ECCLESIASTES 3:1-14
3 For everything there is a set time,
and an appropriate time for every activity under the heavens:
2 A time to give birth,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to uproot what was planted.
3 A time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to knock down,
and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones,
and a time to collect stones;
a time to hug,
and a time to refrain from hugging.
6 A time to search,
and a time to give up;
a time to keep,
and a time to throw away.
7 A time to rip,
and a time to sew;
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.
9 What benefit is gained from doing hard work?
10 I saw the business which the Godhead has given to burden the sons of man. 11 All he has done is beautiful in its season. Also he has set the Age in their hearts, without which man can’t discover the work the Godhead has done from beginning to end. 12 So I have concluded that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and do good in life, 13 and also that each man should eat, drink, and find enjoyment in all his hard work – these things are a gift from the Godhead. 14 I know that everything the Godhead is doing will last into the Age; there is nothing to add to it, and nothing to take away from it. The Godhead has done this – men should be fearful before him!
and an appropriate time for every activity under the heavens:
2 A time to give birth,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to uproot what was planted.
3 A time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to knock down,
and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones,
and a time to collect stones;
a time to hug,
and a time to refrain from hugging.
6 A time to search,
and a time to give up;
a time to keep,
and a time to throw away.
7 A time to rip,
and a time to sew;
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.
9 What benefit is gained from doing hard work?
10 I saw the business which the Godhead has given to burden the sons of man. 11 All he has done is beautiful in its season. Also he has set the Age in their hearts, without which man can’t discover the work the Godhead has done from beginning to end. 12 So I have concluded that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and do good in life, 13 and also that each man should eat, drink, and find enjoyment in all his hard work – these things are a gift from the Godhead. 14 I know that everything the Godhead is doing will last into the Age; there is nothing to add to it, and nothing to take away from it. The Godhead has done this – men should be fearful before him!
1 - 22) The Gatherer focuses on the topic of man's subjection to time versus God's timelessness, and addresses some of its ramifications.
1 - 9) Famous poem (with a 1 verse intro and 1 verse conclusion), the basis of the Byrds 1965 hit "Turn, Turn, Turn". There are 14 (2x7) pairs of things listed here....just thought I'd point that out since most people know that God has a thing about sevens - symbolizing completion/perfection and all that.
1) This verse is a chiasm with the pattern being: activities (everything) - time - time - (every) activity.
9) What benefit. In view of the fact that God is the one who controls the times and seasons for every activity, why do I work so hard to manipulate things?
10-11a) A comparison between the meagre work of man and the beautiful work of God.
11) the Age. or 'eternity' which fits here as well.
without which man can’t discover. Of all translations I believe only Young's Literal Translation gets this right. Word-for-word Hebrew of this whole part is pretty close to this: "also the age he has set in their hearts because without which not will man(kind) understand the work which God did from beginning to end." Every other translation ignores the 'without which' part, presumably because it seems not to make sense. Instead, I would argue that without it the translation seems a bit out of place. For example the NASB has, "He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." What does that mean? (with respect to the translators, who did a pretty good job overall!) Other translations have different issues which I can't get into here. Instead, it seems the truth of the verse is quite intriguing: In order to understand what God is doing from beginning to end, one needs to have an understanding of what he is working towards, which is the Messianic Age and the Eternal State (either or both are what I believe the Hebrew word 'olam' is referring to - that which is beyond this space-time domain. This is not true in every single case in the Bible, though). God has placed the understanding of this realm ('eternity' if you like) in our hearts. So the irony is, unless one has an understanding of this end of things, they won't understand this verse either! 'The Age' must be in their hearts, placed there by God. I'm still working this through, myself, but that's what I see to be the crux of it.
14) into the Age. It would make sense that the use of the word 'olam' here matches that used in verse 11. To say 'the Age' makes perfect sense in both places, especially when the LXX translated it in this verse as such ('into the age/eternity').
men should be fearful before him! Crucial to the understanding of what the Gatherer is getting at in this section. As humans we are limited in time and space. God is outside of both (unless he chooses to intervene) and ordains what happens and when (vv1-9). Since we can not understand his plans without his help (v11b, and Isaiah 55:8), the best thing to do is enjoy life and the work he has given you to do (v12-13). The whole point is for humans to realize that we are broken and puny compared to God and to therefore have a reverential fear of him (v14). Extrapolating with full Bible insights then, this fear is just the beginning of wisdom, (Prov 9:10, also by Solomon) and as the relationship grows between God and the repentant person, then 'perfect love drives out fear'. (1 John 4:18)
1 - 9) Famous poem (with a 1 verse intro and 1 verse conclusion), the basis of the Byrds 1965 hit "Turn, Turn, Turn". There are 14 (2x7) pairs of things listed here....just thought I'd point that out since most people know that God has a thing about sevens - symbolizing completion/perfection and all that.
1) This verse is a chiasm with the pattern being: activities (everything) - time - time - (every) activity.
9) What benefit. In view of the fact that God is the one who controls the times and seasons for every activity, why do I work so hard to manipulate things?
10-11a) A comparison between the meagre work of man and the beautiful work of God.
11) the Age. or 'eternity' which fits here as well.
without which man can’t discover. Of all translations I believe only Young's Literal Translation gets this right. Word-for-word Hebrew of this whole part is pretty close to this: "also the age he has set in their hearts because without which not will man(kind) understand the work which God did from beginning to end." Every other translation ignores the 'without which' part, presumably because it seems not to make sense. Instead, I would argue that without it the translation seems a bit out of place. For example the NASB has, "He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." What does that mean? (with respect to the translators, who did a pretty good job overall!) Other translations have different issues which I can't get into here. Instead, it seems the truth of the verse is quite intriguing: In order to understand what God is doing from beginning to end, one needs to have an understanding of what he is working towards, which is the Messianic Age and the Eternal State (either or both are what I believe the Hebrew word 'olam' is referring to - that which is beyond this space-time domain. This is not true in every single case in the Bible, though). God has placed the understanding of this realm ('eternity' if you like) in our hearts. So the irony is, unless one has an understanding of this end of things, they won't understand this verse either! 'The Age' must be in their hearts, placed there by God. I'm still working this through, myself, but that's what I see to be the crux of it.
14) into the Age. It would make sense that the use of the word 'olam' here matches that used in verse 11. To say 'the Age' makes perfect sense in both places, especially when the LXX translated it in this verse as such ('into the age/eternity').
men should be fearful before him! Crucial to the understanding of what the Gatherer is getting at in this section. As humans we are limited in time and space. God is outside of both (unless he chooses to intervene) and ordains what happens and when (vv1-9). Since we can not understand his plans without his help (v11b, and Isaiah 55:8), the best thing to do is enjoy life and the work he has given you to do (v12-13). The whole point is for humans to realize that we are broken and puny compared to God and to therefore have a reverential fear of him (v14). Extrapolating with full Bible insights then, this fear is just the beginning of wisdom, (Prov 9:10, also by Solomon) and as the relationship grows between God and the repentant person, then 'perfect love drives out fear'. (1 John 4:18)