Month: November 2022

3For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
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 throw away stones, and a time to gather stones
together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
⁷ a time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.

The God–Given Task

⁹ What gain have the workers from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. ¹¹ He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; ¹³ moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. ¹⁴ I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him. ¹⁵ That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.

Judgment and the Future Belong to God

¹⁶ Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. ¹⁷ I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work. ¹⁸ I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.
¹⁹ For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals; for all is vanity. ²⁰ All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
²¹ Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? ²² So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What is the general theme of the opening?  Why do you suppose the writer chose the actions listed here? What is significant about the number of actions and their pairing [see Notes]? Might a contemporary writer use different actions? What comes to mind?

2. What does the author think about God’s creation? How does he describe the world? Humanity’s relation to creation? God’s purpose in creation? What purpose do the seasons serve?

3. How does the writer respond to injustice? What does the author say about our human condition? How do you feel about the writer’s statements? Why do you think the author focused on the similarities?

4. What does the writer conclude from looking at the seasons? From examining injustice in the world? From the similarities between humans and animals?

Get Personal

How do you respond to the author’s conclusions in vv. 12-13 and 22? How are they the same? How are they different? How does your relationship with Jesus affect your understanding of the purpose and value of your work?

3:1. Time — the unusual Hebrew word usually refers to an “appropriate time.” Even though humans have the ability to decide when to do something, God created the cycles of this world (“under heaven”) so there is an appropriate time for many activities. Jesus probably referred to the same idea in Matthew 16: 2-4, about the “signs of the times.”
The poem has seven pairs of opposites. Seven often represents completeness in Hebrew poetry and the use of paired opposites can imply “everything.” Psalm 139 uses the same literary device: You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do, [v. 2-3].
3:2. Born . . . die — interestingly, the author begins with the two activities that are controlled by God, not by the person. Job also talked about God’s control: You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer, [14:5]. You can check 1 Sam 2:6-8 for another view.
3:3. Kill — the Hebrew word here usually means killing an animal or reacting violently to another person, but not premeditated murder. It is not the same as the word in the sixth commandment. 
3:4. Weep . . . laugh — the Bible contrasts joy and sorrow often: For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning, [Psalm 30:5], and, those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest, [Psalm 125:5-6]. Jesus used the same contrast in telling the apostles about his death: I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a

new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy, [John 16:20-22].
3:9. Toil — as in 1:3, this word means work that is very hard to do, a crushing burden.
3:11. Beautiful for its own time — this reinforces the idea of purpose in creation in v. 1. “Beautiful” can be translated “proper” or “appropriate.”
Planted eternity — God has given humans the ability to conceive of time other than the 24/7/365 of this world, the ability to understand – at least partially (“cannot see the whole scope”) – the kind of “place” where God is. David called on God to “teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom,” [Psalm 90:12].
3:14. God has done this — this is a preview of Solomon’s conclusion at the end of the book [you can peek at 12:13, if this isn’t enough]. Solomon is affirming that God created the “seasons” of this world, but he is not bound by them; he exists in a different realm.
Awe — the meaning here is the same as in Proverbs: understanding and respecting one’s relationship to God.
3:16-17. Moreover . . . — Here Solomon acknowledges the injustice in this world (“under the sun”) and concludes that eventually (“the appointed time”) God will balance things out.
3:18. They are but animals — on the surface there is no difference between humans and the other animals: both are born, breathe, die and decompose. There is no visible evidence of any difference (v. 21: “who knows whether?”).
3:22. Nothing better — since we don’t know God’s purposes, Solomon concludes that the best response to this meaningless situation is to take some enjoyment in doing one’s work in this life; and he notes, again, that this is a gift from God. Jesus had a slightly different perception of this issue: so don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today, [Matt 6:34].

Memory Verse
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,
[Ecclesiastes 3:1]

Note: if you are not familiar with the song “Turn, Turn, Turn,” you can find Pete Seeger singing his original version as well as covers by Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, and the Byrds (who had the number 1 hit in 1967) on the internet.

Next Lesson
Injustice, companionship, political power — Ecclesiastes 4

2I said to myself, “Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But again, this also was vanity. ² I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” ³ I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life. ⁴ I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself; ⁵ I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. ⁶ I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines.

⁹ So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰ Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. ¹¹ Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

¹² So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the one do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. ¹³ Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.

¹⁴ The wise have eyes in their head,
but fools walk in darkness. 

Yet I perceived that the same fate befalls all of them. ¹⁵ Then I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also; why then have I been so very wise?” And I said to myself that this also is vanity. ¹⁶ For there is no enduring remembrance of the wise or of fools, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How can the wise die just like fools? ¹⁷ So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁸ I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me ¹⁹ —and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. ²⁰ So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, ²¹ because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²² What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? ²³ For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

²⁴ There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God;
²⁵ for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? ²⁶ For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. NRSV 

Get into the Word

1. What is the author’s first project? What is he looking for? What does he find?

2. What does the writer try next? How does he go about this search? What is he trying to find? Why?

3. What else does he do to seek his goal? How impressive would this list be in today’s world? What do you think of his accomplishments? How do you suppose others responded to the list? What does the author conclude about his wealth and accomplishments?

4. What does the author say about wisdom and foolishness? How is one better than the other? Do you agree with the writer’s assessment? Is there really any difference between them in the long run?

5. How does the author feel about the value of work? What is the biggest problem with working hard? What does a person really get from hard work? Why is this a problem for the author? How did this actually work out for Solomon [see Notes]?

6. What is the writer’s conclusion about pleasure and work? Why does he reach this decision? Do you think it worked for him?

Get Personal

Are there aspects of your life that you consider futile? Are they related more to pleasure or to work? What makes them meaningless?

2:1. I said to myself — the Hebrew is actually “I thought in my heart,” where heart refers to a person’s emotions or desires. Solomon’s father had a comment on this idea: Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God,” [Psalm 14:1].
Pleasure — the Hebrew usually means “worthwhile;” it’s translated “happiness” in verse 3.
2:3. Lay hold on folly — after concluding that pleasure was meaningless, Solomon tries wine and the resulting foolishness people experience, but he exercises some restraint (“still guiding me with wisdom”). He finds this is not really “good” either. Here is Solomon’s own comment on alcohol: wine is a mocker; strong drink is a brawler. And whoever is led astray by it is not wise, [Proverbs 20:1].
2:4-11. Check 1 Kings 10 for a picture of Solomon’s wealth and properties.
2:8. Many concubines — according to 1 Kings 11, Solomon had 300 concubines in addition to his 700 wives.
2: 11. For a better perspective on wealth and accomplishment, check the apostle, John: For all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God last forever,[1 John 2:16-17].
2:13. Wisdom . . . light — the Bible uses light as a metaphor for wisdom in several places: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, [Psalm 119:105, also check Proverbs 4:18-19 and Eph 5:8-9].

2:14. Same fate — David put it this way: When we look to the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others, [Psalm 49:10].
2:16. Forgotten — the Psalmist said, the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more, [103:16].
2:18. Leave to those who come after me — we don’t know if Solomon had heard God’s prediction about the future of Israel [1 Kings 11:11-13] when he wrote this, but it was certainly true and it turned out his son was foolish [the details are in 1 Kings 14:21-31]. His father said it this way: Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing are they in turmoil; they heap it up and do not know who will gather, [Psalm 39:6].
2:24. Nothing better — Solomon repeats this conclusion several times: 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-10.
2:25. Apart from him — many years later Paul would tell the Romans, we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, [8:28].
2:26. Both Job and Solomon, himself, talked about the wealth of a sinner. Job said, Though they heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay—they may pile it up, but the just will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver, [27:16-17], and Solomon echoed: the good leave an inheritance to their children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous, [Prov 13:22].