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1st – Many Seasons… vs. 1-8
- 1st – 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!
- All seasons…
- 2nd – 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
- Beginning and end… vs. 2
- 2nd – Reason for Seasons… vs. 9-17
- 1st – 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!
- 2nd – 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.”
- Beautiful…
- 3rd – 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!
- 4th – 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
- 5th – 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]!
- Day of reconning… vs. 15
- 1st – One Job… vs. 9-10
- 3rd – Final Breath… vs. 18-22
- 1st – 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!
- The test… vs. 18
- 2nd – 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.”
- Who knows…
- 3rd – 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!
- I thought…
- 1st – Like animals… vs. 18-20
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