Dear brothers and sisters, having wrapped up the book of James, I plan on beginning a study of the book of Ecclesiastes (1:1-11). The relevance of this book never wanes – it speaks to every generation and will continue to do so.

Stuart Olyott writes the following in his commentary (A Life Worth Living and a Lord Worth Loving – a combination book on Eccl. and Song of Solomon): The book of Ecclesiastes opens up with “life as Solomon saw it from the earth-bound point of view, and this is life as modern philosophers see it. And they are not alone. Countless numbers of ordinary men and women look at life in this way, too. There is no thought which Solomon raises in his introduction, which has not already passed through their minds a thousand times. They live with the constant thought that life is a waste of time. Nothing is worth the effort, for there is nothing which comes to anything in the end.

But is life really that pointless? Does it not have any meaning? Are our actions truly without significance? If not, what is the meaning of life? What sort of life really is worthwhile? And how do we go about finding the answer?”

The Bible has all of the answers…the question is whether or not we will be satisfied with the answers it provides.

Prayer tonight will be at the Burke’s house.

Songs for Sunday are as follows:

• Redeemed
• Wonderful, Merciful Savior
• I Will Glory in My Redeemer
• His Robes for Mine
• Rejoice in the Lord

Redeemed
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed thro’ His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

   Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in Whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps
And giveth me songs in the night.

Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb could
Rescue the souls of men
Oh, You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost our way
Oh, we’ve hopelessly lost the way

You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we’re falling before Your throne

I Will Glory in My Redeemer
I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree

   I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the holy Judge
The Lamb who is my righteousness
The Lamb who is my righteousness

I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone

   I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagles’ wings
He crowns my life with lovingkindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing

   I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me, it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold

His Robes for Mine

His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!

Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.

Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.

In Christ I live, for in my place He died.

His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?

God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.

Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,

Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.

   I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:

   Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.

   Bought by such love, my life is not my own.

   My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone.

His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.

Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.

Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”

Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.

His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.

Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.

He, as though I, accursed and left alone;

I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!

Rejoice in the Lord
God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

   O Rejoice in the LORD
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.