Message, February 27, 1994, AM
Ecc 3 This chapter opens with the well known section about
proper time. It opens with two statements worth our attention:
First, To everything there is a season... Like
so many other statements in Scripture, this must be taken with
reservation: there is a time for everything, but there is never
a time for sin.
Second, a time for every purpose under heaven.
Nothing avoids time. Every purpose upon the earth has a proper
time, and the Lord establishes the proper time.
The Word of God clearly tells us that the Lord created time out
of eternity. Furthermore, the Book of Ecclesiastes plainly tells
us that the Lord is the One in control of all times. One of the
hardest facts for man to face is that he cannot control time in
any way; all he can do is learn to live in subjection to time.
This section, though, is more specific than just time in general,
for very few will deny that, overall, time moves in accord with
God's plan.
Vv. 2-8 speak in specific terms. 26 times
the phrase, A time to, and 2 times, A
time for, is used. Then the rest of the book develops
the fact that God controls "What time it is." The 28
events listed in vv. 2-8 cover every area of life, showing that
the Lord controls the timing of all events that come into our
lives.
These verses tell us that no event takes place apart from God's
timing. Men can complain about the timing of events; they can
make every effort under the sun to change or control God's time
and timing of events, but all such effort is vain. As we will
see, though, His people are instructed topray for
the Lord to move in time and events to accomplish their particular
requests.
We will not go through the 28 TIMES listed at
this time. I will only mention a point and some sub points in
opening this section: the main point is that the Lord controls
time, and man can only subject himself to time. Man can either
be grateful for God's timing of events, or man can fuss and complain
over the Lord's timing. Either way, man can do extremely little,
if anything, about the timing of events. In fact, the list of
events is started by one event totally beyond man's control, birth.
Therefore, when vv. 1-8 say, A time to, there
is not one event among the 28 listed where man can control the
timing. Only the God of time can bring about the time
to...
Man's rebellion against God's control of time is seen in the escalating
suicide rate. Death is the only event that rebellious
man thinks he can control. This is also why the Suicide
Doctor has such a following. Some folks feel he can play
God in helping them determine the time for their death.
Man does not control birth or death. Man might think he controls
planting, but man cannot control the time to plant.
God established the seasons and controls the weather that permits
planing. "Well, man controls weeping." That is not what
the passage says. The passages says, A time to weep.
Example: Weeping is something we can all identify. The word of
God tells us when we are to weep and when we
are not to weep.
Ro 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and
weep with them that weep. Jas 4:9 Be afflicted,
and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning,
and [your] joy to heaviness. Jas 5:1 Go to now,
[ye] rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come
upon [you].
The Lord is the One Who controls the time and events that come
together, calling for weeping. And we can say the same thing about
all 27 other events. The Lord controls the timing of the events
that bring about man's response of weeping, dancing, rending,
speaking, loving, embracing, warring, gaining or losing wealth,
&c.
Example: How many times have we worked to bring about certain
events of joy only to have everything fall through? We did our
best to control the proper time, but in the end it was out of
our control.
Man's response is seen in Ecc 8:5, 6: He is to
be able to discern the proper timing of the events.
1) Note what David said, Ps 31:8.
CHS places this psalm at the time of Absolom. David talks about
the efforts of his enemies against him as he pleads for the Lord's
assistance. V. 8, David tells us that the Lord
protected him from his enemies. To me, the key phrase is My
times are in thy hand...
As we think of David's situation with Absolom, we remember that
over and over David saw what was happening, just in time
to flee for his life. David faced many grievous situations concerning
Absolom's efforts to overthrow the throne and kill him. Those
events and their timing were totally out of David's control, but
they took place in such a timely manner that David's life was
spared.
In other words, the Lord controlled the timing in such a manner
as to spare David and his throne. David faced a time of war, but
the Lord controlled the timing of war.
The Preacher who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes develops the 28"TIMINGS"
of vv. 2-8 throughout this book: 6:3.
The Preacher develops thetime of birth. He points out that God
determined the time, place, events surrounding and the parents
of birth. In the Preacher's case, the results of God's timing
in his birth was great wealth and all that went with it.
But he laments that without the inner good and peace of God with
the wealth, it would be better to be born at another time. The
inner good and peace is better than the wealth brought about by
God's timing of birth.
Many things are developed like this throughout the book.
Application: the timing of events in our lives is of the Lord,
and it is our responsibility to discern the timing
and act properly in that time:
God was in control of the timing of events that brought things
to a head so they had to be dealt with in our lives.
He controlled the timing of events that may have caused us to
lose our job.
He controlled the timing of events that brought a particular man
and woman together and latter married.
He controlled the timing of events that caused us to lose the
money, or miss the good deal.
I knew a man in LA who was always in the right place at the right
time. He was a retired AF man, and he made a good extra income
by being at the right place at the right time. He could buy what
we might consider a piece of junk, tinker with it, paint it and
double his money. The Lord gave him the talent to take that junk
and make something of value of it, and the Lord also worked the
timing of events so he could get the junk at a good price. The
man could have ignored the timing of events, but it would have
cost him what the Lord was providing.
God controlled the timing of events that forced us to make a decision
which we may now look back on with regret.
Every one of us in here can look back over our lives and see how
the timing of events was completely out of our control. But that
series of events is what brought us to the present point in our
lives. We can get even more specific: many times the timing of
events was right down to the split second. If the event had taken
place 1/2 second either way, we would not be here. Motorcycle
pulled out in front of me.
God controlled the timing of events that permitted us to get the
good job, or that permitted us to find the good deal on a particular
item. He is the one that saw that we were at the right place at
the right time.
Pr 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the
whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.
There are no coincidences in life.
Though we must say here with David, My times are in thy
hand..., we arenot left a helpless victim
of time.
2) Note what Daniel said, Dan 2. Dan 2:20-22
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever
and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times
and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth
wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is]
in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Moreover, we are told in James
James 5:16-18, Confess [your] faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual
fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man
subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that
it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space
of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven
gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Through prayer, Elias changed God's timing of
planting and reaping by withholding rain upon the wicked.
God's word assures us that the prayers of a righteous man do not
go unheard. Man is to pray that God would control time, or even
change the timing of events, to work events for God's own glory.
At what point are God's times, as recorded in Ecc 3:2-8, firmly
established and cannot be changed? We have no way of even speculating.
All we know is that the God Who established time hears and answers
the prayers of His people. In God's answers, He works time according
to what pleases Him and according to what is best for those who
love Him and are the called according to His purpose, Rom 8. God
always works time according to His divine purpose and for the
good of His people.
The Book of Job clearly shows us that the Lord controls the timing
of all events that come into our lives. The Devil himself may
bring the events to pass, but he only operates within God's timetable.
Yes, the timing of events may seem very poor:
"If only the timing would have been a little different, I
would not have missed out on the good deal." Or, "If
only these two events had not taken place at the same time, things
would be different."
But look at the other side:
"If the timing had been different, I would not have met the
one I am married to," or "I would not have the job I
now have," or "I would not be converted." The list
is endless as we think back over the timing of events.
We looked at vanity last week from this book. We saw that Solomon
brings forth the idea that it is vain to even try
to make things turn out the way we want them. "Why try?"
says the discouraged Preacher, "We can not change God's timing,
events, or people, so what's the use of hard work, planing and
working with people?" Another thought also surfaces: The
only reason for working and making money is to enjoy life because
you cannot take it with you.
If one does not follow the book of Ecclesiastes through, he will
miss the whole point the Lord is making with the apparent vanity
of all things. In fact, as I read the book through, I must keep
the end in mind, or I would quit. Yes, God controls the timing
of all events, or He would not be God. Our responsibility is not
to fret over the timing of events, either past, present or future.
We cannot change God's time, for He alone determines what time
it is. Is it time to plant? If so, He brought that time
about, and we will be held accountable for our faithfulness of
using the time properly to plant. We are commanded to pray for
God to work time for His glory.
Time is God's creation; time moves in perfect obedience to its
Creator. Man can understand neither God's timing nor His use of
time to accomplish His glorious purpose in our lives and in history.
It is impossible to see events from His perspective, so most of
the time, there appears to beneither rime nor reason
to the timing of events (except maybe to destroy us).
So with what option is man left? Is all vanity as this book appears
to teach? Is every effort of life vain because the same thing
happens to all men and the timing of events is out of man's control?
This book, which seems to paint a very grim picture overall, does
not leave man hopeless.
Though there are many statements scattered throughout the book
that answers the difficulties of vanity and time, we will only
look at two:
1) Ecc 8:5, 6
The wise man will understand what time it is.
He will not try to reap in the time of sowing; he will not laugh
in the time of mourning, nor will he mourn in the time of laughing.
The discerning person will not try to hang on when it is time
to let lose; nor will he love when it is time to hate or make
war when it is time for peace.
In our day of prolonged life due to medical science,
we especially need God's discernment concerning proper time. All
28 times must be viewed as a responsibility to
discern the timebecause we will be accountable
to God for its proper use.
2) Ecc 12:13, 14.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and
keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret
thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.
No one can understand God's working in time. But we are not required
to understand these things that are as high above us as the heavens
are above the earth. But we are most certainly given a responsibility
within the time God has provided: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is thewhole duty of man.
At God's proper time, we must sow, make war, laugh, mourn, kill,
heal, repair and rend. The list is quite extensive, and the Spirit
of God gives us the discernment to know what time it is.
Our times are in the hands of the Lord; therefore, we are assured
that He works the timing of all events that come into our lives
for our good and for His praise, honour and glory.