Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiates Chapter 3

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

On the surface, it would seem that everything happens in order and in time but many times we have our freedom to choose right from wrong.

For instance; when King Hezekiah was told by the prophet to get his house in order because he was going to die, he begged and pleaded for more time and God granted him 15 more years. Mostly though there probably is a set time for us to go into eternity and leave our natural bodies.

A person may be healthy and strong, yet die in an accidental manner. He or she also can choose to overeat, drink alcohol, smoke and shorten their time by the way they live. God does no doubt know ahead of time how we are going to live but our choices do matter.

Ecclesiastes 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Solomon seems to be pointing out a life that is hum drum or kind of boring in that the same things keep happening over and over. In a way it is true except for the fact like I mentioned before sometimes our own choices changes things. God may lay on our hearts to pray for someone who is in trouble. There are times when our prayers change things.

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Life changing events always happen when the power of the Holy Spirit which abides within believers in Jesus, is present to heal, save, raise up and more. Nothing we see now is a done deal. God still saves and changes lives. That is the reason Jesus came to die for our sins. To change things. To forgive our sins, to cleanse us from sin and to grant us eternal life in the presence of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

We do see this in a world that has fallen away from walking with God on a daily basis. People of faith have things that happen in the natural but they also do see miraces and change.

The God-Given Task

Ecclesiastes 3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Here he acknowledges that these good things are gifts from God. I love the beauty of the seasons. The time of Spring when everything comes to life again after the dead of winter. The green trees and grass, the flowers that start to bloom. The beauty is breathtaking. The warmth of summer and the harvesting of crops after working, planting and cultivating everything is another good gift from God. That kind of labor is not in vain but yields a harvest. The fall can be a depressing time but it doesn't have to be. The beauty of the leaves changing colors can be a time of beauty. Even the snow in the winter is beautiful. I don't like driving in it but looking out my window and seeing its beauty is awesome to me. We can choose to be thankful and enjoy these gifts from God or take them for granted and ignore them.

From Dust to Dust

Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

This is what many do not want to think about but there is a time when God has to stop sin and stop mankind from continuing in evil. He has to bring judgment. There is a time when God will work everything out to the good.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

This day is coming:

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

It is so perfect that we can go to other scriptures both Old and New Testaments to verify, compliment or explain other scriptures. God doesn't leave out anything we need to give us understanding. His Holy Spirit is the best teacher of all.

Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Only the body turns to dust again awaiting the resurrection. The spirit goes upward but then in end, all do not go to the same place.

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

There is actual 1000 years between the two resurrections: This is explained in Revelation chapter 20. As for the present time though we hope for His coming and wait for it with expectation. -DC

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4