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Bible Reading
Introduction
Solomon has been searching for meaning.
In all things in this life, he has searched meaning out..
Over many years!
He has spoken of the cycles of life...
Things just keep on going, there is nothing new, everything we see happening has happened before, and it will keep on happening.
He’s also looked at trying to find meaning through work
He’s looked at trying to find meaning through wealth.
Meaning through women (many relationships)
Meaning through wine...
All of these things were without meaning.
But slowly, he’s beginning to see a glimpse of God, and Solomon is moving in the direction of showing us that life in this world does have some sense of meaning and contentment, when lived in right relationship with God.
1.
The Assertion (v.1)
Time = refers to an occurrence which is predetermined
In the last passage, we saw a slight change in his attitude.
He acknowledged God for the first time in a positive light in the book.
Ecclesiastes 2:24–25 (NIV84) —
24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.
This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Also v.26 - To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness
This is a radical change, and a radical step towards living life with meaning in this world.
Let me ask you this morning, Are you living with a properly oriented sense of meaning and purpose in the world?
I'm not talking about a sense of purpose...
in that you've got a dream to make it big
in that you want to have 2 beautiful children that perfect model examples in the world
or a purpose of...
I'm asking if you have your sense of purpose in the knowledge of the true and living God, who He is, what He is doing in this world, His commands upon your life, and your living in relationship with Him.
Solomon has now come to the point where he is beginning to acknowledge God.
He sees that while life is entirely meaningless apart from God, a different perspective must be brought when bringing God into the picture.
Where does God fit into your picture?
Is He even in there?
Solomon’s assertion here is that there is a time and a season for everything under the sun!!
Every season of life that we find, every high, every low, every situation in life - it is in God’s hands, and in the providential working of God.
That is the assertion!
2. The Examples (vv.2-8)
These verses contain various demonstrations of the assertion that there is a time for everything.
What is interesting in this regard is that although there is not a total meaninglessness in everything, there is yet no permanence in things in the world.
What Solomon asserts here is certainly better than the never-ending circle that he is outlined in the first two chapters...
He confirms that there are appointed times for all things that take place.
And yet, these precise times present complete opposites.
Philip Ryken:
“Each pair forms a merism, a figure of speech in which two polarities make up a whole.
For example, when the Bible says that God created “the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), it means that God created the entire universe.
Similarly, each of the pairs in Ecclesiastes 3 makes up a larger whole.
Together birth and death comprise the whole of human existence, weeping and laughing summarize the full range of human emotion, and so on.
There is something comprehensive about each pair.”
(Ryken)
A Time for everything...
1.
A Time to be born and a time to die
The first pair, ‘a time to be born, and a time to die’ (2a), introduces all the rest, for all the others take place between these two events.
[Olyott, S. (1983, p. 27)]
The Hebrew term here is best translated "give birth"
Birth is that which is celebrated in life.
When we found out that Cindy was pregnant with our firstborn (and to be honest, every other one of our children thereafter) it was a time of great celebration.
When those children were born into the world, again, it was a time of great celebration - much joy and excitement.
Life is truly a gift from the Lord.
Yet, on the other hand, death is the inevitable end of all things.
As a new life is brought forth into the world, the most certain thing about that new person is that they will die
“Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
(Job 14:5, NIV84)
2. A time to plant and a time to uproot
In similar vein, Solomon speaks about planting and uprooting.
Planting is another way of giving life.
And yet there comes a time (very often) where that tree will be uprooted.
Often this planting and uprooting was spoken of in relation to God’s people...
Notice God’s sovereignty in this...
3. A time to kill and a time to heal
Solomon is not here speaking to the ethical questions of when it is right or good to kill.
He simply makes the assertion that in the world that we live in, which travails under the curse of sin, there are those times to kill, and times to heal.
Again, we see that these are actions of man, and yet we must recognise the sovereignty of God in this...
1 Samuel 2:6
““The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.”
Hosea 6:1-2
““Come, let us return to the LORD.
He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.”
4. A time to tear down and a time to build
God broke down the Tower of Babel that was built because of human pride (Genesis 11:8–9).
He also built up a house for Israel and a kingdom for David.
The complete work of God includes both creation and devastation.
Many people prefer a one-dimensional deity.
They like to think of God giving life, but not appointing the time of death.
They would rather see God planting and building than uprooting and tearing down.
But instead of taking him by halves, we must consider his complete character.
5.
A time to weep and a time to laugh
Do we recognise that both (all) of these are from the hand of God?
God is the one who brings those times of weeping in our lives, all according to His perfect knowledge, wisdom and will.
When we go through the valley of tears, are we aware that God is there with us, walking us through it.
Further, do we recognise and acknowledge that he leads us into those valleys for His good purposes.
James 1:2–3
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Hebrews 12:7
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.
For what son is not disciplined by his father?
God is the one who brings the time to laugh, again, by His good pleasure according to His perfect wisdom.
Isaiah 61:7–8
7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity.
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