“All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:7-9
God of all ages,
Strange how two people can see the same thing and it depresses one and gives the other delight! How beautiful to see and hear a stream pouring down from its source babbling and tumbling till it becomes a wide river flowing into the deep ocean. To know that water will be drawn up into the clouds to once again return and water the mountains and hills to fill streams. Yet the writer of Ecclesiastes sees it just as an endless same old.
There is nothing new under the sun. A saying still used today and sometimes considered to have been written by Shakespeare in one of his sonnets. The Biblical writer, possibly Solomon, in his old age, contemplates the problems of life. They would be the same today boiled down to three things:: money, power or sex. Today there appears to be nothing new under the sun.
But looking through Your eyes Lord we see Your view. From the beginning and creation (Genesis) to the end of the book and beginning of a new creation (a new heaven and earth) there is hope, promise and life. And those beautiful prayers that Jesus prayed for us, those of us not yet even born (John 17:20)!
We see that there is nothing new under the sun. The same old sins beset our world. But Your love is new every morning. There are thousands of good deeds being done in Your name. New Christians are finding Your life, love and leading. Miracles still happen. Every day.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of all that is new,
For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our church ministers, leaders and congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Parliament resitting in September.
For Ukraine. An end to end war, soon.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions for a reconciliation and lasting peace. Keep them talking.
For Christian media and Christians in the media.
For those who need to see above the turmoil of life and find Your peace.
For those dependent on drugs to find freedom in You, those with anxiety and fear, peace.
For the internet. That the dark side be uncovered, censored and made accountable.
For us to know a good day, a godly day, A day full of hope and contentment,
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 30th August 2024
I much prefer this tune.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.
The purple headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,−
He made them every one:
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Lyrics: Cecil Francis Alexander