Chapter 2
I was really captivated by the though process of Solomon here. The chapter has three distinctive parts where he is realizing the vanity of everything.
Part 1 v1-11 In reading this I think Oh yeah here's the high life. This is the enlightenment of what materialism really is... stuff that will just vaporize. We are adamant to be these successful, boastful and powerful beings with our little empires and yet where does that get us.. the same end as those who aren't successful. We are striving for such vain gains that we miss out on what we really need to be striving after. Anything I build here on this earth will whither and die and who knows maybe left with someone who will ruin it..v18-21 regardless i'm not taking anything we me when i go... Funny my adorable roomie Susie just went to the Mummy expo at the Science Center and i think about the importance of preserving the body for the afterlife and keeping all of one's things(royalty that is) in the tomb where you body lies. What foolish mortals we be! The embalming process:via http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/mummy/page.html
| Although many long-ago cultures prepared their dead as mummies, the most well-known examples are the mummies prepared by the ancient Egyptians. In fact, they are believed to be the first people, beginning over 6000 years ago, to practice embalming, in which a dead body is artificially preserved to retard the decaying process. The Egyptians believed that it was necessary to preserve a body in order to allow the soul to survive. Egyptian embalming methods involved the removal of the brain and organs from the body. Next the body was immersed in carbonate of soda, and the cavities were filled with a mixture of herbs, salt, and other substances. Finally, the body was wound with cloths saturated with similar materials. The mummification process took seventy days. Special priests did the embalming; they must have had a detailed knowledge of human anatomy. The brain was removed by carefully inserting special hooked instruments up through the nostrils, in order to pull out bits of brain tissue. It was a delicate operation, one which could easily disfigure the face if they weren't careful. The embalmers then removed the organs through a cut made on the side of the abdomen. They left only the heart in place, believing it to be the center of a person's being and intelligence. Next, moisture was removed from the remaining tissue by packing the insides with a type of salt. After this was removed, the mummy was made even more life-like by filling sunken areas of the body with linen and other materials. False eyes were added, and often the body was painted. Jewelry was added for adornment. |  Ancient Egyptian embalming methods included immersing the dead body in carbonate of soda, and injecting its cavities with herbal substances, before wrapping the corpse with cloths, creating a mummy. |
 Next came the wrapping of the mummy. Every part of the body was wrapped individually. For instance, the hands, head, arms, feet, legs were all wrapped separately from the rest of the body. Each mummy needed hundreds of yards of linen, along with warm resin to seal the layers of fabric.   The Egyptians were very good at embalming. The feet of mummies, when unwrapped after as much as 3000 years, are often still soft and elastic. 'Historians estimate that by AD 700, when the practice had died out, the Egyptians had embalmed approximately 730 million bodies'. (Encarta 1998)Although many mummies were destroyed by the tropical heat of northern Africa, or were lost when tombs were looted, archaeologists believe that millions are still preserved in undiscovered tombs and burial places. Many are probably in their original coffins, which were often, if the deceased was rich, decorated to resemble the person who had died. |
So that's the preservation process for Egyptians and if you think about it us too. But for what is this gain. The bible clearly says that our lives as we are living them and if we are are to be used to further the kingdom of heaven. We are promised and God is faithful.. but we are promised a vast kingdom...Matthew 6:19 " Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, nor thieves break in and steal For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." and the best treasure of all Christ which pales in comparison to this world and it's so-called treasures.
Just somethings that I'm realizing about myself and what I hold as valuable and treasure. I'm very materialistic-- though I tend to call it sentimental. I hold on to these things and for what. So i'm mentally purging and physically purging the clutter that keeps my heart from focusing on Him.
Solomon sought so much even in the wisdom God gave him...his thirst for the treasures of this world( the vast empire, the possessions both animals and people) left him unsatisfied and he came to the conclusion that all is worthless and the wise are those who see this.. they see the light... fools are in darkness and this darkness comes in many forms. Only when we are willing to be illuminated and see the face of God and the grace he has given us are to have the greatest treasure. The best thing I ever got in this life was my life at the cost of my savior's life. That's what I'm taking to the grave.
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