Solomon's Meaning of Life and Psalms 139:13-17 Analysis

Meaning of Life and Purpose

• According to Solomon, a meaningful life is attained by fearing God and obeying His commands.

Foreknowledge of God

• Psalms 139:13-17 speaks about God's foreknowledge in creation and pro-creation.
• God has laid the foundation of our being in the mother's womb, a dark place beyond the reach of light and life, symbolizing the lowest part of the earth.
• Human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, separated from ungodly men, and require God's care and providence.
• God has embroidered (done needle work) and put together all parts of the human body in the mother's womb.
• Our human bodies are open before God's eyes, and were fashioned after Him, making God the engineer of our human bodies.

Human Dignity and God's Glory

• Psalms 8 pictures out the dignity of man and the glory and majesty of God, as realized by finite man.
• David, the writer, comes from the Hebrew word "dod" or "dawed", meaning beloved.
• David was the 2nd King of the monarchy, and single-handedly slew Goliath with his sling shot.

God's Plan for Human Beings

• Jeremiah 29:11 states that God's plan for human beings is to prosper them, not to harm them, and to give them hope and a future.
• This plan is significant for human beings, and they should always relate to God, preserve their dignity and honor, and take care of other created beings.

Definition of Ethics

• Ethics can be defined from three aspects: Ex. Mano po, Greetings, Marriage, Wedding (dowry), etc.
• Ethics imply its significant nature and scope.

Vanity of Life

• Ecclesiastes 1 speaks about the vanity of life, and Solomon, the writer, defines life as:
  • Like a vapor, or wind that it only passes away.
  • A transit - it leaves no result, it does not satisfy the mind.
  • No advantage to struggle in terms of earthly pleasure.
  • An endless repetition, aimless and monotonous.
  • Laborious, wearisome, tiresome - no satisfaction to one's eye.
  • No remembrance, nothing new.
  • Human activity is nothing.
• Solomon views life as being futile, wearisome, and tiresome apart from God.
• The final conclusion of Solomon about life is that:
  • We should enjoy life by obeying God's commands.
  • Purpose and meaning of life cannot be found in human endeavors but in positive attitude and strong faith in God.
  • Human effort apart from God is useless.
  • Put God first - now!
  • Receive everything good as a gift from God.
  • Realize that God will judge every person's life whether good or evil.