Ecclesiastes 3: Time and Toil
Overview.
Chapter 3 deals with the first of Solomon’s 4 arguments: The Monotony of Life from Chapter 1:4-11. Solomon discovers 4 things that must be considered before you can say that life is monotonous and meaningless.
He saw an ELOHIYM who is in control and above man, an ELOHIYM who balances life experiences which will be shown in verse 1 through 8.
He saw that man’s heart was eternal and within, something that linked man to YAHUAH, which will be shown in verses 9 through 14.
He also saw something ahead of man - the certainty of death which will be shown in verses 15 through 22.
He found that man was surrounded by the problems and burdens of life which we shall look at in Ecclesiastes 4: 1 through Ecclesiastes 5:9.
Verses.
Verses 3: 1 - 8 YAHUAH Orders Time - Look up to Him.
We know that the seasons are a part of life, regardless of where we live. This displays the dependability of YAHUAH’s ordained “Natural Laws”.
Life would be chaotic without YAHUAH’s Natural Laws, if not impossible, without YAHUAH accomplishing his purposes even though we do not understand his purposes.
YAHUAH has an overruling providence in our lives.
Solomon makes 4 statements showing that YAHUAH is at work in everyone’s lives by trying to accomplish YAHUAH’s will within us. These events come from YAHUAH and they come to us in YAHUAH’s time. If we cooperate with YAHUAH, life will not be meaningless. As Solomon says “Everything will be beautiful in time”, even during the difficult experiences in life.
Birth and Death (Verse 2).
Birth and death are not human incidents, since YAHUAH is in control, they are divine appointments (Genesis 29:30 - 30:24, Joshua 24:3, I Samuel 1:9-20, Psalm 113:9, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Luke 1:5-25, Galatians 1:15, Galatians 4:4, Psalm 139:13-16, Ephesians 2:10)
Man tries to control life through abortion, mercy killings, and surrogate parenthood.
We can foolishly hasten our death, but we cannot prevent it when our time comes unless YAHUAH wills it. (Psalm 139:16)
Planting and Plucking (Verse 2)
The Jewish people were an agricultural nation who appreciated the seasons. The religious celebrations were based upon the seasons. A good and successful farmer knows that nature only works for him if he works with nature. This principle can be applied to our lives as well. (Psalm 65:9-13)
Plucking refers to reaping or pulling up an unproductive plant.
Killing and Healing (Verse 3)
This verse most likely refers to the results of sickness and plagues in the Land. (I Samuel 2:6) YAHUAH permits some to die and some to be healed. YAHUAH can use both of these means to accomplish his purposes.
Casting Away Stones and Gathering Stones (Verse 5)
Israel was a rocky land and farmers needed to clear their fields before they could plow and plant. If you wanted to hurt your enemy, you would fill his fields with your stones. (2 Kings 3:19-25) People also gathered up stones for building walls and houses. Stones are not bad or good, it depends upon how they are used.
If an enemy fills your fields with stones, gather them and use them for something useful.
Embracing and Refraining from Embracing (Verse 5)
In the Near East, it is a tradition to show your affections when meeting or parting with people, with a hug and a kiss.
There is a time to say ‘Hello’ and a time to say ‘Goodbye’.
This could also refer to the relationship of a husband and wife. (Revelation 15:19-31, I Corinthians 7:5).
Getting and Losing Life (Verse 6)
This could also be translated to “A time to search and a time to give it up for lost. A time to keep and a time to clean house.”
Tearing and Mending (Verse 7)
This most likely refers to the Jewish tradition of a person tearing his clothes during times of repentance or grief. (2 Samuel 13:3, Ezra 9:5)
YAHUAH expects us to have sorrow during bereavement, but not like unbelievers. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
There is a time in our lives when we need to get out the needle and thread and start sewing things up (bringing closure).
Loving and Hating (Verse 8)
YAHUAH does allow Christians to hate for a reason (2 Chronicles 19;2, Psalm 97:10, Proverbs 6;16-19, Revelation 2:6-15).
YAHUAH is in control and he has a time and a purpose for everything (Romans 8:28).
YAHUAH has not given us this providence to rob us of our freedom or responsibility, but to make everything work to YAHUAH’s good.
Looking Within: Everything is in Your Heart (verses 3:9-14)
Here Solomon begins to look at life by bringing YAHUAH into the picture. Solomon is no longer looking at life as ‘under the sun’. Solomon gives 3 answers to his statements in verse 1:3 - ‘Is all this labor really worth it’.
(1) Man’s life is a gift from YAHUAH (verse 10)
Even though life may seem strange at times, it is still a gift from YAHUAH. We may not always succeed in our endeavors, but if we treat life as a gift from above, we can now have a better attitude about our burdens. Outlooks determine our outcome. If we grudgingly accept life as a burden, we may be missing the gifts that come our way.
(2) Man’s life is linked to eternity (verse 11)
Man was created in the image of YAHUAH and given dominion over creation (Genesis 1:26-28). Man is different from the rest of Creation. Man has eternity in his heart, which is his link to heaven. Nobody can be satisfied with their own endeavors and achievements, nor can man be able to explain the enigmas of his life. Once we enter into an eternal relationship with YAHUAH, can we accomplish YAHUAH’s purposes in YAHUAH’s time?
(3) Man’s life can be enjoyable now (verses 12 -1 4)
Solomon states that his enjoyment in life came from YAHUAH. (Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ecclesiastes 6:2, 1 Timothy 6:17)
Solomon states the practice of enjoying YAHUAH’s gifts as the fruit of one’s labor, no matter how difficult life may be.
Whatever YAHUAH does is forever, so when we live for YAHUAH and let YAHUAH have his way, life will be meaningful and manageable. Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, we should be thankful and enjoy what we do have.
I will never complain.
I will keep my home bright.
I will count my blessings.
I will try to turn the events in my life into gain.
Solomon is not saying ‘Don’t worry, be happy’. Instead he is saying faith is as only good as the object of faith itself, the greatest object of faith is YAHUAH. Only YAHUAH can be trusted.
If we have trust in YAHUSHA HA'MASSIACH, we are a child of YAHUAH (John 14:1-6).
The proper attitude for us is the fear of YAHUAH. The submission of an obedient child to a loving parent compared to a slave of a cruel master.
If we fear YAHUAH, we do not need to fear anything else as YAHUAH is in control.
Looking Ahead: Death is Coming to All (Verses 3:15-22)
Solomon does state the certainty of death many times in Ecclesiastes. We cannot ignore life’s ingredients of: life, death, time, and eternity.
YAHUAH is in control of the cycles of life (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11). The past tends to repeat itself, but YAHUAH can break into history as he pleases. YAHUAH has given us a miracle in the birth of his son, YAHUSHA , into our human life. YAHUSHA then died upon a cross to conquer the ‘life-death’ cycle. By breaking this cycle, YAHUSHA has made us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
YAHUAH seeks what hurries along. Life passes by swiftly in our human eyes and life can get away from us. YAHUAH keeps track of it all and he will call into account what we have done with that time. Solomon does not ponder why YAHUAH’s divine judgment is delayed when injustice occurs in this world.
Solomon makes 2 assurances: (1) YAHUAH has a time for everything including judgment. (2) YAHUAH is working out his eternal purposes in and through the deeds of man. This includes the deeds of the wicked.
YAHUAH does continue to judge as history runs its course. YAHUAH is also judging us now, YAHUAH does test (manifest) us to sift and winnow (remove the chaff) from us. YAHUAH is revealing what man is really like. When man leaves YAHUAH out of his life, man becomes like an animal (Psalm 32:9, Proverbs 7:2, 2 Peter 2:19-20). Man lives like a beast and also dies like a beast.
Solomon is not implying there is no difference between a man and a beast. He points out that a man and a beast have 2 things in common: they both die and they both return to the dust of the Earth (Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19). YAHUAH has given man an advantage in life compared to animals. But when death does occur, both return to the dust. The one difference is the Christian who believes in YAHUSHA HA'MASSIACH will be resurrected to receive a glorified body for their heavenly home (I Corinthians 15:35).
Death occurs when the Spirit leaves the earthly body (James 2:26, Genesis 35:18, Luke 8:55).
Man and animal do not have the same experience at death, even though they both return to dust. Man’s Spirit goes to YAHUAH, while the spirit of the animal ceases to exist.
Solomon reminds us to accept life as a gift from YAHUAH’s hand and enjoy it while we can. No one knows what the future holds. Even if we did know, we can’t return back to life after we die and enjoy life here on Earth again.
Conclusion.
Proverbs 13:22 ‘but a sinner's wealth is stored up for righteousness”.
Righteousness - acting in a morally correct manner, correct by divine declaration
We believe that something greater is involved in human life than just our existence.
We are different from insects and animals.
We leave behind a history.
People are unique and no 2 stories are the same.
If we are not unique, we are not important, if we are not important then life has no meaning. Is life worth living if we have no meaning?
Solomon is asking us to look up, to look within, to look ahead, and to take into consideration: the times, eternity, death, and suffering.
YAHUAH has given us these 4 factors to keep our lives from being meaningless and monotonous.
We live by promises and not expectations. We can’t explain life but we can experience it.
Enjoy life a day at a time, to be satisfied with what YAHUAH has given us. (Philippians 4:11).
We should submit to YAHUAH since we know he is in control.
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