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Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven: (Eccl 3:1 GW) [see below for full text]
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: (Eccl 3:1 NKJV) [context– Eccl 3:1-8]
History is beyond our control
History may repeat itself but we cannot control it. We also can’t erase history, although many have attempted to do so. The attempt to rewrite or revise history is a way of trying to control people’s beliefs, thoughts, and behavior.
In the end, or as time passes, efforts to change history to fit a certain set of beliefs as a means of coercion and control of people are exposed. It illustrates the great and continuing struggle between the will of humanity and the sovereignty of God.
All these attempts to control or revise history fail because God is greater than any generation, and any philosophy, political movement, or religion.
Many examples exist of the ultimate failure of attempts to control people through a forced ideology and the accompanying efforts to revise or change history to support an ideology.
The emperor of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, tried to reeducate some bright young Jewish men taken captive from Judah in Israel. He gave Daniel and three of his cohorts Babylonian names and put them through a strict regimen and indoctrination.
But these young men resisted in ways that allowed them to maintain their identity and faithfulness to their God (Daniel 1:8-16).
The ideologies of Nazism and Communism gained great control over many people for some time but eventually failed to control and subvert people’s beliefs and yearning for freedom.
These examples also serve to illustrate how people attempt to control and reshape the future.
The first attempt to gain this type of control is seen in the Garden of Eden when the first man and woman believed the lie of the serpent (Gen 3:4-5).
Several generations later, when humanity was united in one place with one language, an attempt was made to build a tower up to the heavens on the plain of Shinar, later known as Babylon. They desired to build a great city and tower to become famous and keep from being scattered throughout the earth.
But God saw the danger of this effort to control their own destiny and the destiny of humanity. God confused their language and people were scattered throughout the earth with many languages (Gen 11:1-9).
Why would God do this?
Humanity’s attempt to be sovereign over themselves and others is based on the prideful attempt to gain ultimate control over life on earth.
But God had greater plans. Much greater.
He wanted to restore humanity to the true freedom the first man and woman knew before the serpent’s lie.
Insights
Life on earth—under the sun—is full of cycles and seasons. This is seen in the natural world in many ways—the annual seasons of weather, a myriad of ecological cycles, and the rhythm of everyday life.
This is what Solomon expressed in this list of alternating contrasts (see text below). It’s a reminder of humanity’s limited capacity to control our lives “under the sun.”
God is sovereign, but we are not. He reigns over the earth, the heavens, and all life.
King Solomon observed the ongoing rhythms of life on earth and concluded—life is not random. It has a cyclical order and purpose.
We may struggle to see the purpose of these seasons of life because we’re in the midst of them. Even over the course of a lifetime, we may find it difficult to understand why some things take place or if they have any value or purpose.
When we look at things from God’s perspective—an eternal view—we can begin to understand.
How do we do this?
The Scriptures reveal valuable life lessons in the many narratives it contains along with practical instruction and wisdom. In particular, the Gospels reveal who God is and His plan and purpose of redemption for all humanity.
We also need to spend time with people who are godly and who have valuable life experiences. All of us need encouragement and can be encouragers to others. We all benefit from people who are mentors in our life—not only older, more experienced people but fellow travelers in life’s journey.
Looking at Solomon’s list of life events, it’s easy to see the contrasts. Of course, these great pendulum swings of life’s events are not so easy to endure. But these contrasting actions and life events reveal the ups and downs of our lives on earth.
We may not go through each of these in our own lives but we may know others who have or observed others who did.
It’s also important to view this list of actions and life events from the culture and time of King Solomon, but many of them are relatable for all people in any era.
Existential Reflections
Again, life is not random. It’s also not predetermined and fixed.
Solomon’s main point is this—for all that takes place in life, there’s a purpose for it. We may not understand the purpose in our own life or the lives of others, but God knows, for they are His purposes.
The point isn’t to understand what the purpose is and why an event happens, it’s to realize and understand it’s not random, nor is it fate.
I’m always wary of anyone who is quick to say they know why some cataclysmic or tragic event takes place, as if they know God’s will and purposes.
Our family went through a tragic event many years ago. As most people do, I found myself asking God, “Why did this happen?” I still may not understand the reason why all these years later but I don’t need to know it.
My wife and I chose to trust God in the midst of this tragedy and the long recovery from it. We saw God do so many amazing things in our lives and the people we served alongside in the ministry we led. (You can read more about it here—Out of the Ashes).
There is a purpose, a reason, for every season and cycle in life.
We don’t need to understand the reason some event beyond our control takes place. But we do need to understand it’s neither random nor fate.
What are you going through in your life today?
Do you recognize a cycle or season from this list that resonates with you now?
When we entrust our life and those we love to the Lord, we need to continue trusting in Him beyond what we do or do not understand.
What do you need to entrust to God today?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (GW)
Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to pull out what was planted,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build up,
a time to cry and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to hug and a time to stop hugging,
a time to start looking and a time to stop looking,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear apart and a time to sew together,
a time to keep quiet and a time to speak out,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV)
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.
This is an excerpt from my newest book available on Amazon! Glimmers of Light in the Darkness of Life
I’ve included the Scripture text for this devotional study above and the larger context can be found by clicking the blue button link– “Ecclesiastes Chap 3” (chapter number and text will change chapter to chapter).
I’ve used God’s Word Translation (GW) for ease of reading but the button link will take you to the text in a parallel version with the NKJV text.
Also, for further commentary, I recommend Enduring Word by Ptr David Guzik.
