Ecclesiastes Part III

Ecclesiastes Part III

     This is the third and final posting for the questions for the Book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is a mournful and depressing book, much like many in the Bible, but the difference I find with Ecclesiastes is its depth of depression that very obviously originates with the horribly hopeless idea that EVERYTHING is meaningless. Remember, this absurd and deeply melancholy notion of meaninglessness is in text that is supposed to be inspired by God. You might think that a God of everlasting love and immutable beauty would be more adept to something more along the lines of shining inspiration, truly happy words that uplift and encourage. I guess not.

1. Ecclesiastes 10:4

     4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

Questions

     1. If calmness can lay great offenses to rest why doesn't it work when it comes to the anger of God when He thinks people have really offended Him? 

     2. People pray and plead and put on sackcloth and all kinds of shit, and does God reign in His anger? Sure, after He promotes a new pestilence, kills a couple of really innocent people, ravages the crops, and causes a mighty flood that kills a b-zillion people, right?

     3. Do not leave your post. Does this infer that people should not forsake their belief in God, even when really screwy things happen because God is supposedly angry? If they stay at their POST and maintain their belief is that supposed to bring the calmness that gives rest to their supposed offenses?

2. Ecclesiastes 10:11

     11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.

Questions

     1. What about the greatest snake charmer of them all, God? What about Him? Why should God receive His fee of glory when He fucks up everything He does from the very start? 

     2. God creates this innocent man and woman in the Garden of Eden and they make a huge mistake, yet they don't know any better because they don't know about good and evil and disobedience because God didn't create them with such knowledge. So, God's planning and creation fails from the very freaking beginning and He punishes man for God's bullshit mistake and STILL tries to collect on his fee of glory?

3. Ecclesiastes 10:20

     20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Questions

     1. Sooo, God/the Lord is the ultimate Big Brother, isn't He? Be careful of what you say because a little bird might go back and report what you said to someone who just might put your ass in a sling? So much for being born free.

4. Ecclesiastes 11:3

     3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

Questions

     1. Sure, in the place where the tree falls it will lie, but when it falls and there is no one around to hear it fall does it still make a sound?

5. Ecclesiastes 11:5

     5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Questions

     1. Isn't it true that we now know the patterns of the wind on the earth and what causes the wind?

     2. Isn't it true that we now know how a fetus develops within a woman's body?

     3. If we now know these things then wouldn't it stand to reason we CAN understand the work of God?

6. Ecclesiastes 11:8-10

     8 However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

     9 You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

     10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Questions

     1. What do the days of darkness matter if everything to come is meaningless?

     2. If everything to come is meaningless and if the judgment is part of what is to come, doesn't it also make sense that the judgment would be meaningless as well?

     3. Verse ten says to cast off troubles and banish anxiety, but what do these things matter if everything is meaningless?

     4. Why banish anxiety and cast off troubles when Ecclesiastes 7:3 says that frustration is better than laughter and a sad face is good for the heart?

7. Ecclesiastes 12:14

     14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Questions

     1. Ecclesiastes 12:8 says that everything is meaningless. This is not the only verse that states such. In fact, much of Ecclesiastes is about everything being meaningless. If everything is meaningless, why in the world would God judge anything?

     2. If something is meaningless is it still worthy to be judged? If so WHY?

     3. Would judging the meaningless be considered pointless? If God is judging the meaningless wouldn't He be behaving in a pointless manner? Why would a perfect divine being behave in a pointless manner?

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Proverbs Part I

Proverbs Part I

     We are finally able to move on from the Book of Psalms to the Book of Proverbs. The Book of Proverbs is loaded with verses repeated over and over, or simply reworded five different ways...but still the same verses. One of the things I found interesting in Proverbs was the number of times that avoiding the evil wiles of women is discussed. Does the Almighty have a problem with women? Pick up and read the Book of Proverbs and you just might think He does. Sure, a mere mortal man wrote the book, but isn't it supposed to be God-inspired?

     Now let us move on to the first posting for the questions for the verses in the Book of Proverbs.

1. Proverbs 1:4-5, 7

     4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—

     5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 

     7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Questions
     1. Okay, simple people just don't get certain things due to their simple minds, right? They do not have the mental capacity to obtain and hold more than a certain amount, correct? It is not that they are stupid, no. A stupid person knows better but chooses differently, right? A stupid person can learn prudence, but can a simple person learn prudence when they don't even have the mental capacity to know much of anything to begin with?

     2. How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge? Is it because that to the Lord the most important thing is that He have the mighty fear of those around Him?

     3. If the Lord's/God's people serve Him, how does the fear of those who serve Him benefit the Lord/God?

2. Proverbs 1:32-33

     32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

     33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Questions
     1. Didn't we just discuss this? Simple people are not the same as stupid people, correct?

     2. Would you agree that a wayward person is one who knows better BUT who chooses differently? If such is the case wouldn't a wayward person be synonymous with a STUPID person and not a simple minded person?

     3. A simple minded person just does not know any better so how in the fuck can they be considered wayward?

3. Proverbs 2:3-5

     3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

     4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

     5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Questions
     1. Insight is birthed from understanding which is itself received by the individual, thus HOW can it be justly stated that one would call or cry out for either?

     2. Why try to draw a parallel between insight and understanding and the fear of the Lord/God? This is far more than just a little stretch, wouldn't you say?

     3. Sooo, is the knowledge of God the fact that He must be feared or that He survives off of fear?

     4. What happens to God/the Lord if no one fears Him?

4. Proverbs 2:16-17
     16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words,

     17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.

Questions
     1. The Book of Proverbs has a lot to say about avoiding the adulterous woman and seems to go great lengths to make it seem as though it is not really a problem with the man so much as it is a problem with the typical wicked woman. Why is this?


5. Proverbs 2:21-22
     21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

     22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Questions
     1. Sooo, when the Native Americans were torn from their lands was it because God thought they were unfaithful? Does it not matter because they were not His people? But doesn't everyone belong to God?

     2. Sooo, the problems that modern-day Israel has had with maintaining their land are because they are unfaithful?

6. Proverbs 3:5

     5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Questions
     1. Does this mean to NOT trust yourself? How far is one supposed to go with not trusting the self?

     2. Isn't it a dangerous thing to NOT trust yourself? Doesn't trust start with the self?

7. Proverbs 3:11-12

     11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,

     12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Questions
     1. Have you seen how the Lord/God dishes out discipline? 

     2. Sooo, when the Lord/God is committing genocide or commanding genocide He is only doing so out of love?

8. Proverbs 3:13-17

     13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,

     14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

     15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

     16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

     17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Questions
     1. Sooo, you say wisdom is more precious than silver and gold and then you say that in her hand are riches. That just makes no sense, does it?

     2. If God/the Lord is the ultimate in wisdom and the ways of wisdom are peaceful and pleasant, why in the hell isn't God/the Lord more peaceful and pleasant?

9. Proverbs 3:25-26

     25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

     26 for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

Questions
     1. How is it possible for the Lord to be the one to keep your foot from being snared when in a different set of verses it clearly says the Lord commands His angels to do the protecting?

     2. Sooo, who is it who does the protecting? The angels? The Lord? Both?

10. Proverbs 3:33-34

     33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

     34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Questions
     1. Does the Lord/God favor the humble and the oppressed because He feeds off of their immense fears?

11. Proverbs 6:16-19

     16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

     17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

     18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,

     19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Questions
     1. Make up your mind, is it six or is it seven?

     2. Doesn't God/the Lord Himself fill at least three of these traits?

     3. Hasn't the Lord/God shed innocent blood time and time again?

   4. Hasn't the Lord/God devised wicked schemes, like when He purposely hardened Pharaoh's heart?

     5. Hasn't the Lord/God stirred up conflict by purposely pointing out differences between His people and others?

12. Proverbs 9:13

     13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 

Questions
     1. Isn't an unruly woman different from a woman who is simply a simple minded person?

     2. An unruly woman is a woman who knows better. A simple minded woman does NOT know any better. Why in the hell does the Book of Proverbs consistently try to make these two into the same goddamn thing?

13. Proverbs 10:3

     3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Questions
     1. Sooo, if we go according to this verse all of those who starved during the Holocaust were unrighteous? There were loads of people who went hungry then, right? Weren't many of those people the LORD'S people?

     2. The Nazis were ravenous wolves if there ever were any, and those mother fuckers got a huge chunk of what they wanted for quite a while. In fact, the little bastards are still hanging around, aren't they? Sooo, when will the cravings of the wicked, such as the Nazis, going to be thwarted PERMANENTLY?

     3. Does the Lord only temporarily thwart the cravings of the wicked? Why?

     4. Is the Lord/God only referring to the afterlife and NOT how things go here in the real world? Does the Lord mean that in the afterlife the righteous will not go hungry, but here in the real world many righteous will suffer and starve while the wicked will reap the riches of the earth?

14. Proverbs 10:12

     12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Questions
     1. If love conquers all wrongs then WHY doesn't God/the Lord use love to conquer all instead of bloody wars?

15. Proverbs 13:11

     11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Questions
     1. Do you think that Bernie Madhoff knew this?

     2. Do you think that the filthy rich televangelists know these verses?

16. Proverbs 13:24

     24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

Questions
     1. Does hitting children really teach them anything other than it is okay to hit other people?

     2. Why are children so badly treated in the Bible? Remember when Abraham came that close to sacrificing his son at the request of God? How about the Son of God being sacrificed?

17. Proverbs 13:25

     25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Questions
     1. Does this verse mean in the afterlife and not in real life?

     2. How many wicked folk in the present times go to sleep with their bellies full?

     3. Sooo, are the hungry homeless of the earth all unrighteous?

18. Proverbs 14:4-5

     4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

     5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

Questions
     1. Are these verses really examples of the wisdom of Solomon? Where there are no oxen the manger is empty? No shit, Sherlock.

     2. An honest witness does not deceive? Really? Isn't that like saying a glass with water in it is not empty? Seriously.

19. Proverbs 15:3

     3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Questions
     1. Well, since God/the Lord IS supposed to be Omni-Present I suppose it could be said that His eyes are everywhere. BUT, is that what this verse means?

     2. Does this verse mean that the Lord has eyes everywhere because he has his little angel slaves slinking around keeping tabs on everybody?

20. Proverbs 16:4

     4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.

Questions
     1. Isn't this one of the oft favored verses of Christians when they cannot explain something? Don't worry, the Lord/God has it all worked out in the end, right?

21. Proverbs 17:28

     28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

Questions
     1. This is not fucking wisdom. Just because a fool is thought to be wise and discerning because he has kept his trap shut does not make him wise or discerning, right? Even a sleeping dog left to continue sleeping is STILL a sleeping dog and nothing else, correct?

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