Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

B. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THAT WE WORK UNDER THE RULE OF GOD'S PROVIDENCE Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

1. Man should adjust to live his life within the framework of God's providence. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

TEXT 3:1-8

1

There is an appointed time for everything, And there is a time for every event under heaven

2

A time to give birth, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.

3

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to tear 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 throw stones, and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.

6

A time to search, and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away.

7

A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent, and a time to speak.

8

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:1-8

61.

Give evidence that God's creation is orderly. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

62.

Compare translations of the first line of verse two. What variations do you find?

63.

What might have to die in order for a particular generation to be healed? (Ecclesiastes 3:3)

64.

What experience usually occasions mourning?

65.

Look up the term dance in a Bible concordance. After reading several of the references, how would you describe dancing as it is pictured in the Bible? Would you equate it with the modern dance?

66.

If the first part of verse five is figurative, and the second line is speaking to the same subject, what single idea is under consideration?

67.

List some dreams from your own life that you have searched for and found. List others you have given up as lost. (Ecclesiastes 3:6)

68.

When is silence golden? When is it yellow?

69.

List some things the Christian hates and therefore should wage war against.

70.

List the objects of each of the twenty-six infinitives.

71.

List the objects of the four prepositions for. (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Ecclesiastes 3:8)

PARAPHRASE 3:1-8

To everything there is a season, and a time to every delight under heaven. There is a time for all things to be born, and everything in due season will die; man can take advantage of the seasons and plant when he should, but the time will come when that which has been planted will have to be uprooted. Self-discipline and social justice require the destruction of evil, but a time will come when both the people and their land will be healed; so there is also a time to wreck, and tear down that which is beyond repair, and there is a time to build anew. Many events of life will sadden the heart and cause one to weep, just as other events make the heart merry and result in laughter; since death comes to all, there will be seasons of mourning. On occasion, joy shall also overwhelm one and find expression through dancing. There is an appropriate time for making love, and just as appropriately there is a time to refrain; there is a time when an embrace is proper, and also a time when wisdom leads one to refrain from embracing. Fortunes are sometimes gained because one knows the times for searching, but it is also true that they are often kept because good judgment is exercised in refraining from excess; even our present possessions are retained with discretion, and we find wisdom in discarding or sharing with others that which is no longer of value to oneself. There is a time when clothing should be discarded, and a time when it should be mended and used again; the same kind of judgment is in order with the control of the tongue: silence is often golden. On the other hand, words fitly spoken have great power and should be said. Love encompasses all that is holy and good, and there is a time when it should be demonstrated to your fellow man; hate is reserved for that which is evil, and yet there is a time when it should also be exercisedthere is a time for war, and a time for peace.

DIAGRAM B
THE EVENTS OF ONE GENERATION UNDER HEAVEN

COMMENT 3:1-8

In this section the reader is confronted with seven parallel passages demonstrating the theme that God, the Creator, is in control of His world. More than this, it illustrates the various activities which take place in the lifetime of one generation. The Preacher has observed that one generation passes away while another generation moves in to take its place (Ecclesiastes 1:4). Here he gives a detailed account of the activities of each generation from birth to death.

Parallelisms were popular with the writers of the Old Testament. One is tempted to be carried away with the poetic beauty of the passage and possibly miss the message which it contains. This popular passage from Ecclesiastes has made its way into the forms of art, poetry and song in our present generation. It should be emphasized once again, however, that the theme discussed in chapter two is still under consideration. Some have written that this is an unrelated insertion of material without appropriate relationship to the context of the discussion, but a cursory reading of the two Chapter s together would dispense with such an argument. The lesson is that God controls through orderly laws and principles. Man may run contrary to God's appointed times and seasons, but if he does, he will experience frustration and failure. The good man of the preceding chapter attempts to live in harmony with God's order, while the sinner has little regard for it.

Certain qualities mark the comparisons. (1) The list is rather extended. This may serve the purpose of demonstrating that the many sides of life are under God's control, or it may have been Solomon's intention to show the various activities of man from the time of his birth until the time of his death. (2) Nothing evil is included in the list. Some of the activities are difficult to interpret as to exact meanings, but nothing needs to be placed in the category of immoral behaviour. This is very clear. The contrary is actually true. Since the second line of the couplet partially explains the first line, the meaning of each line interprets the meaning of the other. The meaning of the event must be in harmony with the parts of the comparison. Nothing in any of the descriptions suggests evil activities. Hate, kill, rend and war are all extreme in nature, but are approved by God under qualifying circumstances. (3) Some events are inevitable. It is obvious that no one has control over the time of his death (Ecclesiastes 8:8). We are also subjected to a time to give birth, to weep and to heal. These circumstances of life are beyond our control. God controls them in the sense that His laws are active in His world. It is improper to read predestination into the passage. (4) Some events can be experienced at one's own discretion. Man controls such activities as loving and refraining from love, deciding what to keep and what to cast away. Even in these areas, however, there are times and seasons within God's order when good judgment dictates policy. (5) Sometimes one works contrary to the seasons. One may keep silent when he should be speaking. He may laugh when he should be mourning. The wise man interprets the times and adjusts his activities accordingly.

Jeremiah stated this truth when he said, I know, O Lord, that a man's way is not in himself; nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23). Solomon himself had written, The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord (Proverbs 16:33). He has also written that he sees the activities of life as coming from the hand of the Lord (Ecclesiastes 2:24).

Ecclesiastes 3:1 The arrangement of man's activities as he lives out his life is now under consideration (cf. introductory remarks for this section). This verse is not intended to suggest that all things are predetermined or that man has no choice in arranging certain times or events. If this were true, the distinction between the good man and the sinner would be inappropriate. In addition, there would be little meaning given to admonition and rebuke found throughout the book. (Ecclesiastes 5:1 ff; Ecclesiastes 11:1 ff; Ecclesiastes 12:1 ff are but examples.) This verse acknowledges what has previously been taught: there is nothing new under the sun, and God seeks that which is past (Ecclesiastes 1:9; Ecclesiastes 3:15). The events peculiar to every generation are set forth. No intention is made for chronological order or arrangement. Each generation may experience different events at varying times, but generally speaking each generation will experience all the events.

Ecclesiastes 3:2 The Hebrew word rendered be born is passive and would best be translated give birth. This idea is more in harmony with the parallel time to plant and therefore comes close to the original idea. The purpose is to illustrate the beginning and end of a thing. Everything else happens between these two events. While birth represents the animal kingdom and plant represents the vegetable kingdom, the intention is not to be comprehensive of all things, but rather representative of beginnings and ends.

Ecclesiastes 3:3 Both Deuteronomy 32:39 and Hosea 6:1 suggest that it is God's prerogative to tear, wound, smite and kill, even as it is His prerogative to heal, to bind up, and to make alive. Man is also involved in these activities as he exacts judgment and pursues justice. The term kill here will not allow cutting but does allow capital punishment. Both the execution of criminals, and killing necessitated by the need to protect the innocent, would be allowed. Killing which results from war would probably be excluded as it is specifically mentioned in verse eight. The verse suggests the necessity of judgment and appropriate punishment if there is to be a time of healing and building up.

In the spiritual relationship the principle is also valid. Paul's rather lengthy discourse on this subject in I Corinthians chapter five clearly illustrates the necessity of tearing down before there can be a season of restoration.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 One doesn-'t live long before he experiences both laughter and weeping. These human emotions are common to all men in every age. Mourning suggests a deeper sorrow than weeping, while dancing may be thought of as the sheer physical display of inner joy. Jesus spoke to both of these activities when he said, But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, -We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn-' (Matthew 11:16-17). Dancing in the Bible times should not be confused with the modern-day dance. Biblical dancing was the unrehearsed, spontaneous exuberance resulting from a great physical victory, or some festive occasion.

Ecclesiastes 3:5 An attempt to escape or skirt the obvious has led to far-fetched and varied conclusions concerning the first part of this verse. Since the verses are couplets, and each line parallels the other, then the clear statements of a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing, would suggest that a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together, is a euphemistic description of sexual love. The fidelity of a monogamous union finds proper expression and fulfillment in such acts of love. God has placed natural desires within both men and women which result not only in the propagation of the race, but also in the holy mystery of oneness that exists between husband and wife. Such an interpretation as this does not appear to meet with any difficulty. This makes the first part of the couplet harmonious with the second part. It speaks to a vital and major part of life's experience which is not discussed elsewhere in this section. Finally, the absurdity of most interpretations necessitates a clearly defined and logical explanation of the verse.

Some of the more popular but unacceptable interpretations of gathering and casting stones are listed: (1) building or demolishing houses, walls, cisterns and similar works made from stones; (2) marring an enemy's field by casting stones upon it (2 Kings 3:19; 2 Kings 3:25); (3) stoning as a form of capital punishment; (4) clearing land or vineyards of stones (Isaiah 5:2).

Ecclesiastes 3:6 Easy come, easy go, is an idiom which may speak to part of the lesson of this verse. The first section appears to refer to that which man acquires either through his own ingenuity or by his good fortune. In like manner he may find his possessions slipping away from him in a manner beyond his control. The latter part of the couplet suggests that man sometimes decides what he keeps and what he chooses to discard. Earthly wisdom enables one to take advantage of both situations. He will take advantage of the opportunities offered through God's providence, and he will also exercise discretion in the wise use of that which he has gathered or collected.

Benevolent acts could be under consideration. They are part of the Preacher's message (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6), and Solomon had written, There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered (Proverbs 11:24-25). This principle is also taught in many of the New Testament books. An example is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 Since the tearing of garments was commonly associated with mourning among the Jews, it is easy to see such an application of this verse. Also, the tear was to be mended after an appropriate period of mourning depending upon the nearness of the relationship of the deceased person. However, mourning and weeping have previously been included in the listing of events, and it isn-'t likely that such would be the intention in this verse. What then is the category of activities to which he speaks? Once again the second comparison offers a clue. Wisdom dictates the practical value, or lack of it, of many things possessed in life. We finally give up on certain garments while others are mended or patched. Clothing was of great value (2 Kings 5:5; 2 Chronicles 9:24). In like manner, wisdom is manifested in the ability to know when to keep silent and when to speak. There were occasions when Jesus chose to remain silent (Mark 14:60-61; Mark 15:4-5). There were other times when His words were like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11). How penetrating is James-' sermon on the control of the tongue (James 3). (Cf. Proverbs 17:28; Proverbs 15:23) Solomon is speaking to a vast area of life in which the daily events are of major significance.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 Unlike verse five, love here has as the opposite hate, and the comparison is peace. It is unlike the conjugal love of the former verse and should be understood as more comprehensive of the affairs of men. In times of peace, all of man's activities should be expressions of love, as he moves about in his relationship with his family and his fellow man. However, when war is necessary, there should be foundational issues which require the hatred of just men. The seriousness of war speaks to the issue of life and man's ability to distinguish between that which is to be loved and thus defended, and that which should be destroyed because it is the recipient of man's justifiable hatred.

The infinitives represent a more personal, individual activity, while the preposition for speaks in each instance to general categories which involved multitudes at the same time.

We have refrained from giving the couplets an unwarranted spiritual or Christian interpretation, as this would be out of character with the purpose of the book. We have also withstood the temptation, to which many others have yielded, to see God's activities with Israel or the church in each of the events. The greater context of the passage assures that God's laws are in effect in God's world. He is very much in control. However, the emphasis is undoubtedly on the activities of men. Solomon is giving us an overview of the total life of one generation. He stated it clearly in the beginning that there is a time for everything and every event under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). His objective, at this point in his book, is to bring man to see that there is nothing better than to resign himself to the work and pleasures of the day, recognizing that this is a gift to man from the hand of God. It is not the activity of God but of man that is foremost in his mind. His very next question substantiates this contention: What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?

FACT QUESTIONS 3:1-8

119.

What kind of an account is Solomon picturing?

120.

What themes are under consideration?

121.

Explain what will happen to man if he elects to live contrary to God's appointed times and seasons.

122.

Define the good man.

123.

Define the sinner.

124.

Give two reasons why this list of the activities of each generation is rather long.

125.

Name four extreme activities of men that are listed.

126.

Give at least one example of an inevitable event that man experiences.

127.

Explain why verse one should not be interpreted as teaching predestined times and events.

128.

State the purpose of verse two.

129.

What kind of killing would be included by the context of verse three.

130.

Distinguish between weeping and mourning.

131.

Explain what is meant by an euphemistic description.

132.

Give an example of such a description and explain its meaning.

133.

What will earthly wisdom enable a man to do? (Ecclesiastes 3:6)

134.

In what way is the term love in verse eight to be thought as different from the same term in verse five?

135.

What is Solomon's overall objective at this point? How does verse nine substantiate your answer?