Daily Devotionals

'Every Day Light' with Selwyn Hughes

Devotional: September 4th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Ecclesiastes 7:1

We are now at the halfway mark of the Book of Ecclesiastes, and one notices immediately a change of perspective. Solomon's cynicism does not altogether disappear, but a new note is being struck which rings out most clearly in this chapter and then continues to the end of the book. That new note is - wisdom. Solomon changes from a narrative to a proverbial style, and its effect is as dramatic as the sun breaking through the clouds on a dark and stormy day. He begins this chapter with a series of seven comparative proverbs, all built around the word better. First, "A good name is better than fine perfume." A modern translation of that might read: "A good name is better than Chanel No. 5." A good name means a good character. It has been said that reputation is what others think of us, character is what we are deep down inside. Take care of your character and your reputation will take care of itself. Second, "the day of death [is] better than the day of birth" (v. 1). Is this really so? Ought we to be mourning people's birth and celebrating at their deaths? Solomon seems to be turning life on its head. Why? Because the days that follow our deaths (for those whose hearts are right with God, that is) are more joyous and carefree than those that follow our births. It's good to feel "at home" with those who love us in this life, but much better, as the old hymn puts it, to be "at home with the Lord."

O God, You are the center of all my values, the center of my life. Can this life die within me? It cannot die any more than You can die. Death is the end of one life and the beginning of a new one. I rest in glad assurance. Thank You, my Father. Amen.