God is good and sovereign all the time [Eccl. 3:1-15]
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God is good and sovereign all the time [Eccl. 3:1-15]
Exegetical Idea: The king knows that God not only ordains every situation but also controls it as he desires. For this reason, even though he may feel frustrated due to the limitation of the knowledge of the future, he can enjoy his life by trusting the Lord.
Homiletical Idea: Apart from God, there is no true satisfaction and enjoyment of life.
Exegetical Points:
Biblical Theology and Theological Proposition:
True Happiness in God [True satisfaction in God]
God’s Purpose in Labor vs Fallen Toil
Good News:
God uses not only good times but also bad times.
Insightful and Important Observations
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Now, the preacher goes to consider the truth that there is a season and a time for everything.
2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear 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 stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent 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 preacher makes a list of various circumstances in human lives. It seems likely that people under heaven should know at what time their life is. This verse implies that everything that one faces would shift in an opposite direction. For instance, weeping will change into laughing. Mourning will shift into dancing.
In Jesus’ public ministry, there is a season for death, resurrection, ascension, and second coming. For humans, there is a season for judgment and salvation.
10 I have seen the business God gives to humans to preoccupy them.
10 I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.
10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.
LEB, NET, and NIV indicate that God gave humans the burden [business in ESV] that they have to struggle with. This verse reminds us of the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. After the first sin of humans, God cursed Adam to be suffered in his toil. Originally, labor is a gift from God as a holy way of living for human beings. In other words, human beings must have enjoyed working all the time. However, the king understands that toil is no longer God's beautiful plan for humans rather it burdens them.
Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes Your Frustration Should Drive You to Trust Christ (Ecclesiastes 3:10–15)
God imposed a curse on creation because of Adam’s rebellion, so now we experience burdened toil. Activity and work were not designed to be frustrating, but they are now in a cursed world.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NET)
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.
The first part of this verse seems to fit the change of four seasons. In addition, the preacher’s observation on a time is identified in a baby’s growth. God makes a baby fit beautifully in his appropriate time.
Interestingly, the NET has the word “ignorance” instead of “eternal” in the ESV. This verse teaches that it is silly that one unceasingly seeks to find his destiny during his whole life because God does not permit him to appreciate it.
The New Bible Commentary 2:24–3:22 The Alternative to Pessimism
Human beings have a capacity for ‘eternal’ things, something that transcends the immediate situation. This does not bring comprehension of God and his ways; one still cannot understand from beginning to end.
12 I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live, 13 and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.
Even though one assumes that the king seems to be a pessimist but that’s not true. He knows God and further grasps what the gift of God for humans is. Who is this God? A covenant God or intimate God or the Creator?
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.
14 I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him. 15 Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.
The king acknowledges that God is a sovereign God. No one can spoil God’s work in the world. For this reason, humans should fear God. Fear is a required attitude of believers before God. Also, one thing that believers should learn from this king is to observe and seriously take into account the world.
Brief Interpretation and Meditation
Application
1. Focus on right now by enjoying fully in the Lord in that the more I attempt to know the future, the more I will feel anxious and disappointed.
2. Because God reigns every happening in our lives for His good purpose, we can trust our God even when we face severe difficulties.
Prayer