Old things New Podcast

Pray Read Ecc 2:1-11. Meditation What about love? The pleasures and delights of sexual relationships? As Solomon looked around, he saw that this was an obvious candidate for satisfaction and joy. In verse 8 he says, “I got many concubines, the delight of the sons of men.” And there’s no doubt about it: sex can be a true delight. It is a gift of God, as we see in Proverbs 5:18 where Solomon says, “...

Pray Read Ecc 2:1-11. Meditation Do you listen to much music? I feel like I have a soundtrack for every season of my life, and the right music at the right time can touch the soul in profound ways. Some people live for music. Some devote the lives entirely to it. In verse 8 of our passage, Solomon calls us forward, because there are more dead ends he wants us to see in this labyrinth. There was no...

Money, money, money! (Ecc 2:7). Pray Read Ecc 2:1-11. Meditation Solomon has found that both alcohol and work are dead ends in the search for satisfaction. What else can we try? As he looks around, he notices that people seem to like money and possessions. They chase after it. They hoard it. That is still true today. There is a constant chase for a higher pay grade. People buy lottery tickets in t...

Pray Read Ecc 2:1-11. Meditation So there was no answer in drink. But surely, Solomon, his critics say, you just need to do something more meaningful. Drinking is such a base desire. You just need to look for pleasure in something more meaningful. “Alright,” says Solomon, “try me. Let’s go with projects and industry, with development and achievement. Let’s pursue something more noble. I will build...

Pray Read Ecc 2:1-11. Meditation In verse 3 Solomon begins with wine. People everywhere enjoy wine and alcohol, don’t they? That was true in Solomon’s day, and it’s still true now. I remember in high school, at university, and in the workplace, people looked forward to drinking on the weekend. For some of them, it was the highlight of their lives. You probably look forward to a good drink yourself...

Pray Read Ecc 2:1-11. Meditation The truth is that we’re all on a search for happiness. Contentment, enjoyment, pleasure, joy, satisfaction. You can see it in the way that we try to avoid pain. You can see it in the way that we prioritise the things we want. Football fans in Melbourne dedicate their time and money to the sport because they enjoy it. Travellers save their money and spend their spar...

Note: Sorry, no picture this time - I have run out of my monthly usage on midjourney :( Want to support an upgrade to my subscription and ensure this doesn’t happen again? Why not become a paid subscriber! :) “I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.” Solomon is speaking here about the pursuit of wisdom: “ I applied m...

On his quest to search out the meaning of life, here is where Solomon starts: I set my heart to search out by wisdom all that was done under the sun. And here is his conclusion, his summary based on everything he has seen in life (v14): “ I have seen everything that is done under the sun, ” says the preacher, “ and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. ” All is hevel, all is temporary a...

What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? It’s a question that has perplexed and troubled people throughout history. Philosophers have spent lifetimes searching for the answer, scientists have searched under microscopes and probed the heavens. World religions are full of seekers, all searching or thinking themselves to have found the answer. Some say there is no answer. But let me begin by ask...

The door in front of you is ancient oak and black metal. The stonework of the walls towers above, worn smooth by time, and half consumed by the deep green ivy splashed across the grey colourscape. A pale mist moves slowly in the air, hanging before these portals. The forest behind you is quiet in the early morning chill, and the distant birdsong hails a sunrise yet to come. The dull yellow light o...

For many Christians, the book of Ecclesiastes has been an enigma. Maybe you’ve noticed that for yourself when you’ve read it. The Preacher of Ecclesiastes says all sorts of things, many of which are troubling, perplexing, and even seem heretical on the surface. The main refrain of the book itself is a classic example: “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” The NIV translates it: “Meaningless, meaningles...

Prayer Almighty God, Lord of Glory, O Light of Heaven, please chase away the shadows of my heart and open my eyes to your truth. I am so quick to wander, so prone to settle for shallow thoughts—teach me to think your thoughts after you. Let your Word burn with clarity in my mind and settle with weight in my soul. Make me hungry for what is good, wise, and eternal; keep me from being dulled by less...

Prayer Heavenly Father, My soul looks up to you this day. Without you, Lord, I am nothing and can do nothing. Without you all hope is gone. I look to you on this new day, my hope is in you, Lord. Give me strength, according to your word. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Please give me today the daily bread of your word that my soul may live and not die. Please give...

Prayer Lord God, our loving Heavenly Father, your ways are altogether wise. Please open our eyes to see the beauty of your designs and purposes. Please help us to see and walk in your design for men and women. May we be freed from the false divisions of our age, please give us a heart of understanding. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Reading Genesis 2:18-25. “ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that th...

Prayer Heavenly Father, There is nothing I can gain that is more precious than wisdom, and I thank you that you have provided me with the means of getting wisdom through your Holy Word. As I turn again to you today, please meet with me and I ask that you would give me wisdom. I lack the needed wisdom to honour and obey you as I ought, and I stand in great need – please hear my request and bless me...

Prayer Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for this new day, I have done nothing to deserve it. For all of your manifold mercies, I confess that I have rendered a poor return unto you. How can I repay you, Lord, for all of your goodness to me? Help me, O Lord. I seek you this day, I want to walk before you and be blameless, I want to worship you in spirit and in truth. And yet my flesh constan...

Prayer Heavenly Father, I give all glory and thanks to you this new day. I praise you, for you are holy and exalted over all the earth. No shadow has touched you, nor is there any darkness in you at all. Glory be to you, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Lord, in this vale of tears, where sin so easily entangles me, and where I so readily set my eyes on the things of this world, help me to lift up my e...

Prayer O Lord, giver of truth and wisdom, help me to understand your word as I study your purposes in creation. Teach me to grasp the beauty of your design, that you made the woman not as an afterthought, but as a strong and vital helper in the great task of ruling and cultivating your world. Open my eyes to the dignity of this work and the partnership you ordained for men and women from the begin...

Prayer Heavenly Father, I come before you this morning with a confession upon my lips. I am desperately weak, desperately sinful. My sinful nature wages war within me, seeking to destroy me and to have sway over my heart. I am poor and needy, turn not your face from me. Deliver my soul, O Lord. Please forgive me for my many sins. Have mercy upon me for Jesus’ sake. I am yours, a slave of Christ. D...

Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name this day. May your kingdom come, may you reign supreme in the hearts of your people today. May your gracious rule extend mightily in my heart today. May your will be done in the lives and homes of your people, and may you guide me in your ways. Please give to your saints today refreshment, strength, and nourishment from your word. As I read your w...

Prayer O Lord Most High, fountain of all wisdom and grace, I praise you for sending your Son, the Lord Jesus, to lift the lowly and giving grace to the contrite in heart. Teach me to see myself as I truly am—needy, dependent, and upheld only by your mercy. Crush every proud thought that rises against your truth, and clothe me instead with the beauty of Christlike meekness. Let me delight in servin...

Prayer Dear Lord, I thank you and praise you for this new day. In this world with devils filled, which threatens to undo me, I cast myself upon you O Lord. You are my rock, my salvation, my only hope. You are my strength, and you are my Saviour. Rescue me, O Lord, from the mighty waters. Please forgive me for my many sins, and lead me in the way everlasting. Please make me to walk in the way of yo...

Prayer All praise to you this day, O Lord my God. I praise you for preserving me through the night, and I praise you for new life and mercies this morning. Please be merciful to me, Lord. Without your word, my soul will perish. Even this morning, I feel my soul is famished and needy. Have mercy on me, O Lord, and give me life according to your word. Please unite my heart to fear your name, please...

Prayer Our Father in Heaven, as we praise you for a new day of life, and thank you for your word which gives life to our souls, we ask you that you would plant your word deep in our hearts as we read and study now. Please make it to take root within us, and bear fruit in our lives. Please make our feet walk in your commands, and turn our eyes from worthless things. Let your truth be our delight, m...

Prayer Almighty God, my loving Heavenly Father, all praise be to you this day. I call upon your name this morning, I seek your face. Send out your light and your truth let them lead me. Thank you, Lord, that although I was once hostile toward you and alienated from you, you have reconciled me through the death of your dear Son, the Lord Jesus. Please sanctify me now in your word of truth, in order...