Biblia Files (part 6) - Crowns and Frowns

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Hee Haw was my Dad's favorite show, second only to Gunsmoke. I clearly remember the lament from their Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me segment, such as seen below:

(reference: https://youtu.be/lHcEWhbQkEg )

Even 40 years ago, they all were "first world problems." Though this Hee Haw segment is humorous, it expresses a tinge of sadness, dissatisfaction in this life.

Dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and such are maladies throughout the ages.  As King Solomon said -

... there is no new thing under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV)

Crowns and Frowns

As the wisest man and greatest fools in some estimations, Solomon knew something about this gloom, despair and agony on me.  This king had "everything" in this life from riches; his unfettered search for knowledge, wisdom, and meaning in this life; wanting more and getting more. Yet this king lamented his "first world problems" as so stated below:

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
 

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
 

16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
 

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
 

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1 (KJV)

What a Gloomy Gus!

This dissatisfaction is not new for "the man under the sun."

In the clip below unhappiness is seen as a malady of the modern age:

(reference:  https://youtu.be/YzAFCU4RCnM )

What is the cure for this dissatisfaction?

At the end of the day, Solomon comes to terms with his unhappiness:

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Ecclesiastes 12 (KJV)

But Father knows best  

Solomon's father, David,wrote in the psalm below during his trials in the desert of Judah. For more information on the background, check out: Psalm 63: Longing to Worship the LORD While in the Wilderness

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
 
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
 
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
 
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
 
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

Psalm 63 (KJV)

The balm for dissatisfaction and unhappiness is joy and praise. And this song praises David's greater son, Jesus, who blesses us in the heavenlies.

(reference: https://youtu.be/GbnpLFA4CWM )

We are no longer the man under the sun, but ...

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2 (KJV)

And to beat the blues:

... the joy of the Lord is your strength

Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)

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Recent posts in this series:

Biblia Files (part 1) - Thru the Bible (2013)

Biblia Files (part 2) - What is the Bible Basically About? (2013)

Biblia Files (part 3) - Gideon - weakness, warts and all (2013) 
   
Biblia Files (part 4) - Holy Hyperlinks (2014)

Biblia Files (part 5) - Waiting .... (2014)

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Photo from: everystockphoto.com/crown and frown