1^st – Many Seasons… vs. 1-8

• 1^st – The Purpose… vs. 1
  • All seasons…
    • To everything there is a season – a time for every purpose under heaven!
    • Solomon tried EVERYTHING life has to offer – looking for the reason we exist…
    • And came to the conclusion that EVERYTHING has no MEANING [vanity] – under the SUN…
    • So he decided to dig deeper – to try and find a PURPOSE…
    • And he concluded to every [כָּל] SEASON [זְמָן] – meaning each particular [appointed] TIME…
    • Has a PURPOSE [חֵפֶץ] – the word means to DELIGHT or take PLEASURE!
    • Meaning NOTHING happens by accident in life…
    • EVERYTHING that happens to us – EVERY moment of each day [time]
    • Has meaning and purpose in it – when we have the right PERSPECTIVE!
  • Under Heaven…
    • Solomon is no longer just looking under the SUN – he is looking under HEAVEN [הַשָּׁמָיִם]
    • If we are ONLY looking to this life for answers – we will NOT find any…
    • But as we look beyond this life – if we look to HEAVEN…
    • That is when we will see that the MEANING behind every SEASON of our lives!
• 2^nd – Changing seasons… vs. 2-8
  • Beginning and end… vs. 2
    • A time to be born – and a time to die.
    • A time to plant – and a time to pluck what is planted!
    • Our days are numbered – there is a set TIME [זְמָן] for us to be BORN [יָלַד] and to DIE [מוּת]
    • Just like a famer who knows when to PLANT and to HARVEST their crops!
    • Anytime we look at a TOMBSTONE – we see TWO dates…
    • The one where a person came INTO the world – and the one where they LEFT…
    • But what those dates do NOT tell us – is did the find the ANSWER!
    • God is the one who put us on the earth – and He is the one who will remove us – Psalm 39:4
    • Our part is to use the TIME He give us here – to find the ANSWER to the question…
    • Why where we BORN – what is the MEANING of this life!
  • Growing old… vs. 3
    • A time to kill – and a time to heal. A time to break down – and a time to build up!
    • There is a TIME [זְמָן] – when God can HEAL [רָפָא] – but also a time when we will DIE [הָרַג]
    • It will be a TIME [זְמָן] – after we have grown up [בָּנָה] – when we grow OLD [פָּרַץ]!
    • When we buy food – it comes with an EXPIRATION date…
    • As we get old we start to slow down – aches and pains – wrinkles and grey hair…
    • It is Gods way of telling saying we have an EXPIRATION date!
    • If we never aged – just one day died – there would be NO warning to prepare…
    • We are going to see Jesus SOON – aging is Gods way to get us ready…
    • We get need to make sure we have the ANSWER – because we are running out of TIME!
  • Crying and laughing… vs. 4
    • A time to weep – and a time to laugh. A time to mourn – and a time to dance!
    • In between our BIRTH and DEATH – being YOUNG and being OLD…
    • We will have a LOT of different experiences…
    • There will be good TIMES [זְמָן] – when we LAUGH [שָׂחַק] and DANCE [רָקַד]
    • But there will also be bad TIMES [זְמָן] – when we CRY [בָּכָה] and MOURN [סָפַד]!
    • We tend to think of our experiences in life in BINARY terms [good or bad]
    • When we are LAUGHING and DANCING – those are the GOOD times…
    • When we are CRYING and MOURNING – those are the BAD times…
    • But the truth is God is using ALL of those TIMES to try and show us the ANSWER!
    • Romans 8:28 – “All things work together for good to those who love God.”
  • Giving and receiving… vs. 5
    • A time to cast away stones – and a time to gather stones.
    • A time to embrace – and a time to refrain from embracing!
    • There will be TIMES [זְמָן] – when we can give AWAY [שָׁלַךְ] to others – [piel] let go [רָחַק]
    • There will be TIMES [זְמָן] – when others give to us [כָּנַס] and we embrace it [חָבַק]!
    • The idea of giving and receiving STONES might seem odd…
    • But MONEY used to be made from precious STONES [gold and silver]!
    • There are going to be TIMES in life when we have EXTRA and can help others…
    • There are going to be TIMES in life when we lack – and need HELP…
    • But it both of these TIMES are meant to point to a deeper TRUTH…
    • First – we are called to reach out and bless others – Acts 20:35
    • But more importantly – it is meant to show us there is something we are LACKING!
  • Winning and losing… vs. 6
    • A time to gain – and a time to lose. A time to keep – and a time to throw away!
    • There will be TIMES [זְמָן] – when we [piel] WIN big [בָּקַשׁ] – and keep it [שָׁמַר]
    • But there will also be TIMES [זְמָן] – when we [piel] LOSE big [אָבַד] – and have nothing [שָׁלַךְ]!
    • Life does NOT give us any guarantees – sometimes we WIN – sometimes we LOSE…
    • But it is NOT random – it is meant to show us how UNSTABLE life is…
    • We are NOT meant to put our FAITH in anything this world has to offer us!
  • Speaking and silence… vs. 7
    • A time to tear – and a time to sew. A time to keep silence – and a time to speak!
    • There are TIMES [זְמָן] – when we need to [piel] SPEAK [דָּבַר] and rebuke [tear]
    • But there are also TIMES [זְמָן] – when we are SILENT [חָשָׁה] and let people heal [sew]!
    • Word are POWERFUL – they can do a LOT of good or evil – James 3:6
    • We need to learn when to open our mouths – and when to keep them shut…
    • Because people do NOT need our opinion – they need the ANSWER!
  • Loving and hating… vs. 8
    • A time to love – and a time to hate. A time of war – and a time of peace!
    • There was a TIME [זְמָן] – when we were at WAR [מִלְחָמָה] – we HATED [שָׂנֵא] life…
    • But now is the TIME [זְמָן] – to come to LOVE [אָהַב] – and find PEACE [שָׁלוֹם]!
    • People who are looking for answers under the SUN – are at WAR…
    • Because they are looking for MEANING and there is none to be found – so they HATE life…
    • But if they are willing to look up – look to LOVE – I John 4:8
    • Then they will see the ANSWER they have been missing – and find PEACE – Ephesians 2:14

• 2^nd – Reason for Seasons… vs. 9-17
  • 1^st – One Job… vs. 9-10
    • What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?
    • I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied!
    • Having seen ALL the SEASONS that we go through in life…
    • Solomon asked one question – what [מַה] is meaning [יִתְרוֹן] behind all our SUFFERING [עָמֵל]
    • He had SEEN [רָאָה] the one [singular] JOB [עִנְיָן] – God gave to the sons of Adam [אָדָם]
    • It is worth noting – Solomon is still using the generic name for God [אֱלֹהִים]
    • God [אֱלֹהִים] – wants men to be HUMBLED [עָנָה] – so that they look up and see Him!
    • Please do NOT miss that life has ONE purpose…
    • We are given EIGHTY or so years – just so we can make a CHOICE…
    • Are we willing to look above the SUN – and find the ANSWER!
  • 2^nd – Eternity… vs. 11
    • Beautiful…
      • He has made everything beautiful in [His] time!
      • God made [perfect] ALL things [כָּל] – to be GOOD [beautiful] in His timing [בְעִתּוֹ]
      • Meaning the ANSWER to this life – is NOT found in this life…
      • It is about TIMING – we get the ANSWER after life is over…
      • But for those who are looking under HEAVEN [not the sun] – the truth is there…
      • God has already [perfect] made the end GOOD – our HOPE is sure!
      • It is easy for us to forget that this is NOT our home – get caught up in the business of life…
      • But we are PILGRIMS – and STRANGERS on this earth…
      • Home is a place we have NEVER been – but we know it is going to be BEAUTIFUL!
      • Hebrews 11:13-16 – “[We are] strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a home… that is, a heavenly country.”
    • Hole in heart…
      • Also He has put eternity in their hearts!
      • ALSO [גַּם] – God did not just prepare HEAVEN for us…
      • He PUT [perfect] – the [הָ] eternity [עֹלָם] into the HEARTS [לֵב] of men!
      • When the WOMAN at the well asked Jesus for LIVING water – John 4:15
      • The Lord told her to go get her HUSBAND – to which she was quick to answer she had none…
      • Jesus corrected her – she had FIVE husbands – and was living with a SIXTH [not married]!
      • We all know that we cannot put a SQUARE peg in a ROUND hole…
      • Yet that same lessons is often missed spiritually…
      • The Lord placed a GOD [eternity] shaped HOLE in each of our hearts…
      • Yet people inevitably try and fill that hole with things from under the SUN…
      • They will try and fill that hole with MONEY – or POSSESSIONS – or RELATIONSHIPS…
      • And it seems to work for a WHILE – but it never bring LASTING contentment!
      • John 4:14 – “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.”
    • Work of God…
      • Except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end!
      • Yet NO [לֹא] one can SEE [מָצָא] the whole PLAN [מַעֲשֶׂה] of God – from beginning to end…
      • Solomon admitted to being limited – no one can see the FUTURE…
      • This is where FAITH comes in – we have to TRUST God!
      • Often it feels like we are walking through life BLIND – no idea what we are doing…
      • The reason is because we are TRUSTING in what we can SEE – under the SUN…
      • But Jesus sees it all – therefore we should put our FAITH in Him…
      • Trusting in the Lord who sees all – waking by FAITH!
      • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by FAITH – not by sight.”
  • 3^rd – Good life… vs. 11-13
    • I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice – and to do good in their lives.
    • Also every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor – it is the gift of God!
    • Therefore [כִּי] – since we cannot SEE the everything God is doing – see the end…
    • Solomon KNEW [יָדַע] – TWO things:
    • First – we cannot [אִין] do better [טֽוֹב] – than to be happy and do good…
    • And [וְ] also [גַם] – every [כָּל] man should enjoy eating and drinking [simple life]
    • For this a GIFT that God [אֱלֹהִים] gives to us while we are here – under the SUN!
    • Hallel LOVES ice cream – it is one of her favorite things…
    • But she has to enjoy it quickly – because it melts – it is very short lived!
    • In the same way – this life that we live that melts away – James 4:13
    • Therefore – rather than striving to hold onto things that do NOT last…
    • The best thing we can do is RECOGNIZE the reason we are here…
    • And be CONTENT to live a simple life – doing what is GOOD [טֽוֹב]
    • Enjoying the moment – while we wait for the end!
  • 4^th – Fear God… vs. 14
    • I know that whatever God does it shall be forever.
    • Nothing can be added to it – nothing taken from it. God does it that men should fear before Him!
    • SECOND – Solomon KNEW [יָדַע] – everything [כָּל] God [אֱלֹהִים] does – lasts FOREVER [לְעוֹלָם]
    • Meaning the message that God gives does NOT change – Hebrews 13:8
    • And what He does is COMPLETE – nothing [אִין] can be added or taken away…
    • In other words – the message God is sending it VERY clear…
    • There is NOTHING lacking in the answer He gives for the MEANING of life…
    • The message – is that men should always [imperfect] FEAR [יָרֵא] to come before His face [פָּנִים]!
    • No one has to tell us we are SINNERS – we know it…
    • No one needs to tell us God is RIGHTEOUS – it is written on our heart…
    • The reason why men FEAR death – it because they are AFRAID to see God – Hebrews 10:31
  • 5^th – The Judgment… vs. 15-17
    • Day of reconning… vs. 15
      • That which is has already been – and what is to be has already been.
      • And God requires an account of what is past!
      • What people did in the PAST [perfect] – and what people will do in the FUTURE [לִהְיוֹת]
      • Is no different than what we are doing TODAY [הָיָה]
      • BUT [וְ] – whether in the PAST – PRESENT – or FUTURE…
      • God [אֱלֹהִים] will FIND out [piel] what we have DONE [niphal] – Hebrews 4:13
    • Fallen World… vs. 16
      • Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment wickedness was there.
      • And in the place of righteousness – iniquity was there!
      • Solomon also SAW [רָאָה] – justice would NOT come in this life…
      • In the COURTS – where JUSTICE [מִשְׁפָּט] and RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק] should have been…
      • He instead found the [הָ] WICKED [רֶשַׁע] and the [הָ] SINNER [רֶשַׁע]!
      • We should NOT look for justice from this world – even in the courts…
      • When we stand before JUDGES – expecting them to do what is RIGHT…
      • We need to remember they are also SINNERS – and also corrupt…
      • They are just as likely to do EVIL as they are to do what is GOOD!
    • Timing of God… vs. 17
      • I said in my heart: God shall judge the righteous and the wicked.
      • For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work!
      • Therefore – Solomon said [perfect] in his heart [לֵב]
      • In RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק] – God will be the one to JUDGE [שָׁפַט] the [הָ] wicked [רָשָׁע]
      • Because [כִּי] He knows all [כָּל] their WORKS – even all [כָּל] their motives [חֵפֶץ]!
      • One day ALL will stand before the throne of God to be judged…
      • If our name is found written in the book of LIFE – then we are saved – Revelation 20:11-12
      • If not then the BOOKS are opened – and we are judged according to what God KNOWS…
      • Not just on what we have DONE – but what we have SAID – and even THOUGHTS [motive]!

• 3^rd – Final Breath… vs. 18-22
  • 1^st – Like animals… vs. 18-20
    • The test… vs. 18
      • I said in my heart: Concerning the condition of the sons of men.
      • God tests them that they may see that they themselves are like animals!
      • Knowing that God would be the one to JUDGE men one day…
      • He said [perfect] in his heart [לֵב] – concerning [דִּבְרָה] of the sons of ADAM [אָדָם]
      • God [אֱלֹהִים] is TESTING [בָּרַר] them so that they can SEE [רָאָה]
      • They are no DIFFERENT from cattle – they are also ANIMALS!
    • One breath… vs. 19
      • For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals – one thing befalls them.
      • As one dies so dies the other. Surely they all have one breath.
      • Man has no advantage over animals – for all is vanity!
      • Because [כִּי] what happens to the sons of ADAM – also happens to ANIMALS…
      • People DIE just like animals DIE – they both have the same BREATH [רוּחַ]
      • Therefore – men have NO [אִין] advantage over animals…
      • To think that somehow we are BETTER because of ALL [כָּל] we have – is also VANITY [הֶבֶל]
    • Dust to dust… vs. 20
      • All go to one place: all are from the dust – and all return to dust!
      • All [כָּל] men and animals go to ONE [אֶחָד] place…
      • We were all created from the DUST [עָפָר] – and will go back to DUST [עָפָר]
      • Genesis 3:19 – “You were made from dust [עָפָר] – and to dust [עָפָר] you will return.”
      • There are THREE times in the creation account the word [בָּרָא] is used…
      • When God created [בָּרָא] physical matter [body] – Genesis 1:1
      • When God created [בָּרָא] the mind of animals [intellect] – Genesis 1:21
      • When God created [בָּרָא] the spirit of men [eternal] – Genesis 1:27 
      • Only MAN has this unique trichotomy in his nature – I Thessalonians 5:23
      • We are BODY [physical] – we are MIND [intellect] – and we are SPIRIT [eternal]
      • When an animal dies – since it has no SPIRIT – they ceases to exist…
      • But when our BODY dies – our SPIRIT lives on FOREVER – the only question is where!
  • 2^nd – Spirit of men… vs. 21
    • Who knows…
      • Who knows the spirit of the sons of men which goes upward.
      • And the spirit of the animal which goes down to the earth?
      • This is where Solomon becomes the SKEPTIC…
      • He could not SEE [יָדַע] if the SPIRIT [רוּחַ] of the sons of ADAM [אָדָם] go up [to heaven]
      • While the BREATH [רוּחַ] of ANIMALS go back down to the earth!
    • Invisible…
      • The word SPIRIT [רוּחַ] and BREATH [רוּחַ] – are the same word in Hebrew [and Greek]
      • The thing about AIR – is that we cannot see it – it is not visible…
      • So the argument of Solomon was – who KNOWS what happens since we cannot SEE…
      • So close to the TRUTH – yet the wisest man every pulls back at the last minute…
      • Because there was something wrong with his heart – so he did NOT want to see!
      • There are a LOT of people who believe there is a God…
      • But they argue we CANNOT know who He is [agnostic]
      • And we do NOT know what happens after death – because we CANNOT see it!
      • Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen.”
      • We do NOT need to SEE the SPIRIT to know we have one…
      • We do NOT need to SEE God – to know that one day He will JUDGE the world…
      • We have the EVIDENCE of His Word – and our TRANSFORMED lives!
      • John 20:29 – “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
  • 3^rd – The future… vs. 22
    • I thought…
      • So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works.
      • For that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
      • Therefore [כִּי] – Solomon assumed [רָאָה] that there was NOTHING [אִין] better [טֽוֹב]
      • Then for MEN [אָדָם] to ENJOY his work – it was his all he could SEE [חֵלֶק]
      • Because [כִּי] – who could cause [hiphil] him to see what would happen [הָיָה] in the future!
    • Under the sun…
      • The problem Solomon had – was he was still putting his trust in in HIS thoughts…
      • He was still looking for ANSWERS under the sun…
      • And he was right – there was NO one there who could see TOMORROW!
      • But when we look UP – to God ALMIGHTY – who see it ALL – Isaiah 46:10
      • That is when we find the ANSWER – this life is about KNOWING Him!