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July 21 Daily Devotional

Why Shouldest Thou Destroy Thyself?

Frans Bakker

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? —Ecclesiastes 7:16

Bible Reading

Ecclesiastes 7:13–18

Devotional

The Lord comes to His children with a warning of love. After the words, “be not righteous over much or over wise,” we read, “why shouldest thou destroy thyself?”

That is so true. If we cannot commit our ways to God’s providence then we are destroying ourselves. If we have to bear crosses on our own, then we will faint. Some can be broken for life because of the burden of afflictions. For others, life has disappointed them to such an extent that they cannot bear it any longer. The one drags himself onward as a broken man, being bitter and rebellious. The other deliberately makes an end to his life and sinks into everlasting destruction.

The results of being “righteous over much” and being “over wise” are not pretty. Both bring destruction. They who bend in either direction are offended at God’s providence. It becomes to them a rock of offense and they fall into their own destruction. Never has anyone experienced peace as he took offense with God. It is futile to fight providence, and whoever strives against God destroys his own soul. He himself will perish.

Is your way difficult? Perhaps you do not dare tell this openly to others. Perhaps a secret grudge against heaven is festering in your soul. Oh, lay down your weapons against God! Surrender yourself to God. Be warned by the word of the same God who made your way crooked. God does not afflict you harshly because He wants to smite you. The Lord afflicts you to lead you to Him. God wants every sorrow to bring you closer to Him. Each trouble will benefit you for eternity. For the road to heaven is none other than a crooked road.

“Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?” The meaning of God’s Word is not that we are to simply accept things the way they are because they can never be changed. That is how the world reasons. And man tries to comfort himself with such reasoning. We easily say with our mouth that we accept God’s way, while in reality there is yet enmity against God in our heart. Besides this, false or outward submission can give no real comfort. The Lord says that afflictions are not sent to destroy the soul but to save the soul forever. Then worldly losses can bear heavenly profit. Troubles in this life purge us and keep us from eternal destruction. This is difficult to understand and yet so necessary to see.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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