Ecclesiastes
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Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 3
1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Commentary · verses 1-8
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
Commentary · verse 9
Solomon was stating, through a rhetorical question, that even doing the right thing at the right time did not result in a benefit that could be physically enjoyed by the laborer.
10I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
11He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11He 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.
Commentary · verses 10-11
Solomon was stating that God set eternity in the hearts of men but made it so it was unsearchable. This was the same as Job 3:23. Job struggled with this question "Why are we given the ability to understand and then prevented from understanding?" Solomon and Job thought knowing everything would make them happy. However, the Bible consistently showed that progress (growth) was what would make us happy, not reaching some imaginary finish line.
12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
Commentary · verse 12
Solomon stated that he knew the only good in man was for him to rejoice and do good in this life. However, it was not faith unless we logically knew it and emotionally felt it. That was what led to actions. Solomon knew what was right and could SAY it. However, Solomon did not feel what was right and DO it.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
Commentary · verse 13
"Fullness of bread" - "good for food" (Eve).
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.
15That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
16And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
Commentary · verses 14-16
Did Solomon recognize the long term implications of Righteousness and Justice? Was Solomon making the same mistake Job made? If Solomon understood that Justice would be equaled out in the long term, would he have "strengthened the arm of the needy and poor" so that he would be profitable?
Doctrines on this passage
17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.
17I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Commentary · verses 17-18
Solomon believed that God judged man so they knew they were but animals. In the Bible, animals/beasts did not have understanding. Solomon sounded a lot like Job...
19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Another "Job-like" statement: Solomon stated that man had no preeminence over beasts/animals. All were vain and all were dust.
21Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?
21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Commentary · verses 21-22
Short term mentality. It did not seem as if Solomon had any understanding of Justice being equaled out in the long term. Solomon sought out happiness as a cause. What are the causes of happiness? Recent happiness studies have shown that people get a good feeling that lasts at most 2-3 days from buying things and doing fun activities. Possessions and activities lead to a good feeling that lasts as long as our short term memories. Solomon made the same conclusion in these first three chapters. What do happiness studies say are the causes of happiness? Currently, 50% of happiness is correlated to people helping other people. Helping and affirming others is responsible for half of the cause of long term happiness. Notice, this concept never occurred to Solomon...
Commentary · verse 22
Ecclesiastes 1-3 covered Solomon's unprofitable foundation that the Book of Ecclesiastes was built upon.
Solomon stated twenty-eight things that there was a "time" for. However, he had already stated that all was vain. Solomon was focused on limiting the unprofitability. This list was Solomon's attempt to say: do not do the right thing at the wrong time or the result will be even more vain (unprofitable) than it already was...