Eccl 3_1-8
At age 18 Solomon was given a blank check. God said to him “Ask what I shall give you” Q: What would you have asked for? Riches, fame, a long life? Solomon asked for wisdom and that pleased the Lord. In addition to wisdom He gave Solomon wealth and peace as well.
But at some point later in Solomon’s life he began to explore what the world had to offer. He set out to see if there was something out there that could bring ultimate satisfaction.
He threw himself into every pursuit available. He gained the finest education the world could offer. He built houses and vast gardens. He dabbled in the arts and he indulged in every physical pleasure.
(ILL) Many in the world today would be jealous of Solomon. They would think he had it made: riches, brains and power. Many in the world today, maybe even some of you in this room, are following in Solomon’s footsteps thinking it will lead to ultimate satisfaction.
Listen to the words of Solomon when, from the world’s perspective, he did make it to the top. Solomon said;
· 1:8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing
· 2:1“Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.
· 2:11 I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind.
If you have set the Lord aside at this point in your life to pursue a career or education or worldly pleasures one day you will wake up and you will feel like Solomon. You’ll say in your heart.
· I have achieved all this but I’m empty.
· I’m not satisfied.
· I should be happy but I feel something is missing.
Ecclesiastes was written as a warning for this generation. In Ecclesiastes 12:11 Solomon said: The words of the wise are like goads. A goad was a pointy object used to motivate an animal that wasn’t moving or to turn him in the right direction.
The Holy Spirit had Solomon write these words to goad you; to steer you in the right direction. Solomon asks some hard questions and he challenges the wisdom of this world so that you will look to God for meaning and purpose in life.
We have come in our study to chapter 3. In verses 1-8 we will learn two important truths about life. (READ)
This is one of the most familiar passages in the Bible. It’s very poetic and it was even put to music and became a number one hit in 1965.
Contrary to popular opinion the main emphasis of these verses is not world peace. Instead they tell us of God’s sovereignty. Which is His right and ability to rule over all of life.
If you want to find meaning and purpose this is a good place to begin. (ILL) As someone once said; it’s good to remember that there is a God and that you are not Him.
In verse 1 Solomon spells out two facts of life.
v. 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
1. First we learn there is a season for every happening in life. The Hebrew word used for season has the idea of an appointed time. The same word is used in Nehemiah 2:6 Then the king said to me, "How long will your journey be, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time
2. The second fact is that there is a time for every matter under heaven. This is a different word that means there is an appropriate time, there is a correct and proper time for every circumstance in life.
Both of these facts imply that someone is in charge who is deciding when and which events in life are to take place.
(ILL) Most people in the world like to imagine that they are the ones making these decisions. We have all heard people say “I control my own destiny” This passage reminds us that they don’t. Let’s look at these two facts of life more closely.
I. There is an Appointed Time for Everything. vs. 1-2
A. The Bible clearly teaches that God does the appointing.
Isaiah 46:9-11 reads: I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
God does not take a wait and see approach to life. He is working his predetermined purposes out. Some might say this is only talking about the big things like creation and the end times.
Listen to Eph 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Just look at some events in the life of Christ.
· Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
· Acts 2:23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
· Ephesians 1:10 God has a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.
God does not leave any of His purposes to chance or to the will of man. He has an appointed time for everything.
B. The Lord appoints the events in your life as well.
1. v. 2 There is a time to be born, and a time to die;
The 27th of January 1965 is my birthday. Amy was born a few months later. We are not sure what day Sudeepa’s or Ann-Marie’s baby will be born but the Lord does.
David said. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. Psalm 139:13-16
The Lord told Sarah, Hannah, Manoah and others the time their children would come. Children are never accidents. They arrival is appointed by God.
2. Just as our time of birth has been appointed so is the moment of our death. David said in that same Psalm All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
(ILL) A Christian never needs to fear death because they know that God has it all under control. God will bring you home at His appointed time.
These are the two extremes of life. Birth and death. If God appoints these times it implies He has an appointed time for everything in between them as well. This is a humbling thought but it assures the Christian that the Lord can work out all things for our good and His glory.
For the believer this truth should be reassuring. Psalm 31:14-15 says But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand;
C. Notice in verse 2 that God has appointed times in nature as well.
God has ordained v. 2 a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
Q: Do you realise how many factors go into making the seasons we know on earth. The earth has to maintain an exact distance from the sun. It has to tilt on its axis at a set angle for the sun to warm up the soil to get the plants to germinate.
Then in the autumn the days have be shorter so that the evenings get cooler for the plants to ripen for the harvest. God regulates all this. He sets springtime and harvest.
Again this truth is there to both humble us and reassure us. As Christians we don’t panic when we hear about climate change and global warming. That doesn’t excuse man polluting the environment but it does remind us that God is ultimately in control of nature.
II. God has appointed times and we also see that He also sends appropriate times in our lives.
You can see a change here in verses 3-8. We’re not talking about time as in dates on a calendar like in verse , but rather circumstances of life.
(ILL) We might say I’ve been through a difficult time or I’ve enjoying a time of peace. When we say those things we’re not talking about a set amount of time but rather the circumstances of life during that period.
This too is regulated by the Lord. He sends and allows circumstances in your life that are appropriate to accomplish His purposes in and through you.
We don’t have time at each phrase here in verses 3-8 but let me highlight some of them.
A. v. 3 tells us there is a time to kill, and a time to heal;
This is not speaking about murder. This is probably taking about death due to illness or natural disaster. These things do come into our lives as God deems appropriate.
He has also determined that there is an appropriate time to send healing. Healing in the Bible is not the norm. Very few healings are recorded in the Old Testament and not that many are seen in the New Testament. God decides when they are appropriate. He may even use the medical community to bring this healing.
B. v. 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
There are periods of both sadness and joy in life. God sends one as well as the other for our good.
Isa 45:7 I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
It’s a false teaching that says God never sends sickness or trials. When He does appoint these hard times it’s to strengthen our faith and to wean us off our love for this fallen world.
We should respond appropriately to each situation the Lord sends our way. When we are enjoying a time of refreshment from the Lord, do as the Psalmist did in Ps 9:2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When going through a trial it is equally appropriate call out like David did in Ps 28:2 To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. Do not drag me off with the wicked,
C. v. 5 Talks about a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; The word here for embrace is used in connection with the husband – wife relationship. According to the Lord marriage is the appropriate time to share these special embraces.
When people decide otherwise it always leads to hurt and dissatisfaction.
D. v. 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
The tearing of clothing is most often associated sorrow over sin like when King Josiah tore his clothes in 2 Kings 22. He realised all of Judah had been ignoring the Law of God. God sends these times of conviction to get us to turn to Him in repentance.
There is also a time to sew. To move on after confession is made. God does not want us to grovel in guilt but rather to move on to rejoicing in grace.
E. v.7 a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom in when to speak and when to keep silent. A timely word can accomplish much good and an inappropriate comment can cause much damage.
James was speaking about our speech when he said; Jas 3:5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
F. v. 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; Paul told the Romans 12:9 Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Christians are to love peace but in our fallen world there may be a time for war, as well. In these times the Lord will show us in is Word how to respond appropriately.
You can see that these verses cover the whole spectrum of human emotions and experience.
There are14 positive statements and 14 negative ones. This is life from the cradle to the grave and God is there appointing the seasons of our life and sending us what is appropriate for our eternal good.
Not only does He send what is appropriate but He also gives us His Word so we can respond appropriately to what He sends our way.
Q: I have been seeking to follow the Lord for the last 31 years. I know He has appointed all my days and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I can’t imagine going through life not knowing God has my times in His hands.
I need to be just as confident in the fact that God is sending just the right mix of joy and trials into my life as well. Everything I go through has been deemed appropriate by my loving heavenly Father and I ought to respond appropriately to each circumstance.
Leave God out and all you have is chance and a meaningless series of events. No wonder Solomon cried All is vanity when he failed to recognise the Lord’s sovereignty over his life.
May the Lord use His Word this morning to keep us from the same error.
Let’s pray!