as we sing
from it
and as we hear it.
May all be
to your glory
and build us up,
we pray,
in all things
as we ask it
with forgiveness
for all our sins.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, again,
sing to God's praise
this time in Psalm 25
in the Sing Psalms version.
We're going to sing
from the beginning
of the Psalm
down to the verse
marked 9.
Psalm 25
is on page 29
of the Psalm books.
To you, O Lord,
I lift my soul,
I trust in you
continually.
Do not let me
be put to shame
nor let my foes
gloat over me.
No one who sets
their hope in you
will ever suffer
such disgrace,
but those who act
with treachery,
humiliating shame
will face.
We'll sing from
verse 1 to 9
to God's praise
and we stand
to sing.
O Lord,
I lift my soul,
I trust in you
continually.
Do not let me
be put to shame,
nor let my foes
gloat over me.
No one who sets
its open year
will ever suffer
such disgrace.
God, O Lord,
we are with treachery,
humiliating shame
will face.
O Lord,
reveal to me
your way,
and all your paths
help me to know.
Direct and guide me
in your truth.
Instruct me in the way
to come.
You are my Savior
and my God.
All day I hold
in you,
my Lord.
Remember, Lord,
your love and grace,
which from the sages
you have shown.
Do not recall
my sins of youth
or my rebellious,
evil ways.
Remember me
in your great love
for you, O Lord,
are good
always.
Because the Lord
is just and good,
He shows His path
to all who stray.
He guides the meek
in waters
strife
and teaches
them
His holy way.
Amen.
We're going to read
together now
in the Old Testament
in the book of Ecclesiastes.
We're going to read
chapter 1 together.
Ecclesiastes chapter 1.
You can read the whole
of this chapter
together.
Psalms,
Proverbs,
and the book of Ecclesiastes.
The words of the preacher,
the son of David,
king in Jerusalem.
Vanity of vanities,
says the preacher.
Vanity of vanities.
All is vanity.
What does man gain
by all the toil
at which he toils
under the sun?
A generation goes
and a generation comes,
but the earth
remains forever.
The sun rises
and the sun goes down
and hastens to the place
where it rises.
The wind blows
to the south
and goes round
to the north.
Round and round
goes the wind
and on its circuits
the wind returns.
All streams run
to the sea,
but the sea is not full.
To the place
where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
All things are full
of weariness.
A man cannot utter it.
The eye is not satisfied
with seeing,
nor the ear filled
with hearing.
What has been
is what will be,
and what has been done
is what will be done.
There is nothing new
under the sun.
Is there a thing
of which it is said,
see, this is new.
It has been already
in the ages before us.
There is no remembrance
of former things,
nor will there be
any remembrance
of latter things
yet to be
among those
who come after.
I, the preacher,
have been king
over Israel
and Jerusalem.
And I applied my heart
to seek and to search
out by wisdom
all that is done
under heaven.
It is an unhappy business
that God has given
to the children of man
to be busy with.
I have seen everything
that is done
under the sun.
Behold,
all is vanity
and a striving
after wind.
What is crooked
cannot be made straight.
What is lacking
cannot be counted?
I said in my heart,
I have acquired
great wisdom,
surpassing all
who were over
Jerusalem before me.
My heart has had
great experience
of wisdom
and knowledge.
And I applied my heart
to know wisdom
and to know madness
and folly.
I perceive this
also is
but a striving
after wind.
For in much wisdom
wisdom is much vexation
and he who increases
knowledge
increases sorrow.
And so on.
May God bless that
reading from his word.
Before we turn back
to that passage,
we're going to
read again,
sing again
to God's praise
in Psalm 49.
And let's sing Psalms,
page 64
of the Psalm book.
Psalm 49.
We're going to sing
from verse 1
to verse 10.
The psalmist
begins by saying
to us,
listen to me
all you peoples,
all who in the
whole world dwell,
low and high,
both rich and needy.
Hear the message
I will tell.
This is a psalm
that reminds us
of the need
to listen,
to seek wisdom,
to find that
with God
and especially
when it comes
to our life.
And to the fact
as it says
in verse 10
that we all
can see life
ending,
wise and foolish,
all will die.
There's this sense
of looking ahead
in our lives
and wondering
what is life
all about?
But it says
to redeem,
a life is costly,
none,
sufficient price
can pay.
We know
that we cannot
save ourselves.
But as we come
to praise God
in these words,
we remember too
that there is
a Redeemer,
one who lives,
who is
the Lord Jesus Christ
and that we can
put our trust
in Him
for life now
and for eternal life.
So we come
to sing
verse 1 to 10
of this psalm.
Listen to me,
all you peoples,
all who in the whole world dwell.
Lo and high,
both rich and needy,
hear the message
I will tell.
I will speak
with understanding,
wisdom from the heart
I'll preach.
I will listen
to a proverb,
tickets with the harp
I will teach.
Why should I fear
days of evil
when the wicked
have me in
those who boast
of their possessions
by their trust
wealth
in wealth
they sin?
There is no one
who is able
to redeem
a soul
from death.
None can pay
to God
the ransom
to prolong
another's breath.
To redeem
a life
which costly
none sufficient
price can pay
so that one
should live
the mortal
be forever
only day.
For we all
can see
life ending,
wise and foolish
all will die.
they must
leave
their wealth
to others.
None
can death
see
magnified.
We can turn
back together
to our reading
in Ecclesiastes
chapter 1.
We read again
at the beginning
of the chapter
these words.
The words of the preacher,
the son of David,
king in Jerusalem.
Vanity of vanities,
says the preacher,
vanity of vanities,
all is vanities.
What does man gain
by all the toil
at which he toils
under the sun?
A generation
goes and a
generation comes
but the earth
remains forever.
And so
it goes on.
As you hear
these words
and as you hear
them read
and as you read
them again there
you begin to think
well this word
keeps appearing
here, vanity of
vanity, all is
vanity.
You're thinking
what is the point
of all that's
being said here?
The preacher
as he's called
here, Solomon
is one who's
gathering people
around to tell
them through
his experience
of life
what his own
take on life
is.
There are
often times
in our own
experience
when we maybe
spend a bit
of time
reflecting
reflecting in
life, reflecting
on our past
experience, maybe
looking back
or for some
maybe over
many years
looking back
on where
we've been
and things
we've done
and people
we've known,
all of these
kinds of things.
We look back
on all of these
things that we've
experienced in
the past.
past.
And maybe we
do it in
many kinds
of situations.
Perhaps
for some
people it's
walking around
the town
here.
Maybe you're
walking around
the streets
of Stornaby,
maybe you're
walking out
in the castle
grounds and
as you're
looking around
you're seeing
things that
used to be
and things
that have
changed.
So much
has changed
in this
town when you
think of
these words
in verse 4,
a generation
goes and a
generation
comes.
You walk
around and you
think of
people who
used to be
and who
are no more,
other people
who are coming
into the town,
you're seeing
shops that have
closed down
and places
that there
used to be,
all kinds
of things
that have
changed all
around us.
I find that
myself when I
go back to
the west side
and I go back
to Shabbos
and walk
around the
village there
and you walk
in the street
where I grew
up and you
see changes
that have
taken place.
You see
places where
one's house
is stood
and the
house is
no longer
there.
You see
other places
where there
was an
open field
and now
there's a
house built
there.
Things have
changed,
things have
moved on.
But so often
when we reflect
on these
things, we
reflect in a
way where
we think
of people.
And I
think that's
probably what
strikes me
most as I
look back
over the
years and
as I look
back over
where I
grew up
and people
I've known
over the
years and
many of
them who
are no
longer there.
You start
to reflect
on people
who you
once used
to hear
talking or
maybe once
you dismissed
what they
were saying
and now the
theme in your
heart is
if only they
were here
and I could
hear them
again.
If only I
could hear
them once
more just
to ask
them some
questions,
to glean
some wisdom
from them.
If only I
listened more
closely to
what they
were saying
to me.
And we
often have
this maybe
regret in
our hearts
or this
longing in
our hearts
if only
we could
listen once
more.
The stories
they had,
the experiences
that they
went through,
what would
they make
of the
world today
and life
today,
we could
learn so
much from
them.
Well here
in Ecclesiastes
there's a
sense,
of that.
There's a
sense of
this gathering
around.
As we sang
there in
Psalm 49,
Psalm is
saying,
listen to
me all
you peoples,
come and
hear what
I will
tell.
Here is
Solomon,
the preacher
in this
book,
who is
saying to
the people,
come and
gather round,
come and
listen to
what I'm
saying to
you.
Because he
is speaking,
he's speaking
to our
people,
he's speaking
to ourselves
this evening.
And there's a
sense where
he's speaking
into an
ever-changing
world,
an ever-changing
people,
both in his
own day and
in our day
today as well.
He's saying,
come,
come and
listen to
what I am
saying.
And as we
hear these
words,
vanity of
vanities,
all is
vanity,
we maybe
begin to
think,
well,
what's he
saying to
us?
He doesn't
seem to be
encouraging us
very much
with these
words,
it just
seems to
be saying
to us,
well,
what's the
point in
it all?
It's maybe
just what
many of us
are maybe
feeling in
our day
and age
just now.
We're
wondering
what's
happening
in our
world and
what's
the point
in it
all?
Well,
there is
a point
in what
he's
saying.
And he's
really reminding
us of
two things.
As you read
through this
chapter in
the book of
Ecclesiastes,
you're reminded
of two things
that he
describes.
He's saying
there is
this life
as you
look at
it under
the sun.
It's one
phrase he
uses,
under the
sun.
And there's
another phrase
that he
uses,
and it's
life under
heaven.
And there's
a distinction
between the
two.
And it's
an understanding
that distinction
that we begin
to see that
there is
meaning in
what he is
saying.
So there's
a sense
here where
things are
always changing
and yet
not changing.
There was
a Frenchman
by the
name
John
Baptiste
Alphonse
Carr who
once said
back in
1849,
the more
things change,
the more
they stay
the same.
The more
things change,
the more
they stay
the same.
And that's
the sense
of what the
preacher here
in Ecclesiastes
is saying.
While a lot
of big things
change or
appear to
be changing
in our
eyes,
a lot
of things
seem to
be happening
around us,
the real
situation,
the important
situation is
that nothing
has changed
much at
all.
As he
says there
in verse
9,
there is
nothing new
under the
sun.
And you
think when
Ecclesiastes
was written
all these
thousands of
years ago,
here we are
now and we're
still in that
same situation.
There's
nothing new
under the
sun.
So what
is he
getting at
here?
In the
sense of
nothing
changes,
it stays
the same.
What's he
getting at
when everything
else seems
to be changing
around us?
It's a
search for
meaning.
It's a
search for
purpose in
our lives.
It's a
search for
what is
life all
about?
How do we
understand the
world in
which we
live?
And this
is something
in the
preacher's
day here,
as in
our own
day,
and every
generation,
a search
for meaning,
a search
for wisdom,
a search
for progress,
a search
for making
our lives
better,
but nothing
seems to
be changing.
Many
things change,
but at the
root of our
lives is the
truth that
nothing ever
changes.
others.
So here we
have this
scene in
Ecclesiastes
where the
preacher Solomon
gathers the
people round
and he's
saying,
listen to
this,
listen to
my experience
of life,
and listen to
what I am
telling you
that you may
find wisdom
and find
meaning and
purpose in
your life.
Listening to
not just the
word that he
is speaking,
but the
word as it
is,
the word
of God
and the
word of
wisdom that
he is saying
to us.
Is it all
just in
vain,
all that we
are doing
in our
search for
meaning,
or is
there meaning
in it all?
Have we
found what
we're looking
for?
That's the
question tonight.
And there are
three ways I
want us to
reflect on
this question
as we think
of our
search for
what we're
looking for.
The first
is this
reflecting
on life.
Then there's
a sense of
reviewing
all that
is going
on.
And then
thirdly,
we see
the sense
of renewing
our outlook
on things.
So the
first thing
is reflecting.
Reflecting
on things.
And going
into this
chapter,
indeed,
into this
book,
you see
Solomon here.
He's very
much in
reflective
mood.
good.
He's
looking at
various
aspects of
his life,
life in
general.
But what's
his outlook?
And it
begins with
this theme
that just
seems to
run through
Ecclesiastes
as a whole.
It's almost
saying,
it doesn't
take you long
to start
thinking,
well,
what's the
point in
anything at
all?
Everything
just seems
to be in
vain.
Everything
is vanity
of vanities
or meaningless,
meaningless,
as another
translation puts
it.
It's like,
what is
this purpose?
Whatever
he describes,
it seems to
be linked
to this
phrase,
it's all
vain,
it's all
vanity of
vanities,
as you see
in verse
2.
And you
have that
at the
beginning of
the book,
and it
seems to
just run
right through
it.
But he's
using it
in a way
that brings
us back
to think,
well,
what is
the point?
What is
he actually
getting at
here?
And perhaps
for ourselves
this evening
is the kind
of situation
that we're
in.
Maybe in
your own
life just
now,
you're at
that point
in life
where you're
beginning to
reflect and
to think,
what is
my life?
What is
the purpose?
What is
it that I
am doing
with my
life?
What is
the point
in it
all?
And maybe
you're coming
to this
conclusion
as well.
It's
vanity
of
vanities.
It all
just seems
to be
in vain.
But as
he's saying
to us
here,
it's about
perspective.
And what
Solomon is
doing here
is he leads
us into
his world
and looking
at it,
here he
is as
an older
man looking
back and
reflecting on
his life
and we're
to listen
to his
words of
wisdom.
And he
uses this
phrase
initially,
which is
under the
sun.
In verse
three,
what does
a man
gain by
all the
toil at
which he
toils under
the sun?
He's
looking at
life here
from a
perspective
where we're
just looking
around
ourselves.
We're
looking at
it on a
horizontal
plane,
if you
like.
We're
looking at
life and
just thinking,
my life
just seems
to be
the same
day in,
day out.
And as
you read
these words
that he
is saying
here,
vanity,
says the
preacher,
you think
to yourself,
well,
what kind
of man
was Solomon?
This must
be someone
who had
hit rock
bottom.
This must
be someone
who's lost
everything in
life,
failed in
everything.
He must
be someone
who's almost
broke and
homeless and
just has
nothing to
enjoy in
life.
And yet
it couldn't
be further
from the
truth.
When you
look at
Solomon's
life,
you just
have to
turn over
to the
next chapter.
In chapter
2,
verse 4,
and you
read there
the words
that he
gives to
us there,
which reminds
us his
life was
a grand
life.
He says
in verse
4,
I made
great works,
I built
houses and
planted vineyards
for myself.
I made
myself gardens
and parks
and planted
in them
all kinds
of fruit,
trees.
I made
myself pools
from which
to water
the forest
of growing
trees.
I brought
male and
female slaves,
and slaves
who were
born in
my house.
I had
also great
possessions
of herds
and flocks,
more than
any who
had been
before me
in Jerusalem.
I had
silver and
gold and
treasure of
kings.
He had
all of
these things.
This is
not someone
who has
hit rock
bottom.
This is
not someone
who is
broke and
homeless.
This is
someone who
has
everything
that the
world has
to offer.
Yet,
looking at
it on
this
horizontal
plane,
this under
the sun
plane,
he's saying
it's
vanity,
vanity of
vanities,
meaningless,
meaningless.
What's the
challenge?
He's getting
at there.
He's reminding
us that if
our only focus
is on what
is in this
world,
and what
we have
day by
day in
this world
and what
we're
living for
on this
horizontal
plane,
under the
sun,
just in
this world,
then it
is all
in vain.
You can
have everything
that this
world offers
and yet have
nothing.
You think
of someone
of the
wealth of
Solomon,
you think
of it in
today's
terms,
you're
thinking of
someone maybe
like Elon
Musk,
and all the
billions that
he has,
he doesn't
know what
to do
with it.
But under
the sun,
is there any
joy in
it all?
There's
still a
search for
more,
because it's
all vanity
of vanities.
There are
two
billionaires
in the
computing
industry.
One is
Bill Gates,
a billionaire
businessman who
was behind
Microsoft.
The other
was a
friend of
his who
passed away
in 2011,
Steve Job,
who was
behind Apple.
Both of
them were
billionaires,
more money
than they
could do
anything with,
and yet
for what?
Steve Job,
he passed
away at a
relatively
young age,
and at the
time of
his death,
Bill Gates
said this,
it reminds
you that
you've got
to pick
important
stuff,
because you
only have
a limited
time.
And yet
in those
words that
are saying,
well,
what is
life?
He's still
looking at
things under
the sun,
under this
level,
this horizontal
plane.
We've got to
pick the
important stuff,
but what is
the important
stuff?
We've only
got a
limited time,
but what
are we doing
with our
time?
So there's
questions,
but there's
unanswered
questions that
Bill Gates
had.
Maybe that's
ourselves,
too.
We say at
times,
we've got to
get our
priorities right.
We've only
got a
limited time,
as the
psalm said,
which we
sang.
We can
all see
life ending,
it's passing
us by,
but for
what purpose?
We reflect
on all of
these things,
but our
perspective is
looking at
things under
the sun,
with this
world in
mind,
and the
conclusion is
it's all
vanity.
We're looking
at things
in the wrong
way.
Life under
the sun,
no matter how
much we might
have, or
even how little
we've got,
we are still
in the same
position,
that there is
nothing new
under the
sun.
It is a
life apart
from God,
a life
without a
relationship
with God,
without a
relationship
with his
son.
It's not
an eternal
perspective
we're looking
at, it's
just the
temporary
perspective
of here,
just our
days here
and that
is it,
and yet it
all seems
so meaningless.
Life under
the sun is a
preacher's way
of talking,
here about a
life lived
apart from
God.
A sad
life, no
matter how
much we
have.
Verse 3
here is so
similar to
Mark 8,
36, where
it says,
For what
does it
profit a
man to
gain the
whole world
and forfeit
his soul?
That's
Mark 8,
36, and
verse 3
here says,
What does
man gain
by all
the toil
at which
he toils
under the
sun?
What do we
gain if we
lose our
soul?
So we're
looking at
here things,
we're looking at
it in a way
where we want
to come and
think about
what God is
saying to
us.
We're looking
at our
life.
We're looking
at what God
is saying to
us.
But he's
saying,
don't just
look under
the sun.
Because if
you're reflecting
on your
life in that
way, you've
got to see
that there
is more.
There's more
to life
than that.
And if we're
looking under
the sun,
we're looking
in the wrong
place.
And that's
why the
second thing
we see
here is a
sense of
reviewing
things.
Now,
reflecting is
maybe more
looking back.
But reviewing
it is looking
now more
in the
present.
Okay,
we're looking
back and
we're seeing
all of these
things,
all of these
experiences in
our life,
everything that's
changing and
yet nothing's
changing as it
were.
We still don't
have this sense
of meaning and
purpose in our
life.
Well, then he
starts to give
us a sense of
reviewing.
What does
life look like
under the sun?
That's what we
see in verse
4 to
verse 11.
Here he's
looking at
things as if
to say,
you see all
these things
going on
around you.
And you
could come to
this conclusion,
you could
almost describe
it as we're
living life in
this cycle.
You could
almost describe
it as if
you're in the
hamster's wheel,
if you like.
If you've ever
seen a hamster
in a cage,
they go on
the wheel,
running around,
their little feet
are going flat
out, but
where are they
going?
Nowhere.
The wheel's just
going round and
round and
round.
No progress is
being made.
And that's so
much of life
under the sun,
as it were.
We seem to be
making progress,
we seem to be
going so fast,
and yet,
at the end,
we're going
nowhere.
And how does he
describe it here?
He describes it
in verse 4,
as a generation
goes,
and a generation
comes,
but the earth
remains forever.
People come
and people go.
You think even
of our own
surroundings.
How many people
have been and
sat in these
pews who are
no longer here?
How many are
here now who
in a number of
years will not
be here?
Another generation
will come.
We pray another
generation will
fill this place.
But it's this
idea that
our time
comes,
our time
goes.
In verse 5,
he's talking
about it almost
on a daily
basis.
The sun
rises,
the sun
goes down,
and hastens
to the place
where it
rises.
There's this
sense of
day after
day,
there's the
same things
going on.
Then verse 6,
he talks about
the wind.
The wind
blows to the
south and
goes round
to the north.
Round and
round goes
the wind,
and on its
circuits,
the wind
returns.
So you've
got this idea
of the wind,
as we know
only too well
here.
The gales
come,
the gales
go.
Week by
week,
month by
month,
we see the
weather changing
all the time.
The snow
that came in
the last few
days is now
disappearing.
Where did it
come from?
Where did it
go?
There's this
idea that
things are
just always
moving.
Verse 7
is one of
these ones
that you just
pause and
think about
what it's
saying.
All streams
run to the
sea, but
the sea
is not
full.
You think
of rivers
round about
our own
island, all
running into
the sea.
You think
about great
rivers in
this world,
the Amazon,
the Nile,
the Elbe,
there's so
many of
them.
All these
mighty rivers
running into
the sea,
and yet the
sea, it's
not full.
what's going
on.
It's the
cycle that
runs into
the sea,
it goes up
into the
air, comes
back in
rain, and
so the
cycle goes
on.
There's this
idea that
there's always
this continuity
in life, but
it's always
staying the
same.
If you've
ever seen
the film
Groundhog
Day, it's
this kind of
idea where
every day the
alarm clock
goes.
He gets
up, he
lives his
day, he
goes to
bed and
he gets
up the
next day,
it's exactly
the same.
Every
generation, we
think we've
found answers
to all the
questions of
life.
We think
we're making
progress all
the time, and
yet we're not
making any
progress at
all.
Look at
verse 10
there, which
says,
Is there a
thing of
which it
is said,
see, this
is new.
And you
think of
all the
discoveries made
in our own
days, you
know, the
last 20,
30 years, how
many things
have been
invented?
So it's
this idea
that there's
nothing new,
the internet's
new, there's
lots of new
things in that
sense, but
it's this idea
that is it
really progress?
There is
nothing that
is new in
that sense.
It has been
already in the
ages before
us.
People will
say, this
is the
answer to
all of
life's
trouble.
This is the
answers that
we need for
today, and
yet there's
nothing new
under the
sun.
Our needs
have not
changed.
Our greatest
need has
not changed.
As we
review our
life, we
can think,
okay, we
seem to have
made progress,
but reality
is we're
no further
on than
any other
generation in
the past,
because we
cannot make
any difference
to our
eternal
situation by
ourselves.
Again, we go
back to the
psalm we
sung, to
redeem my
life is
costly, none
sufficient price
can pay.
Even in the
search for
renewed youth
and keeping
ourselves alive
as long as
possible, and
all of these
things that
people long
for in this
world, we
cannot.
Every generation
has looked at
ways to keep
ourselves going,
to keep
ourselves alive,
to save
ourselves, as
it were, for
eternity, but
there's nothing
new under the
sun.
The answer
hasn't changed.
Our greatest
need as we
look in life,
as we think of
what we're
looking for in
this world, as
we think of
what we're
searching for,
it's not
something new,
it's something
that has always
been.
It's been there
since the
beginning.
It's there in
Solomon's day,
it's here in
our day, it
will remain
forever.
And what is
it?
Well, it's
based on the
word of God.
It is only
God who can
make a
difference in
our life.
It is only
God through
his son,
Christ Jesus
who can
save our
soul.
And so as
we think of
living our
life and
things under
the sun,
when everything
seems to be
in vain,
no endeavor,
no achievement,
no possession
under the sun
can give
purpose and
meaning and
fulfillment in
life.
That's what the
preacher is
telling us
here.
If you want
to live life
under the sun,
if you want
to live life
apart from
God,
you're just
going to
carry on,
as it were,
in the
hamster's
wheel,
everything just
going round
and round
and nothing
is changing.
Perhaps that's
the way you
feel in life
just now.
You get up in
the morning,
you live your
day,
you go to
bed,
and day
after day,
so much
just seems
to be the
same.
And you've
come to
the conclusion,
what's the
point?
Is it all
in vain?
Well,
without Christ
it is.
But what the
preacher here
is telling us
is that there
is a gospel,
that there
is good
news,
that there
is hope
that makes
a difference.
So that as
we reflect
on life
looking back,
as we
review where
we are at
present,
we want to
come to
that point
where we
think,
well,
what can
change?
What needs
to change
in our
life?
That's what
we see
thirdly here,
that sense
of renewing.
It's about
looking at
things in
a different
perspective.
Seeing things
not just on
this world's
horizon,
but beyond.
And looking
beyond the
things that
are under
the sun
to how he
describes it
as under
heaven.
That's what
you see
in verse
13.
I applied
my heart
to seek
and to
search out
by wisdom
all that
was done
under
heaven.
This is to
look at
things in
a different
way,
to look
beyond the
things of
this world.
In our
search for
meaning,
we've got
to look
beyond the
wisdom of
man and
look to
the wisdom
of God.
So how
is your
search in
life going?
How is
your search
in life for
meaning and
purpose?
Where are
you at
with it?
In 1987,
a band
called
You Too,
they released
a song,
the title,
I Still
Haven't
Found,
What I'm
Looking
For.
And the
song was
all about
the sense
of a
search going
on in
life.
And no
matter where
they looked,
no matter
what they
found in
this world,
there was a
sense,
I still
haven't found
what I'm
looking for.
And perhaps
that's how
you feel
today.
Perhaps
that's the
way you've
been living
your life
for a
long time,
knowing that
there's got
to be more
to life,
knowing that
there's got
to be more
of a meaning
and a purpose
in life
than this,
the life
under the
sun.
There's got
to be more
but you
still haven't
found what
you're looking
for.
Well,
the preacher
here tells
us,
just like
every generation
seeks an
answer,
thankfully
there's an
answer to
be found
in the
gospel.
The more
things change,
the more
they stay
the same.
And what
is it that
stays the
same for
us?
Well,
the word
of God
stands
forever.
1 Peter
verse 24
says,
for all
flesh is
like grass
and all
its glory
like the
flower of
grass.
The grass
withers,
the flower
falls,
but the
word of
the Lord
remains
forever.
There is
wisdom to
be found
in the
word of
God.
He tells
us to
look above
the sun.
We're looking
beyond the
horizon of
this world,
of everything
being under
the sun,
and instead
seeing things
done under
heaven.
Seeing the
God who
created the
heavens and
the earth
and made
us in
this image.
Everything
in this
world is
incapable of
satisfying our
deepest and
our greatest
need,
of our
soul's
satisfaction,
of our
soul's
salvation.
And the
preacher here
in old age
looking back
over life,
his ridges,
his wisdom,
and all that
he has,
is vanity
without God.
It's all in
vain apart
from God.
And today,
if you're
searching for
meaning apart
from looking
to Christ,
you'll never
find what
you're looking
for.
Your song
will always
be,
I still
haven't found
what I'm
looking for.
There will
always be
that missing
link.
And what
are we
encouraged to
do?
We are
encouraged to
come and
listen to
the wisdom
of God's
word.
We are
encouraged to
come and
find meaning
in God's
word and
purpose.
That in
Jesus Christ
there is
life.
And in
him there
is life
eternal.
As I said
at the
start,
we can all
regret
people we
would have
loved to
listen to
today who
we didn't
listen to
in the
past.
To be
able to
hear the
wisdom of
a generation
gone or
a people who
we knew so
well but
didn't listen
to what they
were telling
us.
Well,
the preacher
here is
saying,
listen to
me,
all you
people.
Come and
listen to
what I
will tell.
And that
is God's
word speaking
to us.
And speaking
to us
tonight as
well.
Speaking to
us, to
say to
us,
come and
listen to
what this
word says.
Your search
for meaning,
you find it
here.
That God
sent his
son into
this world,
that you
might have
life, he
says, and
life in
abundance,
life to
the full.
There's an
author called
Jack Higgins.
He's written
millions of
books, sold
millions of
books around
the world,
some of
them made
into
films,
TV series.
Well, he
was once
asked a
question,
he was
asked a
question,
what would
you have
liked to
have known
when you
were a
boy?
This was
his answer.
He said,
I would
have loved
to have
known that
when you
get to
the top,
there's
nothing
there.
He was
looking at
things on
the level
under the
sun.
in all
of his
search for
wisdom and
meaning and
success, he
was on this
journey as he
saw it, but
he said sadly
that when you
get to the
top, there's
nothing there.
That's when we
see things under
the sun.
But when we
see things under
heaven, when
we see things
with an eternal
perspective, we
see that there
is much more
meaning and
direction for
us.
For where
does it bring
us as we
think of
reaching, as
we think of
our goal?
We're not
going to say
like Jack
Higgins,
there's nothing
at the top.
We just
think of the
book,
Pilgrim's Progress
by John Bunyan,
where you read
there of
Christian on
his journey.
His journey to
rid himself of
this great
burden on
his back,
and the
different
directions that
he went along
that journey.
And yet the
last part of
the journey,
as he's
ascending up
this hill,
as he's
making his
way up this
hill, and he
stands before
the cross,
that is where
he begins to
realize that
under heaven
there is
purpose.
It's not that
there's nothing
at the top,
but for the
Christian there
is everything.
And what
Christian found
was that as
he came to
the cross,
his burden
was loosed.
It fell off
his back.
It tumbled
away, never
to be seen
again.
And Christian
said, as it
says, with a
merry heart,
he said,
he hath given
me rest by
his sorrow
and life
by his
death.
There is
something at
the top for
the Christian
to see,
and that is
Christ, the
one we were
hearing of
this morning,
the man in
the middle,
the man on
the middle
cross,
the one who
we search
and we should
be searching
for to find
meaning in
life.
We find it
in him
as we come
to the
cross.
don't come
to the
point where
you wish
you could
listen and
no longer
you can hear
that word,
no longer
hear that
voice,
but listen
to the
preacher as
he is speaking
to you.
What is there
to gain by
toiling under
the sun?
It's all
vanity of
vanities,
grace,
but there
is meaning
found in
the voice
of God,
in the
voice of
his son
that says
come,
come and
I will
give you
rest.
When you
reach that
top and
you see it
is all
there,
it is all
done,
it is
finished
by him.
when you
skip right
forward to
the end
of the
book of
Ecclesiastes
into chapter
12 and
verse 13,
it says
this,
the end
of the
matter,
all has
been heard,
fear God
and keep
his commandments
for this
is the
whole
duty
of man.
There is
purpose.
It all
seems so
vain on
our search
and we
think to
ourselves,
I still
haven't found
what I'm
looking for.
Well,
it is found
in this
as a
preacher
says,
fear God
and keep
his
commandments.
Listen,
to his
word,
for this
is the
whole
duty
of man.
Don't
keep
yourself
trapped
in the
hamster's
wheel
where
everything
just
seems
to be
going
round
and
round
the
same
all
the
time.
Instead,
reach out,
reach out
to Christ
and he
is the
one
who we
can come
to
and find
rest
and find
meaning
and find
purpose
and find
life
and life
to the
full
as he
offers
to us
as we
come
to him.
Let us
hear what
the word
of God
says.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
we thank
you that
with you
there is
a word
that is
unchanging
and unchangeable,
a wisdom
that is not
the wisdom
of this
world that
is new
with each
passing
generation,
but a
wisdom
that remains
the same
down through
every generation.
There is
nothing new
under the
sun.
So,
Lord,
help us
to see
our purpose,
to find
our meaning
and to
search for
you,
Lord,
while we
have that
opportunity,
to seek
the Lord
while he
is to be
found,
to call
upon him
while he
is near.
Teach us
in all
these
things
and help
us to
see that
it is not
all in
vain,
that with
Christ there
is life
and life
to the
full.
So,
we ask
it all
for his
glory,
with the
forgiveness
of our
sin.
Amen.
We're going
to conclude
by singing
to God's
praise in
Psalm 33.
The
Psalm we
began with.
Psalm 33,
page 246.
of the
Psalm books.
We're going
to sing
verse 18
down to
the end
of the
Psalm.
Psalm 33
at verse 18.
Behold
on those
that do
him fear,
the Lord
hath set
his eye,
even those
who on
his mercy
do with
confidence
rely.
We'll sing
from 18
down to
the end
of the
Psalm
to God's
praise.
hold on
those
that do
him fear,
the Lord
does
set
his
eye.
In
those
who on
his mercy
do,
in those
who on
his mercy
do,
with
confidence
rely.
from death
to free
their
soul
in
death,
life
unto
them
to
yield,
our
soul
doth
wait
upon
the
Lord,
our
soul
doth
wait
upon
the
Lord,
he
is
our
help
and
shield,
saith
in
his
holy
name
we
trust,
our
heart
shall
joy
for
thee,
Lord,
let
thy
mercy
be
on
us,
Lord,
let
thy
mercy
be
on
us,
as
we
do
hope
in
thee.
After the
benediction,
I'll go to the
main door,
we'll close
with a
benediction.
Now may
grace,
mercy,
and peace
from God,
Father,
Son,
and Holy
Spirit,
rest upon
and abide
with you
all,
no one
forevermore.
Amen.
God
but
Thank you.