Nothing New Under the Sun

In the past week, there have been several different terrorist attacks that have killed many people and injured many others.  Last weekend a friend of mine from church shared the difficult news that her daughter recently announced her intention to marry her lesbian partner.  And in our women’s Bible study at church we are studying the Old Testament stories of the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others.  What do these things have in common?

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”                     Ecclesiates 1:9

As I study about the patriarchs and as I live life in the 21^st century, I am struck by the similarities between how both God and Satan have conducted themselves throughout the ages.  Nothing has really changed over time.  Yes, there are new outlets for the enemy to tempt us and new twists to ancient sins; but there really isn’t anything new at all.  Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has tried to appeal to the pride of humans and to undermine the sovereignty of God.  We have been and always will be tempted to take our lives into our own hands instead of trusting God’s ways.

One of the wisest men to ever live, King Solomon of Israel, understood this when he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes.  He admits to trying just about everything he can think of to find meaning apart from God – determining that pleasure, work, money, personal advancement, and even wisdom itself are all meaningless if pursued on their own.  The same scenario has occurred countless times throughout history without people coming to the same conclusion as Solomon.  Our inherent sinful nature (Romans 8:8) seems to keep us in a cycle of repetition that doesn’t always turn out well.

I won’t elaborate here, but nearly all of the patriarchs tried to take control out of God’s hands and figure things out on their own.  Their activities included lying, polygamy, incest, rape, deception, prostitution, and many other forms of disobedience to God.  This is the same basic thought process that allows terrorists to kill others and modern-day social interest groups to seek approval for their actions.  When we trust ourselves more than we trust God, the results are always the same – God is dishonored, and eventually the consequences are devastating – even if not right away.

But my study of the patriarchs has reminded me of a truth I have seen in my own walk with God: no matter what we humans do that tries to remove God from the picture, he is always faithful and continues to bless.  Yes, he expects repentance and desires people whose hearts are following him, but he can always be counted on to offer forgiveness and his continued presence in our lives when we return to him.  Solomon’s conclusion at the end of Ecclesiates sums this up neatly: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”  

Today I know there is nothing new under the sun; but I am praying that God will continue to be faithful and that our world, our nation, our churches, our families, and each of us individually will do what we can to break the cycle and bring glory to God.