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Song Page for
Ecclesiastes 3 |
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Lyrics
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
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.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I 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.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I 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.
18 I 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.
19 For 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.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore 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?1
Bible Commentary
1 Every thing has its time and season. God by his providence governs the world, and
has determined particular things and operations to particular times. In those times such
things may be done with propriety and success. However if we neglect the appointed seasons
we sin against this providence and become the authors of our own distresses.
God has given to man that portion of duration called time;
the space in which all the operations of nature, of animals, and
intellectual beings, are carried on. But while nature is steady in
its course, and animals faithful to their instincts, man devotes it
to a great variety of purposes, very frequently to that for which
God never made time, space, or opportunity.2
2 It is worthy of remark, that in the list of events to verse 8, there
are but two things which may be said to be done generally by the
disposal of God, and in which men can have but little influence: the
time of birth, and the time of death. All the others are left to the
option of man, though God continues to overrule them by his
providence.2 There is a time to plant or sow in season, another time to pluck up or reap.
To plant out of season is vanity.3 There comes a time when even the finest fruit trees must
be cut down.4
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3 There is a right time to
kill. Commentators disagree whether Solomon here refers to war or to
other circumstances. It is possible that he is speaking of the
execution of criminals, or he may be thinking of an injured domestic
animal.4 Killing through malice is murder and out of God's time and
order.3 Medicines when used out of season, that is, at the wrong time
or for an unintended purpose, can lead to sickness or death. However
if correctly applied in a timely manner can restore health.2
There is a time to break down; for example there comes a time when old buildings
must be demolished and more convenient ones put up in their stead.4 |
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4 It is a good thing at times to allow pent-up emotions to express themselves when
men have just occasion.4 Laughter has been compared to a good medicine. There is a time to
mourn for the dead. In ancient times dancing was an important part of religious and
festive ceremonies; for example, David danced before the ark.3
5 There is a time to cast away stones such as clearing the fields of the stones
that impede cultivation.4 A time to gather stones together such as to the building of a wall
or house. A time to embrace when persons perform friendly graces one to another.5
6 There is a time to seek and search. There's also a time to give up as lost,
for example, after an intensive search proves futile.4 There is a time to keep, for example,
by not giving to the idle beggar. A time to cast away such in charity3 or when a man casts
away his goods voluntarily as in a storm to save his life.5
7 There is a time for men to rend their garments as in great and sudden griefs.5 There are circumstances under which silence is golden.
8 There is a time to love such as when God stirs up love, or gives occasion for the exercise of it.5 There is a time to hate, for example, sins and lusts. A time of war and peace.3
9 What real good or pleasure is derived from all the labours of man? Necessity is the principal motive behind his cares and toils; he labours that he may eat and drink and thus to preserve his life and be kept from sickness and pain. Love of money, the basest of all passions, and restless ambition, drive men to many labours and expedients, which perplex and often destroy them.2
10 Because man is a sinner, he suffers much travail.2 The practical difficulties of life can be met successfully only under God's leading.4
11 God created everything good, not only perfect for practical use, but beautiful in its appeal to the eye and to the taste. God has deeply implanted within man a concern for the future. This awareness of the infinite in time and space stirs dissatisfaction with the transitory nature of the things of life. It is God's design that man realise that the present, material world does not constitute the sum of his existence. He is linked to two worlds, physically to this world, but mentally, emotionally and psychologically to the eternal world. The unaided human intellect cannot enter into the intricacies of God's created marvels or the mysteries of eternity that God has not seen fit to reveal.4
12 When received as God's gifts, and to His glory, the good things of life are enjoyed in their due time and order.3 Man should endeavour as much as possible to do others good and share his transient blessings.2 He should avoid self-indulgence and sensual joys.3
13 It was the will of the creator that man enjoy, in moderation, the good things provided for his needs, and happiness.4
14 All God's counsels or decrees are eternal and unchangeable. Men can
neither do any thing against God's counsel and providence, nor
hinder any work or act of it.5 |
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15
Whatever changes there be, the succession of events is ordered by
God's everlasting laws, and returns in a fixed cycle.3 God governs the world now, as he has governed it from the beginning; and the revolutions and operations of nature are the same now, that they have been from the beginning. What we see now is the same as that seen by those before us. The heavens themselves, taking in their great revolutions, show the same phenomena.2
16 A judge is supposed to be the embodiment or personification of all right doing. However throughout the ages bribery and corruption have resulted in the enthronement of wickedness in the very courts sacred to the dispensing of justice.4
17 God is not only the one who will act as arbiter to decide the cases of the righteous and wicked, but also the one who executes the penalty.4
18 God tests men as a disciplinary measure in order to cleanse and purify them. There is hope for the man who recognises his sinful and unclean condition.4
19 All living creatures are identical in that, with the cessation of breath, the creature dies; the physical consequences of death are the same. Outward appearances suggest no superiority for man. But through faith in the Inspired Word we believe that God will redeem man from the power of the grave.4
20 Both the man and beast live transient and frail lives, draw the same breath, grow old and return to the earth as dust from which they were made.2
21 The destiny of the body is known; it returns to the dust, through a process of disintegration - but human wisdom cannot ascertain what happens to the spirit or breath, except that it shall return unto God. The Hebrew word ruach is translated breath in verse 19 and spirit in verse 21. Note that man and beast both have a ruach, and the ruach of man is one with that of the beast. If then, the ruach or spirit of man becomes a disembodied entity at death, the ruach of beasts must also. But the Bible nowhere so much as infers that at death a disembodied, conscious spirit continues to live on, and no Christian claims this for animals. Solomon incredulously asks who can prove that the ruach of man ascends, while that of the beast descends. He knows nothing of such a proceeding and doubts that anyone else does. If so, let him prove it.4
22 Solomon says that man should find contentment and satisfaction in what this life
has to offer. This is the normal outlook of the man who does not have faith firmly based on
eternal things. What lies beyond the grave is outside the scope of human knowledge.4 When he
is dead, man shall never return to see into whose hands his estate falls.5
References and notes
1. King James Authorized Version
2.
Adam Clarke's Commentaries - Ecclesiastes 3
3. Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
ECCLESIASTES; OR THE PREACHER. Commentary by A. R. FAUSSETT
4. SDA Bible Commentary
Vol. 3 pgs. 1073-1076
5. John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
- The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
6.
www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/Solomon
- Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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 About
Ecclesiastes 3 |
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Music
for Ecclesiastes 3 |
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on image for song preview of Ecclesiastes 3.
Ecclesiastes 3 features on the CD album
Ecclesiastes.
There is also a song preview of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 by
Word for Word. |
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Quotes on
Ecclesiastes 3 |
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Bible Quotes
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direction, encouragement and help from God's word to life's
questions.
These pages include Bible Quotes & Promises, Inspirational Quotations
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Puzzles
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Ecclesiastes 3 |
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interactive crosswords, quizzes,
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LIFE SKETCH OF SOLOMON |
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Solomon was David's second son
by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2
Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1 Chr. 22:5;
29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early
manhood, probably about 16 or 18 years of age. Nathan, to
whom his education was intrusted, called him Jedidiah, i.e.,
"beloved of the Lord" (2 Sam. 12:24, 25). His father chose
him as his successor, passing over the claims of his elder
sons. His elevation to the throne took place before his
father's death, and was hastened on mainly by Nathan and
Bathsheba, in consequence of the rebellion of Adonijah (1
Kings 1:5-40).6 |
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Commercial Alliances |
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After settling into his kingdom,
Solomon entered into an alliance with Egypt by the marriage
of the daughter of Pharaoh (1 Kings 3:1). He surrounded
himself with all the luxuries and the external grandeur of
an Eastern monarch, and his government prospered. He entered
into an alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre, who in many ways
greatly assisted him in his numerous undertakings.6 |
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Temples and Palaces |
Solomon had the honour of
building a temple in Jerusalem as a permanent abode for the
ark of the covenant. After its completion, he erected many
other buildings of importance in Jerusalem and in other
parts of his kingdom. For 13 years he was engaged in the
erection of a royal palace on Ophel (1 Kings 7:1-12). This
palace called the "House of the Forest of Lebanon" had a
lofty roof supported by 45 cedar pillars, so that the hall
was like a forest of cedar wood. In front of this "house"
was another building, called the Porch of Pillars, and in
front of this again was the "Hall of Judgment," or
Throne-room (1 Kings 7:7; 10:18-20; 2 Chr. 9:17-19), where
he administered justice and gave audience
to his people. This palace was a building of great
magnificence and beauty. A portion of it was set apart as
the residence of the queen consort, the daughter of Pharaoh.
From the palace there was a private staircase of red and
scented sandal wood which led up to the temple.6 |
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BUILDING PROJECTS |
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Solomon constructed great works
for the purpose of securing a plentiful supply of water for
the city (Eccl. 2:4-6). He built many fortifications for the
defence of his kingdom (1 Kings 9:15-19; 2 Chr. 8:2-6).
Among his great undertakings was the building of Tadmor in
the wilderness as a commercial depot, as well as a military
outpost.6 |
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Trade and
Prosperity |
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During his
reign Palestine enjoyed great commercial prosperity.
Extensive traffic was carried on by land with Tyre and Egypt
and Arabia, and by sea with Spain and India and the coasts
of Africa, by which Solomon accumulated vast stores of
wealth and of the produce of all nations (1 Kings 9:26-28;
10:11, 12; 2 Chr. 8:17, 18; 9:21). This was the "golden age"
of Israel.6 |
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SOLOMON'S COURT |
| The royal
magnificence and splendour of Solomon's court were
unrivalled. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred
concubines, an evidence at once of his pride, his wealth,
and his sensuality. The maintenance of his household
involved immense expenditure. The provision required for one
day was "thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore
measures of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the
pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks,
and fallow-deer, and fatted fowl" (1 Kings 4:22, 23).6 |
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Solomon's
Wisdom |
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Solomon spake
three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and
five (1 Kings 4:32). His fame was spread abroad through all
lands, and men came from far and near "to hear the wisdom of
Solomon." Among those attracted to Jerusalem was "the queen
of the south" (Matt. 12:42), the queen of Sheba, probably
Ethopia. She was filled with amazement by all she saw and
heard. After an interchange of presents she returned to her
native land.6 |
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DECLINE OF
SOLOMON |
| The bright day
of Solomon's glory ended in clouds and darkness. Chief among
the causes of his decline were his polygamy and great
wealth. As he grew older he spent more of his time among his
favourites. The idle king living among these idle women, for
1,000 women, with all their idle and mischievous attendants,
filled the palaces and pleasure-houses which he had built (1
Kings 11:3), learned first to tolerate and then to imitate
their heathenish ways. Whilst he continued offering the
usual sacrifices in the temple at the great feasts, his
heart was not right with God. His worship became merely
formal; his soul, left empty by the dying out of true
religious fervour, sought to be filled with any religious
excitement which offered itself.6 |
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God's
Displeasure |
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Solomon's
idolatrous form of worship brought upon him divine
displeasure. His enemies prevailed against him (1 Kings
11:14-22, 23-25, 26-40), and one judgment after another fell
upon the land. And now the end of all came, and he died,
after a reign of forty years, and was buried in the city of
David, and "with him was buried the short-lived glory and
unity of Israel." "He leaves behind him but one weak and
worthless son, to dismember his kingdom and disgrace his
name."6 |
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