Darash Chai - Seek Life!

Once again, here near the end of Ecclesiastes we run into a chapter that seems to be simply a series of proverbs that, on the surface, are not connected to each other. But when we really dig into these proverbs and the ideas that they represent we find a pattern that coalesces together into a series of coherent and connected thoughts on how to approach life.

When it comes to exploring the philosophy of life, there are a lot of little proverbs that a wise man will latch on to. In this chapter we find this at play. A series of proverb after proverb that seems to meander through several different points, but throughout each two characters seem to continually make an appearance. The king and the fool. Pray that they don't both coincide in your life.

Last chapter the Preacher contemplated the limits of Wisdom. In this chapter, he continues to examine the limits of the human experience. While wisdom is a trait that everyone has to various degrees, the hard limit of death is one

Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon speaks of wisdom often. It is good, desirable, and makes life easier, yet it leaves those who have it in sorrow and grief. It is not until now that Solomon stops to examine wisdom

The world is full of extremes and throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon explores the realm of the extremes. Wisdom and Foolishness. Righteousness and Wickedness. Rich and Poor. Life and Death. Even past and future are extremes. Extremes are all around us and

As we continue through Ecclesiastes we find Qoheleth continuing to discern the meaning of life from a materialistic viewpoint. What lasting meaning is there to be found in life when the human appetite is never truly satisfied.

James 3:5 – So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! Chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes features a unique set of verses in

As Ecclesiastes continues, the author begins to delve into more diverse topics and ways of examining life. As he does, he touches on some issues that are hot in our current culture. As we examine these topics as described in

Ecclesiastes 3 opens with one of the most iconic passages and ideas in literature. An idea that is so foundational to our reality that many other authors over the ages have riffed off of this theme in their own works.

As Solomon attempts to discern the purpose of life, he attempts to engage life in every way that he can think of. He seeks out every experience that men pursue to give meaning to their lives, and the first of

The book of Ecclesiastes opens in a way that highlights the pointlessness of human endeavor. All things end and no experience truly satisfies because the experience fades and we find ourselves desiring or in need once again. In fact, Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is the book of the Bible that gets the closest to a human philosophy of life. This book is so unlike any other book of the Bible that it needs an introduction. Simply jumping in without a firm grounding

Making the kingdom of God a priority is the calling of all who believe. This way of living comes with many benefits as well as responsibilities. But what does it look like when it comes to the day to day

In the last episode it may have seemed as if all that we have to look forward to when we enter the kingdom of God is a never ending series of responsibilities to God and to others. This week we

When enter into the Kingdom of God we enter in to a life of allegiance to the king of this kingdom. But allegiance is an idea that has lost any real meaning for a modern audience. What does allegiance mean?

The Three Year Cycle is done. Where to from here? Time for a little house cleaning and a few updates on the state of Darash Chai.

As the Torah comes to a close, Moses speaks his final words to the nation of Israel. In the manner of Jacob upon his death bed in Genesis 49, Jacob blessed his sons and here at the end of the

Deuteronomy 32 contains a song. A song that is unique in all of Scripture. It is a song that is to act as a witness against the people when they will eventually break the covenant, but it is a song

One thing that every Suzerain Vassal Treaty contained was a list of those who acted as witnesses to the ratification and terms of the covenant. Those who existed outside of the covenant, but who would look in and act as

The blessings and the curses of Deuteronomy take up quite some space in the text, and the discussion of these topics does not end when the explicit recounting of the various curses ends. Rather, the text then moves on to