Bible Studies
Ecclesiasticus 51:1-12 NRSV offers much for us to consider prayerfully as we apply it to our lives. It is found in the Apocrypha and was written during the inter-testamental period, that is, between the Old and New Testaments.
This passage begins with the statement: “I give thanks, O Lord and King, and praise you, O God my Saviour”, reminding us that this is the way to begin each day. We can never find enough time to be grateful but we are quick to make new requests. What if we spent tomorrow saying thank you to God for every remembered blessing, every present privilege and every anticipated promise being fulfilled? Just focus on the cross, the beauty of creation, the laughter of a child, the antics of a pet, a hot meal, a cool drink, a good friend, a loving family, or some other point of prayerful departure until you have one item to celebrate every day in the month of August.
The writer goes on to mention God’s protection and help, leading us to recall occasions when we narrowly escaped death in a traffic accident, received a clean bill of health from the doctor, or needed wisdom and guidance to make an important decision. How much are we allowing God to help us? Where do we need the most help?
Much of the discussion in these verses, from this point on, centres on being delivered from “destruction and the trap laid by a slanderous tongue, from lips that fabricate lies.” It is too common an occurrence in many homes, places of work and even church, and so all of us need to consider our positions on honesty and general integrity.
There are times when we may feel all alone and when we sense the hot breath of the enemy nearby, as he says, “they surrounded me on every side, and there was no one to help me; I looked for human assistance, and there was none.”
Just as his solution was to send up a prayer, so too prayer has to be the way that we find our way to safer ground. In fact, Psalm 62 begins with another equally effective image to strengthen us:
“My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (v. 1-2 NIV)
The more difficult our days, the more we need to have ourselves rooted and grounded, anchored in the Lord. We may as well get ready for the battles as spiritual warfare cannot be avoided.
Our summary of this Scripture leaves us with thoughts of thanks, protection and help, lies and truth, aloneness and intimacy with God. Continue to apply biblical truths to your daily life so that you are living within God’s reality. This is how the word becomes enfleshed within us, and the presence of Christ is made visible in us.
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