OUR FATHER WHO DIRECTS HIS PROPHETS

The book of Ezekiel chapter 19 verses 1 - 2 says this;

 “Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel and say:

“‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions!

She lay down among them and reared her cubs.

The princes of Israel were the leaders of the Israelite society and Ezekiel the prophet was charged by the Lord to lament to the princes by speaking to them about the lioness who was their spiritual mother.

The lioness who was their mother lay down among the other lions and reared her cubs in their midst.

The lioness represents the spiritual power behind the nation of Israel and the prophet reveals to the princes of Israel that their mother was indeed  formidable and raised her cubs while ensconced in the middle of other kingdoms.

Amen.

5

OUR FATHER WHO IS GRACIOUS UNTO US

From psalm 67;

May God turn to us and be gracious

May He bless us and shine His face on us

That His ways may be known to every nation

So the whole earth would hear of His salvation 

May the people be glad and joyfully sing

May they ever praise their righteous and holy King

He rules in goodness, justice and equity 

May His grace be upon us for all eternity

4

OUR FATHER WHO HEARS MY CRY

From Psalm 6;

Turn, Lord, and deliver me

Because Your love remains forever

Lord hear my cry for mercy

By grace accept my humble prayer

Heal me Lord, I am in anguish

All night long I am in tears

O Lord, my God, don't let me perish

That I may ever proclaim Your praise

2

OUR FATHER REVEALS THE CORRUPT  MOTIVATION FOR THE PERPETUATION OF OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE IN A KINGDOM

The book of Ecclessiates chapter 5 verse 9 says this;

The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

The produce of agricultural land supplies sustenance for everyone but in kingdoms where oppression and injustice are found, a system of corruption has entrenched itself where the hierachy of rulership takes portions of the produce and the king himself, at the top, skims from everyone.

Tellingly, when there is a famine in the land, those who benefitted from the land when it was productive do not repay those from whom they took a portion.

In order to maintain this system that benefits those in political power, any people who object are oppressed and injustice is imposed and rights are denied to the poor to ensure that they perpetually supply the system with voiceless effort.

Such is the nature of corrupt kingdoms.

OUR FATHER WHO WARNS OF DOCTRINAL CORRUPTION

The book of 1 Timothy chapter 4 verses 1 - 3 says this;

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 

Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 

They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, warns him that the Spirit of God had expressly warned of an approaching time when some people would turn away from the faith and begin to heed the leadings of deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons.

The instruments through whom these false teachings come through would be lying hypocrites who had burned their consciences numb.

These fake teachers would spread wrong doctrines like forbidding people to marry and setting up  mandatory dietary restrictions which, in correct doctrine, do not apply to believers.

To avoid the infestations of these teachings that would lead people astray, Timothy was instructed by Paul to point these things out to brothers and sisters in Christ, to diligently watch his own life and doctrine and to set a good example for everyone in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

As mentioned in 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 16,

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHOSE DAY OF VENGEANCE IS FORETOLD 

The book of Isaiah chapter 63 verse 4 says this;

It was for me the day of vengeance;  the year for me to redeem had come.

This verse, prophesied as the words of the Lord by prophet Isaiah, speaks of the day of retribution by the Lord.

The day had come when the nations would be trampled underfoot and when the winepress would be trodden in wrath. 

The appointed day of vengeance had arrived and with it also came the year of redemption. 

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SHOULD BE FEARED FAR MORE THAN MEN AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS

The book of Isaiah chapter 14 verse 17, referring to the king of Babylon and the spiritual king above that kingdom, describes what the former rulers of this world pondered as they watched him fall  into the pit after he had once made them all fear.  He was described as;

the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”

The rulers who looked upon the dreaded central figure of darkness while he entered the pit, are astonished at how fearful they were of him while he was tormenting them and yet here he lay, powerless in the face of the Lord as His body decayed among the worms. His judgment was heaped upon him without remedy.

We who live on the earth are innordinately fearful of men and the powers of darkness but these can only destroy the body. The scriptures say that we should instead fear the Lord our God much more as stated by the Lord Jesus in Mathew chapter 10 verse 28 which reads;

And fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO WILL GATHER HIS PEOPLE

The book of Isaiah chapter 43 verses 4 - 6 says this;

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

This passage records the Lord speaking to the children of Israel in loving and protective terms where He tells them that they are precious and honoured in His sight and that He loves them and He will protect them and redeem them.

The Lord tells them that He will gather the children from the far reaches of the earth back into the land of their inheritance.

In the subsequent verse 7, the Lord generalizes the group of people who are the children of Israel to include everyone who is called by the Lord's name whom He created for His Glory. It reads this way;

everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

The Lord will gather to Himself all His people and will shield them from floods and flames. 

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SHINES FORTH

From Psalm 50;

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,

Summons the heavens and the earth

From the rising of the sun

To where it sets again He says;

Gather to me this consecrated people

Who made a covenant with Me by my sacrifice

Giving offerings of thanks honors Me

And the blameless I will show my salvation

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS GREAT IN ZION

From Psalm 99;

The Lord reigns

Let the nations quake

He sits enthroned between the cherubim

Let the whole earth shake

Great is the One in Zion

Holy is the Lord

Let's worship at His holy mountain

Exalt our awesome God

See the great King He is mighty

In Him alone we trust

For the Lord our God He is holy

And All His ways are just

2

OUR FATHER WHO QUESTIONS CREATING AND PROMOTING THE USE OF IDOLS

The book of Isaiah chapter 44 verses 9 - 10 says this;

All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.

Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.

Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing?

The Lord, in this passage, puts the idol making industry to shame. 

Those who make idols, as they try to confer value on the idols they make, are themselves rendered valueless.  They try to cherish worthless things and then try to induce other people to  value the things that are valueless.

Even the people who promote the adoption of these idols are blind and ignorant and bear their responsibility for doing so.

The question posed by the Lord  is, who, in their right mind would engage in such an enterprise which profits nothing?

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE WORD DOES NOT RETURN TO HIM VOID

The book of Isaiah chapter 55 verses 10 - 11 says this;

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,  so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

 It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire  and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

A word that is uttered by God purposefully goes out to achieve His will and intention.

 In the same way that rain falls from heaven and waters the earth and facilitates life to flourish and new seeds to be created and food for people to eat before evaporating back  to heaven, the word of God goes forth to cause life to spring forth in dry hearts and to be planted as seeds in the hearts of men to germinate in due time and to be bread as food for the souls of men.

The word of the Lord does not return to Him void but every place the word reaches, it fulfils its function and returns to the Lord.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE PEOPLE WILL BE PERSECUTED FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE

The book of Isaiah chapter 66 verses  5 -6 says this;

Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word:

“Your own people who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said,

‘Let the Lord be glorified,  that we may see your joy!’  Yet they will be put to shame.

This verse echoes the words of the Lord Jesus where He says in Matthew chapter 10 verse 22;

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

In Isaiah, the people who are persecuting God's people believe they are serving God by persecuting them. These, as the scripture says, will be put to shame.

Then, as verse 6 says, they will face judgement from the Lord;

Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple!

It is the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve.

Those who fought the Lord's people will face the anger of God as He metes out the judgement on those who persecuted His people and they will be put them to shame.

Have mercy on us O Lord.

Amen.

2 

OUR FATHER WHO CLEANSES HIS PEOPLE AND THEN PLACES THEM UNDER HIS PROTECTION

The book of Isaiah chapter 4 verse 4, from the Amplified version,  says this;

When the Lord has washed away the [moral] filth of the daughters of Zion and has cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,

The verse then continues into verse 5 saying this;

then the LORD will create over the entire site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud by day, smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory and brilliance will be a canopy [a defense, a covering of His divine love and protection].

At the time when the Lord cleanses the people of Zion from their immorality and their bloodshed with a fiery judgement, He will  create a system of protection like the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that went ahead of the people of Israel as they left the bondage of Egypt behind and travelled to the promised land.

The people of God who are admitted into the kingdom of Zion will reside on mount Zion and there, the Lord will make a protective shield so that they are secure forever dwelling on Mount Zion the mountain of God.

Psalm chapter 15 lists the type of people who will be able to live on the holy mountain of God.

It reads this way;

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

The one whose 

1- walk is blameless

2- who does what is righteous, 

3- who speaks the truth from their heart; 

4- whose tongue utters no slander, 

5- who does no wrong to a neighbor, and

6- casts no slur on others; 

7- who despises a vile person 

8-but honors those who fear the Lord; 

9-who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 

10-who lends money to the poor without interest; 

11-who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. 

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Amen.

3

OUR FATHER WHO UPHOLDS US

From Psalm 41;

Praise be to my Lord 

The God of Israel

Raise me up

Don't let me fall

Have mercy on me Lord

Be pleased with my song

Uphold me in your arms 

Forever and amen

3

 OUR FATHER WHO REDEEMED US

From Psalm 107;

Let the redeemed  of the Lord say so

Tell of how He saved us from danger 

Give thanks to the Lord our God  

For he is good His love endures forever

Some of us were thirsty, hungry and lost

Others were chained in darkness, terror and loss

Some of us were wandering, couldn't find a home

Others were afflicted, oppressed and alone

Then He turned the desert into flowing springs

And this why my heart rejoices and sings

4

OUR FATHER WHOM WE EXTOL

From Psalm 105

He is the covering cloud by day

A fire of light at night

Glory in His holy name

Praise Him with all your might

Let's sing praises joyful praises

Proclaim the things He's done

Let's extol and exalt Him always

Our God of Abraham

Longer version

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES WISDOM TO ANYONE WHO ASKS

The book of Ecclesiates chapter 7 verses 1 - 7, dispensing words of wisdom,  says this;

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

This verse teaches that a good name is more enduring than expensive perfume. It brings to mind the verse in Mathew chapter 26 verses 12 - 13, where a woman, overcome with remorse, breaks a jar of costly perfume over the Lord's body.  The Lord made this statement when the people around commented on her actions;

When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

This gesture of humble adoration is an illustration of how the woman was willing to expend a whole bottle of perfume in exchange for a good name for all the coming ages when the Lord Jesus declared that she would be remembered throughout the world because of her action.

The next section advises that we should give preference to somber and solemn events rather than events marked by laughter, feasting and pleasure.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone;  the living should take this to heart.

Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. 

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,  but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

The counsel given is that the hearts of the wise gravitate towards occasions of mourning while the hearts of the foolish are drawn to occasions of pleasure.

The section that follows speaks to the value to our lives that the wise and the foolish bring.

It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

These verses advise us that qualitatively, it is better to hear the rebuke of a wise man than to listen to the  song of fools. Even though a rebuke sometimes difficult  and even painful to receive, it profits us far more than to listen to a pleasant song of fools. The songs and laughter of fools bring no gain to our lives but are like thorns crackling in a fire where they burn away and amount to nothing.

This verse speaks of two ways that people can be induced to perform certain tasks or to overlook some activity. A person could be extorted or person could be bribed; 

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

This insight given here is that if a wise man is subjected to extortion, he is turned into a fool because every option he has to choose between yields a bad result. 

On the other hand, if a wise man is offered a bribe and he accepts it, his heart will get corrupted in a way that shapes how he percieves himself and how he is perceived by other people.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANT

The book of Isaiah chapter 42 verses 1 - 2 says this;

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,  and he will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.

First, this passage records the Lord pointing out and introducing His servant to the people which is echoed in Mathew chapter 3 verse 3 which, even quoting Isaiah, speaks of announcing to the people the arrival of the Lord;

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Secondly, this expected One is described in Isaiah as the One in whom the Lord delighted.

This mirrors the words that came from heaven when Jesus was being baptized by John the baptist in Mathew chapter 3 verse 17 which, in the Amplified version,  says;

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”

It is notable that "the One", in Isaiah, who delighted the Father, was a servant and "the One" in Mathew, was a Son.

Thirdly, the Lord, in Isaiah, says that He would put His Spirit on the servant while in Mathew, at the Baptism scene,  Mathew chapter 3 verse 16 says this;

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

These three converging conditions in both books,  namely that God would publically point out the One who was chosen, and that the Lord was delighted in Him and that the Spirit of God would be placed on him, establish that the Servant and the Son, are one and the same person and that the promised Son would be revealed first as a servant.

This humble starting place for the Servant of God would take Him through paths of rejection, scorn,  accusations and trials  that ended in death but out of that, the perfection of the Son of God would cause Him to rise from death and ascend to the right hand of the Father, the servant now revealed as the King of glory.

Amen.

3

OUR FATHER OF WHOM THE WHOLE EARTH WILL MARVEL

Psalm 99 100 verse 10 1 says this;

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

This verse outlines the appropriate scale and type of response that the Lord should receive when the whole world sees Him.

The ancient nagging questions that have haunted the entire human race from the dawn of time will be answered in one moment when the glory of God is seen by all.

The deep questions pertaining to our origin, our structure, our condition, our purpose and our destiny will be answered in a moment and joy, expressed in shouting and singing and clapping and weeping will spontaneously burst forth.

Our Creator, in His power and righteousness and perfection, will thrill the entire earth when we behold Him and marvel and tremble.

Blessed is the Lord.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES INCENTIVES TO WALK IN LOVE

Philemon chapter 1 verse 7 says this;

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

The apostle Paul, writing from prison to his friend Philemon, lauds him for the love he had shown to other believers and also for his faith in the Lord Jesus.

Paul tells Philemon that hearing of this love had filled him with joy and encouragement because this love had refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.

The gift that Paul gave to Philemon for the love shown to the people of God was to pray for him so that his activities would give him access to  a deeper understanding of the things that Paul was doing for the sake of Christ.

This means that demonstrating the love of  God to the people of God so as to refresh and revive them, is a channel of gaining deeper revelations of the goods things that shared for the sake of Christ.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO HAS OVERCOME

The book of Ezekiel chapter 2 verses 5 - 6 says this;

And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 

And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 

This passage records the charge that God gave to  the prophet Ezekiel to speak the word of the Lord to people of Israel.

He was to speak to them whether they listened or not.

The people were described as rebelious  which invokes their involvement in witchcraft as alluded to in 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 23 which says;

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,

Ezekiel is instructed not to fear them or whatever they said. Even though fears and worries are cast upon him and witches lived around him, Ezekiel was told by the Lord to be steadfast and unshaken.

This charge is on us as well. We are to be fearless in the face of darkness and its power.

The Lord Jesus made a public spectacle of these powers and they have been placed under His feet.

Amen.

2

 

OUR FATHER WHO ANSWERS US

From Psalm 69;

You answer me, Lord

Out of the goodness of Your love

You rescue me, Lord 

From the deep water of the flood

So..

Let heaven and earth sing 

With grateful hearts tell our story 

Let us honor our King

Tell of His mercy and His love

2

OUR FATHER WHO HEARS US

From Psalm 5;

In the morning Lord, hear my lament

When I pray humbly to You

I cry out for you to protect

Me while I quietly wait on You

Then we who take refuge in You rejoice

In reverence, let's ever sing 

Surely Lord You bless the righteous

Look on us with favour our King

6

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES WARNINGS OF IMPENDING JUDGEMENT

The book of Ezekiel chapter 4 verse 10 says this;

But take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself. This is what you are to eat during the 390 days you lie on your side. You are to weigh out twenty shekels of food to eat each day, and you are to eat it at set times.

The prophet Ezekiel had been instructed by the Lord to lie on the ground for three hundred and ninety days in front of the city of Jerusalem as a sign to them of the siege that was to come against them.

Ezekiel was then instructed to made bread from a variety of grains and this was what he would have to eat for the three hundred and ninety days that he was lying on the ground.

He was then to ration out the bread by taking a set amount of food each day and was to fix the times during the course of the day that the bread could be eaten.

This would represent what the people of Israel would experience when they went into exile by illustrating the scarcity of food as well as the loss of freedom to choose even their own mealtimes 

The coming judgement would expose the people of Israel to the harshness of servitude and Ezekiel demonstrated this to warn the people.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO IS THE JUDGE

The book of Ezekiel chapter 7 verses 1 - 4 says this;

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “O son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel:

‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations.

I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you.

Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

The prophet Ezekiel received a word of warning to give to the land of Israel.

The Lord declared to them that their evil conduct and their iniquity had reached a threshold that triggered judgement upon them that could not be repealed. No pity would be shown to them and when the anger of the Lord was unleashed upon His people, they would certainly know that He is the Lord.

Their violence, pride, idolatry and materialism had sown the seeds of wrath on the land and the  punishment of foreign invasion and  plagues was now inevitable.

Those who survived would flee to the hills where they would tremble and mourn as the unimaginable destruction engulfed their land.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO IS CLOTHED IN GLORY

The book of Ezekiel chapter 8 verse 4 says this;

And there I saw the glory of the God of Israel, like the vision I had seen in the plain.

This verse, written by the prophet Ezekiel to explains a vision he had where he saw the glory of God that was like a previous vision where he had seen the glory of God in the plain.

This first vision is recorded in Ezekiel chapter 1 verses 26 - 27 as follows;

Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man. 

From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him.

Such was the glory of God that Ezekiel saw first by the River Kebar and then again at the city of Jerusalem where he had been carried by the Spirit of God.

Amen.

OUR FATHER GIVES COUNSEL TO HIS OWN PEOPLE 

The book of Ecclessiates chapter 5 verses 1 - 10 says this;

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

When entering the house of God in the spirit, be cautious and self - aware at all times. Listen to the things being said rather than speaking hasty words. Weigh everything you have to say before you say it and do not spontaneously utter anything. The general rule of thumb is to speak a minimal number  few words.

Because God is in heaven and we are on earth, the words we speak in the temporal realm are received in an eternal realm and here, they are measured more stringently that we can.

The visitor into the spirit is cautioned to be calm by putting aside cares and worries because they stir up distracting dreams and many words signify that the speech containing them is that of an inartful person.

Continuing with verse 4;

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.  It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. 

Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

When a person vows anything before the Lord, it is imperative that the promise is promptly kept.

The fear of the Lord must instigate us to fulfil any obligations we have towards Him with no delays or retractions for such are sins. Such breaking of the vows made before the Lord can lead to the destruction of one's work. Making vows based on dreams, speculations and streams of words leads to futility of life. 

Continuing with verse 8;

If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 

The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

When people are oppressed in the land, it is a sure sign that corruption has infiltrated the country and the hierarchy of leaders in government have colluded to take a portion of the efforts of others and to protect one another from scrutiny.  At the top, the king of the land gathers his share from the structure of officials to his own profit. Such incentives perpetuate the systems of oppression and they are entrenched in the land.

Continuing with verse 10; 

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

The irrational addiction to money that does not have an upper-limit that is considered enough, leads to a meaningless and futile life that has no eternal significance. 

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES WISDOM TO THOSE WHO REQUEST IT WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED

The book of Ecclesiates chapter 4 verses 1 - 10 says this:

Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter.

And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

The reality of oppression is that once people have fallen under oppression, they are powerless to end it and even though they cry,  no man comes to their aid. Men, their fallen state under the dominion of darkness, have no power to redeem themselves. Only the Lord brings comfort by His Holy Spirit and orchestrates their reprieve from oppression as their redeemer.

Continuing with verse 4;

And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.

Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

Here, the ceaseless work that is expended to try keep up with the Jones and participating in the rat race is described as a pointless  futility but on the other hand, sitting  around idly is a recipe for personal ruin. 

Gaining one portion of provision through the tranquility and peace of spiritual blessing is better than working in the flesh to gain two portions.

Continuing with verse 7;

Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. 

There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.

“For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”

This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

The futility of endlessly working and accumulating wealth with no one to share it with lead to a question arising, "For whom am I toiling".

This may in fact  be the impetus of the Son of God  to create the human race for He had no son or brother and in the human race, He has those He calls sons and brothers with whom He shares His inheritance.

Continuing with verse 9;

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Here, the amplification of effectiveness by joining forces with others is illustrated. Two persons working in concert are able to create some efficiencies that allow them to achieve more. As well, in unified teams, there are some safeguards against permanently falling.

In teams of two, they can help each other stand if they fall and they can effectively defend against attacks by being able to guard each other's backs and when one sleeps, the other can watch.

Teams of three people working in unity are not easily broken apart by enemy forces. 

If a team of two is under sever attack, a third member brings exponentially more defensive power.

The scripture here advises us to form small  teams of two  and even three when engaging in the things of the spirit.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO IS AWESOME IN POWER

From Psalm 47 and 48;

How beautiful is Mount Zion 

The joy of the whole world

City of the Great King

For the Lord Most High is awesome

He reigns in power over all nations

Sing praises to God, sing praises

To Him let us joyfully sing

The Lord is greatly exalted

Amid resounding trumpets, He ascended

For God is the King over all the earth

All the rulers assemble before Him.

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