Ecclesiastes 3:5 …A time to embrace…
Definition:
Embrace: to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug. to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to avail oneself of: seize: to adopt: to take in with the eye or the mind: to encircle; surround; enclose:
to include or contain:
As we look at each of these phrases in Ecclesiastes, for me every phrase I read, before I start looking things up, I try to recall if any, what comes to mind, what Bible passages do I remember from times of reading the Bible. What is funny, is that some things jump out, while others kind of stay hidden until I do research and then wonder why I did not remember that passage. I think it is very interesting how the Bible works. You hear the phrase the "The Living Word of God”, and I Truly believe that God recalls what is relevant at the time. As we look at the definition of embrace above, we will in the Bible it is mostly used to hug or embracing someone, but will also see it used in the other definitions as well
I am going to focus on the very first definition today. But I do believe that to embrace someone is more than a hug. It would truly be a passion of love. So, when I first looked at this passage the first thing that came to mind was the story of the prodigal son. I am just going to focus on that today
Luke 15: 20 -24 (20) And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (21) And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (22) But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: (24) for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
If you are not familiar with the story, I would Advise to go read it Luke 15:11-32. It is a great story/parable that Jesus is explaining to the pharisees. In verse 20 it says the father fell on his son’s neck. See, to me that would be way more than just a hug, more of a totally wrapping himself upon him. A true embrace. Even though this is a parable, Jesus is explaining to the pharisees why he does what He does, because they were again questioning why he eats and spends times with sinners. When I read this story, I cannot help but to think that we are being embraced by our Father who is in heaven. We are sinners, yet He still waits on us with open arms to come back to Him.
Proverbs: 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
This verse so ties into the prodigal son’s story. When we run to the Lord, we are embraced by His protection and are held safe. It also agrees with the definition; to encircle, surround, enclose, contain.
Though we are in this world, this is a mindset we should be carrying on. There are people hurting, in need, in hard times. We should follow In Jesus’s footsteps and step up and embrace them, love them, give them safe place. Even in the case of the prodigal son, who did everything selfishly. Let us be blessings to others.
COMMENTS
[ posted by Cindy, 06/26/2024 12:55 PM ]
Mike has defined what embrace means.We "embrace" for many reasons. Yes, love is indeed at the top! We also embrace (each other) as a way to show happiness, joy, share good news, excitement, to comfort, etc. We also "embrace" things in life. Good habits, godliness, wholesomeness, parenting, marriage, etc. Depending on how you embrace things can define the definition it being for good or bad. People can also "embrace" evil actions and behavior, evil thoughts, evil intentions, etc. (That will roll into next week's lesson.) Embracing something is like an acceptance. You accept the reason for the purpose thru the embrace. It's like a human connection with another person in agreement of that moment and situation. I am glad Mike brought up his first thought in the Bible about an embrace and the prodigal son. A truly wonderful reunion of a father and son. Because I was going to go straight to an embrace he mentions after that...how God embraces us. Do we embrace God as He has embraced us? He so loved us so much "...he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 If that is not an embrace of love, I don't know what is! We surely have nothing to top that with to offer God. Do embrace what God's purpose for us is? We can embrace God thru our worship and praise for Him, we embrace God thru witnessing of the salvation His Son was sent for us and everyone else to accept. We embrace our relationship with God when our praise, prayers, hearts and mind are set on Him. We strengthen our embrace in our relationship with God and Jesus thru being with others that also share the same love and embrace for and from God and Jesus. Think about what He has already done for us: He loves us unconditionally, we are each perfect and beautiful to Him, we are never alone, we have everything we need in Him, we have a purpose He has given to us, we can accomplish things in His name, we each have been given different talents and gifts... By embracing Jesus, God is with us as He was in Jesus. We are one together in an embrace, so to speak, in my opinion. Jesus says in John 17:22-23 " And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one: I am in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." One heck of an embrace of love right there. In agreement. In acceptance. In an embrace. Will that be the embrace Jesus greets us with? I saw this during my research: Fill your name in the blanks. For God so loved ______ that he gave his only begotten Son, so that __________ believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (((Embraced))) by God.