Eclesiastes 3

Eclesiastes 3

Morgan - Borrow From This Verse To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Today’s text is widely remembered as President John F. Kennedy’s favorite passage of Scripture, but he is far from the first American leader who appreciated its value. Peter Muhlenberg once used it with powerful effect. Muhlenberg was a native of Pennsylvania, where his parents had settled as Lutheran missionaries from Germany to the American colonies. Much of Peter’s youth, however, was spent in Europe, for his father had wanted him educated in Germany (just as many American missionaries today send their children back to the States for boarding school). Young Peter, however, wasn’t good educational material, and he spent most of his teen years working in a grocery store and serving in the army. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1767, wanting to follow his father’s footsteps into the ministry. He was ordained by the Anglicans, and began pastoring a church among German people in Virginia. In 1774 he was elected to the Virginia Legislature and was present at St. John’s Church in Richmond when Patrick Henry proclaimed, “Give me liberty or give me death!” Peter was so moved that he promptly joined George Washington’s army. He resigned from his church, and on a bitterly sad Sunday preached his farewell sermon. He read Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Looking up, he said, “There is a time to preach and a time to pray, but there is also a time to fight, and that time has now come.” Then to the shock of his congregation, he suddenly flung off his ministerial robe to reveal underneath the uniform of a militia colonel. He recruited other men in his church, and they became known as the “German Regiment” under the command of Peter Muhlenberg, who achieved the rank of major general. After the war, Peter returned to Philadelphia a hero and spent his remaining days serving in local and national government. * Today’s Suggested Reading Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 Ecclesiastes 3:9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? Ec 1:3 2:11,22,23 5:16 Pr 14:23 Mt 16:26 See over 50 translations Related Passages: Ecclesiastes 1:3+ What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun? Ecclesiastes 2:11+ Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun. THE QUEST FOR LASTING PROFIT What profit (yithron; Lxx - perisseia - that which is beyond the regular or expected amount) is there to the worker from that in which he toils - This is a rhetorical question and the implicit answer is that people get nothing for their hard word! Human labor, seen apart from God, cannot produce lasting meaning. Profit (yithron) appears 10 times in Ecclesiastes and each time it questions what is the lasting benefit or eternal value of all this effort? Profit (yithron) is a commercial term so the idea is life "pays no dividends." Ray Stedman What is "left over" to provide a permanent sense of satisfaction after the momentary pleasure is extracted from some pleasurable experience? That is the question with which the Searcher examines everything. He has already asked it three times in this book. The answer follows. NET NOTE - This rhetorical question is an example of negative affirmation, expecting a negative answer: “Man gains nothing from his toil!” Any advantage that man might gain from his toil is nullified by his ignorance of divine providence. Children build beautiful sandcastles at the beach — intricate, impressive. But when the tide rises, the castle is washed away completely. Without God's eternal touch, human accomplishments are just sand before the tide. Imagine a hamster running endlessly on a spinning wheel — lots of effort, but going nowhere. Human labor, apart from divine purpose, can feel similarly exhausting and fruitless. Solomon isn’t belittling hard work. He’s warning us: If our work is disconnected from God’s greater purpose, it will feel hollow. But when work is done unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23–24), even mundane labor becomes sacred and eternal. Tommy Nelson - Solomon says that God is not your genie. God does not cooperate with us the way we think He should. He doesn't behave as was said of Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia, "He is not a tame lion." And when we realize this, it leads us to a very human response. What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? (v. 9) We say to ourselves, "Why should I work so hard when it's all going to be destroyed? Why get married when you just end up fighting and hurting one another? Why have a child and deal with the stress and disappointment? Why should I go on living when I know at some point I'm going to get the twenty-four-hour stomach flu?"...Solomon is playing the devil's advocate here. He is saying what all of us think and sometimes wish we could say. What profit is there? Everything gets undone and it's all been ordained anyway. It is easy to get cynical. Do you ever feel like that? What's the use? Why not punt? Solomon put this into perspective. (See A Life Well Lived: A Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes - Page 47) Ray Pritchard - Something New Under the Sun GRASPING AT SHADOWS What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has kid on men. Ecclesiastes 3:9-10 When the final examination grades at Cambridge University were published, Henry Martyn's highest ambition had been realized. He was the honors man of the year. Strangely, his first sensation was keen disappointment. "I obtained my highest wishes," he said, "but was surprised that I had grasped a shadow." This is part of the "burden" that seemed to dog Solomon's steps. Everywhere he turned he found more evidence that nothing in this life seems to satisfy. Even the highest achievements often leave us feeling empty. Missionary friends wrote recently that upon completing the translation of the New Testament into a tribal language they felt exhausted and depressed. Where was the feeling of satisfaction such a monumental achievement should bring? There is another side to the story. A young man came to Christ on the streets of Chicago. I had the privilege of baptizing him, knowing that he would go to prison for a crime committed before his conversion. Writing from a maximum-security prison, he offered my congregation these words of encouragement: I want you all to know that you and everyone at the church are in my prayers always. It isn't any easier out there. I just finished fasting for three days successfully. It was hard, especially not smoking. But I make it through the power of God. I really feel good about that. I mean I feel cleansed in my mind and stronger in the Lord. You all will always be in my prayers. Keep up the good work for the Lord. I got him covered in here. I'm starting with my cellie. God bless and thank you. Your brother in Christ, Shane. Those words are remarkable, especially his statement that "it isn't any easier out there." Here's a young man in prison for up to fifteen years, yet he is fasting, praying, and setting out to win his cellmate to Christ. That kind of boldness comes only from knowing God personally. I do not doubt that my missionary friends have gained a better perspective after their work of many years. And I'm sure that Shane has many rough moments awaiting him behind bars. Henry Martyn was right about one thing: We live in a world of shadows where the ultimate significance of a given day's work may be hard to see. If we trust our feelings, we will soon give in to despair. But true faith rises above feelings to declare that what we do for Christ will last forever. Lord God, in a world of passing shadows, You are the ultimate reality. Fill me with grace that I might serve You with joy Amen. SHINING THE LIGHT Why is it that our dreams when finally realized and our goals when finally achieved often bring less satisfaction than we had hoped—and often bring a sense of disappointment? What does this teach us about life and about God? MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read 1 Kings 19:1-9; Jeremiah 2:13; and Mark 8:34. Ecclesiastes 3:10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. Ec 1:13,14 Ec 2:26 Ge 3:19 1Th 2:9 2Th 3:8 See over 50 translations Related Passages: Ecclesiastes 2:26+ For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. GOD'S ASSIGNMENT FOR LIFE I have seen the task (inyan - burden, travail, difficult things) which God has given the sons of men ("Children of Adam") with which to occupy (to keep them occupied, to busy) themselves. - AMPC = "I have seen the painful labor and exertion and miserable business which God has given to the sons of men with which to exercise and busy themselves." Notice that the task is not random but it is something God deliberately assigns. Solomon says that God has assigned human beings a task of the work, responsibilities, and experiences that fill human life. Even though life feels heavy at times, Solomon says it is God-given and is part of God’s wise design to occupy, test, humble, and shape mankind. Note that Solomon chose to describe life as a task (inyan - burden, travail, difficult things) rather than as a pleasure or a source of satisfaction. Duane Garrett points out that "This verse should be rendered, “I have seen all the business God has given to people to afflict them.” Work is not simply a part of nature but is an affliction from God (Gen 3:17–19+). (See Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs - Volume 14 - Page 299) Tommy Nelson - In the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us that there is no hope unless we turn to God. Now we have a bigger problem because we have turned to God. We find out that He has given us this life of vanity and toil. He has appointed everything that happens in our lives. How do you live in a world that is out of your control? How do you live with a God who doesn't always make sense? Again, the Hebrew translation of "sons of men" in verse 10 is "sons of Adam," reminding us of the fallen state of man. It's just hard to be a fallen man in a fallen world. (See A Life Well Lived: A Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes - Page 48) Task (06045) inyan (from anah = to be occupied, busied) means a task, a burden and refers to a job to be performed, a responsibility to be met, a need to be satisfied. E.g., to examine all of life, to understand it (Ec 1:13; 2:23); both by good and evil persons (Ec 2:26; 3:10); concerning what is past, present, and future (Eccl. 8:16). It indicates the effort put forth as well as the task itself (Eccl. 5:3). Gilbrant - Solomon spoke of the task that God has allotted to humanity (Ec 3:10) and declared that it is a grievous one, full of pain and leading nowhere (Ec 1:13; 2:23). It is significant that he chose to describe life as a task, an assignment, rather than as a pleasure or a source of satisfaction. Man just does his job over and over again, with no good result in view. The sinner spends his life gathering resources, only to give them to the good (Ec 2:26). Even the good gathers riches only to die and have them pass to someone else (Ec 4:8). In a slightly different idiom, the writer declares that hoarding riches and not receiving the benefit is an evil affair, a bad business (5:14). Solomon said that he tried to determine the nature of life, the meaning of man's task, but found the inquiry impossible (Ec 8:16). In Ec 5:3, the Preacher declares that a dream comes through a task, perhaps an idiom for much effort. (Complete Biblical Library) INYAN - 8V - effort(1), investment(1), task(6). Eccl. 1:13; Eccl. 2:23; Eccl. 2:26; Eccl. 3:10; Eccl. 4:8; Eccl. 5:3; Eccl. 5:14; Eccl. 8:16 Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. KJV Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. BGT Ecclesiastes 3:11 σὺν τὰ πάντα ἐποίησεν καλὰ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ καί γε σὺν τὸν αἰῶνα ἔδωκεν ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν ὅπως μὴ εὕρῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸ ποίημα ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ μέχρι τέλους LXE Ecclesiastes 3:11 All the things which he has made are beautiful in his time: he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end. NET Ecclesiastes 3:11 God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives. CSB Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. ESV Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. NIV Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. NLT Ecclesiastes 3:11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. YLT Ecclesiastes 3:11 The whole He hath made beautiful in its season; also, that knowledge He hath put in their heart without which man findeth not out the work that God hath done from the beginning even unto the end. NJB Ecclesiastes 3:11 All that he does is apt for its time; but although he has given us an awareness of the passage of time, we can grasp neither the beginning nor the end of what God does. NRS Ecclesiastes 3:11 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. NAB Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. GWN Ecclesiastes 3:11 It is beautiful how God has done everything at the right time. He has put a sense of eternity in people's minds. Yet, mortals still can't grasp what God is doing from the beginning to the end of time. BBE Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything right in its time; but he has made their hearts without knowledge, so that man is unable to see the works of God, from the first to the last. RSV Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man's mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. NKJ Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. He has mad: Ec 7:29 Ge 1:31 De 32:4 Mk 7:37 He has also set eternity in their heart,: Mt 13:22 Ro 1:19,20,28 yet so: Ec 8:17 Job 11:7 Job 37:23 Ps 104:24 Mt 11:27 Ro 11:33 See over 50 translations Related Passages: Ecclesiastes 8:17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover. Job 11:7 “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? (Rhetorical! Answer: NO!) Romans 11:33+ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 1 Corinthians 13:12+ For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Psalm 139:16+ Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. THE DIVINE CLOCKMAKER He has made everything (kol) appropriate (yapheh; Lxx - kalos - beneficial) in its time (et/eth; Lxx - kairos) - Other titles for this verse might be "God’s Work Beyond Our Sight," "Living Between Time and Eternity," "The Unsearchable Work of God." KJV = "He hath made everything beautiful in his time" AMP = "He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time." What Solomon is saying is that God in His sovereignty and His providential plans has an appropriate time for every activity. In Ge 1:31+ "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." Note that good in Lxx is the same word kalos used in this verse for appropriate (or beautiful)! And notice also that this verse also spoke of His time. While you may wrestle with this truth, the truth is that God orchestrates all things — even joy, sorrow, life, death — with perfect timing. Every event fits into God’s greater design, even if we don’t see the full picture. Think about this for a moment. If God were not in control of everything "under the sun" (and above heaven), could we say that He was truly, completely sovereign? That's rhetorical of course. Of course this truth creates a tension so that on one hand, we live in a world that is purposefully arranged by God, but on the other hand we do not always grasp how everything fits. This leads to humility, dependence, and walking by faith, not by sight! (2Co 5:7+). When an appointed thing occurs, it may not seem that it has any purpose whatsoever, but God sees it from a totally different perspective. -- Tommy Nelson John MacArthur on appropriate. - The phrase echoes "God saw... it was good" (Ge 1:31+). Even in a cursed universe, activity should not be meaningless. Its futility lies in the fickle satisfaction of man and his failure to trust the wisdom of sovereign God. (See MacArthur Study Bible) We want to be in charge, we want to limit the term of hurt or pain. But God will not allow us to take His place and be in charge Ray Stedman Everything is appropriate (yapheh) and helpful to us, what appears to be the negative as well as the positive. These are not curses and obstacles; they are God's blessings, deliberately provided by him. Even our enemies are a blessing. I received a letter from a businessman friend of mine in Dallas, a very thoughtful man, giving me his thinking along this line. He said that there were five types of people whom he had learned from in life, "heroes, models, mentors, peers and friends." He continues "I have added another: Enemies. They have a very important place in our lives."..."Love your enemies," Jesus said (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27), because they are valuable to you. They do something for you that you desperately need. Our problem is that we have such a shallow concept of things. We want everything to be smooth and pleasant. More than that, we want to be in charge, we want to limit the term of hurt or pain. But God will not allow us to take His place and be in charge. There is a rhythm to life which even secular writers recognize. The book, Passages, speaks of the various experiences we pass through as we grow through life. Daniel Hill - The things that are given by God are given according to His appropriate timing. The Hebrew word APPROPRIATE is yapheh and looks at that which is beautiful. Now beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this requires capacity on our part. With out capacity, which is developed with God in our relationship with Him as we grow, we may not see the things of God as being beautiful. With Him, we can look back over the list of contrasts and see that what is given by God according to His proper timing, is beautiful, yapheh. There is an appropriate time for each activity