All Streams Run to the Sea

Daily Reading:  Ecclesiastes 1-2

Scripture Focus: All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full. (Ecclesiastes 1.7a)

Devotional Thought: Today, we begin to make our way through the book of Ecclesiastes.  Most scholars agree that King Solomon, the wise son of David, was the author of this book.  This book is part of the genre known as wisdom literature, and needs to be read poetically and understood metaphorically.  The author expresses his struggles in vivid language that are not to be read as settled fact.  Still, there is much to be gained in the understanding of truth.

I love what Solomon wrote in chapter 1, verse 7: "All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full."  I thought about some of the seas that never are full...

·        The sea of God's love.  God's love is a boundless ocean ready to receive one more sinner.  As the old hymn says, "Though millions have come, there is still room for one.  There is room at the cross for you."

·        The sea of God's forgetfulness.  Micah 7.19 says that God will throw our sins into the depths of the sea where they will never again be brought before the remembrance of God.  The blood of Jesus washes our sins into that sea!

·        The seas of obstacles.  The Hebrew children saw the Red Sea as an obstacle, but God saw it as an opportunity to display his awesome power.  God pours his grace and power into that sea which is never too full for us to cross!

·        The seas of possibilities.  Psalm 104:25 says, "Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great."  The mysteries and wonders of life are inexhaustible.  Life is an adventure in the infinite creativity of God!

Let's go down to the sea and see the mighty wonders of our God!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the streams that flow through my life.  Some are good and pleasant while others are hard and sad.  Thank you that all of them end up in the ocean of your love.  Help me see the wonders of your mighty love.

Psalm of the Day:  16 For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death. 17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! 18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones! 19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day! 20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life! (Psalms 109:16-20)