Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

Rachel Workman: ¹⁶ I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! ¹⁷ I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”

Still very true today. I hope at the end of my days that God judges more good in me than bad.

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John Burnett:  ¹⁶ And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.  Power corrupts and this prophesy sure does resemble the courts of today that justify abortion, gay marriage, and let murderers go.

¹⁷ I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment
    both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
    a time to judge every deed.”  As Christians, we know that we will be judged based on Christ’s righteousness and that our activities or works will be rewarded.  Those who have not repented of their sins put their trust in Jesus Christ alone are judged as the wicked and their works are like rotten fruit and dirty rags.  We are called to forgive because vengeance is mine says the Lord.  He commands us to forgive in Ephesians 4:32 the few times people sin against us.  Our example is Jesus forgiving us for the millions of sins we commit against Him and His law.

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Pat Bell: It never fails to amaze me how true the words are in today's world! Have mercy. 

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Monday’s reading for Ecclesiastes 3:18-22

¹⁸ I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. ¹⁹ For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe^[a] and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! ²⁰ Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. ²¹ For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? ²² So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.