Lesson 9
Ecclesiastes
The Things That Don't
Work!
3:3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
- kill = harag;
used for executing criminals and for killing of the enemy in battle
- stands in contrast to the
word for murder in Ex 20:13 ratzach
Killing
here then has clear reference to capital punishment which WOG favors. Enforced from Gen 9:6 thru end of human history.
We
take it lightly but the point is made when capital punishment was instituted in
Gen 9:6 it is because "man is made in the image of God.”
This
moral reason for capitol punishment has not been superseded or antiquated by
subsequent revelation in WOG.
and a time to heal; - rapha'
lit. means to sew, to heal a wound - so this would
includes the work of doctors - nurses - medical care
What
a contrast - a time to kill, battlefield, execution, and a time to heal - to be
the good Samaritan, to provide for the needs of one who is injured.
3:3b a
time to break down, and a time to build up;
- A perfect illustration of what we call urban
renewal today. Demolition crews are
followed by the construction crews.
- Such was
the case when the Babylonians were used by God to destroy the walls of
-
In Jer 18:7-10
the concept here of tearing down and building up is used of Nations.
3:4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a
time to dance.
-
Psa 30:5
** What one weeps over and what one laughs
at says a lot about what is in the soul of that individual.
A time to dance. What's interesting is that
dancing is mentioned 27x's in the Bible and not once in a negative sense.
-
usually in a context of praising God – worship Psa 149:3; 150:4
OBSERVATIONS
1. There will be highs and lows as a part of our
allotment of time.
2. It will make a big difference in how you respond
to the situation faced.
3. Within our allotted time we will experience many
of these situations which will work for our GOOD if we mix that circumstance
with the BD in our soul. Rom
-
In an average 70 year lifespan we spend:
6.5
years getting an education
9
years - in
recreation, relaxing
6.5
years eating
24
years sleeping
5
years riding in a car
15
years working
3
years reading
Worshipping
God - 5 months
4. Rem: we learn and grow
spiritually faster under testing and pressure.
- C.S. Lewis has said "Pain is God's
megaphone. He wispers to us in our pleasure (when we laugh), but He
shouts to us in our pain (weep)".
5. If we are to benefit we must be in harmony with
the POG.
6. Each of these circumstances will be good in
God's timing or evil apart from it.
- birth of Ishmael
- In Isaiah's day -
- In Jeremiah's day his message to them was to
surrender to
- In the Trib there will
be a time to flee
3:5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
- Thus the same material is treated differently depending on the
circumstances, needs and the POG.
- Mk 13:2 Jesus uses the scattering of the stones
of the temple to
indicate that they would be judged for their rejection of God and
His truth.
3:5b A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
- the word for embrace is chavaq - used a couple of different ways both pertinent.
#1 - as an expression of
one's love and affection for someone with a good hug. (very difficult for
some to show emo/affection - often today it is
portrayed as wimpy or even worse)
-
Laban of his nephew Jacob Gen 29:13
-
Joseph of his brothers in Egypt Gen 48:10.
#2 - used of the embrace of lovers
-
virtuous sense S/S 2:6; 8:3
-
of the adulterous embrace Prov
5:20
***
Prin to remember if the embrace is a sexual one, it
is designed by God for the marriage relationship only.
There
is another emphasis I see here related to embracing and shunning embracing. And
that is in the function of encouraging one another as believers.
*** For
us to have a balanced Christian life we will need both affirmation and
accountability.
3:6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
- This is a dilemma that rescue squads grapple with
all the time. How long do we search?
- There is a time to search and a time to leave it
in the Lord's hands.
3:6b A time to keep and a time to throw away.
- There is a
time to clean out the closet, the garage or the basement and get rid of all the
non-essential treasures.
3:7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
- When extremely bad news came it was appropriate
in Solomon's time to show one's grief by ripping the front of one's
garments. (2 Sam 13:31)
- With the passing of the problem it was proper to
sew the torn clothes together again.
Closely
related to a time of mourning is the next phrase;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
- Seen in Job 2:12-13 of Job's three buddies
- Something that shows great discernment is when to
speak and when to keep silent.
- They have a proverb which says; He who knows does
not speak; He who speaks does not know.
- Wisdom and
insight - Prov 23:9;
Jms