Ecclesiastes 3 “Beautiful in Its Time”

Ecclesiastes 3 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:      

• In Christ Alone – Keith & Kristyn Getty, CityAlight
• Abide – Dwell Songs ft. Aaron Williams
• Blessed Assurance – Celtic Worship

Resources for Family Worship (with Children)

• Esther – Bible Story by Saddleback Kids – Lesson for Younger Kids
• The Disturbing But Surprising Wisdom of Ecclesiastes by Bibleproject– Lesson for Older Kids
• Whole Lotta Change | Roar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• My God Is Powerful | True North VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• This Train Is Bound for Glory | Rocky Railway VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Verses 1 through 9 are widely known as the “poem about time,” made famous through The Byrds’ song “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The Hebrew word zman used in the phrase “there is a time for everything” refers to objective, chronological time, while the Hebrew word et, used in “a proper time,” refers to a decisive or opportune moment. Zman is closer in meaning to the Greek word chronos, and et is closer to kairos. Time (zman) flows according to the order God has established, and within that flowing time, each person must decide how to act.

From verses 2 through 9, the Teacher presents various events of human life in contrast through fourteen pairs of actions. In Hebrew thought, seven is the number of completeness, and by listing twice that number, the Teacher encompasses the full range of human experiences. The first of each pair represents positive events, and the latter represents negative ones. People welcome good things and reject bad ones. Yet even the bad things are part of human life.

This is the portion given to a finite human life. Nothing can be added to it or taken away through human effort (vv. 9–10). Therefore, the best way to live is to trust God and humbly accept and follow what He allows (v. 11). The Revised Korean Version translates the phrase “God has given people a sense of past and future” as “God has put eternity into the human heart.” The Hebrew term ha-olam, translated as “eternity,” refers to the transcendent realm. Human beings desire to know even what lies beyond their limits, but because of those limits, they cannot.

Therefore, the best course is to acknowledge one’s limitations, be faithful to the tasks given during the time allotted and savor the joy of each day (v. 12). Enjoying the day’s labor and the day’s joy is itself a gift of God’s grace (v. 13). Although we cannot fully understand what God does, when we consider that all changes are under His rule, we cannot help but fear and revere Him (vv. 14–15). Absolute goodness and absolute justice do not exist in human society (v. 16); they belong to God alone (v. 17). That is why standing before God’s judgment seat is something to be feared.

At times, human beings may appear great, but in the end, when they die and decay, they are no different from other animals (vv. 18–20). People say that humans and animals go to various places after death, but that, too, cannot be verified (v. 21). Therefore, what humans can do is to live now, here, enjoying joy and fulfillment during the time given to them. What happens after death is unknown (v. 22).

Meditation:

Modern civilization has continually expanded the limits of human capability. Through advances in science and medical research, many things that people once had no choice but to endure can now be avoided. Infectious diseases that once claimed countless lives have been overcome one by one, and illnesses once considered incurable can now be managed. While aging itself cannot be reversed, it can be slowed, and as a result, human life expectancy has increased more than threefold compared to the past. With the development of AI and robotics, some even predict that an age of immortality may soon arrive.

As a result, modern people fear and despise weakness, illness, aging, and death more than ever before. In the past, all of these were considered part of the package of life itself. But the advancement of modern civilization has given people confidence that such things can be eliminated. Because they are seen as things to be removed, conquered, or suppressed, encountering them leads people to think that everything is ruined or over. Weakness is viewed as failure, aging as shame, and death as a tragic destruction.

The Teacher helps modern readers recognize how mistaken this way of thinking is. Whether we observe the workings of the universe or the realities of life itself, becoming weak, aging, falling ill, and dying are all part of the phenomenon of life. God has made everything appropriate in its time, and according to His timing, He allows life and death. Therefore, entrusting oneself to God and living according to His providence is the most upright and blessed way to live. Acceptance and humility are the virtues that those who seek a true life must hold.

Prayer:

Lord, break our pride. Bring us down from the place of God and allow us to humbly embrace both the joys and the pains that are our portion according to Your time. Help us to receive each day with gratitude and to fill it with meaning. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God lovingly holds every season of our lives, and when we trust His timing with humility, we can find joy and meaning each day—even when life is hard.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • What is one thing you like to do when you are happy?
  • When you feel sad, tired, or scared, who can you talk to?
  • Can you name one thing you can thank God for today?
    
• Youth:
  • What season is your life right now—happy, stressful, confusing, or calm?
  • Why do you think it is hard for people to accept weaknesses, failure, or limits?
  • What would it look like to trust God with your time and future this week—just one step at a time?